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CHAPTER TWO

Excerpts fromthe Geological

Repositoryin Durne

The problem with maps is that they are only two-dimensional.

Famous Gnomekin explorer Emmo Ebono

Durne… underground city, city of moss,and home of the Geological Respository.Opened only in the year 600, the GeologicalRepository already has gained fame at thecentre for all things geological. Its publicmuseum proudly presents the unique StrataSample Collection, the Miniature Minesexposition, the Crystallomantic Artefactsdisplay and for the young ones, the A-maze-ing Tunnel Tour and the sculpting workshop.However, for anyone intent on travelling theUnderground Highway, its extensiveGeological Repository Library is the truetreasure chamber. Here, thousands of maps are

stored along with traveller’s reports,geological lore books, treatises on excavationtechniques, speleology textbooks, bestiaries onsubterranean species, legends pertaining to theUnderground Highway in ages long gone. It awell-kept Gnomekin secret where all thesetomes, scrolls, sculptures and lore crystalscame from in such a short period of time. Factis that besides any unknown benefactors, theGeological Repository maintains standingorders with the Protectors Force to chart andreport back any new information gathered onmissions into foreign parts of the UndergroundHighway. In addition, the Geological

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Repository occasionally hires freelanceexplorers for expeditions to map specificunderground regions. Much of thisinformation is available after purchasing amembership to the Geological RepositoryLibrary, but classified information or fragileresources may be viewed after making anappointment with the Geolore Masters whorun the Library.

THE GNOMEKINPROTECTORATE

“They want LIGHTS in the UndergroundHighway? You’d think those big-shot magesfrom Cymril can conjure up enough toilluminate their journey.”

From the minutes of the Inner Circle ofEngineers, Durne, year 457

The Underground Highway is among thebest roads in the Seven Kingdoms and sees asubstantial part of all traffic in this region. Forthis reason, the rulers of the Seven Kingdomsagreed that the security of the UndergroundHighway below the Seven Kingdoms was tobe given into the hands of the ProtectorsForce, which makes up the majority of theDurne military and are highly specialized inunderground combat, with backup availablefrom the other countries’ armies shouldconflict arise. The main tunnels below theSeven Kingdoms that fall under theresponsibility of the Protectors Force arecalled the Gnomekin Protectorate and aremarked regularly with a variation of thesymbol of the Seven Kingdoms (a six-pointedstar - a green hexagon at its centrerepresenting Cymril and azure, crimson, aqua-blue, brown, orange and purple points,representing Astar, Taz, Vardune, Durne,

Sindar and Kasmir respectively, but down herethe brown of Durne forms the centre). Manyother tunnels, public and secret, exist as wellin the region and may or may not be patrolledby the Protectors Force. It is easy tounderestimate the power of these small troopsas many invaders painfully found out; stillmany wandering monsters and raiders enterthe Underground Highway through thesecondary tunnels to make trouble in theworld above.

THE SEVENTH ROAD

The Real Underground HighwayEveryone in the Seven Kingdoms knows

about the Seven Roads and there being onlysix roads drawn on any map. The existence ofthe Underground Highway is no secret. DurneAvenue, the northern road out of the city ofCymril splits about a quarter mile beyond thecity gates, where another gate, made of brightblue azurite crystals, leads into Station Sevenor Deep-Down-Durne Station as it’s called inchildren’s songs. This is where the

Station Seven

Station Seven is a large buildingmade of curled red iron and large clearcrystal windows, like a giantgreenhouse. An airdock allows skyshipsto moor. Inside, Station Seven is hometo the station guard barracks, theSkylight Inn, and an indoor farmersmarket, which serves many a Gnomekinmerchant. Immediately behind the gate,the road sharply slopes down towards awide tunnel opening. The opening isdecorated with the carved symbols ofthe Seven Kingdoms. On one side, justinside the opening facing outward standsthe granite statue of a Gnomekinprotector, on the other side, just outsidethe opening and facing inward stands themarble statue of a Cymrilianroyal guard.

