Belowground (Place)

Underneath Thamarya lies a placed filled with wonders and dangers called the Belowground.

Unknown to most but some reckless explorers and adventurers, this area is vast and holds the remains of many peoples and civilizations that existed in the region before the founding of Thamarya.

At least three important civilizations called this area their home, the final being the Port City of Thamarya. Each civilization collapsed for different reasons, but they all left behind treasures and ruins, most of which scholars have not yet uncovered. Indeed, the secrets lying underneath the city are vast, and most remain hidden because of the innumerable dangers underneath.

### The Known Regions

The little information known about the Belowground is due to accounts by a party that ventured underneath to find Mansol's missing scion.cion. To reach the Belowground, one first has to find ways down through the vast sewer system of Thamarya.

#### New Sewer System

The system that carries off the city’s sewage and rainfall.

Its construction began during Queen Tuchman’s reign, after saving the population during the flood caused by Kepesk’s attack on the city. The engineers tried to re-use the Vadar (old sewers) system as much as possible, but the damage was considerable. It is stated that a dragon the size and age of Kepesk has not been seen in over a thousand years, and that it is logical that it managed devastation of tremendous magnitude when it attacked Thamarya. The city’s streets are full of manholes that lead to the sewer system; in fact, the Main Plaza has 24 manholes around it, a masterpiece of urban engineering. One has to descend 50 metres to reach the system, although some parts go as far down as 600 metres.

The system runs through both sides of the city and underneath the river Vyr, totaling a size of almost 50 km2. The sewers’ running and maintenance fall under the Assembly’s responsibility, specifically the Overseer Muskeita, a member of the Inkmen Guild, and an insufferable hypochondriac who has never set foot inside the sewers, or others place that fall under his jurisdiction for that matter. A team of workers called the tadpoles provide maintenance to the sewers, and report any damage or potential dangers to the Overseer. Unfortunately, the higher authorities have ignored that department for the last couple of years, and the tadpoles, who are only two squadrons, provide maintenance to a sewer system that serves over 400,000 people.

Outcasts, scavengers, outlaws, and a few species of other creatures inhabit the New Sewer, including some serpent-men called Yuddrakhs, few in number but very nasty creatures that have inhabited the region since the days of the city Lureaux. They have developed a complicated culture, where they are masters of the underwater and exploration, and are rivals to the Ratfolk.

#### Sirim Aqueduct

Its foundations belong to the Vadar system (old sewers), but it had to be reinforced numerous times, especially since the population’s expansion during the last two centuries. Originally built using fire rock and blue granite imported from the dwarven kingdoms, the best masons were sent for when the repairs began. The work is a masterpiece of engineering that has few rivals in the continent of Eluan.

The aqueduct runs underneath the centre of the city, crossing the river Vyr, and connecting the right and east bank. It carries the water from the river Sirim, a long river that was the first to be used by the first inhabitants of Thamarya, and its waters are purer and cleaner although it is only a tributary of the river Vyr.

To the east of the Main Plaza lies the tunnel’s mouth that takes the water from the river Sirim and moves it through the rest of the structure until it reaches the other bank. The mouth’s facade is made of fire rock adorned with ethyx; its surface is flawless and looks brand new. The tadpoles’ headquarters is a two-story building located just beyond the facade. From there, they can move along the aqueduct and reach the rest of the sewer system with ease. The aqueduct has a diameter of 100 feet and a length of 1.5 km; it’s filled with many openings that lead to different parts of the system.

#### Old Sewers (Vadar system)

750 years ago, during the reign of “Vadar the Tainted,” the building of the sewer system began as the city prospered thanks to new trade routes secured with the now collapsed dwarven kingdom of Gdeshek. Thamarya was just over 200 years old and was a growing power. The river Vyr gave access to the peninsula’s interior, and the Bay of Almedath gave access to other trade routes, which the Thamaryans expanded considerably. The sewer and the aqueduct’s construction went hand in hand. Unfortunately, an ancient sea dragon attacked the city and caused a catastrophic flood.

Part of these sewers, particularly those connecting to the aquifers and the ruins of Lureaux, were saved and still function.

### The Unknown Regions

All things cast a shadow, and Thamarya is no different. Underneath the land of the prosperous city, the unexplored places of the Belowground are larger than Thamarya and countless so far. The few who know of its existence have an estimate of the numbers of regions but their calculations are way off.

#### Pipe Town

A new and spreading urban center home to the Ratfolk.

Pipe Town is a city built from rock, ruins, and whatever remains the Ratfolk have collected from Thamarya throughout the years. The area used to be a collection of shanty towns and disorganised communities that expanded in number until they were close to each other. Still, it was the Rat King that brought them together and founded a proper city. He connected them through works and bridges and innovated the infrastructure. Using steam power and their technology, he built The Korbesh Spiral, a fortress connected by tunnels and vents, and which powers much of the town. The spiral is located right next to the Fields of Shanum-zot, an oval-shaped arena where Ratfolk gather to watch sports and combat games take place. Ratfolk are crazy about these events, and every shantytown sends a group of champions to participate when there are games. The arena derives its name from being one of the rare places where flora thrives on the Belowground. This is attributed to a magical golden tombstone in the center, believed by some to belong to an ancient and formidable wizard. Whatever the reason behind it, the Ratfolk venerate it, and so it remains untouched, and any outsider tinkering with it would be slaughtered on the spot.

##### Curfew

Visitors to Pipe Town will discover that there’s a period during the day where all activity ceases, and all the Ratfolk take shelter or hide, and remain so until a loud siren points that it is safe to come out. The reason behind this is The Shadow, a patch of darkness that destroys all living things and moves about layers of the Belowground. Nobody knows if it’s a living creature, curse, or maybe a forgotten devil from times immemorial. The only important thing to remember is taking shelter or hiding when it approaches.