The Neath

The Neath is a massive cavern believed to be located within the Earth - roughly 2 miles below the surface of the Mediterranean Sea spanning from at-least Sassari to Ankara west-to-east, Serajevo to Tunis north-to-south, likely much further. There are few permanent entrences to the cavern, however many others theorized to be within a state of quantum cognito superposition, wherein they exist in many places at once until a possible observer understands this fact. The interior of the Neath works in a similar way, in that geography changes on a whim & may be nigh impossible. The specific effects of understanding this easing the effect does not appear to work in the same way, however. Perhaps its most known phenomenon, however, is the impermanence of death present throughout the Neath. Unless experiencing decapitation, complete destruction of the body, or death at zee, death becomes only a temporary inconvenience lasting anywhere from a few minutes to 7 hours.

These effects & many others are a direct cause of a near complete lack of light due to its nature as a cave, let alone a paranormal cave. Without the judgements ability to see the cavern or fully understand its presence, it lacks many of the laws present on the surface & within places such as the high wilderness. In place of these laws, it functions on an entirely new set of (heavily bendable) rules unheard of to those within the presence of the Judgements. The source of these rules is unknown.

As of 1929, there is 1 permanent suitable way of travel between the Earth's Surface & the Neath - a canal within Lake Avernus (which also connects to the Gulf of Naples). When descending into the neath, the canal places one within the unterzee just south of the city of London.

History

Pre-Bazaarine

Stone's Arrival

Scriptural Era

Salt & Storm

Bazaarine

The First City

The Second City

The Third City

The Fourth City

The Fifth City

On December 14th, 1862, the news quickly spread around the world of knowledge of something underground. In a deal with the Masters, Her Enduring Majesty had given the city of London for the life of the (recently then) deceased Prince Consort. The British Empire quickly fell into anarchy as the capital vanished, having to instill martial law & investigations into cryptic messages left by the Queen & witnesses of the fall. This would last until contact could be made 3 years later, as a group of Londoners appeared near to Rome, having mined upwards in attempt of escape, before quickly perishing under the Suns gaze. People would venture down to reconnect with London, reworking the British Empires government dramatically.

Geography

Much of the Neath is covered in a vast sea (spelled zee by natives) known as the Unterzee, with 3 notable continents & 1 theorized continent. There is the Western Continent, where many major cities still in communication with the surface lay along with the Echo Bazaar at the shore & Hell deep into the lands. It is also the most documented continent thanks to London's significance (willing or not) in interstellar politics. To the far south is the Elder Continent, the largest known of these lands & the theorized origins of humanity & the story of Adam & Eve. It is populated by countless kingdoms forming the Presbyterate, with Stone sitting at the center of it all. The College of Mortality, built besides Stone, is the resting grounds of what many believe to be heaven. To the east of the Elder Continent, past where the false-stars go, lies the enshrouded continent of Tallshore, home to long-lost human tribes & secrets even the Saphir’d King could never face. Farther east, to the Uttermost East, little is known. It is the land of Salts domain, with painted seas & beautiful tropical lands & deserts.

With the Neath's position firmly underground, the geography of this esoteric place is further eccentuated by the roof, which is home to many stalactites & even settlementation carved into these stalactites. This place is dangerous however due to the large population of highly territorial large crab-like creatures known as False-Stars - the very things that give the Neath its appearance of a night sky. There have been several accounts of the False-Stars biting out stone from the top of stalactites with settlements until the stalactite falls to the ground There is one case where a settlement had this happen on purpose to invade London, starting the War For London.