Pit of Goena

The pit, with a diameter of about 200 miles, dominates the region, creating a sinister landmark that's visible even from great distances. From a distance, the pit seems like an abyssal wound on the land, swallowing everything around it.  

The Edge

A jagged rim of loose ash and rock, often regularly causing landslides that plummet into the void below. The first tenmiles from the edge gently slope down and inwards, making the slope deceptively inviting, but this facade hides the true danger of this slope.  

First Descent

  After the intial slope, the pit's walls become sheer cliffs dotted with hundreds of caves. Some of these caves are entrances into larger tunnels system that go down into the Underdark, while others are nests for airborne creatures adapted to the ashy environment.  

The Cavern Mouth

  About where the Lowerdark begins, the pit opens up into an enormous cavern, often referred to as the "Mouth". Biolumincescent fungi and minerals paint the walls and caves with glowing light, creating a dimly lit skyline. Giant stalactites and stalagmites create natural bridges and structures, while underground rivers crisscross caves, leading deeper in.  

The Hollows

  Beyond the Mouth, now thousands of miles into the pit, a network of tunnels and caverns snake downwards. These passages are filled with their own unique ecosystems, as various creatures have evolved to survive in deep isolated conditions.   

The Heart

  The very base of the pit itself is called the Heart. Here, close to the planet's core, the environment becomes extremely volatile. Pockets of rare and dangerous gases, intense magnetism, and strange gravitational effects can be found. Rumors speak of powerful artifacts and untapped metals and energies hidden near the Heart, but the danger and depth keep almost everyone away.

Ashstorms

Occainsionally, a great storm of ash strikes or is swept into the pit, reducing visibility and making it almost impossible to breathe.  

Gravity Anomalies

  Due to the pit's depth and proximity to the planet's core, gravity can sometimes behave strangely in some areas, making navigation tricky and hazardous.

The Edge and the First Descent

• Temperature - Similar to the surface, warm or chilly depending on the time of year. The vast openness can bring chilly winds and storms of ash. Nighttime can brings freezing temperatures while days may be slightly warmer than normal.
• Weather - Occasionally, storms of ash and dirt blow in from the surronding wastes, reducing visibility drastically.
• Air Quality - The air here is relatively cleaner but still carries a fine layer of ash from the surronding wastelands.

 

The Cavern Mouth

 

• Temperature - As one descends further, the temperature starts to rise due to increased depth and constant geothermal activity. However, the vast open space of the Mouth keeps moderate temperatures the norm.
• Weather - Elevated humidity near underground rivers and waterfalls is normal, leading to frequent fog and mist near these sources.
• Air Quality - With the presence of bioluminescent fungi, the air may be filled with spores, but usually the air is clean, if not dense and humid.

 

The Hollows

 

• Temperature - Variable. Some tunnels would be cooler and some would be warmer. Deep parts of the Hollow, those approaching the Heart itself would grow warmer and warmer.
• Weather - Most of the Hollows would be free from active weather patterns due to their isolation, but microclimates could exist. Some chambers might house mini-ecosystems with their own rain cycles due to the condensation of moisture.
• Air Quality -  Ventilation becomes an issue. The air can be stale, and there might be pockets of gas or areas with low oxygen levels. The deeper one goes, the more caution is needed.

 

The Heart

 

• Temperature - Extremely hot due to its proximity to the planet's core.
• Weather - The immense heat and energy might produce strange phenomena, like plasma arcs, magnetic storms, or shimmering heatwaves. Sudden and drastic temperature changes could be frequent.
• Air Quality - Potentially toxic. Gases released from the planet's core, combined with the intense heat, can produce a volatile atmosphere.