The Underdark
The Underdark is a vast network of underground caverns and tunnels underneath the world of Aphirion as it is in other worlds across the multiverse. A world beneath the world, The Underdark is home to civilizations, ecosystems, and beasts all their own. Very rarely does a denizen of The Underdark venture to the surface but skirmishes have been known to break out sporadically. It has been said The Underdark houses connections to all the realms of the multiverse, tethering Aphirion to all of the known realms.
Geography
World Above
The surface area of Aphirion.
Upperdark
The first 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) below the surface. It was here where the surface dwellers and those in the Underdark most often met.
Middledark
Located 3 to 10 miles (4.8 to 16 kilometers) below the surface, this layer was where most of the Underdark cities were located.
Lowerdark
10 miles (16 kilometers) or more below the surface, the Lowerdark was where even those who knew the Underdark were loath to go
Ecosystem
The Underdark has no source for natural light save for the luminous fungi or rocks. Traveling through the passages of the Underdark can be treacherous. The passages can easily go from miles wide to impassably narrow.
Air can grow stale or poisonous in the Underdark. It contains explosive gases from underground volcanic activity or other deadly gases bubbling out of deep fissures in the rock. Bad air and poisonous fumes can collect in portions of tunnels and caves more or less isolated from the main vaults and caverns. Siphon-like tunnels holding water can trap these gases for a long time.
Ecosystem Cycles
Temperature remains stable and moderate year round and mostly depends on the depth and proximity to thermal activiy.
Fauna & Flora
Plant life and animal life could be as varied underground as on the surface. Ranging from small insects to shadow dragons, which set up their realms deep down. Plant life was unable to utilize sunlight as a source for energy, and thus took on strange forms adapted to life underground.
Often you will find aberrations and monstrosities here, some of which will crawl their way up to the World Above.
On the lowest rungs it's even said that fiends and demons make their lairs, waiting to strike at the heart of Aphirion.
Natural Resources
fungi and rare minerals
History
Races known to inhabit the Underdark:
- Humanoids
- Drow (dark elves)
- Duergar (gray dwarves)
- Goblins
- Kobolds
- Svirfneblin (deep gnomes)
- Fire Giants
- Ogres
- Trolls
Tourism
Give the danger of the Underdark it does not recieve many visitors. Occasionally an adventure will make the journey down to find some passage to another plane.
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Region
Included Locations
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