Deep Roads
The Deep Roads are a grand network of enormous underground tunnels that once belonged to the dwarven empire, spanning the length and breadth of Thedas.
Geography
When many people think of the Deep Roads, they think of rocky, dark caverns for as far as the eye can see. This is true for some regions, but incorrect when describing the vast majority of the Deep Roads. The underbelly of Thedas is filled with unique environs that could never be found on the surface. To the knowledge of a common folk, there is no tales considered official enough that describe these environs. This hasn't stopped stories from emerging. Some speak of unbearably hot terrains where the walls emit ash and hot air which swirls the ash into creating storms, not unlike a desert and sand. Others tell of portions of the Deep Roads which are filled with electric blue waters that create beautiful waterfalls and oases, but with the water being more acidic than anything seen on the surface.
Natural Resources
The Deep Roads is known to the most common finding place of the nug.
History
The Deep Roads once linked the dwarven thaigs, or great underground cities, with one another and to the surface. These subterranean highways were works of unparalleled artisan achievement, with centuries of planning and engineering demonstrated in the geometry of their walls. Statues of the Paragons watched over passing travelers, and channels carried a flow of magma that kept the Deep Roads lit and warm.
During a portion of history where human nations were warring amongst one another, the dwarves had their underground kingdom cover the entire span of Thedas. As history continued, horrors and monstrosities began appearing in the networks that bridged together the thaigs. This led to the dwarves not being able to travel between different thaigs. Many of the thaigs had relied upon one another for trade, resources, and man-power. Groups came together to fight these horrors, but were ultimately unsuccessful. Slowly, all of the thaigs but Orzammar were choked out and their people killed off. Those few who remained fled to Orzammar.
Ever since, the Deep Roads have been considered far too dangerous for any normal dwarf to pass through. A group known as the Legion of the Dead exist with the sole purpose of protecting Orzammar from these monstrosities destroying what little remains of the once great dwarven empire. These dwarves are some of the best warriors, possibly from across all of Thedas. They know the strange, forgotten secrets of their lost empire and teach their members the ways in which to exist in such a constantly dangerous place. When dwarves join the Legion, it is permanent. They undergo certain rites and attend a ritualistic funeral for themselves before leaving the safe confines of Orzammar.
Entrances to the Deep Roads take the form of octagonal steel doors decorated with geometric patterns that may form words or patterns. They are sealed, impenetrable by any explosives let alone the hands of even the strongest man. There are ways to open them, but they are tight-lipped secrets.
It is truly unfortunate that the Deep Roads have been mostly loss since it is an unparalleled artisan achievement, with centuries of planning and engineering demonstrated in the geometry of their walls. Supposedly, if one looks hard enough when down there, they can see the corruption of the stone created by the monstrosities that poison the Deep Roads.
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