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Underground Highway begins, and mostCymrilians have visited Station Seven, if onlyout of curiosity or for the majestic buildingand its indoor farmers market. Going downfrom Station Seven runs one of the best roadsof the Seven Kingdoms. Its surface is smoothall the way, it doesn’t get slippery because it’salways dry and never extremely cold, there areno storms and only few difficulties in theterrain, such as steep slopes.

Following an ancient curving trail ofunknown origin, the Underground Highwaycarves its way North through a thick layer ofgranite rock. After two hundred miles, theUnderground Highway opens up into DurneJunction, an impressive cavern full ofstalactites and stalagmites surrounding a darklake that mirrors the many colours ofprismatite crystals embedded in the rock. Thesurface road, that went underground intoTunnelrock Mountain at Tunnelrock Gate,joins the Underground Highway here for thelast couple of miles to the city of Durne. AtDurne Junction, the Home Guard division ofthe Protectors Force is stationed. From here,many smaller roads run to various destinationsin the Kingdom of Durne too. Where the twobig roads join, a crystal statue of a Gnomekinwarrior hunting a Darkling stands as amemorial to the One-Day War in the year 67,when the Gnomekin drove a Darkling hordeback into Urag.

The Underground Highway is a marvel ofunderground engineering. By order of theKing and Queen of Durne, the Inner Circle ofEngineers employed scores of skilled minersto transform what was once an uneven,winding and musty tunnel into a two hundredmile road, high and wide enough toaccommodate carriages. Sections near theentrance are decorated by sculptors, paintersand other artists on commission by wealthymerchants, nobles and city officials. Furtheralong, the crude granite rock makes up thewalls and ceiling, but the floor is smooth allthe way. The Underground Highway isartificially illuminated and ventilated along theentire track.

The road doesn’t run straight ahead forlong in most places, but according to legend, itfollows the curves of an ancient trail. At someplaces, the Underground Highway goes asdeep as two hundred feet below the surface,but mostly it runs at depths between fifty andone hundred feet. Steep passages are part ofthe track, but all can be climbed anddescended by healthy people and beasts ofburden in good condition. Maybe this ancienttrail is the reason that travel isn’t dull on theUnderground Highway, as the road frequentlypasses grottos with spectacular sights. Amongthese are a pond with phosphorescent eelsslithering with an eerie green light between theplants on the bottom, a grotto with an ever-present mist caused by a ‘garden’ of stonecoral that sprays the air with a sweet smelling

Tunnel Lights

Resonant crystals exist in manyforms throughout Talislanta. Tuned toother crystals, these rare magic stonesemit whatever is absorbed by anothercrystal, usually sound or light. Theprismatite crystals in the UndergroundHighway are tuned to emit the naturallight caught by the crystal built into thespire of the royal palace in Cymril.Placed at two hundred foot intervals,these bright lights provide illuminationfor only a relatively small area, but theyshow the way ahead and give travellersin indication of the time of day. It tookthe Cabal of Crystallomancers over acentury to grow enough fine-tunedcrystals for the entire UndergroundHighway. These crystals need each otherto propagate the light resonance and willnot work outside of the UndergroundHighway. In between the prismatitebeacons phosphorescent fungi growingon the walls. Most surface-dwellingraces barely consider this illumination,and brightly lit caravans can frequentlybe spotted long distances away.

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fluid that attracts insects, the fossilized bodyof a large geophage, and cave drawings of along forgotten culture. Many smaller tunnels,some little more than cracks in the wall, splitoff from the Underground Highway, leavingthe traveller to wonder where they all lead to.

