Cavern City of Carafon

The underground city of Carafon, more formally known as the Cavern City of Carafon is situated high in the Spine Mountains, close to the source of the Skeld River. In the illustration at the head of the article, we see the Silent Gate, one of the five great entrances to the city.

Geography

Carafon is seated under Carafon Hill, a sprawling rock formation high in the Spine Mountains, already riddled with natural caverns before the first mine workings were ever built. It is important to understand, that it is not at the peak of the range, however, sitting a little to the east of the highest ridges on the Skeld side of the mountains and enclosed in a bowl of higher summits to the west, north west and south west, which are the source of water courses that flow into the city. Internally, it has a complex multi-leveled structure, build around the caverns and a number of canals and managed bodies of water, with the main surface outflow to the north eventually joining with other tributaries to become the source of the Skeld River. The slope of underground fault lines below the mountains in the west, have created a watershed within the city which allows some of its water to flow beneath the Spine Mountains into the streams that feed the River Whisper.

Government

Carafon is a theocracy, under the control of the state religion promulgated by the Church of Hidden Radiance. The Church has supreme spiritual authority over all citizens of the cavern city and they appoint the Tyrant of Carafon to exercise authority as the secular ruler. The citizens of Carafon have little say in their government. They are expected to obey the laws and pay taxes to support the Tyrant and his lavish lifestyle. They are also required to follow the religious doctrines and rituals that are enforced by the priests. Those who disobey or dissent are punished harshly by public executions or banishment to the dark depths of the caverns.

Industry & Trade

Carafon - Silver Miners by DMFW with Midjourney

Carafon's primary source of income comes from mining. The city has access to rich seams of silver and gold. In addition, an intrusive dyke yields rubies and sapphires of high quality. The sapphires are known as "Carafon Blue" and there is a use even for the smallest and most fractured in certain kinds of arcane magic, whilst the largest and best formed are greatly prized in costume jewelry and by powerful mages. The miners work long hours in dangerous conditions to extract these resources from the earth. Some of them also explore deeper into the caverns, hoping to find new veins of rock which can be worked. Associated with mining, is the allied profession of jewelcrafting. Carafon is home to highly skilled jewellers, capable of cutting the Carafon Blue and the rubies and setting them in exquisite and delicate housings of silver and gold.

Carafon - Thyme Fields at Eral Crag Gate by DMFW with Midjourney

A secondary source of income comes from a trade in thyme which is grown on the south facing slopes of the local mountains. Thyme is a versatile herb that can be used for cooking, medicine and magic. It is especially prized for its ability to enhance other flavors and spices. The illustration shows the Eral Crag Gate entrance to the city which opens up on the south side. Here, close to the city, fields of thyme predominate. Lower in the valleys, other kinds of agriculture, including the keeping of cattle and sheep, help to feed the city. Speld spice, a rare and highly prized condoment, is made here, its sacred manufacturing process being a unique feature of the culture of the city and its export value worth almost as much as the thyme trade. The source of speld spice and its role within Carafon is explained in more depth in the articles about the dark flora of Carafon and the Festival of Thyme and Spice. Exports and imports go on one of three routes. The North Road leads to the source of the Skeld River and once this reaches Ilexshale, river transport can carry goods as far as Tarsal Landing on the coast. The Silent Pass climbs over the Spine Mountains in the west, before descending into the Silent Kingdoms. Downstream transport along the River Whisper is available at Spinegate. Last but not least, there is also trade to the south with the farmlands that feed the city and further on into the Skeld plain by road and river transport that eventually reaches Rustriss.

Infrastructure

The Cavern City of Carafon has long been a marvel of engineering, with its multi-layered caverns, intricate canal system, and carefully managed hydrology. However, what is less well-known is the city's sophisticated sewage system, which has helped keep its inhabitants healthy and safe for centuries. According to historical records, engineers recognized the importance of proper sewage management early on in the city's development. They built a network of pipes and channels to direct sewage away from populated areas and into designated waste disposal areas, which were strategically located to prevent contamination of drinking water. The engineers utilized natural features such as porous rock and sand to filter the sewage and the Outflow level, where most water escapes from the city, contains an impressive treatment facility which helps to ensure that the Carafon Stream remains as clean as possible, although it has to be said that incidents of pollution are not unknown. To further reduce the amount of waste that needs to be disposed of, the city's inhabitants are encouraged to compost their organic waste, which after suitable processing is exported for use as a fertilizer. Thanks to these innovative techniques and careful planning, Carafon has only rarely suffered from outbreaks of the water born diseases that might otherwise have blighted the city. Few people understand the important role that black resin plays in the management of water and sewage. A large underground city like Carafon, could not possibly support such a large population without it.

