Ilvarandin
The Vault of Ilvarandin is located in Orv, deepest of the levels of the Darklands. The entire cavern is a single, gigantic city that is largely uninhabited, earning it the title of the Mute Metropolis. At the heart of the Vault lies a relatively small section that is inhabited named High Ilvarandin, and is the center of intellect devourer culture in the Darklands.1 It is perhaps best known on the surface world through the poem Ilvarandin by Vumeshki.2
History
The city is incredibly ancient—some believe it was built by the Vault Keepers themselves. Its buildings have been built in a number of architectural styles, some of which are apparently unique,1 but having an ancient Azlanti character. It consists of gigantic plazas, small, winding streets, high towers, domes, and arched bridges.34
During Earthfall, a group of surface elves took refuge in the western part of the ruins, but fell prey to intellect devourers of High Ilvarandin. A handful of elves escaped to the surface and spread tales of Ilvarandin's horrors. The intellect devourers have since adopted more subtle tactics, spreading word that Ilvarandin is a subterranean utopia in order to try to lure fresh victims to the city.5 However, they also attracted unwanted attention. The neothelids of Denebrum have resolved to destroy the intellect devourers, and their army is now encamped in the northeastern district.5
Geography
The Vault of Ilvarandin is hundreds of miles wide, and is bisected by the Irikusk River. To its north lies the Vault of Denebrum, the Midnight Mountains are to the east, Doga-Delloth to the south, and the Sightless Sea to the west. In surface-world terms, it is located beneath northwestern Cheliax.67 The entire Vault is lit by phosphorescent spores that hang high in the air above the abandoned city.3
Districts
As Ilvarandin is a largely uninhabited city the size of a country, it can usefully be broken down into nine major districts, each with its own architectural style and varied inhabitants.5
Ajamote
The collapsed district of Ajamote8 is inhabited by gugs, making this passage to the Midnight Mountains a risky endeavor.[citation needed]
Aumentral
This region is now controlled by the armies of the neothelids. Its varied architecture is a mix of old Garundi styles and primitive stone buildings. Its main features are a vast chasm and a fungal swamp.
The main inhabitants are the minions of the neothelids—seugathi and worms that walk. However, there are also svirfneblin in the chasm, who sometimes risk the dangerous depths to recover gemstones of great quality. They claim the depths of the rift are incredibly hot, and home to monstrous ghorazaghs.9
A strange fungal version of the shambling mound can be found in the fungal swamp. These creatures often carry other dangerous fungi, such as yellow mold.10
Duskport
The waterfront district of Duskport stands on the Irikusk River where it meets the Sightless Sea. Its inhabitants include drow, duergar, tieflings, mongrelfolk, and humans. There is a temple here to the demon lord Socothbenoth. The district is a gateway to trade across the Sightless Sea, and is ruled by a mysterious figure known as the Rakehell.11
Otha-Thola
The district of Otha-Thola also stands on the shores of the Sightless Sea, and is south of Duskport. The architecture here is mainly in elven style and extends into the sea, where lacedons have settled. Alghollthus and enslaved skum live in the shallow water, while free skum live on land. There is a tall plateau in the southern part of the district, which is home to a tribe of mongrelfolk.11
Scales
The eastern district is known as the Scales, named after the disease of the same name, which is rife in the district. Much of the architecture is in the serpentfolk style, but there are also massive ruins in the southeast in the style of the cyclopes. The inhabitants of this region are fearsome gugs, led by four large specimens which are actually hosts for intellect devourers.11
Urkalla
The architecture of this region is in the troglodyte style. It is currently controlled by urdefhans who have scavenged the buildings for materials to build their fortress of Irith-Arnakian. It is ruled by the warlord Vilthanter, who ensures the safe passage of merchants.11
Warrens
The Warrens is Ilvarandin's southern mountain district. The architecture varies, but the two most common styles are dwarven and the style of ancient Thassilon. There are few intelligent creatures here, but the most common are the dero, svirfneblin, and duergar. Its main feature is the Builder's Mark, a massive crater three miles in diameter. Great stairs lead down to the bottom of the crater, which appears to hold nothing of interest. According to legend, there is a secret entrance somewhere down there which leads to the personal domain of one of the Vault Builders. The dero mine the crater floor but their progress is hampered by a strange black sludge that seeps into their tunnels; they cart this away and use it to make clay golems.11
High Ilvarandin
In contrast to the rest of the city, High Ilvarandin is full of life. Unfortunately, it is life dominated by the intellect devourers.11
Trade
The intellect devourers are avid consumers of luxury goods, and have a thriving trade with the Denizens of Leng; the black ships of Leng are a familiar sight in Duskport (Ilvarandin's main access to the Sightless Sea), and on the Irikusk River. Other races also trade in Duskport, and land-borne trade mainly arrives from the south, via the district of Urkalla.8
References
For additional resources, see the Meta page.
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 James Jacobs and Greg A. Vaughan. (2008). Into the Darklands, p. 49–50. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-140-4
- ↑ Tim Hitchcock, Brandon Hodge, Michael Kortes, Jason Nelson, Russ Taylor. (2011). Lost Cities of Golarion, p. 5. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-272-2
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 James Jacobs et al. (2011). "The Inner Sea". The Inner Sea World Guide, p. 61. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-269-2
- ↑ Robert Brookes, Eleanor Ferron, Michelle Jones, Alex Riggs, and Nicholas Wasko. (2017). Heroes of the Darklands, p. 23. Paizo Inc. ISBN 978-1-60125-936-3
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Tim Hitchcock, Brandon Hodge, Michael Kortes, Jason Nelson, Russ Taylor. (2011). Lost Cities of Golarion, p. 5–7. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-272-2
- ↑ Tim Hitchcock, Brandon Hodge, Michael Kortes, Jason Nelson, Russ Taylor. (2011). Lost Cities of Golarion, p. Inside front cover. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-272-2
- ↑ Tim Hitchcock, Brandon Hodge, Michael Kortes, Jason Nelson, Russ Taylor. (2011). Lost Cities of Golarion, p. 6. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-272-2
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Tim Hitchcock, Brandon Hodge, Michael Kortes, Jason Nelson, Russ Taylor. (2011). Lost Cities of Golarion, p. 7. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-272-2
- ↑ Tim Hitchcock, Brandon Hodge, Michael Kortes, Jason Nelson, Russ Taylor. (2011). Lost Cities of Golarion, p. 7–8. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-272-2
- ↑ Tim Hitchcock, Brandon Hodge, Michael Kortes, Jason Nelson, Russ Taylor. (2011). Lost Cities of Golarion, p. 12. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-272-2
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 Tim Hitchcock, Brandon Hodge, Michael Kortes, Jason Nelson, Russ Taylor. (2011). Lost Cities of Golarion, p. 8. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-272-2
