Catacombs
The average Argentiian would be shocked to learn that the majority of the population of Crossroads Island lives underground. For every person who houses on the surface, there are two who house below.
Geography
There are two distinct types of tunnels within the catacombs, the smoothly vitrified tunnels that are original to the geologic formation of the island and the hand-carved tunnels made by People.
Legend tells that the natural tunnels and caverns were once the home of a great dragon. The most daring of these tales claim that all of Capitalla was once home to U the Chaotic. It is equally likely that the vitrification of the walls was caused by hot lava carving through soft rock before finding harder, denser material that it could not so quickly melt.
The natural tunnels wind and wave like a serpent, possibly where the legends of being dragon-built originated. Many of the hand excavations have been from a need for quicker -- and safer! -- routes of passage. Shortcuts through walls where a path doubles back on itself and other such conveniences allow for the longer, untraveled routes to be used for storage and living space.
Ecosystem
The catacombs are surprisingly rich in biodiversity, from moss and fungus to bats and lizards.
Tourism
The Reliquary and its associated processes and history have provided a tourist destination within the catacombs themselves: a museum of relics that have been donated, gone unclaimed, or have outlasted their lineage.
Beyond its educational and revenue benefits, the museum alleviates some of the above-ground crowding during the busiest parts of the year such as the Summer Solstice Sage Sprint and the Autumn Harvest Festival.
Welcome to the Underworld!
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