The Grottos are pockets in the second layer of the Subterranean Realm. The second layer is mostly stone, earth, and water. The Grottos are massive, nation-sized caverns that exist within it. Some are fantastical places with surprising verdance, while others are normal caves shaped into homes.

The Chthonian City-States:

1. Andarakh: Under the southern polar regions, the Andarakhian chthonian nation dwells in caverns of ice.
2. Anghalak: The beautiful, jeweled city-state of the Anghalakian chthonians is under Mahad.
3. Dohallam: The diligent Dohallamian chthonians have fashioned a beautiful city of stone and metal under Ansulym.
4. Eltimot: The legendary clay city of the Eltimoti chthonians must be seen beneath Palhur to be believed.
5. Hendaral: Under Mati, the Hendaralian chthonians have fashioned a wonder of creation out of craftsmanship and strange vegetation.
6. Jolth: The Jolthian chthonians dwell in the domain created by the waterfalls of Taggarus, deep below the surface.
7. Khezemeer: The city-state of the Khezemeerian chthonians is nearly impossible to find, deep beneath the bottom of the Palhuric Ocean, but there, they dwell in beautiful forests and speak no lies.
8. Laskar: The Laskarian chthonians have built a city under Dabusen in a realm of complex tunnels.
9. Nanhuruk: Under the bottom of the Altic Ocean, the Nanhurukian chthonians dwell in an impossible fortress city-state that protects the next level of the tunnel leading down toward the Spirit Gate in Shadowdeep.
10. Phulskaen: The Phulskaenean chthonians dwell in the ruins of a once-powerful city-state that was etched with the Law, where they keep others away from such powers.

The Gnomish City-States:

1. Thokny: The spelunker gnomes live in an impossibly complex city-state beneath Lyrilla.
2. Ruggedo's Domain is ruled by the mad gnomish king who tried to conquer Uord above him in Palhur.
3. Negko is a mixed gnomish city-state beneath Taggarus where illegal experiments are carried out.
4. Murvoh is the ruins of the original settlement where that eventually became Negko. it is not far from Negko under Taggarus.

Other:

1. Roots of the World expand through this layer.
2. Quelluria is the ashurite city-state of networks beneath Cassaru.
3. Calund is a deep city under Palhur that is home to outcasts from all over the world.
4. Nuralle-Ghom is a deep city of horrors, eldritch abominations, and mad, buried warlords.