Upper Deep

The air was heavy with the scent of growing things, of damp rock and soil. The tunnels were dark except where the fungi and lichen dotting the rough walls emitted soft glows of green, yellow, blue, and pink. I could hear the tiny quiet scratches of insects deep in the stone around me, living their own lives in total darkness.

Upper Deep, as its name suggests, is the uppermost section of the Deep. Like each layer, it has its own unique environment which is characteristic of the region.

Growth in the Dark

Upper Deep is home to a wide variety of fungi, lichen, and algae. Unlike the layers beneath it, which are of solid stone, Upper Deep is comprised of clay, soil, and softer rocks, providing ample space for growing things to take root. Because this is a subterranean world, however, there are no photosynthetic plants in its tunnels. Some fungi and lichens in Upper Deep possess varying forms of bioluminescence, and many tunnels are faintly illuminated by a rainbow spectrum of lights. One such fungus is the luminescent milk cap mushroom, which grows in abundance. It is unusual in that while it normally glows purple, when this mushroom is damaged it excretes a glowing, mucous-like, green subtance that is extremely sticky and can be irritating to those with sensitive skin. Upper Deep is also populated by a great number of subterranean insects, reptiles, and even mammals. Many of these are burrowing creatures, and spend their lives out of sight from folk who explore the larger tunnels in this layer. However, larger and more aggressive creatures roam the winding passages, posing threats to explorers who are unprepared. One of the most notorious predators in Upper Deep is the red-ruffed cave monitor, a massive lizard which uses its strong senses of smell and touch to track the scent and movement of its prey even in pitch-dark areas.

Upper Deep Folk

Upper Deep is home to several races of folk, who have a tendency to live in smaller groups as compared to those of the lower layers of the Deep, where many races mix together to form large towns and cities. The residents of Upper Deep are less accustomed to outsiders visiting, but in the last few centuries have become a little more connected to the greater world.  There are three races of folk which live exclusively in Upper Deep. First are the Talpidae, the mole people, a race of Fauna known for their digging ability and sensitivity to light. They live in highly organized clans and very rarely leave their established territory. Second are the Orthopterae, a race of insectoids, known for their fierce, warlike tendencies and massive appetites. One can recognize where a group of Orthopterae have taken up residence based on the lack of life along stretches of tunnel. They are not aggressive, but have a tendency to solve disputes through battle or competition. The third race characteristic of Upper Deep are the Myconids. Not much is known about these elusive folk beyond their uncanny resemblance of various fungi and subsequently their ability to camouflage themselves. They seem to be related in some way to the elves of the surface world, but the connection is unclear. Myconids live in colonies and farm and harvest fungi with great diligence.