Netheril's Fall

Netherese Pets

Netherese mages use magic to create fantastical pets, which are in abundance throughout the empire. Strange, chimeric pets are common, such as winged hares, venomous baboons, or feathered mastiffs. Sometimes these pets find their way to Low Netherese households, though whether their High Netherese creators bother to retrieve them is down to the individual mage.

High Netherese Fashion

Members of the upper class tend to flaunt their wealth and dress to impress. High Netherese drape themselves in silk, satin, or linen, all in bright, rich colors. They accessorize with extravagant fur, feathers, and expensive leather. Their jewelry often incorporates magic, with circlets, rings, necklaces, and fastenings sporting heatless flames, unmelting ice, or pure light.

Low Netherese Fashion

Low Netherese individuals typically wear rough, homespun tunics; heavy woolen cloaks; and thick rope sandals or cloth boots. Their fabrics are rarely dyed, though when they are, earth tones dominate. Adornments such as earrings, pendants, armbands, and belts are typically made of knotted rope or carved from wood or stone.

Two Mythallars

Two mythallars are placed in Karsus's x in the Grand Jewel district. These mythallars, which are crystalline orbs that are 150 feet in diameter, keep the city airborne and fuel its magical luxuries.

City Government

Though the word of Karsus is the final law in all matters, Arcanist Andoris Derathar (Medium, Lawful Neutral Mage) has implemented her own brand of justice during Karsus's preoccupation. Derathar is a human who commands the city's watch and favors violence and hasty tribunals. Troublemakers who avoid on-the-spot execution are sentenced to combat in the x, labor in the Hidden Quarter district, or hard labor in the mines of x. (See later in this chapter for details on these locations.)

Transportation

Magical conveyance is the norm in Eileanar. Within the city, Tenser's Floating Disk spells and flying steeds are commonplace, as are enchanted chariots and walkways that gleam with magical light.

News and Entertainment

Eileanar is famous for the speed at which information travels, passing through society's grand manors, magically projected proclamations in public plazas, and the whispers of Low Netherese servants. Scandal is one of Eileanar's favorite forms of entertainment. Another is watching outrageous clashes at the Coliseum of Karsus, where pure spectacle delights even the most jaded mages.

Supply and Demand

Every day, food and goods are magically transported from Low Netheril into Eileanar's Hidden Quarter district, where servants prepare and transport the items to the homes, institutions, and businesses of the upper class. At dusk, any waste is disposed of by magic or, more commonly, dumped off the flying city, to the dismay of those below.

Education

Eileanar boasts several of the greatest schools in all the empire, including the Last Academies in the Inner Ring district (detailed in "x").

Religion

Scattered shrines dot Eileanar. The Netherese pay grudging respect to a few members of the Faerûnian pantheon, though they know some gods by different names. The Netherese commonly worship Amaunator, god of the sun; Chauntea (known as Jannath), god of agriculture; Talos (known as Kozah), god of storms; Mystra (called Mystryl in her previous incarnation), god of magic; Selûne, god of the moon; Shar, god of darkness and loss; and the god of fortune the Netherese know as Tyche, who eventually split into the gods known in the present day as Beshaba, god of misfortune, and Tymora, god of good fortune.

Priests and holy folk aren't respected in this enclave, and they're typically called upon only on certain ritual days for propriety's sake.

Arcane Acropolis

The Arcane Acropolis is Karsus's home, sanctum, and ruling palace. It is designed to awe and intimidate, to showcase his mastery of magic and serve his every whim as he develops ever more powerful spells.

At any given time, several human Mages, Mage Apprentices, and even Archmages (second in power to Karsus, of course) of all alignments can be found within the Acropolis's white marble walls. Inhabitants also include various magen (see appendix B) and summoned monsters, including Elementals and Celestials.

In the acropolis, gravity and time are shaped at Karsus's pleasure. Various areas have altered gravity or no gravity, as well as places where time is slowed or sped up. A gallery of levitating statues portrays the empire's greatest minds, with the floating image of Karsus largest and foremost of all. In the center of the acropolis stands Karsus's Sanctum, a pillared pavilion that looks out over the city.

Coliseum of Karsus

[image: Brutal competitions play out to screaming, bloodthirsty crowds at the Coliseum of Karsus]

Surrounded by market tents and drinking halls on the Outer Platform, the Coliseum of Karsus is the hub of entertainment in Eileanar. Here, droves of High Netherese can exchange a half-dozen coins for alcohol, a hot meal, and a seat from which to witness violent battles to the death. High Pitmaster Alaina Ioum (Medium, Lawful Neutral Mage), a stern elf, oversees the coliseum's operations and approves all combatants bound for the arena. The pitmaster is constantly seeking new and creative contest rules for the coliseum battles, and she often awards prizes to those whose ideas net the most spectators.

