The Brightest Cave
"This way!" Kate tugged at her friend's hand, pulling her further through the tunnels. "The light, see? The light. Light means sun. Sun means a way out! So-"
She turned the corner, light spilling out onto her face, and her words died in her throat.
The tunnel before her opened out, upwards, outwards, stretching up until it was consumed by clouds, and wide until all features were lost in the distance. She stood on the cusp of the darkness, the path at her feet snaking downwards, getting smaller and smaller as it led down past gently glowing crystals larger than houses into a mist-wreathed forest of green and red and beige, so far away as that the plants merged into a vibrant patchwork and there, in the distant heart of that colour was a lake of shimmering light, smooth as glass and brilliant as diamond.
The world was silent but for their breathing. For a short and perfect moment, the beauty had washed everything away.
Then, all too soon, the peace was broken.
"I think" Jade said softly, staring out at the view before them as her words reverberated in the air, echoing quieter and quieter until they faded into nothing "you might have gotten us lost."
The tunnel before her opened out, upwards, outwards, stretching up until it was consumed by clouds, and wide until all features were lost in the distance. She stood on the cusp of the darkness, the path at her feet snaking downwards, getting smaller and smaller as it led down past gently glowing crystals larger than houses into a mist-wreathed forest of green and red and beige, so far away as that the plants merged into a vibrant patchwork and there, in the distant heart of that colour was a lake of shimmering light, smooth as glass and brilliant as diamond.
The world was silent but for their breathing. For a short and perfect moment, the beauty had washed everything away.
Then, all too soon, the peace was broken.
"I think" Jade said softly, staring out at the view before them as her words reverberated in the air, echoing quieter and quieter until they faded into nothing "you might have gotten us lost."
Geography
The brightest cave is, as the name suggests, a cavern that is both incredibly large and incredibly well-lit, with the ceilings, walls and floor dotted with crystals of incredible size that glow brightly. It is so large that it seems to have it's own weather system, with clouds forming in the cathedral-like domed roof, occasionally breaking down into rain that catches the light like tiny jewels as it falls to the ground.
The light combined with the damp air means that there are multitudes of plant and fungi that flourish here, and with them many animals who make the cavern their home. It has many smaller cave passages that lead in and out of it (though some of them are larger than others) and some are more frequented, with crude paths worn into the ground. The main north passage has the clearest path, where is has been hewn winding side to side with tall banks, since it goes up a particularly steep hill.
The cavern also contains a large freshwater lake, with a small river that flows into it. This is home to many fish, crustaceans and multitudes of amphibians. There are two large and sturdy rowboats at the north and south banks, tied to posts.
By the south shore of the lake there are twelve mounds of rock, with rounded slabs of the glowing crystals above them, messages carved into each. These are kept clear of overgrowth and detritus, with careful, reverent care.
The light combined with the damp air means that there are multitudes of plant and fungi that flourish here, and with them many animals who make the cavern their home. It has many smaller cave passages that lead in and out of it (though some of them are larger than others) and some are more frequented, with crude paths worn into the ground. The main north passage has the clearest path, where is has been hewn winding side to side with tall banks, since it goes up a particularly steep hill.
The cavern also contains a large freshwater lake, with a small river that flows into it. This is home to many fish, crustaceans and multitudes of amphibians. There are two large and sturdy rowboats at the north and south banks, tied to posts.
By the south shore of the lake there are twelve mounds of rock, with rounded slabs of the glowing crystals above them, messages carved into each. These are kept clear of overgrowth and detritus, with careful, reverent care.
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At the west shore, where the ferns and fungi part in a clearing, there is a large stone circle, dotted with small crystal chunks and a large firepit at the centre. The ground is worn with all the footfall here, as this area is used for ceremonies and all manner of celebration.
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(Exactly what is being celebrated or what the ceremonies are for is knowledge that only the monsters know, and even some of them don't always seem to be certain. It seems to have something to do with the crystals, the stone mounds, food, magic and, occasionally, getting very, very drunk.)
