Sorcere
Below is the main building of Sorcere, side view.
Sorcere is one the three schools at the Tier Breche academy in Menzoberranzan. Within its walls lies one of the highest concentrations of arcane might in all of Toril, It is within Sorcere that drow spellcasters are trained.
All Drow nobles must spend a short time studying magic here. Those who wish to dedicate their lives to the ancient skills stay longer to master the talent. Drow wizards spend about 30 years at Sorcere studying, usually beginning their training at 25 years of age.
Structure
The academy of magic is made from sculpted stalagmite towers. The lowest and widest is a wide, sculpted dome called the Apprentice Wing, and the tall and thin tower is the Master Tower (see above). Around the main building is a magically created stone wall with several other satellite towers used for storage and garrisoning of the arcane guard.
Cavern of Masters
The Cavern of Masters is a cave situated on the east side of Menzoberranzan. Although not part of the Tier Breche complex, it is reserved for students of Sorcere to practice their spells in.
Sorcere Masters and others
Courdh Mizzrym the Archmage Emeritus of Menzoberranzan, is the aged Past Master who oversees all teaching at the Academy. He is in charge of experimenting with and guarding the most powerful magical items held by Sorcere. Rumours abound of him being in charge of Sorcere's spy network, but nothing has been proven.
Dyrr No one has seen him in a century or more, but he is rumoured to be the reason for House Agrach Dyrr's success. Nothing much is known about him; only the oldest Sorcere masters remember a time when he was still active and visible in the mage's ranks.
Gromph Baenre the Archmage of Menzoberranzan is the elderboy of House Baenre and one of the most politically powerful males in the city. Gromph is more than seven hundred years old and well versed in Menzoberranzan intrigue under the Way of Lolth. The Archmage serves his sister, Triel Baenre, and House Baenre ably, but he has always gone his own way, sometimes against the house's best interests. Gromph has access to many magic items, including the Robe of the Archmage of Menzoberranzan, a Brooch of Perpetual Youth, a Brooch of Lingering Heat, a Wand of Viscid Globs, a Wand of Acidic Spheres, a Brooch of Number Numbing, many Contracts of Nepthas, a Lens of Speed Reading, a Talisman of Memorization, numerous Thought Bottles, and a Spider Mask.
Horroodissomoth Xorlarrin House Wizard of House Xorlarrin, is the patron of Zeerith Q'Xorlarrin and the leader of the council of wizards who oversee Sorcere, second only to the Archmage of Menzoberranzan. He leads the Xorlarrin wizards, all male, six of whom are counted among the masters of Sorcere. Horroodissomoth immerses himself in his studies and is an indifferent teacher. By necessity he leads the largest network of spies in Menzoberranzan on behalf of Matron Zeerith. House Xorlarrin is well known for creating wands, and Horroodissomoth usually carries with him at least four of them. He also possesses a powerful magic dagger with unusual powers reminiscent of a Sword of Dancing.
Ilmryn the Sage Ilmryn is Menzoberranzan's most prestigious sage and is the closest thing to an official historian the city has (most noble houses keep some sort of official history as do a number of would-be houses but these are all limited to events involving the house or its interests). Ilmryn is well known for his in depth social, political, and religious knowledge of the city both as it is now and as it has been. He's a powerful archmage with numerous unique divinatory spells all his own that he uses to gather information as well as questioning summoned creatures. What's most notable about him, however, is he only sells the truth (or as best he knows) of events unless they are unimportant. Minor, unimportant events he can be bribed to "alter" his recollection of slightly (such as saying Baenre was the most likely manipulator of the destruction of a minor house that was vanquished three centuries ago rather than house Agrach Dyrr). Ilmryn acts as contact for several other sages in the city that he works closely with. All their areas of interest are historical, political, social, religious, demographic, linguistic, or artistic, though the others aren't generally interested in drow or Menzoberranzan. The group is not interested in fauna, flora, geology, geography (except as it relates to migrations and such), and other physical sciences, nor are they interested in magical developments except as they've affected their main areas of study or of planar lore. Among the small group, which almost acts like a guild, there are experts on humanoids, giants and their kin, dwarves, kuo-toa, and other intelligent races. They study migratory patterns, social changes and cultural changes, cross-cultural influences, technological and magical developments and their cultural effects, religious adaptations and legends and myth, and the like. All the sages are known to be relatively honest, though some choose to charge set fees while others charge higher fees for higher detail and accuracy. For those who seek them out, the group is well thought of, for those who don't, they are safely ignored as they have no political or power agendas beyond their own learning.
