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Lands of Deepearth	-	-	-	DSG

Geography: This subterranean chamber is almost completely
water-filled. Although walls and columns of rock support the ceiling,
most of the area is open. The water level falls a dozen or
more feet short of the ceiling in most places, although in some
areas the ceiling drops down to, or below, water level. Nonetheless,
boat travel is possible over most of the Upper Lake.
At the west end of the lake lies a shoreline that can be reached
through a dry tunnel branching down from Area 6. Parts of this
tunnel run through natural caverns, but much of it has been
carved by intelligent denizens. It serves as one of the major avenues
to the surface world. On the shoreline of the lake are a number
of stone piers, obviously constructed by intelligent creatures.
There is a 50% chance that ld6 longboats are moored here at
any time. This shoreline is a shelf of rock ranging from 10 to 400
feet wide. It is the only part of the entire chamber where one can
walk on dry land.

The lake’s depth varies from 10 to 100 feet. Its waters are cold
and, for the most part, still. Only where the twin rivers from Area
14 enter does any turbulence mar the surface. In the depths of
the lake, near the center, a small hole lets water drain to the lower
levels of Deepearth. The outflow from this drain almost perfectly
matches the inflow from the two rivers, so the lake’s level remains
fairly constant.

Denizens: Although the lake appears to be placid, it is teeming
with life. Not only do the kuo-toa dwell here in great numbers,
but many varieties of blind fish swim about in the inky waters.
The kuo-toa have developed a sophisticated community on the
bottom of the lake, near the drain. They have built a number of
great domes over areas designated for food-raising, living quarters,
fingerling hatcheries, government centers, and recreation.
These domes are mostly water-filled, but each contains small
pocket of breatheable air at the top. Air-breathing prisoners are
left here, since escape is virtually impossible.

Giant catfish, giant pike, giant gar, lamprey and numerous
trout, perch, and salmon lurk in the depths of the lake. Other
water dwellers include water nagas, giant otters, giant crabs,
giant snapping turtles, scrags, and lacedons (marine ghouls).
Aboleth may also be encountered in the depths of this lake,
although such encounters are best avoided. The aboleth are perhaps
the most purely evil denizens in all of Deepearth. They are
found in small groups here, and actively seek to avoid contact
with the kuo-toa. All other creatures are fair game and, if they
have a chance, the aboleth seize any unfortunate characters who
cross their path, dragging them far into Deepearth as slaves.

Resources: Water is obviously plentiful here, and the air that
exists is quite breathable. A number of varieties of aquatic fungi
and brown algae are commonly found in the water. No minerals or
other resources are known.

Unique Features: The drain at the bottom of the lake is regulated
by the kuo-toa so that it always drains away water at the
proper rate. The men-fish have placed a number of boulders
around the drain, and use them to block off part of the hole if the
flow of water into the lake slows. Other rocks can be pulled out of
the way if the flow needs to be accelerated.
The domed city of the kuo-toa lies next to the drain, in one of
the deepest parts of the lake. The city is typical of kuo-toa communities,
and is organized in a pattern of six major domes laid out
in a hexagonal pattern. Each of the domes is about 150 feet in
diameter and 50 feet high. The top 20 feet is filled with air. Within
their walls, an elaborate network of corridors and rooms nestles
around elevator shafts. These shafts are nothing more than holes
connecting all of the water-filled levels of the building; the residents
simply swim up or down.