Fauna & Flora
Flora
Bioluminescent moss grows along the walls.Fungus of many different kinds, some large some small. Some dangle down from the ceiling, some form giant caps amongst the ferns, some cluster along the sidelines. Some are large as trees.
Ferns grow here too, carpeting the spongy ground and filling the air with their spores. They grow to all sizes, from miniscule to tree-sized.
The lake has all manner of waterborne plants.
Here and there, flowering plants can also be seen, usually either clustering around the crystals to bask in their light or climbing up the taller ferns.
Fauna
A smaller subspecies of megapede are seen often in here. They, like many other things that live in this cave, are capable of bioluminescence.Alongside them are many other insects and invertebrates, and like most fauna in Argyle they can grow to astounding proportions.
There are multitudes of amphibians here, owing to the high humidity levels, with many fish species also present.
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All of the monsters that live here do so in a careful manner; they are aware of how special this cavern is and what it means so they try to live here in the least damaging ways that they can; only taking what they need, and never enough that what they have taken will not be replenished.
Natural Resources
Water- There is an abundance of fresh water here, from the lake, the river and the rainclouds. It is all seemingly safe to drink, even if the lake glows sometimes.
Wood- The larger ferns can be cut down for wood. The leaves can also be taken, and the fibres inside them used to make a simple twine.
Crystal- The glowing crystals of the cavern are hard to break, but it is possible to remove small chunks of them. It is generally frowned upon to take more than three small pieces, since
Reeds- There are large, incredibly tough reeds by the banks of the lake, which can be cut and dried to make flutes, or rafts, or canes, or any multitude of things. They are strong, buoyant and smell very fresh when cut.
Chitin- The heavy, occasionally iridescent cast of shells of large insects can be found dotted around the cavern in neat piles. These are one of the few things that it is perfectly fine to take large amounts of, since they are of no further use if they are not taken and used by something. Depending on what they came from and which parts they are, the shed shells can be used for armour, sharpened into cutting instruments, hewn into tools or furniture or building slabs, used as shelters for smaller creatures or kept as decoration.
Stone- Technically speaking there is a lot of stone here, but it is not really something that is taken. Occasionally small holes are carved out of the wall, and the rock left behind is used, but for the most part it is left as is.
Fungus- There are many types of fungi here, and the majority of them are edible, good for lighting fires with or a combination of both. Some are used to make alcoholic drinks along with flowers and sweet liquids such as honey, golden syrup or flower nectars that are occasionally brought down from the surface.
Meat and fish- Though the creatures down here are odd and often seem very unappetising, many of them can be eaten.
Wood- The larger ferns can be cut down for wood. The leaves can also be taken, and the fibres inside them used to make a simple twine.
Crystal- The glowing crystals of the cavern are hard to break, but it is possible to remove small chunks of them. It is generally frowned upon to take more than three small pieces, since
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the crystals are very important to the cavern's inhabitants.
Reeds- There are large, incredibly tough reeds by the banks of the lake, which can be cut and dried to make flutes, or rafts, or canes, or any multitude of things. They are strong, buoyant and smell very fresh when cut.
Chitin- The heavy, occasionally iridescent cast of shells of large insects can be found dotted around the cavern in neat piles. These are one of the few things that it is perfectly fine to take large amounts of, since they are of no further use if they are not taken and used by something. Depending on what they came from and which parts they are, the shed shells can be used for armour, sharpened into cutting instruments, hewn into tools or furniture or building slabs, used as shelters for smaller creatures or kept as decoration.
Stone- Technically speaking there is a lot of stone here, but it is not really something that is taken. Occasionally small holes are carved out of the wall, and the rock left behind is used, but for the most part it is left as is.
Fungus- There are many types of fungi here, and the majority of them are edible, good for lighting fires with or a combination of both. Some are used to make alcoholic drinks along with flowers and sweet liquids such as honey, golden syrup or flower nectars that are occasionally brought down from the surface.
Meat and fish- Though the creatures down here are odd and often seem very unappetising, many of them can be eaten.
Maps
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The Brightest Cave Sideview Map
A side on map of the brightest cave, with a scale grid and a red mark representing a 5'5" person.
Type
Cave
Location under
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