Jalynfein "the Spider Mage" is another mystery. He rarely shows himself outside of his quarters and instead focuses on his own personal research. He appears aloof and neutral to the city's scheming and is exceptionally difficult to approach, also because he is usually absent. The story goes he was cursed by a priestess and his face is disfigured as a result.
Quild Pelum'Tith Quild is a highly respected master of great age (he is the great uncle of his house's matron mother). He is also an expert on metamagic and is in charge of that side of student training.
Pharaun Mizzrym An up-and coming power player, Pharaun escaped his house after siding with the wrong sister during an internal power play. The winner, Greyanna, vowed to punish Pharaun for going against her, and he holed himself up in Sorcere, the only way he knew, short of exile, to be beyond his sister's murderous reach. Down the years he has progressed greatly and has achieved a high rank among the masters. He makes no secret of the fact he aims for the Archmage's position. He is a young, charming drow with a quick wit and a sharp tongue, and an insubordinate streak, which tends to irritate the females around him.
Xandra Shobalar is a drow of House Shobalar and the third daughter of Hinkutes'nat Alar Shobalar. She is the house's Mistress of Magic, tasked with training others in the house about wizardry, especially abjuration magic. She is also a senior instructor at Sorcere and trained, among others, the exile Liriel Baenre. She is one of the very few females at Sorcere.
Master Godeep An aged master of Sorcere, he keeps a low profile. He is the most important asset to his house, upgrading house defense occasionally, but spends most of his time at Sorcere with his own research. He is an expert in blending wizardry with shadow magic.
Nauzhror Baenre Nauzhror is the second highest ranking spellcaster of house Baenre, and most likely to take Gromph's place in the future-except his skill is nowhere near his cousin's, which is source of intense jealousy. Nauzrhror is no fool though and knows his limits, so he focuses on improving his magical knowledge and serve the house dutifully, but speculation abounds that one day he may attempt a power grab.
Julani Baenre Julani specialises in Evocation, and his family name brings him a great deal of respect from the other masters despite him being a recent addition to the ranks of master.
Kharza-kzad Xorlarrin Rumours of his death in a mage duel have been grossly exaggerated, but this Master and Instructor has kept a low profile since his supposed demise. He is known as a brilliant wand builder, able to craft wands of great potency, beyond the normal limits of wandcraft.
Havel Duskryn As befits his martial house, Havel is a skilled warrior and sorcerer and devotee of Selvetarm. He is the head of the gish training school, and thus is counted among the masters of Melee-magthere as well.
Kel’raen Maelyl One of the few commoners who has reached the vaunted rank of Master, Kel'raen has suffered much abuse in his young life, and luckily his great skill with magic earned him a place in (relative) safety at Sorcere. He keeps his own counsel and is neutral in all things. He is content training apprentices and doing his own research to increase his mastery of magic. He specialises in creating constructs.
Sheeress of the Many Eyes A former master of Sorcere and archmage, Sheeress does well as a Narbondellyn money-lender. She claims she was cast out of Sorcere because of jealousy and fear over her rising power but she is definitely paranoid, so not everyone takes this story at face value (though they don't say so to her face).
Other Masters:
3 Barrison del’Armgo
1 Agrach Dyrr
5 Xorlarrin
1 Fey-branche
1 Faen Tlabbar
1 Duskryn
1 Hunzrin
1 Vandree
1 Archak
1 E’eendar (formerly-presumed deceased) now Millithor
1 Nehexthor
1 Horlbar
1 Feyala Keem
2 more unaffiliated (commoners)
Sorcere Numbers
1 Archmage
1 Archmage Emeritus Head of Teaching
1 Head of the Council
33 Masters
60 Instructors
270 students (avg 9 students per year) lvl 1-6, exceptional students 7th lvl when they graduate (no more than 1-2 per year)
House Arcanist numbers
170 arcanists (90 or so are also masters or Instructors; others are just affiliated to their house or non-nobles)
Other Arcanists
40 other spellcasters unaffiliated with a house or sorcere. Usually commoners members of merchant families.