Court of Fountains

One of the city's rare places meant solely for rest and reflection, the Court of Fountains is also Eileanar's most beautiful locale. The elf Aurivyl (Medium, Neutral Good Archpriest), a descendant of the Eaerlanni elves who taught the Netherese magic, is in charge here. Aurivyl ministers to the spiritual needs of all who enter the court. Wise and measured, she is the sole respected practitioner of divine magic in Eileanar and is in high demand for her wisdom, her healing magic, and her insight into the ways of the gods. Aurivyl worships Mystryl, god of magic, though followers of any or no god are welcome here.

Consulting with Aurivyl is free, but the court's other accommodations are expensive. The court is renowned for its graceful accommodations, healing pools of magical water, elegant dining rooms, tasteful salons, and striking gardens. Paths and bridges spiral and swirl everywhere. Some groves have no gravity, and visitors are encouraged to float among the beauty and reflect upon their lives.

Last Academies

The Last Academies, a collection of rival institutions, are named as such because once you finish here, there's nowhere else to learn. Each institution claims to be second to none. All the institutions are linked via permanent magical portals, which in turn link to other facilities on other flying cities.

Six famed institutions claim primacy here: the Academy of Mentalist Study, the Alchemical Seminary, the House of Ancient Scrolls, the Library of Netheril, the Shadow Consortium, and the University of Definitive Archwizardry. The head of top-level administration of the Last Academies is Karyne Xalroum (Medium, Lawful Neutral Archmage), a no-nonsense human who often delegates her duties to a host of human Mages of all alignments.

Despite their intellectual offerings, the Last Academies are dangerous places full of unstable magic and unchecked egos. Here, wild experiments cause frequent chaos and destruction, covered up by administrations that know no higher calling than pure knowledge and academic glory.

Mythomian Warehouse

Kept magically cold, the Mythomian Warehouse in the Hidden Quarter is Eileanar's main clearing house for incoming goods and supplies. Fresh produce and frozen meats are kept here, as well as luxuries and spell materials best preserved in the cold. Low Netherese human Commoners and summoned Ice Mephits move frozen goods, while trained Winter Wolves patrol the grounds against would-be thieves and intruders.

Despite the warehouse's outward organization, rebellion simmers here. A human named Edrion Volaris (Medium, Chaotic Good Spy) is the High Netherese warehouse owner. Secretly, under the alias Liberax Volt, he is also the leader of the Free Warriors, an underground network dedicated to overthrowing the corrupt magocracy. Passionate and intelligent, Volaris hates the corruption that pervades the city. Volaris believes High Netherese treat Low Netherese abominably. From the warehouse, Volaris orchestrates strike missions to remove the wickedest mages from power and help the oppressed.

Watch Presidium

The Watch Presidium has three identical branches from which the city's watch operates. Each branch includes several human Guards and Mages of various alignments who use permanent magical portals to move seamlessly between all three locations.

The branches are under the purview of Arcanist Andoris Derathar (see "x"), who presides over law enforcement. The Presidium has only a few prison cells, primarily for temporarily holding the accused before they are sentenced to labor or sent to fight at the Coliseum.

Way of Astonishments

Curving along the Outer Platform, the Way of Astonishments is closed to traffic, allowing patrons to freely wander and peruse the staggering array of magical shops and businesses here competing for attention and coin. High Netherese often bring their Caldron Magen (see appendix B) bodyguards to this busy area, since pickpocketing is rife.

Businesses include the following:

Dundaden's Arcane Smithy, for armor made more of magic than metal

The Forge of Fargate, for magical transportation that leads anywhere one wishes

Ioulaum Industries, for schematics and rare magical materials

QM III, for magic items curated by the famous human Parzal the Outrageous (Medium, Lawful Neutral Archmage)

Rualadeen, for enchanted weapons

Government

The city is nominally ruled by the High Council of Conch, a rotating group of powerful mages. The council keeps tenuous order by staying on the good side of river smugglers. Nenek Tril (Chaotic Evil Lizardfolk Sovereign), a powerful smuggler boss, has murdered more than one council mage who has asked too many questions about goods that go missing along the river.

Low Netherese Labor

While mages and smugglers jockey for control, Low Netherese work the land and water. These laborers serve as workers and supervisors in the upper mines alongside criminals sentenced to hard labor, hunt and trap in the nearby Myconid Forest, and farm the rocky soil and fish the Conch River. Come nightfall, Low Netherese gather to eat, drink, sing, and talk in their tight-knit communities, enjoying a few short hours together before the sun rises again.

Stone Walls

Conch huddles behind gray stone walls along the river. The massive walls are fortified with magical armaments.

Unrest

The uneasy balance of mages, Low Netherese laborers, and smuggling gangs has fended off threats to Conch's survival for decades. But recently, phaerimm attacks on the city's outskirts have become concerning. Similarly, incidents of Low Netherese resistance against the ruling mages have increased in recent years, with laborers demanding better pay and conditions in the mines. So far, the mages have ignored the laborers.

Dockmarket

The Dockmarket is Conch's commercial hub. Crowded by waves of migrants fleeing the growing wasteland beyond the city, these booths are full of people seeking work or offering goods and services.

