The Bubble
About 50 miles south of the Ruins of Myth Drannor, and about 25 miles below the surface of the earth, is a huge underground cavern known as the Bubble. The Bubble, which gets its name from its smooth walls and ceiling, is about 30 miles long, 50 miles across, and in places seven miles high. This makes it one of the largest “shallow” Underdark geological features know. The western half of the Bubble is filled with water, a body know as the Black Lake, or Aswabahir in the language of the Drow.
The first thing that strikes new visitors to the Bubble is a shaft of pure white light descending from the cave roof to shine on a small island in the middle of the Black Lake. The island, called the Emerald Isle, is covered with green vegetation. This gives the entire western half of the cavern a slight greenish cast. A deep red glow from the Cleft illuminates the far eastern side of cavern. Other sources of fainter light then become apparent. The White River glows faintly, expanding into a liquid delta of white where it empties into the Black Lake. On the far north side of the cavern a riot of faint colors surrounds Sakar and the Spider Falls.
A low rumble from the northern waterfalls constantly fills the cavern. These rumblings are occasionally punctuated by the high-pitched hisses of gas escaping from vents around the Cleft.
They key features in the area include the following:
The Black Lake (see detailed description below)
Sakar-hath-Aswabahir (see detailed description below)
The Cleft: At the far eastern end of the cavern is a wide, deep cleft in the ground. Hot magma can be seen at the bottom of this cleft, several miles below. This is what gives the eastern end of the cavern its reddish tinge. It also keeps the Bubble warmer than the surrounding Underdark. A tribe of Fire Giants lives down in the cleft itself, along with other strange creatures from the elemental plane of fire. Beyond the cleft, separated from the rest of the cavern by the Cleft, is a plateau area inhabited by a tribe of creatures known as Lava Dwarves.
The Dead Lands: The southern end of the Bubble is an area where few Underdark denizens venture called the Dead Lands. It is haunted by many different kinds of undead. Several hundred years ago a great human fortress known as the Fortress of Midnight was built on the southern shore of the Black Lake. It was supposed to be the first step in a planned conquest of the Underdark by the ancient nation of Nethril. It became the only step when the mageocracy collapsed from within shortly after the fortress was complete. Those manning the Fortress were massacred. Their spirits still haunt the area.
The Dead Lands are not completely deserted. As time passed several other groups moved into the Fortress of Midnight, most recently a group of nobles from the Dales. Each of these groups have, in time, been destroyed or driven out. The area remains a haven for bandits and pirates, some of whom seem to have struck a bargain with the undead in the area so that they are not harassed.
The Lava Road: This is the main trade route through this area of the Underdark. It is an ancient road, predating the founding of Sakar. It is smooth, hard, and wide enough for two wagons to pass with ease. It extends for hundreds of miles north and south of the bubble, linking Sakar with other drow cities.
The White River: This wide river is the primary source of water for the Black Lake. It enters the Bubble as a wide but short (20’ high) waterfall at the back of the cavern. As it flows through the fungus fields cultivated by the drow it picks up its namesake white color. It also picks up phosphorescent mold, which causes it to glow faintly. The river empties into the Black Lake in a location known as the Fingers of Lloth. Many fish congregate in the Fingers, thriving on the nutrient-rich waters. Of course, many fishermen congregate there as well. The Bridge of a Thousand Screams spans the White River where the Lava Road intersects the river. The name celebrates a great drow victory over the forces from the Fortress of Midnight many years ago. The mortar of the bridge contains the powdered bones of the vanquished. The original bridge was destroyed during the battle. This is the second bridge to span the river.
Fungi Farms: The Uraqwithai family, one of the ruling noble families in Sakar, cultivates vast fungi farms in the eastern half of the cavern. The Uraqwithai have somehow co-opted a tribe of Myconids to assist them in their cultivation. Many slaves from the surface work the area as the drow find the warmer temperatures and high humidity in this area uncomfortable. Of note, the Uraqwithai also control most of the fishing activity in the White River and at the Fingers of Lloth.
