The Black Depths, the World Webs, the Lands Below. Most commonly called the Underdark, this parallel dimension lies close to the surface (both figuratively and literally) of the material plane. This realm is composed of various grades of rock and stone, most thought to be inaccessible, let alone inhabitable save for a scattering of pockets of air and water connected by winding tunnels. Thought to be the discard early versions of a world formed by the gods, only to be buried underneath Rynn, the Underdark is a land of forgotten potential. Yet, despite its forsaken past, its persisted through the ages, offering shelter to exiles, displaced, and secretive creatures.
Regions of Terra Duhr
Territories (Major Cities)
Territories (Major Cities)
Territories (Major Cities)
Territories (Major Cities)
Territories (Major Cities)
Territories (Major Cities)
Features
The Underdark bears little resemblance to any other world or planar realm. There are no great forests, no open praries, no great harmony of birdsong or wolfhowl. A windless, sunless land seemingly devoid of all that makes life possible. And yet, in this desolate place, struggles for life abound around deep secrets and ancient struggles.
Moving through the Underdark is an arduous process, even under the best conditions. With no light, travelers are dependent on artificial light and domestic or native beasts that rely on non-visual senses to navigate the dark paths. Jagged, uneven terrain is common, and require a level of fitness that is not common among surface dwellers - such a realm does not accommodate disability or inadequacy easily. And even if you can find a path, and are fit enough to walk the Umbral Road, one must contend with often hostile wildlife that often rely an ambush or poison to take out any potential prey.
Duhrian Crossings
The nature of the Underdark is one of vast impenetrable rock punctuated by pockets of hospitable terrain, and connected by a mixture of physical and inter-planar tunnels. Terra Duhr is often regarded as the ‘roots’ of the world, and inter-connective portals that tie these otherwise disparate oases to both the upper planes as well each other serve to reinforce this facsimile. And because of the chaotic magic inherent in the nature of planar travel, connections between points often shift. Only with vast powers of precognition or careful record keeping can any force utilize these connections to their benefit.
Starstone Hollows
The notion of robust societies and civilizations flourishing in a sunless realm would truly be a fantasy were it not for the bounty of subterranean oases that bubble up through the rock. Known as Starstone Hollows, these massive caverns are speckled with passively luminescent veins of crystal ore that glows a faint silver. While the light is not enough to simulate much more than faint moonlight, the light does allow for the growth of subterranean flora.
The size of these hollows can range from a few thousand feet to hundreds of miles, serving as a foundation for simple, if fragile, ecosystem system. Be it a clear underground cistern, a glowing fungal forest, or just a fertile duhrian field, Starstone Hollows are rare points of light that allow life and civilization to flourish in an otherwise inhospitable world.
Primeval Cache
Were it not for the precious few oases in the Underdark, it is unlikely that anyone would seek to make such an area their home. However, there are treasures and mysteries in the deep that would still attract many an explorer. Between natural resources, magical anomalies, and peculiar denizens, the underdark holds wonders that are often lost to history. And if secrecy is your preference, there are few places better to hide knowledge than the world the gods buried.
Soul Waters
The spirits of the Soul Sea drift though all the realms of the cosmos, transmitting the will of the Astral Realm to all the other planes, including the Underdark. Unlike the other planes, however, the Soul Waters tend to collect and pool rather than simply dissipate over time. Over eons, reservoirs of these Soul Waters have accumulated in disconnected pockets throughout the Lands Below, serving as major sources of divine power. The greatest of these reservoirs, the
Niar'thae of Drossus, are immense boons to any who can control them.
Trite
Besides volcanic vents and recycled corpses of other creatures, one of the major reserves of energy in the Underdark is a substance known as Trite. Perhaps the greatest evidence that the Underdark was once a surface world, Trite are thought to be the remnants of vast forests over several millennia. Resembling a mixture of coal, wood, and mold, this semi-solid refuse is considered one of the most valuable resources in the Underdark. Trite is able to fertilize and grow fungi and other subterranean plants, allowing for the development of more complex food chains. For any civilization that exhibits ambition to be little more than scavengers, the utilization of Trite is of paramount importance to their success.
Map of the Underdark
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