At twenty five mile intervals, artificialcaverns have been carved out at the side of theroad. Called bunk holes by troops of theProtectors Force, these caverns serve as campsites for travellers in peace time and asbarracks in times of armed conflict. Freshwater is available here from natural wells orsmall waterfalls. Ever since the UndergroundHighway was officially opened by the kings ofDurne and Cymril more than a century ago, apersistent tale has been going around about theexistence of secret tunnels that lead from eachof these caverns to a secret military commandpost. However, no one has ever been able tofind an entrance to confirm the story.

The Underground Highway, though one ofthe safest roads in Talislanta, certainly is notfree of dangers. It is infested with the samenuisances encountered on most civilised roads,such as beggars, peddlers and bandits.Connecting tunnels are home to a variety ofwild animals and plants, such as cave bats,scarlet sporozoids, and chasm vipers.Occasionally, a lost exomorph or invadingparties of satada or subterranoids pose aserious threat to travellers. The ProtectorsForce patrols the Underground Highway tokeep it clear of dangers. Some UndergroundHighway patrols employ trained catdracs tohelp them detect invaders or to conveymessages quickly.

Major BranchesLess well-known than the Seventh Road

are the major branches of the UndergroundHighway running East and West through thesoil of the Seven Kingdoms. Some fifty milesSouth of Tunnelrock, a remarkable tunnelopens up eastward from the main road. Theportal to this tunnel is the sculpture of a landkra eating its own tail. This tunnel itself lookssimilar to the Seventh Road and equally well

A bunk holeon the

UndergroundHighway

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to travel, but is much smaller and doesn’tallow carriages to enter. The end of this roadlies in Sindar, near the city of Nadir, fromwhere a different path continues to Kasmir andAstar. A second major branch has its entranceat Durne Junction. It leads to the city ofValanis in Vardune, going North around thecity of Durne, passing just south of Ironroot.This tunnel is the left-handed twin of the roadto Sindar until it reaches Valanis. From there,less magnificent tunnels lead south to Vashay,passing beneath Aamanian soil in the bend ofthe Axis River, and from there to Vahana andTarg in the jungles of Taz and through theCinnabar Mountains to Tor.

THE CYMRIL UNDERGROUND

CONNECTIONIn ancient times, the citizens of Cymril

used to bury their garbage in undergroundcaverns for lack of a river to wash it away andreluctance to dump it out in the countryside.Most of their waste is now disposed ofmagically, either by citizens who know how tothemselves, or by public services. This has leftthe old sewer-tunnels exposed for people tomake other use of. As all dark places, it is anattractive place for elements from the localunderworld to build hideouts and storageplaces, to hold meetings, or to use it as a fastentry or escape route. Indeed it is rumouredthat most older buildings used to be connectedto the old sewer-tunnels and that many exitshafts have not been sealed properly. Forexamples, as yet unexplained escapes haveoccurred from the Cymril Court Dungeonssouth of Durne Park. If someone were lookingto get in touch with criminal, rebellious orradical factions, for a place to conduct certainrituals well out of sight of prying eyes, or foran illegal dump site, the old sewer-tunnelswould be a good place to start.

The nearby Seventh Road is a goodfacility to have at hand for those who frequentthe sewer-tunnels below Cymril. It wasn’tlong after the arrival of the first undergroundresidents that new tunnels were dug thatconnect the Cymril Underground with the

A grotto on theUnderground

Highway

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Encounters Along theSeventh Road

Use this table for encounter ideas orroll 1d20 to select a random encounter.Add a modifier of +1 to +10 accordingto the distance from civilized areas.

