Szith Morcane

The City of Deep Mysteries, Szith Morcane is located far to the east of Zhanduril, and is a maverick city among the Seven in almost every respect. For starters, it is the only Drow city to hold territory on Crystal's surface, the secluded island directly above it, far to the east of Toroia. Secondly, it is the only Drow settlement in existence that is not a matriarchy. It is ruled enirely by males, specifically by the priesthood of the Masked Lord, Vhaeraun.

Szith Morcane began life much like any other Sindralese city, but was targeted early on by Vhaeraunites seeking to exploit the weaknesses in the city's temple structure. They bided their time, and along with their shadowy God, seduced a number of the city's key Ara'yathrin into becoming traitor priestesses who served Sindrai'el on the surface but secretly honored Vhaeraun. Led by House Iraediira, 7th House, the Vhaeraunites covertly converted downtrodden males to their cause by the hundreds, until they had a secret army to rival any force in the city. Then, they struck quite suddenly, and overthrew the ruling council. Iraediira became First House, and its Patron, Delzoun, ruler of the city. His first act was to execute the traitor priestesses--for treason.

In the intervening years, Sindrai'el worship was all but stamped out entirely, along with the matriarchal setup of the houses. Morcainian noble houses are led by Patriarchs, all High Priests of Vhaeraun. Though Vhaeraunites believe in parity between the genders on paper, the reality is far different. The years of simmering resentment toward the matriarchy were not quickly forgotten, and the men of Szith Morcane lashed out viciously at their former oppressors. Morcainian females are treated as little more than chattel, and suffer exactly the way males do in Sindralese cities. Vhaeraunite priestesses are never able to climb the ranks and achieve any real power. Men largely keep company with one another; women in Szith Morcane are to be used and tossed aside when they serve no further purpose. Female children are often sacrificed or left to die in the wild Underground. Oddly enough, foreigners have more legal privileges than a Morcanian woman.

The Iraediira cemented their hold on power, and there has been surprisingly little movement in the house rankings over the centuries. Most of Szith Morcane's attention has been focused outward on its many enemies, though like any Drow city there is no lack of intrigue and treachery within its walls.

Kurastan Iraediira, current First Patriarch of the city, is an extremely talented Shadow Mage and brilliant leader, but his political and magical savvy is matched only by his sexual appetities and his misogyny. He keeps a number of females as pets, and is particularly fond of surface Elves. No one knows just how many lovers he has, and he prefers to keep it that way.

By all rights, Szith Morcane should have been destroyed centuries ago. Its very existence offends conventional Dark Elven sensibilities, and many Drow have perished in the attempt of bringing the city down. But, against all odds, the maverick city continues to survive and thrive, raising any number of perplexing questions for more traditional, Sindralese Drow. How can a city ruled by males--and apostates at that--manage not to implode on itself? Why hasn't the Spider Queen wiped it off the face of the Underground? Does she permit its existence out of mere twisted amusement?

Vhaeraunites--and Kiaransaleens and Eilistraeens alike--would naturally argue that Szith Morcane thrives because the Spider Bitch is not nearly as powerful as she and her followers think she is.