This is an updated guide to the various Councils and politics of Sschindylryn. The changes that have happened are a result of Fly-Infested Poetry and the upcoming server plotline Unmartyred, a brief synopsis of the changes as of 10/21/2026 are as follows:
Updates to the councils can and will develop with regard to future plots within the Underdark.
The remnant drow rulers of Sschindylryn
Allies: The Pale Council
Enemies: The Bleak Council, the Gold Council
Representatives: The heads and chosen diplomats of the various drow noble houses; most notable among them is Miz'ri Tlintearth, the matron of House Tlintearth.
Contributions: Sar'vex soldiers, wealth.
Mostly composed of drow from the northern districts, the Patient Council is what remains of the drow nobility and leadership after the dismantling of the war. While publicly satisfied and content with the new mercantile direction of the city, even their chosen name suggests otherwise. Many work behind the scenes to return control of the city to its rightful owners, which in their eyes, of course, is themselves. With the subsumation of the Red Council into the Gold Council and the latter's conflict between Zhentarim and Red Wizard mercantile interests, the Patient Council is content to wait for the surfacers to expend valuable resources fighting themselves.
The entrenched Duergar of Sschindylryn
Allies: The Gold Council, most notably the Red Wizards
Enemies: The Pale Council, The Bleak Council
Representatives: Zanrie Machinehammer, the current Overseer of the Spiteforges.
Contributions: Slaves, military equipment
The eastern districts and caverns have long been the domain of the regional Duergar. After the dismantling of Sschindylryn’s military, the deep dwarves took over the district entirely and dug in against possible reprisal. While the motives of the Duergar largely remain inscrutable, the clans currently seem focused on fortifying their territories and arming an increasingly concerning military force. With the Red Council's subsumation into the Gold Council, the Duergar have found themselves their diplomatic in with the merchant councils of Sschindylryn. As the Red Wizards strive to build influence among the mercantile interests of Sschindylryn, they employ the promise of Darksteel Council support or ire in an effort to sway those unsatisfied with premium magical wares.
The mercantile interests of Sschindylryn
Allies: The Bleak Council, the Darksteel Council
Enemies: The Patient Council, The Pale Council
Representatives: The most notable voices of the Gold Council are Khazark Luthain of the former Red Council and Commander Zethine Jaleel of the Zhentarim, other prominent mercantile interests are present within the council, but most submit to the factions of either the Red Wizards or the Zhentarim.
Contributions: Slaves, magical wares, surface trade connections
Composed of the mercantile elements of the central markets who have no direct allegiance to any of the other councils, these myriad business owners fall under the Golden Council. More recently, however, the Gold Council has taken on the Thayan Enclave of the former Red Council and been split down the middle by two factions within the council: the red wizards who promise the wares and trade deals of the Enclave as well as the Darksteel Council, and the Zhentarim whose numbers and presence have been diminished with the organization mobilizing much of their reserves to handle matters closer to home. In spite of such, the Zhentarim have access to connections and wares that opposes the Red Wizards and brings many merchants under the sway of their faction. With this division, the surface interests within Sschindylryn are weakened enough to draw the attention of the older inhabitants of the city, who view the factionalism as an opportunity to reclaim power.
The necromancers, the undead, and the Kiaranseelites of Sschindylryn
Allies: The Patient Council
Enemies: The Bleak Council, The Darksteel Council
Representatives: Iz'anth T'sarran, the vampire lord of Quarryspire
Contributions: Undead laborers and soldiers
Agents of undeath have a complicated history within the city, beginning with an internal war between Lolthite priestess that saw many of the cities clergy turn to Kiaransalee. In current eras, the cults have largely gone underground but remain represented by a powerful vampire from the Southern Districts. Their complex relationship with the city is strangely civil, and thus their place on the council remains. Their friendly relationship with the Patient council stems from the shared drow heritage of the two, a feeling not shared by the drow of the Bleak Council who are often food for the vampire lord's thralls. It doesn't help that undead laborers cut into their margins, either.
The union of commoners and laborers within Sschindylryn
Allies: The Gold Council, The Silent Council?
Enemies: The Patient Council, the Pale Council
Representatives: Dundrae and Marya Limechewer, the Lost Sun Encampment, Vladith Trau'sstyl
Contributions: Laborers, Population
The largest, yet simultaneously the weakest, of the councils, the Bleak Council represents a collective of commoners and laborers that slip through the cracks of the other organizations. Necessary to maintain and rebuild the city, but not powerful enough as a whole to stand up on their own. The svirfneblin stone carvers of the city are also part of this council. Their alliance with The Gold Council is one of necessity, for the best way that the Gold Council can maintain and grow its influence in Sschindylryn is by seizing the desperation of those disparate souls stick within it. Merchants of the Gold Council find and supply the laborers of the Bleak Council with all their undead exorcism needs in an effort to keep the laborers alive and unvampirized. Lately as well, a drow commoner has begun speaking up for the impoverished drow population within Sschindylryn, Vladith Trau'sstyl places the blame for Sschindylryn's current predicament solely on the shoulders of the Patient Council nobility who have betrayed the drow people with their decadence and laziness. None can say why he has not met an untimely end, yet rumours abound that the Silent Council seems to be keeping him safe from his rivals.
The Academy of Hungry Shadows
Allies: The Bleak Council
Enemies: None
Representatives: Tolokoph Cobalt, a flamboyant dragon-blooded drow, and "The Shadow of Sschindylryn", an unnamed and never-seen drow who is allegedly the Headmaster of the Academy.
Contributions: Intelligence, Threat elimination.
After the assault of shadows upon Sschindylryn and the later return of Leira in 1387, the Silent Council finally presented a representative in the form of Tolokoph Cobalt. His demeanor was very much not what was expected from the infamous academy, though none of the other representatives have dared to comment upon it. Politically, the Silent Council seems to be very drow-forward. Placing the interests of the drow above that of the other councils' politics. In spite of this, they do not appear to be wholly aligned with either the Patient or Pale councils. Allegedly offering support to a drow upstart within the Bleak Council's representatives.
The information below is considered OOC Knowledge and as such should never come up in regular roleplay. It is information that is intended to guide player decisions when applying for a character. It is the sort of information that, if it got out and was shared, would result in the silencing and possible death of those spreading it.
In truth, the Silent Council is run by the Vhaeraunites within Sschindylryn through two fronts: the Academy itself and secret operations of the Academy leadership. Not even Academy applicants and attendants themselves know the true goals of the inner circle. All that is known is that any who find themselves prying into the business of the Silent Council are never seen or heard from again.