The Underdark Vol 1 The Underdark pervades almost all of Faerun, and Arelith is no exception. Most surface dwellers fear the dark depths to the point of panic, while many adventurers seek it out to find glory, riches and the unknown.

The Underdark in Arelith was first discovered accidently by a group of Dwarven miners from the town of Brogendenstein. Like so many times before, the Dwarves had dug into the earth far too deeply, and opened a channel to the surface world for evils that in some cases cannot even be named.

The nature of the Underdark is such that it shifts and changes constantly. A collapse of rock may seal off one cavern, while opening up a different one altogether. It is an extremely difficult place to navigate because of this, unless one is well traveled in the caves constantly.

One such group is the Drow. They have lived in the city of Udos Dro'Xun perhaps even longer than the people of Cordor. The passage from the surface there changes constantly, affording the Drow a decent level of protection. For the most part, the Drow stay underground, feeling apathy for the surfacers, only occasionally raiding the upper lands for slaves or building materials.

Among the other races that dwell deep below are the Svirfneblin, or Deep Gnomes. They are much like their surface kin, only with an exceptional fondness and affinity with stonework.

It is said that their city was carved straight from the rock, and in some cases is indistinguishable from a cavern wall. Little is known about these reclusive people except that they care little for warfare, only mustering defenses to protect them from Drow raiding parties. They are mostly concerned with digging the rock, forming it to their whims, and surviving when they need to.

Yet this is just the upper layer of what is known as the Underdark...