Smugglers' agents weave through the crowd picking pockets, making deals, and roughing up anyone who challenges them. Near the center of the marketplace, a whitewashed wooden wall towers over the heads of the crowd. Citizens of Conch scrawl offers of merchandise, requests for hired aid, and messages with hidden meanings across the wall. The talkative whitewasher Gemby Gray (Lizardfolk Sovereign) is an invaluable source of information here, as those who leave messages on the wall often share more context with the disarming woman, though it's unclear where Gemby's true loyalties lie.

High Netherese Palace

Tucked safely inside the High Netherese Enclave is the High Netherese Palace, a gilded, garish structure. The richest mages live in this palace, while less-wealthy mages live in the enclave's relatively paltry abodes.

High Netherese who dwell in the enclave are rarely seen in the city's streets, leaving their enchanted complex only on winged steeds or via teleportation. The mages consider it gauche to speak of the city's other inhabitants. Particularly cruel toward the lower class is the human aristocrat Velma Vatoum (Medium, Neutral Evil Archmage), niece of the Imperial Minehold's governor. Velma's fabulous collection of jewelry is made from gems the governor steals from the mine. Velma is a willing participant in this scheme and finds it all great fun.

House of Wine and Vinegar

The House of Wine and Vinegar is a hospital and drinking hall adjacent to Conch's mines. Its proprietor, the human Low Netherese witch Cyrleine-of-the-Pond (Medium, Neutral Good Archpriest), has dedicated the facility to the miners and makes it known that mages are unwelcome here. Cyrleine worships Chauntea—known to the Netherese as Jannath, god of agriculture—though Cyrleine welcomes anyone who dislikes the ruling mages' authority.

Kind and dedicated, Cyrleine heals the injured with her Staff of Healing and ferments spiced wine that's famous throughout the city. She works closely with the friendly gnome Tacinbok (Small, Chaotic Good Commoner), a gifted inventor who wears a prosthetic leg. Tacinbok is famous for making high-quality prosthetics, which she often gives to injured laborers.

The house's barkeeps are married elves named Jorn and Sorfin Arborwend (Medium, Neutral Good Commoners), who are fabulous storytellers. The men pass along traditional fables and tales of local history to the children of miners who congregate here, encouraging the children to take pride in their Low Netherese families' resilience and rich culture.

Imperial Minehold

The Imperial Minehold is the fortress for enforcers who uphold the mines' harsh productivity quotas. The Minehold has a fortified door and needle-thin windows to allow in trace amounts of light. Beyond its practical use, the Minehold is a show of strength, authority, and the empire's unyielding power.

The High Council of Conch meets in the Minehold, which overlooks the river and the city's teeming quarries. The Minehold's governor is also a High Council member: Arcanist Heldreth Mavilen (Medium, Lawful Neutral Noble Prodigy), a cruel human who has refused all recent requests from migrants for shelter in the Minehold's cavernous interior. She insists that the space is needed for ore refinement, though the mines' production has dwindled since the recent troubles began. Secretly, the governor steals choice gems from Conch's mines and gifts them to her niece, Velma Vatoum, who then commissions and shows off grand jewelry at high society balls in the High Netherese Enclave.

Mines

Conch's mines produce stone, gems, and ore. Designed for productivity with no regard for miners, the mines punish wrongdoers and remind laborers that the empire is mighty and unmerciful.

The mines have three levels. Outside, the cliff quarry is veined with rickety scaffolding built from wood and rope. Inside, the upper mines are crowded and hot. Deeper still, tunnels and vents lead into the dangerous heart of the mines.

The mines are worked by prisoners and poor Low Netherese, who might also be supervisors or captains. Some are cruel, while others, like the human Grifud Romerus (Medium, Lawful Good Tough Boss), hope to provide relief to those under their command. Grifud is known for small acts of kindness such as carrying food and drinks for the miners, granting occasional breaks, and supporting the workers' demands for better pay and conditions.

Public Baths

[image: Once beautiful and inviting, Conch's public baths are now a hotbed of crime]

The public baths were built in a bygone era when High Netheril hoped to deal justly with its subjects in Conch. But when the battle lines between mages, laborers, and smugglers were drawn, this Riverside institution fell into disrepair and disrepute. High Netherese no longer wished to spend money on an amenity for people they came to see as enemies. The baths now serve as headquarters for Conch's smuggling operations and are crawling with criminals.

Rooms of swirling steam fed by natural vents provide the perfect setting for smugglers to speak unobserved. Smuggler bosses frequent the baths, though perhaps no one is as regular a visitor as the smuggler boss Nenek Tril (see "x" above). Here, Tril hears rumors of High Netherese causing problems for smuggling operations, and she arranges to have these mages eliminated.

Trapper's Supplies and Stables

The stables and the nearby supply warehouse for forest-bound trappers are institutions. Here, adventuring gear and steeds can be rented or purchased, provisioning all heading into the wilds outside the city.

The stables are low on horses at present; most have been cleared out to make room for refugees from the encroaching wasteland. The establishment's orc proprietor (Medium, Neutral Good Commoner) is known only as Father. Father rarely speaks, but the fact that he opened up his yard and stables to migrants speaks volumes for his good heart and compassion for the needy.