Ulrea's Surprise

Ulrea's Surprise is a large underground area in the Desirelands containing remnants of an ancient Jav settlement. It was discovered by Ulrea Thistletoes, who stumbled upon it by accident. This pleasant surprise gives the location it's name.

Geography

The main feature is the large underground cavern, with a volume of about 1km³, in which a small Jav settlement was built. Fresh water both drips in steady, rhythmic drops from the ceiling and seeps down over the walls to the floor. The ceiling has partially collapsed at several spots, including a at the entrance/exit of the area that leads to the surface, a big chunk above a garden/park area of the settlement and multiple smaller chunks above some of the buildings. Even though the settlement itself is covered in a thick layer of sand and dust, the natural and untouched area of the cavern looks clean due to the natural flow of water. There are stalagmites, stalactites, pools with different colors of water with the color being caused by tiny, sometimes bioluminescent creatures in them and a couple of smaller caves that are attached to the main cavern as if they are additional rooms. Overall these natural parts of the cavern are very pleasing to the eye and make for beautiful images.

Fauna & Flora

The pools of water contain tiny creatures that give the water their unusual colors. There are two known types of creatures that made these pools their homes: Microchroma and Microluma. Both are living in and off the water, passively floating around and sticking to any walls they may encounter, and both cause the water to appear as if it has a color, while in fact the color comes from these creatures. The main difference between the Microchroma and Microluma is that the Microluma are capable of bioluminescence, creating a glow effect.

Alternative Name(s)

Ulrea's

Type

Underground / Subterranean