The Draconic Caverns

A network of winding tunnels in the mountains

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Venturing into the Draconic Caverns is like stepping into another world - a dark world of weird creatures and peculiar plant life. Somewhere in those black labyrinthine caves there must be treasure. I can feel it.

— An adventurer

Deep beneath the towering mountains of The Teeth is a vast network of immense caves. Over two thousand years ago, these caverns were the subterranean home of the earth dragons clans before their migration to live on the surface. Now, the winding tunnels and massive chambers below the mountains are home to a diverse collection of flora and fauna not seen anywhere else on Etrea.

Formation

by SilviaP_Design

The Draconic Caverns are not natural caves. They were carved out over the course of several centuries by the earth dragon clans who lived there.
What started out as separate cave networks eventually grew to link up the majority of earth dragon clans with each other. Whilst there are at least three other, smaller networks of caves hidden deep in The Teeth, the Draconic Caverns are the largest and most famous.
Entrances to the Draconic Caverns are usually well-hidden, nestled in the valleys between peaks. They are often disguised amongst boulders and rocks, and, in lower altitudes, in amongst deep foliage.

Exploration

In the two thousand years since earth dragons moved their homes to the surface, young earth dragons often explored the Caverns, either looking for adventure or to become closer to their ancient ancestors.

by Adam Bixby

In 4641 EA, an entrance to the Caverns was discovered by a group of Seruic men looking for a new location for a sapphire mine. Since then, the Caverns have held a deep allure to the adventurous and reckless. Scholars also became interested, both by the history of the Caverns and by the descriptions of unique plants and animals from those who had ventured inside. Older earth dragons sometimes acted as guides for scholars; they were often reluctant to help out mere adventurers and thrill-seekers, but some would - for a price.
Since the dragons' disappearance in 4803 EA, expeditions into the Draconic Caverns have become much more dangerous and deadly. Over time, some of the chambers and tunnels have collapsed and others are flooded. The vast winding nature of the Caverns means it is easy to get lost, and there is always the danger of a rockfall.

There are also rumours of a portal to Ashtakh, a dangerous plane of eldritch monstrosities, hidden deep inside. These rumours are so far unsubstantiated.

Flora and Fauna

I dare say there is more diversity in those caves than the rest of Serukis put together.

— A Seruic biologist

The most interesting thing about the Draconic Caverns is the sheer number of different species that call the cave system home. Scholars estimate that there are more than a thousand varieties of fungi alone.
One notable species of fungus that exists in the Caverns is the oozing mat. This fungus is a bright yellow variety of slime mould that lives in some of the more narrow passages in the Caverns. About the size of a dinner plate, this fungus slowly moves across the cave floor at the speed of several metres per day. It secretes acid and absorbs minerals from the surrounding rocks. If it comes across a carcass, however, it will happily feed off that for several days.

Also of note in the Caverns is the abyssal butterfly, which is the only known species of butterfly to spend its whole life underground. They live in the dark mushroom chambers their whole life. The caterpillars live on the cave floor, eating dead matter until it is time for them to spin their cocoon. As adults, they are a mixture of dark blue and black and about the size of an adult human's hand.

by gustavorezende

Structured Chaos

During the time the Caverns were home to the clans, each chamber was used for a specific purpose, such as growing food or waste management. This has had a marked effect on the flora and fauna in the Caverns, with some species only existing in one specific chamber in the entire cave network.

Garden Chambers

Originally used for growing food, medicine, or for aesthetic pleasure, these chambers are amongst the richest and most ecologically diverse.
Some were built close to the surface, where holes in the ceiling could let in beams of sunlight. Some of these chambers boast fruit-bearing trees and brightly-coloured flowers. Others are full of herbs or poisonous plants, and some scholars are convinced these chambers may contain the cure for some of Caia's devastating diseases, such as the wasting sickness.
When sunlight is not a concern, these chambers are deep underground, where the magic of the earth dragons allowed them to cultivate large colonies of fungus. Some of these deep chambers, though dark, are a riot of colour, as hundreds of varieties of fungus compete with each other for nutrients and space.

by stux

Hidden Pools

Some chambers were deliberately kept flooded, though the purpose for this has been lost to time. Some scholars have suggested that these chambers were used for the cultivation of fish or other underwater life, whilst others have suggested these may have been used for bathing.
These pools are often home to fish or amphibians. There is some evidence that some of these chambers are connected to the natural mountain lakes that pepper The Teeth, so some of these creatures may travel between these deep pools and the surface. Others spend their whole lives underground.

by Free-Photos

The Priests of Faolan's Heart

In the last hundred years, a splinter sect of the Priests of Faolan, the Monarch of Earth, built a small temple near the entrance to the Caverns. These priests do not believe that the Caverns were created by earth dragons, but instead believe that the Caverns are the physical manifestation of Faolan's heart. They are fiercely protective of the Caverns, so scholars now negotiate with them before entering the safer areas of the Caverns for study. Adventurers tend to sneak past.
The Priests of Faolan's Heart see the garden chambers in particular as sacred. There is only one that can be easily accessed without venturing too deeply into the Caverns. This chamber is cavernous with a single opening to the world above and a clear stream that flows along the edge. During the day, the sun shines directly down on a large, twisted tree that bursts with life. This tree is at the centre of many of the sect's most sacred rituals.