Tilphon's Journal of the Shadowdeep, part 1

From the Journal of Tilphon, Professor of Underground Geography at Shiell University, Alphatia

As you probably know, I was asked by the Shiell University to investigate the subterranean realms underneath the continent of Brun, particularly under the south-east quarter that holds such nations as Darokin, Alfheim, Rockhome and the Broken Lands. These underground expanses are often referred to by various names - the Underdark, the Lands Below and Darklands. However, they are most commonly referred to as the Shadowdeep, so that is the name I shall stick with for this journal. 

As one explorer I cannot comprehensively cover such a vast area on my own, so the reader will have to accept that these are simply my own observations - there may well be areas, features and species that I simply have not encountered. I suspect my journal will not be as famous or as studied as that of Prince Haldemmar of Haaken but I would like to think I can contribute something to the great libraries that are one of the greatest prides of our glorious Empire of Alphatia. 

My travels have led me to believe that there are specific realms that constitute the Shadowdeep, and though they are distinctive, they are also connected by tunnels. The realms that I am aware of include:

• Deep Nithia, including the now-sunken River Nithia underneath the deserts of the Emirates of Ylarum
• The Lower Broken Lands
• Realm of the Deep Glaurants under the Five Shires
• Realm of the Shadow Elves under Darokin, the Broken Lands and Alfheim

There are other minor areas of the Shadowdeep that connect to the greater whole but are not large enough to be considered proper Shadowdeep Realms, particularly

• The Tunnels under Thyatis City
• The Falun Caverns under Soderfjord
• Deep Dengar under the capital of Rockhome

And thus I set off. I decided it was best to travel solo, mainly to avoid logistical issues and also to keep the disturbance I might cause to a minimum. Thus with three Bags of Holding (rations and drink, spellbooks and writing equipment, camping and traveling equipment respectively) and my trusty Staff of the Magi doubling as a walking staff, I set off on my travels. I hitched a ride on skyship from Shiell, not sure if I would see my home city again, to the Isle of Dawn. I took the opportunity of the stay in East Portage to change from the traditional glyph-embroidered silk robes of a senior Alphatian wizard to something a little less attention-seeking - the rather more drab tunic and breeches of a small-time trader. Having been a well-to-do wizard of Alphatia with a good reputation and standing, it felt rather strange to become anonymous - both humbling but also a bit liberating. I took a horse to the border of the Thyatian territories and passed through unnoticed to West Portage, catching a sea vessel to Jaboor in Ylaruam. I forgot how seasick I get on the ocean waves and I was very glad to reach solid land again on 6th Sulamir 2001. 

Now my intended direction had become downwards rather than westwards, and I started searching for a suitable entrance to the Shadowdeep. This proved easier than expected: I was told that Jaboor's fresh water comes from wells going down into an underground river. Securing all my equipment and clothing, I dropped down the well using a Feather Fall spell and found myself waist deep in a cold underground watercourse, not too fast but definitely moving. I popped on my goggles of Infravision. The investigation had begun!

10th Sulamir 2001

My exact route is not certain but I am following this river course upstream. This water course is about 50ft wide, which is a lot smaller than I had expected the great river Nithia to be. I suspect this is a different underground river running parallel. I wonder if rather than one river system that all joins up to the Nithia there are numerous independent rivers that don't join until under the Sea of Dawn? The fact that I was able to get down into the river system deep beneath the Emirates almost as soon as I reached these shores indicates that these underground rivers are more widespread than I had expected. 

Various monstrous encounters on the way, but nothing I cannot handle.

Serpent folk - not well documented but clearly very intelligent and capable of magic use. They are hostile to most humans (including me!), which is a pity because as an academic I believe there is much the two species could learn from each other.  Just don't let them get close enough to bite! Chain Lightning spells disposed of them quickly enough. I have picked up one of their spellbooks, which will provide some interesting reading. 

Lizard Men - here they seem to be the footsoldiers and lackeys of the Serpent Folk. I should have brought a reference book about the long lost Mogreth civilization. I am sure that these lizard folk and serpent folk are connected to that period, and perhaps are the remnants of pre-human Nithia. These particular lizard folk are greyish of scaly skin and wield crude swords. 

Troglodytes - Filthy smelly creatures. So far I have encountered two groups of troglodytes in Deep Nithia - one seemed to be independent, the other allied with serpent folk. I am wondering how they fit into the ancient Mogreth civilization? 

13th Sulamir 2001

Travelling upstream has proven cold and tiring, although I should be thankful that the river is low enough for wading to be feasible and the air is breathable. There are side caverns where I have spent the rest periods. I want to call them nights but of course the sun is now irrelevant for timekeeping and I now rely on my gnomish chronographer on my wrist. Anyway, these side caverns are often havens of underground life, with various mushrooms and fungi growing from the rocky walls and floors.  I wish I had brought some way of talking to my peers at Shiell University as these fungi are quite unfamiliar to me, and I don't even know which might be safe to eat. Other creatures are definitely capable of eating them and during my rest periods in these fungal grottos I have seen several fungivorous species grazing. 

Giant Fire Beetles: Often encountered by novice adventurers. I believe they are actually omnivorous rather than purely fungivorous, sometimes scavenging on dead creatures, so I was careful not to get too close. Their characteristic fire glands mess up infravision but look impressive when I remove the goggles. In fact these beetles allowed me to see the fungal grotto lit up. 

Cave Locust: Almost as unpleasant as troglodytes. At least these are not malicious - just don't panic them, they are skittish. I had to use a Wall of Force to protect myself when a nearby swarm of twenty or so cave locusts were frightened by a giant gecko that attempted to catch one. They were bouncing of the Wall of Force and spitting horrible brown sludge at the gecko and at me. More than merely grazers, a swarm of cave locusts can strip a fungal cave down to the bare rock and then move on to the next meal. 

Cave Louse: These seem to be oversized (4ft long, 18 inches wide) woodlice that have adapted to the cave environment. They are pale grey, almost albino, and feed on the fungi found underground. They have hard chitinous shells on top that make it difficult for many predators to wound them, though if they can be flipped over they are very vulnerable. I took the time to sketch one of them. 

Cave Louse, sketched by Tilphon

[Combat stats: AC 2 on top, 7 underneath, Move 60ft, HD 1 (4hp), THAC0 20, Att 1 bite for 1d3, Save NM, Ml 6, Align Neutral, XP 10, TT none, Int 1 (Animal), Size/Type: Small Vermin]

It is clear that while green plants are the basis of ecologies on the surface in woods, plains and swamps, here it is the fungi that feed the fungivores that then are preyed on by more dangerous monsters.