Roll Encounter1 Curious Gnomekin children2 Merchant caravan3 Magician and servants4 Sindaran collector5 Pharesian peddler6 Kasmiran beggar7 Discarded item(s)8 Gnomekin Scout and catdrac9 Entrance to the Slideways

10-11 Group of Gnomekin Protectors12 Unoccupied hideout or lair13 Bunk hole or sentinel post14 Statue and/or fountain alcove15 Unusual grotto, roll again:

1-4 A mass of insects 5-8 A tangle of vegetation 9-12 A water source13-16 Resonant crystals17-20 Other

16 Unlit stretch of road17 Band of caravan bugs18 Remains from a recent battle19 Arimite troublemakers20 Fossilized geophage21 Colony of rock urchins22 Interesting cave drawings23 Infestation of root grubs24 Ambush by bandits25 Flurry of cave bats26 Scarlet sporozoid27 Chasm viper lying in wait28 Wandering exomorph29 Roving land kra30 Invading war party, roll again:

1-5 Darklings 6-9 Satada10-15 Subterranoids16-20 Other

Seventh Road. These connections are a likelysource of the constant supply of annoyingpeddlers, thieves, and escaped critters in theSeventh Road, who never passed the guards atStation Seven.

THE UNDERGROUND CITY

OF DURNETunnelrock and adjacent mountains are

home to a huge complex of grottos, cavernsand hollows connected in an apparentlyrandom way by a series of tunnels. Access toTunnelrock and Durne is controlled by whatthe Gnomekin call ‘tall tunnels’, high enoughto comfortably accommodate Sindar visitorsand well illuminated. Most other passagewaysthroughout these mountains are ‘kin tunnels’,no more than four to five foot in height anddark.

The capital city of the Gnomekin lies 200feet below the surface. It is made up of moss-lined cave dwellings called nooks that areconnected by a network of tunnels andunderground streams and lakes. On mostwaterways, ferries are available or boats canbe rented. Around the nooks, there are largecaverns the Gnomekin use for growing foodand breeding fish, and by crystallomancers forgrowing crystals. Sentinel posts are scatteredthroughout the city for security. Walkingthrough Durne is a strange experience for mostsurface dwellers, even if they stay only in thehigh-roofed and well-lit Open Arms Nookdedicated to visiting dignitaries.

The Resonant GrottoNear the centre of Durne lies a crystal

grotto that attracts many visitors. This smallcave contains a cluster of natural resonantcrystals. These are a wondrous collection ofvarious types of crystals that protrude fromtheir rocky bed as if showing a certain pride intheir peculiar nature. Of some crystals it ishard to image that they are natural and uncut.The thing that draws the people are the soundsemanating from them. Resonant crystals canemit sounds that other crystals of the samekind elsewhere in Talislanta pick up.

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Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to tellwhere the sounds originated. A particularpastime for Gnomekin children is to comehere and shout something in the expectationthat someone, somewhere far away hearsthem. Parents are wary of letting their childrenplay there too often, because of tales thatvoices performing dark rituals have beenheard in the sounds of the crystal resonance.

THE DURNE SLIDEWAYSWhile the sentinel posts protect the

Gnomekin within the city, Durne has moreextensive defences that have proven theirvalue over time against, for example, thedarklings and the satada. Foremost amongthese defences is a masterpiece ofsubterranean engineering called the Durneslideways. The slideways consist of anintricate series of stairways and elevators thatlead to the start of a long polished slope,which in turn ends at the base of another seriesof stairways and elevators. Each Gnomekinprotector possesses a piece of soft leather thathas been rubbed with an oily soap for sittingon while riding the slideway. Using theslideway, the Gnomekin are able to movelarge numbers of troops and goods to allcorners of Durne in a very short time. Theslideways are small kin tunnels for their owndefence. Like the rest of the kin tunnelnetwork, there are many slideway slopes thatend in pitfalls or other deadly traps. Maps ofthe Durne slideways are strictly militaryproperty. In peacetime, the slideways areallowed to be used for transporting tradegoods under supervision of theProtectors Force.

IRONROOTIn the Seven Kingdoms and beyond,

Ironwood is famous for providing extremelystrong, durable wood. Much less well knownis the underground forest called Ironroot.Ironwood trees grow single long roots thatgrow straight down and extract all metalelements from the ground. This flow causes astrong magnetic field to permeate throughoutIronroot. Along with the traces of metal, all

The Durne Slideways