Have a Relaxing Time Underground at The Underspa
/The backdrop of an adventure can lead heroes to many different places across your fantasy setting. The most relatable locales; like shops and cities with their own unique, magical spins can take us on the most magical trips. One only need to look back at the past locations I've covered in this blog.
It's important to remember that high fantasy can give us some wonderful things. Impossible architecture and magically supported places are all over, and something we really need to celebrate.
The thing which has bound all of my pieces is that they've been made. A place that has been settled by travellers and built on by master craftsmen of their age. I think it's time to see something new. We in this world see magical natural wonders everywhere. Was Uluru a table of gods and giants? Did something fill Niagara Falls with water? If you want to come up with a place to inspire your players, it's good to see the magic of somewhere natural and real.
The immense waters flow beneath the skin of the world - Image of The Ruby Falls in Memphis Tennessee
The Grand Underspa
There are an uncountable number of civilisations and landscapes under the skin of the world in Dungeons and Dragons. Entire years, in game and at the table, can occur without ever coming up to the surface. Deep underground makes for an alien, unique biome, and it can lend for some very unique visuals.
Underground Seas are the source of life for underground civilisations and very strange fish. They flow through rivers and ground water often, and funnel through immense subterranean chasms down waterfalls. One such fall dominates the hollowed out, tall chamber, the size of a mountain. The peoples that live under the mountain have found a very mixed use for these waters.
The geological force created this cave keep the pooling water naturally steamy. Natural light from glowing mushrooms called Miner's Delights. Lime yellow light refracts around the chamber through numerous, uncut gemstones in the walls across the entire cave. The intense roaring sound of water on water can be heard from all around, with pools collecting together.
The minerals give the water a serene colour, even if there’s no peace between the people near it - Underground Rock Pool - Image provided by SquareSpace
In Hot Water
The perfect mixture of the water moving through the water, flowing over stones and gems, then being heated up by the natural vents in the cavern makes this the perfect spot for those who live underground. Aside from being a welcome getaway spot, the magical water has curative powers. For any creature that take a short rest bathing in the water, any number rolled on a Hit Die is considered the maximum number.
The power of these healing waters have cause quite a stir in the many underworld peoples and civilisations. It's hotly debated by one race of people that the gemstones in the wall are immeasurably valuable, and have to be mined immediately. Another society think the place is sacred, and that it's a place to be protected and understood, never damaged.
If your party happens upon this place, they may be caught in the heat of a debate that may spiral into war for magical water. As to how the players handle it, it could make for an immense arc of a campaign in itself, with a delicate magical location hanging in the balance.
Now we want to hear from you. Would you have a location like this for your players to stumble upon? What other magical properties could a spot like this have if it were in your world?
Adam Ray contributes much for adventurers here on Apotheosis Studios. As co-founder of fantasticuniverses.com, he writes about card gaming and PC gaming to a corner of the internet he carved out himself. On Youtube, he can be found game mastering for No Ordinary Heroes, or editing the antics on The Hostile Atmosphere. Follow his Twitter @IzzetTinkerer.