All Drow nobles must spend a short time studying magic here. Those who wish to dedicate their lives to the ancient skills stay longer to master the talent. Drow wizards spend about 30 years at Sorcere studying, usually beginning their training at 25 years of age.
Structure
The academy of magic is made from sculpted stalagmite towers. The lowest and widest is a wide, sculpted dome called the Apprentice Wing, and the tall and thin tower is the Master Tower (see above). Around the main building is a magically created stone wall with several other satellite towers used for storage and garrisoning of the arcane guard.
Cavern of Masters
The Cavern of Masters is a cave situated on the east side of Menzoberranzan. Although not part of the Tier Breche complex, it is reserved for students of Sorcere to practice their spells in.
Sorcere Masters and others
Courdh Mizzrym the Archmage Emeritus of Menzoberranzan, is the aged Past Master who oversees all teaching at the Academy. He is in charge of experimenting with and guarding the most powerful magical items held by Sorcere. Rumours abound of him being in charge of Sorcere's spy network, but nothing has been proven.
Dyrr No one has seen him in a century or more, but he is rumoured to be the reason for House Agrach Dyrr's success. Nothing much is known about him; only the oldest Sorcere masters remember a time when he was still active and visible in the mage's ranks.
Gromph Baenre the Archmage of Menzoberranzan is the elderboy of House Baenre and one of the most politically powerful males in the city. Gromph is more than seven hundred years old and well versed in Menzoberranzan intrigue under the Way of Lolth. The Archmage serves his sister, Triel Baenre, and House Baenre ably, but he has always gone his own way, sometimes against the house's best interests. Gromph has access to many magic items, including the Robe of the Archmage of Menzoberranzan, a Brooch of Perpetual Youth, a Brooch of Lingering Heat, a Wand of Viscid Globs, a Wand of Acidic Spheres, a Brooch of Number Numbing, many Contracts of Nepthas, a Lens of Speed Reading, a Talisman of Memorization, numerous Thought Bottles, and a Spider Mask.
Horroodissomoth Xorlarrin House Wizard of House Xorlarrin, is the patron of Zeerith Q'Xorlarrin and the leader of the council of wizards who oversee Sorcere, second only to the Archmage of Menzoberranzan. He leads the Xorlarrin wizards, all male, six of whom are counted among the masters of Sorcere. Horroodissomoth immerses himself in his studies and is an indifferent teacher. By necessity he leads the largest network of spies in Menzoberranzan on behalf of Matron Zeerith. House Xorlarrin is well known for creating wands, and Horroodissomoth usually carries with him at least four of them. He also possesses a powerful magic dagger with unusual powers reminiscent of a Sword of Dancing.
Ilmryn the Sage Ilmryn is Menzoberranzan's most prestigious sage and is the closest thing to an official historian the city has (most noble houses keep some sort of official history as do a number of would-be houses but these are all limited to events involving the house or its interests). Ilmryn is well known for his in depth social, political, and religious knowledge of the city both as it is now and as it has been. He's a powerful archmage with numerous unique divinatory spells all his own that he uses to gather information as well as questioning summoned creatures. What's most notable about him, however, is he only sells the truth (or as best he knows) of events unless they are unimportant. Minor, unimportant events he can be bribed to "alter" his recollection of slightly (such as saying Baenre was the most likely manipulator of the destruction of a minor house that was vanquished three centuries ago rather than house Agrach Dyrr). Ilmryn acts as contact for several other sages in the city that he works closely with. All their areas of interest are historical, political, social, religious, demographic, linguistic, or artistic, though the others aren't generally interested in drow or Menzoberranzan. The group is not interested in fauna, flora, geology, geography (except as it relates to migrations and such), and other physical sciences, nor are they interested in magical developments except as they've affected their main areas of study or of planar lore. Among the small group, which almost acts like a guild, there are experts on humanoids, giants and their kin, dwarves, kuo-toa, and other intelligent races. They study migratory patterns, social changes and cultural changes, cross-cultural influences, technological and magical developments and their cultural effects, religious adaptations and legends and myth, and the like. All the sages are known to be relatively honest, though some choose to charge set fees while others charge higher fees for higher detail and accuracy. For those who seek them out, the group is well thought of, for those who don't, they are safely ignored as they have no political or power agendas beyond their own learning.
