Named after the matron mother Dilithra, who was rumoured to be part dragon, Il’Dilithrass is a drow city also known as The Maw or City of Teeth, on account of its structures rising both from the cavern floor and hanging from the ceiling. It appears like the mouth of a great beast, perhaps not unlike a dragon. Il’Dilithran architecture is finely cut into the various stalagmites and stalactites, sometimes even utilising mushrooms that grow on the rocky protrusions as part of a building’s structure.
Il’Dilithrass is surrounded by lakes that pour from tunnels to the north, east and west of the city. The south is guarded by a stalagmite and mushroom forest and is the main patch of dry land where travellers or traders may enter the city, via a long bridge that extends across an enormous gorge. While trade routes sometimes lead through the tunnel lakes, these are heavily controlled and guarded by drow and whatever beasts they employ to protect the city.
Drow from Il’Dilithrass tend to be good swimmers and favour aquatic food as it is most readily available. Fruits however are a delicacy and are prized by many drow nobles. The wealthier of the city tend to live in the upper parts, housing themselves in the isolated, but safer, stalactites.
The central landmark of the city, a giant high rising crystallised rock, houses the most skilled wizards and archers, serving as both a ministry for defence and governmental issues. At the very top of the of the structure lives the Matron Mother of the first House, who is more often than not, a wizard. While priestesses and assassins are favoured career paths by many a drow female, Il’Dilithrass tends to divide roles up equally between males and females. It is still Matriarchal however, as only a female of the first house may rule. This however is only traditional and there are no laws that specifically prevent a male from ruling over the city, but one has never survived long enough to do so.
Il’Dilithrass lists itself as a Lolth worshipping society, however it is rumoured this is simply lip-service to a goddess who no longer has relevance in their daily lives. Instead, the Il’Dilithran favour gods or goddesses of water or shadow and sometimes dragon gods, but these are only rumours. Some say the drow of this city worship no deity at all and rely on a particular understanding of their environment to gain the upper hand in battle.
It is also rumoured that these drow have alliances with dragons all throughout the Underdark and the world above, that it is an ancient treaty that dates back to pre-Crown Wars when drow walked the surface as dark elves. The drow of Il’Dilithrass neither confirm nor deny any of these accusations, for they find the mystery only aids them.