Districts

Carafon can be conveniently thought of as existing at eight levels, each with their own districts and features of interest. In addition there is a ninth "level", often called the far dark, where mines descend below the lowest of the permanently inhabited districts and there are even deeper natural cave systems that have yet to be developed. The remainder of this section describes each one in more detail.

Surface Region [Level 1]

Carafon - Tyrant's Palace Crown by DMFW with Night Cafe

Above ground, at the top of the hill is the crown of the Tyrant's Palace, which stands taller than all other buildings, providing him with an exclusive viewpoint over the open sunny expanses of the mountains. There are three major roads which can be seen from the top of the hill. The first, North Road, heads north along the eastern bank of the Carafon Stream, following it towards an eventual confluence at the source of the River Skeld. The second, the Silent Pass, leads west over the mountains towards the Silent Kingdoms and a third, the Skeld Road, runs south climbing slowly between the thyme fields of the southern valleys before reaching a saddle point where it descends out of sight towards the plains of Skeld. Each road is flanked by guard houses and customs posts. The five main city gates, also have encrustations of service buildings visible above ground but these do not extend far. Apart from a very few small farm buildings, the surface is otherwise clear. Successive Tyrants have followed a policy of reserving almost all the valuable sunlit lands to be open space, much of it given over to the thyme fields, some to other agriculture and some simply to provide recreational areas. The main farmlands which feed the city lie to the south in the lower foothills of the mountains and on the plains of Skeld.

Summit Zone [Level 2]

The Summit Zone is a relatively small oval area, just under the surface of the hill. It offers some limited openings to the air above, providing glimpses of natural light in places. The Root of the Tyrant's Palace occupies the centre of the zone with internal stairways leading to the Crown levels above ground. The Chapel of Contemplation, reserved as an official dwelling for the current Focus of Light also lies in this zone, which has otherwise been developed into a number of luxurious mansions owned by the city's wealthy elite, the Lords and Ladies of the Lode and two rich lineages of Thyme farmers. It is here, too, that you can find the discretely veiled doors to the House of Feathers.

Carafon - The House of Feathers - Pool Room by DMFW with Midjourney

Main Gates [Level 3]

There are five major gateways into the city, four of them situated on the level immediately below the summit zone, which is known as the Main Gates level. In the west, the Silent Gate is the start of the Silent Pass leading up the slopes of Kolfon Mountain and over the ridge of the Spine Mountains to drop down towards the River Whisper and the Silent Kingdoms. The descent into the city from the Silent Gate is shown at the head of the article. The North Gate opens up to a wide road, called simply the North Road, that drops in a series of looping switchbacks down to the Carafon Stream which it then follows towards the source of the River Skeld. The Silver Gate, sits in a narrow ravine a fraction north of due east, where a wide spur road emerges to join the North Road after a short distance.

Carafon : Silver Gate by DMFW with Midjourney

Finally, on this level, the Dawn Gate faces a fraction south of due East. The road that emerges from this gate, bends quickly further south and joins the Skeld Road which emerges from the Skeld Gate, further down the hill. Within the city the Main Gates level has a number of warehouses for the storage of imported goods and the marshalling of ones for export. It also has a residential district known as the Ternauld quarter. The most important building on this level, is the Cathedral of Hidden Radiance an opulent space designed to impress and the heart of the Church of Hidden Radiance where most of its important public services are conducted.

Carafon - The Cathedral of Hidden Radiance - Lower Altar by DMFW with Night Cafe

Upper Markets [Level 4]

The Upper Markets level sits at the point where the natural hillside meets rising ground to the south, east and west (although the land continues to fall away to the north). The Skeld Gate in the south is the last of the five great entrances to the city and opens up here for the Skeld Road, which winds up through the thyme fields before gradually descending to the plains of Skeld. The vast majority of the food for the city comes through the Skeld Gate. Four streams flowing down from the higher ground on the west and south, enter Carafon at this level, providing it with all its water as they become part the city's carefully managed hydrological system. The largest of these is the Kolfon flow which brings water from the Kolfon mountain and marks also the route of the Silent Pass into the uplands. Some smaller entrances and exits also give access to the thyme fields from this level. There are two market districts. The South Market, being close to the Skeld Gate has some natural light, including some windows in the stone that let in air and sunshine. It specialises in food sales.

Carafon - Upper Markets - South Market by DMFW with Night Cafe

The North Market trades more in the imported goods that come up the Skeld River, through the Silver Gate and the North Gate. It also offers an outlet for the products of local craft workers and jewelers. A network of canals, are used to transport people and goods around the Upper Markets. The water from the canals is allowed to drain to the Lower Markets level, but only under carefully controlled conditions to ensure there is no flooding and the flow is carefully regulated. The image below shows Fyne Passage, one of the canals which flows through the residential district of Fyne which is on the eastern edge of the city.