Jalynfein "the Spider Mage" is another mystery. He rarely shows himself outside of his quarters and instead focuses on his own personal research. He appears aloof and neutral to the city's scheming and is exceptionally difficult to approach, also because he is usually absent. The story goes he was cursed by a priestess and his face is disfigured as a result.
Quild Pelum'Tith Quild is a highly respected master of great age (he is the great uncle of his house's matron mother). He is also an expert on metamagic and is in charge of that side of student training.
Pharaun Mizzrym An up-and coming power player, Pharaun escaped his house after siding with the wrong sister during an internal power play. The winner, Greyanna, vowed to punish Pharaun for going against her, and he holed himself up in Sorcere, the only way he knew, short of exile, to be beyond his sister's murderous reach. Down the years he has progressed greatly and has achieved a high rank among the masters. He makes no secret of the fact he aims for the Archmage's position. He is a young, charming drow with a quick wit and a sharp tongue, and an insubordinate streak, which tends to irritate the females around him.
Xandra Shobalar is a drow of House Shobalar and the third daughter of Hinkutes'nat Alar Shobalar. She is the house's Mistress of Magic, tasked with training others in the house about wizardry, especially abjuration magic. She is also a senior instructor at Sorcere and trained, among others, the exile Liriel Baenre. She is one of the very few females at Sorcere.
Master Godeep An aged master of Sorcere, he keeps a low profile. He is the most important asset to his house, upgrading house defense occasionally, but spends most of his time at Sorcere with his own research. He is an expert in blending wizardry with shadow magic.
Nauzhror Baenre Nauzhror is the second highest ranking spellcaster of house Baenre, and most likely to take Gromph's place in the future-except his skill is nowhere near his cousin's, which is source of intense jealousy. Nauzrhror is no fool though and knows his limits, so he focuses on improving his magical knowledge and serve the house dutifully, but speculation abounds that one day he may attempt a power grab.
Julani Baenre Julani specialises in Evocation, and his family name brings him a great deal of respect from the other masters despite him being a recent addition to the ranks of master.
Kharza-kzad Xorlarrin Rumours of his death in a mage duel have been grossly exaggerated, but this Master and Instructor has kept a low profile since his supposed demise. He is known as a brilliant wand builder, able to craft wands of great potency, beyond the normal limits of wandcraft.
Havel Duskryn As befits his martial house, Havel is a skilled warrior and sorcerer and devotee of Selvetarm. He is the head of the gish training school, and thus is counted among the masters of Melee-magthere as well.
Kel’raen Maelyl One of the few commoners who has reached the vaunted rank of Master, Kel'raen has suffered much abuse in his young life, and luckily his great skill with magic earned him a place in (relative) safety at Sorcere. He keeps his own counsel and is neutral in all things. He is content training apprentices and doing his own research to increase his mastery of magic. He specialises in creating constructs.
Sheeress of the Many Eyes A former master of Sorcere and archmage, Sheeress does well as a Narbondellyn money-lender. She claims she was cast out of Sorcere because of jealousy and fear over her rising power but she is definitely paranoid, so not everyone takes this story at face value (though they don't say so to her face).
Other Masters:
3 Barrison del’Armgo
1 Agrach Dyrr
5 Xorlarrin
1 Fey-branche
1 Faen Tlabbar
1 Duskryn
1 Hunzrin
1 Vandree
1 Archak
1 E’eendar (formerly-presumed deceased) now Millithor
1 Nehexthor
1 Horlbar
1 Feyala Keem
2 more unaffiliated (commoners)
Sorcere Numbers
1 Archmage
1 Archmage Emeritus Head of Teaching
1 Head of the Council
33 Masters
60 Instructors
270 students (avg 9 students per year) lvl 1-6, exceptional students 7th lvl when they graduate (no more than 1-2 per year)
House Arcanist numbers
170 arcanists (90 or so are also masters or Instructors; others are just affiliated to their house or non-nobles)
Other Arcanists
40 other spellcasters unaffiliated with a house or sorcere. Usually commoners members of merchant families.