General Information: The lake itself is quite dangerous. In addition to the kuo-tao who frequently raid from under the surface, there are several large monsters known to swallow ships whole. The best known of these monsters is the dragon turtle called Tortugaon. These monsters leave the drow bioships alone, although why is not known. The lake averages 300’ deep, although in one spot (near the southernmost whirlpool) it is almost 2 miles deep. The waters of the lake are not necessarily black. They are, however, quite warm (60 degrees) for an Underdark lake.
The Emerald Isle: The only inhabited island in the lake just happens to be illuminated by a shaft of sunlight streaming in from the ceiling high above. Few doubt this is coincidental, although nobody has yet put forth a reasonable theory to explain the phenomenon. This illumination provides a haven for surface dwellers in the Bubble, as the Underdark races tend to avoid the light and only rarely visit the Isle. A small community of traders lives on the isle, braving the four-hour boat ride from the Isle to Sakar whenever they have to do business. A little over half of the island is directly illuminated by the sunlight, several square miles in total. The illuminated area is covered in dense, jungle-like growth. An unknown danger lurks in the depths of this vegetation and few venture in. Fruit trees and some vegetable gardens have been cultivated along the margins of the jungle area, providing the traders on the island with expensive delicacies for the nobility in Sakar.
The Waterfalls: There are a series of waterfalls along the northern edge of the lake. The tallest, Thunder Throat, is the one closest to the Emerald Isle. Even from a distance of five miles it still bathes the Isle in mist.
A favorite spot for drow to go for a short trip is to one of the small islands and outcroppings around the Three Sisters, a set of three smaller waterfalls about half way to the Throat. These waterfalls, along with a few sub-surface thermal vents, keep the water in the lake warm.
By far the most beautiful of the falls is Spider Falls, adjacent to Sakar. At one time this was a single fall almost as powerful as the Throat, but over time the drow have broken it into dozens of smaller falls and have backlit the falls with dazzling displays of permanent faerie fire and other illuminations.
The Whirlpools: There are two whirlpools at the southern end of the lake. The one near the dead lands leads to depths unknown. The second empties into a tunnel leading to the waters claimed by the kuo-tao. There are dozens of underwater tunnels leading into and out of the Black Lake. The discovery that some of these flooded tunnels penetrated the Great Divide is what led to the establishment of Sakar.
History: The city of Sakar-hath-Aswabair (Castle on the Black Lake) was established over a millennium ago as a trading outpost along the Lava Road. Adventurous inhabitants of the city began to explore the lake they lived next to. The famous adventurer known as Purple Tongue was the first to discover the underwater tunnels and to find that they lead past the Great Divide. Up until then the Great Divide had been an impenetrable barrier running almost a thousand miles through the Underdark. By penetrating this barrier the explorers of Sakar provided the one and only link between two large sections of the Underdark.
Sakar grew very rich within a few generations, but remained small. Underwater transports were cramped, expensive, and difficult to operate. Then came the Tamrin family. The arrival of the Tamrin family in Sakar is shrouded in mystery and rumor. Some claim they were “surface drow”. Others claim they came from another world. Wherever they came from they certainly changed the history of Sakar with what they brought with them – the secrets of the bioships.
The great bioships are unique in the Realms. Think of them as a cross between a large whale and a large ship. Their true nature remains one of the most closely guarded secrets in the Underdark. Whatever their nature and origin, they enabled the Tamrin and Sakar to greatly expand the amount of trade through the Great Divide. Now instead of a few small but expensive trinkets, the traders could now transport bulk goods.
Once the Tamrin fleet of bioships matured the fortunes of Sakar took off. They grew rapidly over a scant fifty years from a small but rich trading post to the largest drow city in the Underdark.
But this growth did not go without notice. The elven kingdom in Myth Drannor heard rumors of a great drow city practically at their doorstep. King Emsindil the Seventh launched a jihad against Sakar. The city was strong enough to survive the crusade, but its heyday of growth and prosperity was over. It remains an economic powerhouse in the Underdark, but has never regained supremacy, in part because of the rise of Jaish in response to Emsindil’s jihad.
Over the past few centuries Sakar has gradually matured and stabilized. While other routes through the Great Divide have been discovered and exploited, the bioships of Sakar remain the primary link through the barrier. Sakar has survived several minor attempts from humans to expand into their territory. Today the greatest threats come from the increasing kuo-tao activity in the region and from internal strife.
