The Braeryn “Stenchstreets”
A decrepit slum, home to the lowliest undercreatures of Menzoberranzan, the Braeryn is little more than a suffocating cesspit of filth and desperation.
Population: 500 drow (infirm or fugitive), 6,000 non-drow (transient populace of kobolds, bugbears, goblins, orcs, hobgoblins, quaggoths, and minotaurs). Population fluctuates greatly due to frequent outbreaks of disease, internecine strife, capricious noble hunts, escaped slaves, and birthrates.
Noble Houses: None. No drow houses of importance or reputation dwell in the Braeryn.
Trade: Individuals flashing enough coin can easily secure poisons, narcotics, or slaves. Assassins, kidnappers, and thieves openly sell their services in drinking pits throughout the district. Individuals with underworld connections can broker an audience with the Wan Hag, information broker and boss of the Braeryn’s most prominent thieves’ den.
Security: Drow guards make a show of patrolling the district’s main thoroughfare in large numbers, but few ever step foot into the alleys and byways that constitute the heart of the Stenchstreets. Many residences align themselves with tribal gangs for protection-the most influential being the Skortchclaw Horde (orc) and the Blue Shackle (hobgoblin).
A decrepit slum, home to the lowliest undercreatures of Menzoberranzan, the Braeryn is little more than a suffocating cesspit of filth and desperation.
Population: 500 drow (infirm or fugitive), 6,000 non-drow (transient populace of kobolds, bugbears, goblins, orcs, hobgoblins, quaggoths, and minotaurs). Population fluctuates greatly due to frequent outbreaks of disease, internecine strife, capricious noble hunts, escaped slaves, and birthrates.
Noble Houses: None. No drow houses of importance or reputation dwell in the Braeryn.
Trade: Individuals flashing enough coin can easily secure poisons, narcotics, or slaves. Assassins, kidnappers, and thieves openly sell their services in drinking pits throughout the district. Individuals with underworld connections can broker an audience with the Wan Hag, information broker and boss of the Braeryn’s most prominent thieves’ den.
Security: Drow guards make a show of patrolling the district’s main thoroughfare in large numbers, but few ever step foot into the alleys and byways that constitute the heart of the Stenchstreets. Many residences align themselves with tribal gangs for protection-the most influential being the Skortchclaw Horde (orc) and the Blue Shackle (hobgoblin).
The Bazaar
The ever-changing, never-sleeping Bazaar is part of Duthcloim but is important enough to necessitate its own section.It is the commercial heart of Menzoberranzan. This circle of bare bedrock about 750 feet in diameter is a crowded, untidy labyrinth of stalls and hagglers. The ongoing trade fair attracts merchants and goods from all over Faerun, and the drow go there to buy and sell almost everything imaginable.
Warriors training at the Academy patrol the Bazaar heavily. The patrols are performed to keep a lid on the violence, but they do not interfere with haggling, arguments, or fraudulent dealing.
The merchants suffer the patrols to keep the house nobles in line. The Ruling Council maintains the patrols to prevent giving the merchants a reason to hire large numbers of guards that could grow into private armies.
By decree of the Ruling Council, the Bazaar contains no permanent structures. No stall can remain in one spot longer than 66 days. The law is intended to keep the Bazaar from dwindling away as permanent buildings replace the stalls. Also, the constant shuffling forces buyers to tour the Bazaar, searching for favoured stalls or merchants. Fights and covert sabotage are common, since vendors jostle for more space for their booths or try to avoid being relegated to a bad location. While merchants are not allowed to openly sell their space at the Bazaar, wise merchants arrange to trade spots with other established vendors for favours.
The ever-changing, never-sleeping Bazaar is part of Duthcloim but is important enough to necessitate its own section.It is the commercial heart of Menzoberranzan. This circle of bare bedrock about 750 feet in diameter is a crowded, untidy labyrinth of stalls and hagglers. The ongoing trade fair attracts merchants and goods from all over Faerun, and the drow go there to buy and sell almost everything imaginable.
Warriors training at the Academy patrol the Bazaar heavily. The patrols are performed to keep a lid on the violence, but they do not interfere with haggling, arguments, or fraudulent dealing.
The merchants suffer the patrols to keep the house nobles in line. The Ruling Council maintains the patrols to prevent giving the merchants a reason to hire large numbers of guards that could grow into private armies.
By decree of the Ruling Council, the Bazaar contains no permanent structures. No stall can remain in one spot longer than 66 days. The law is intended to keep the Bazaar from dwindling away as permanent buildings replace the stalls. Also, the constant shuffling forces buyers to tour the Bazaar, searching for favoured stalls or merchants. Fights and covert sabotage are common, since vendors jostle for more space for their booths or try to avoid being relegated to a bad location. While merchants are not allowed to openly sell their space at the Bazaar, wise merchants arrange to trade spots with other established vendors for favours.
Duthcloim (Manyfolk)
The middle-class and mercantile heart of Menzoberranzan, Duthcloim is home to well-to-do drow of
common standing, as well as a sizable population of wealthy non-drow.
Population: 8,000 drow, 10,000 non-drow.
Noble Houses: Auvryndar, Oblodra (destroyed)
Common Families: Bluirren, Klendara, Drael Tuabbar, del’Hluanter, Darnruel, Do’IIisharr, Quel’tlarn, and del’Ygana.
Trade: Duthcloim sees the greatest amount of trade in the city, with the Bazaar being the most important centre of trade. Apart from the Bazaar, business is also conducted from any of the innumerable street-level, family owned shops that line the narrow boulevards.
Security: Drow patrols are frequent enough to deter most open criminal activity.
Eastmyr “ Mere East”
The lower-class neighborhood of struggling merchants, lesser tradesfolk, and mercenaries.
Population: 5,000 drow, 3,000 non-drow.
Noble Houses: House Hunzrin, House Kenafin (until the Reckoning)
Common Families: Asbodela, Dlaen Del’Amatar, Fael Olyphar, llystryph, Uluar, and Zalyzryn.
Trade: Artisans making common, necessary items, such as pottery, tools, furniture, boots, and clothing,
as well as barbers and massage parlours.
Security: Drow street patrols regularly sweep through the neighbourhood’s main avenues, but not as frequently as in the other more prosperous parts of the city. House Hunzrin patrols near its compound, and their forces respond to calls for help from their underlings.
Narbondellyn “ Broad Streets”
A fashionable neighborhood of elegant manor houses, eclectic artisans, and rising socialites.
Population: 4,000 drow, 3,000 non-drow.
Noble Houses: Barrison Del’Armgo, Faen Tlabbar, Fey-Branche, Horlbar, Shobalar, Srune’Lett, Tuin’Tarl.
Common Families: Balartyr, Belek’tyr, Hael’lrin, llith’vir, Klor’lbar, Mestpar, Oblare, Ouol, Ryrll, Shadalun,
Shunn T’ahaladar, Thadalix, Tuek’tharm, and Urundlet.
Trade: Luxury boutiques trading in jewelry, perfumes, exotic finery, and similar goods.
Security: Narbondellyn’s wide boulevards are patrolled regularly and in large numbers.
Qu’ellarz’orl “The House-Loft” “Palace of Nobles”
The grandest part of the city, Qu’ellarz’orl is the home of the most powerful noble houses, including House Baenre.
Population: 5,000 drow, 4,000 non-drow.
Noble Houses: Baenre, Mizzrym, Xorlarrin, Agrach Dyrr
Trade: None. Qu’ellarz’orl is the private demesne of the great houses. No trade is conducted there.
Security: The three houses dwelling there patrol and scry Qu’ellarz’orl constantly. There are no street patrols on the plateau.