Carafon - Upper Markets Level - Fyne Passage by DMFW with Midjourney

Lower Markets [Level 5]

The Lower Markets level is the location of the Black Garden, where the dark Flora of Carafon is grown under botanically precise conditions. The Black Garden is open to the public. There are two more markets at this level, known as the Wet and the Dry Markets.

Carafon - Lower Markets - Dry Market by DMFW with Night Cafe

On this level, also, can be found the famous drinking establishment, simply known as Quoklin's and shown in the illustration below.

Carafon - Lower Markets Level - Quoklin's by DMFW with Midjourney

The Outflow [Level 6]

Carafon - Sewage Treatment by DMFW with Midjourney

This level is largely given over to alchemy, engineering and crafting trades, including the manufacture of the Black Resin. The Carafon Stream emerges from this level at the lowest point in the north, where the city hillside begins to rise from the contours of the mountainlands to become a distinct summit. This is where most of the water that enters the city, finally flows out of it, however, some fraction is channeled to the Warrens and beyond. Five large sealed settling tanks on this level keep the cities sewage and polluted water isolated and purify it before it is allowed to be released into the Carafon Stream. Where there is suitable connected pipework, this system includes some waste water pumped back up from the Warrens (using small steam engines to provide the power), but standards of santitation are generally lower in the lower levels below the Outflow.

The Warrens [Level 7]

Carafon - Warrens - Die Street by DMFW with Midjourney

Carafon - Warrens Alley by DMFW with Midjourney

The warrens are not only below the hill, but below the level of the surrounding land as well. As such they can extend wider in all directions. Almost half of the city's population lives in the warrens, which is largely given over to housing for the poor. There are many old mining tunnels at this level but they have long been worked out. The water supplies are not as well regulated here and the sewage facilities are more limited than they are in the levels at or above the outflow. Significant outbreaks of water borne diseases occur from time to time at this level and below.

The Lithos Street Chapel can be found in the warrens near the junction of Die Street and Lithos Street.

Carafon Deeps [Level 8]

The Carafon Deeps are the lowest permanently inhabited level in the city. Compared with the warrens above, it is relatively sparsely populated. There are warehouses down here which act as staging areas for tools and minerals that pass in and out of the mines in the far dark below. Water that drains to this level, having missed the outflow north via the Carafon Stream, is destined to travel under the mountains via old fault lines that lead to the western watershed of the River Whisper. Here can be found the Lake of Night's Home, an infamously deep body of silent and dark water. It is situated beyond Last Lock Gate and Rose Quay marks the boundary of the city. On the far side of the Lake are abandoned mineworkings that may lead to the surface.

The Underground Lake by DMFW with Bryce

Carafon - Gykula District by DMFW with Midjourney

The Carafon Deeps are largely given over to speld cultivation in some of the many natural caves, work supervised by the the Church. In the Gykula district of the Carafon Deeps, there are some dormitories which belong to the wealthy aristocrats who organise mining teams. These allow miners to sleep closer to the far dark where they work. The Gykula district also has some of the poorest dwellings in the entire city, with a service industry based on catering to the miners. It is notorious as a hideout for criminals and fugitives from justice.

The Far Dark [Level 9]

Carafon - Gold Miners by DMFW with Midjourney

At the eighth level and above, all the really valuable mining seams have been worked out, in some cases a very long time ago. The ongoing wealth of Carafon depends upon the exploitation of mines below the Carafon Deeps. This is a dangerous trade. Tunnel collapses are common, the work is hot, dirty and difficult and the miners are not well paid, but in the feudal social model which governs all city life, they are beholden to one or other of the Lords and Ladies of the Lode and have little option but to labour and often die here. There are rumours of strange sightings in the Far Dark too, and people sometimes go missing. It is just as well that the consolations of the Church of Hidden Radiance provide the devout with a holy reason for their work. So it is that silver, gold and gemstones continue to ascend to the upper levels and Carafon appears to be as rich as it ever was, despite subversive suggestions that even this far down, the most valuable seams may be close to exhaustion.

History

The original settlement, built in mineworking and natural caverns, is almost six hundred years old. It was originally part of the Western Prefecture of Skeld, but as it grew in size and strength it gained effective independence within a hundred years and it has long been a self governing city state with a wide influence over the whole of the Spine Mountains. Some think that it has aspirations to become the capital of its own nation state and whilst it has yet to attain that level of authority, the current leadership of Skeld from the capital of Rustriss, far to the east, already consider Carafon to be something of a rival power.