Power in Sakar: Sakar is governed by the High Council. Matrons of the eight noble houses of Sakar sit on the council. The Council is advised by several other individuals and groups in the city. These advisors are known as the Speakers.
The Eight Noble Houses of Sakar are (in order of relative power) Furpan, Zimrath, Tamrin, Oostfalni, Uraqwithai, Aswadain, Him, and Amirsaqut. Houses Furpan, Zimrath, and Tamrin control 90% of the bioship trade moving through Sakar. Matron Crystal of House Furpan is the most powerful individual in the city. House Oostfalni has purchased their nobility with the proceeds of their wildly popular gem market. House Uraqwithai controls most of the food production in the Bubble. House Aswadain is known for their mercenary forces and mining ventures. House Him has made their name in banking and financial services. House Amirsaqut is the newest and most controversial member of the Council. They maintain extensive contacts with the “lesser races”, including trade contacts with the surface world.
Groups or individuals associated with the Speakers include:
The four to eight matrons of the lesser noble houses in Sakar.
The Weaponsmaster of Bait Asliah.
The High Witch of Burj Da’iman.
The Three High Priestesses of the Qasr arRaisa
A representative of the Breeder’s Guild
In addition there are rumors about other shadowy figures advising the Council including guildmasters from other guilds in the city (including a powerful thieves’ guild), ambassadors from other powerful drow cities, including Jaish, and even rumors about ambassadors from other powerful but non-drow cities in the Underdark.
Layout:
Sakar is divided into many tiers or Tabaqs stacked one above the other as they fall down a gentle slope along the northern wall of the Bubble. These tiers range in size from a few square meters to several hundred square meters across and are often separated by 50’ or more. Magic items enabling one to levitate are a common item in the city, especially in the upper tabaqs where the distances between tabaqs grows considerably. There are many tabaqs down near the shoreline. As they ascend, the tabaqs become smaller and fewer, forming an effect like what one would see on the side of a pyramid, slowly tapering to a point. At the top of the city the Qasr arRaisa hovers over a mile above the surface of the lake below.
The lower tabaqs descend down to the level of the lake. These lower tabaqs hold the trading companies, warehouses, and the docks which are the lifeblood of Sakar. The different races which come to Sakar to trade are housed here. Druegar, Illithid, kenku, and even the occasional Sahuagin can be found here. One of the noble houses, House Amirsaqut, actually has their compound down in this area. The Breeder’s Guild, an offshoot of the Tamrin family, holds the secret of raising and piloting the great bioships. The Guild is a male-only fraternity.
Between the lower and middle tabaqs is a strip of commercial enterprises, included the famed Market of Rainbows, the largest gem market in the Underdark. Sakar is also known for its wide selection of arms and armor (of both Drow and Fire Giant manufacture), slaves (quite popular), and information. The Thieves’ Guild in Sakar is known for having “branches” throughout the Underdark.
The middle tabaqs hold most of the citizenry of Sakar, with one’s rank determining how high up the slope one lives. The compounds of the noble houses each span over one or even several of the upper tabaqs.
At the very top of the slope housing Sakar are two large buildings. The first is the Bait Asliah, or House of Weapons. It is primarily built back into the cliff face above Sakar. The second is the Qasr arRaisa, or Citadel of the Queen. The Citadel is the main Temple of Lloth in the city and also serves to train young drow females in the Priestesshood. It is built out from the cliff face and literally hangs over the compounds of the noble houses on the upper tabaqs.
While Sakar herself is a marvel of engineering, the crown jewel is the Burj Da’iman or Tower of Eternity, the Mage school. The original Tower was built inside a huge hollowed out stalactite which hung from the ceiling of the Bubble over Sakar. Over the years they have expanded the edifice, to where now it looks like a huge tower built upside down. The tower is home to over 200 students at any given time.
All is not peaceful in Sakar. Besides the internal strife common to all major Drow cities, Sakar has been waging a running war with kuo-tao for over a generation. The Black Lake is linked through several underwater passages to a huge underground sea to the south. The kuo-tao have many cities around the periphery of this sea. The High Council wishes to expand Sakar’s trading empire into this area, but so far the kuo-tao have resisted their incursions. Hardly a month goes by without kuo-taon raiding parties popping up somewhere in the Black Lake area.