Irazas Caves

Geography

In the hilly grasslands north of Noe Bac, a system of caves runs just below the surface. Formed ages ago from mountain runoff, the Irazas caves predate the earliest settlers of Waihohn. The caves vary widely in size with some passages being just large enough to walk through, while others expand to great chambers as tall as 30ft. The Irazas cave system is largely uncharted due to the hazardous gasses that leech into the air from the deep pools of sulphur water. The caves are made largely of limestone and other sedimentary rock and in the higher chambers a few pools of safe freshwater exist.

Ecosystem

Given its hazards, the cave only homes a few species. Bugs are most common but the higher pools contain a few pale crabs and at its entrance, bats roost in day. In the deep pools of yellow water only extremophile bacteria and a unique fish, adapted to the pools, can survive. Only one of these fish has ever been caught with an absurdly long rod and thick line but it died and rotted before much could be learned in a proper lab setting.

History

The caves contain many artifacts of an ancient Saziir settlement though like with most relics of the Saziiri, it is mysterious and confounding in what information it can give of their ancient civilization. What remains of buildings carved into the caves is merely structural and what archeologists have braved the hazards of Irazas have found very little within the buildings aside from damaged ceramics and a few metal pots. This alone is interesting and was the first evidence of Saziir's casting of metal. The lack of bones and other telltale signs of civilization suggest the caves were intentionally cleared out at some point. Unfortunately the caves also tell a story of fires that scorched many of the cave walls. This fire is suspected to have been caused the sulphur found in the lower chambers though it unclear how the Saziiri lived here with the sulphur present. The hazardous conditions have prevented further investigation. Many rumours and myths have sprung up surrounding the history of the cave, the disappearance of its residents, and its relation to the larger disappearance of the Saziiri. There is enough reason to feasibly believe the Saziiri participated in some mass migration to another plane given what we know about their forefathers' interest in portals and the lack of refuse we find today. While there is logic to many of these beliefs, they are entirely guess work and though the myths of Irazas build off this guess work, their characters and events are founded only in fiction. A favourite myth of Irazas told in Stabherland is the following.
[Centuries ago, in the age of Saziir upon Waihohn, the caves of Irazas were a many’s home Merchants dealt in glistening baubles and potent blends of spice. The halls of Irazas echoed with haggling barks and bards plucked for those who’d hark But winding stairs descended into Tseol’s vice Irazas hid from light of Gods and in its shadow folk grew odd depravity became their coin Lii sparked the cave’s air to cleanse what had run from virtue and Irazas fled to Hell’s loin]

Type

Cave System