Chalcedon

## **Intro**

Chalcedon is a subterranean realm that runs beneath much of the continent.

## **Geography**

### **Entrances**

Surface entrances to Chalcedon range in size from large ports to small outposts, with some being only small caves, such as at Ossan.

##### **Ports**

Hymn described Chalcedonian ports as "a huge vertical hole that's often been shaped that way, with all sorts of pulleys and lifts so that cargo can be transported.

### **Cities**

##### **Court Cities**

Chalcedon's Court Cities are typically a considerable distance from the major cities of any surface country.

Each of the Court Cities has at least one major institute of learning.

* Icaecia
* Telarum

### **Towns**

* Wending
* The Dark Quarter

##### **Surface Entrances**

* Elenwake
* Ossan

### **Unrecorded Settlements**

There are apparently unrecorded areas scattered throughout Chalcedon, which seem to be cloaked in a degree of secrecy:

### **Travel**

Much of the travel in Chalcedon is by water - a combination of natural underground rivers and man-made canals. Heavier cargo boats are sometimes drawn by animals, but smaller vessels and passenger transports are more often punted. It is common for travellers to hitch a ride for a few silver on the regular supply boats that travel between settlements.

The waterways between Wending and The Dark Quarter are sparsely lit by floating candles that burn with blue flames.

## **Culture**

### **Law**

In Chalcedon, local law enforcement is called The Townskeep, with individual guards being known as Keepers.

### **History**

Chalcedon is said to have "great archives, rich with history that's unseen by the rest of the world."

### **Entertainment**

Concert halls in the Ten Courts are considered to be not only entertainment venues, but also religious locations and almost like places of worship, due to their association with a certain deity. Hymn explained that this association is relatively informal and is "more like a dedication." Theatres, on the other hand, are associated with Dalui.

### **Names**

Giving places and businesses names that evoke life on the surface is common - for example, Wending's Moonlight's Rest inn. Hymn has theorised that this is because many of Chalcedon's founders and residents came from the surface and it creates a sense of familiarity.

## **Flora and Fauna**

### **Foraging**

Chalcedonian towns such as Wending may be supplied by teams of foragers, whose work is to gather food from the surrounding area.

'Scarecrows' filled with certain herbs are used to repel animals and insects from the foraging fields, and species of bioluminescent plants may be intentionally cultivated to provide light to the area.

### **Forests**

There are vast subterranean forests throughout Chalcedon. Near to the Court Cities, they are well-travelled and often people often visit them for picnics or keep aviaries there. In less-populated areas, however, the forests are described as "very wild."

Local myths and stories about the forests near Wending include "trees that eat people," "giant bugs," and "things that whisper at you and you mustn't answer back."

Gloamberries grow in these subterranean forests, as well as some species of plants with hallucinogenic properties.

### **Animals and Insects**

Bats can be seen in the forests, roosting in the gills of giant mushrooms, and some birds may also fly into caves with surface openings to roost.

Various butterflies can be found in Chalcedon, including some with "greyish-black wings" and the Moonlithe Butterfly, which is typically found far from settled areas.