Underground

The different layers of the underground are like different dimensions. Each layer has more valuable treasure in it, but has stronger negative effects.

Layers
The underground is divided into multiple vertical layers, each lower than the last. While the first layer has few effects, the effects get stronger as one descends lower.

See: books: Twenty-Four...

Layer 1
Layer 1 is the area directly beneath the Surface. It is mainly used for travel and storage, and intersects with basements and underground floors of buildings. There are shops and taverns in the underground, but it is rare for anyone to live there.

Layer 2

 * Features: Fully stone, with natural caves

Layer 3

 * Features: Metal and dark rock, vertical caves and cliffs, no light sources

Layer 4 is mostly empty, and has large crevasses and caves. It is made of metal and rock, and is extremely dark, with very few glowing crystals.

Layer 4

 * Features: Metal and dark rock, vertical caves and cliffs, no light sources

Layer 4 is mostly empty, and has large crevasses and caves. It is made of metal and rock, and is extremely dark, with very few glowing crystals.

Layer 4 is the highest layer with Essence, and the source of all above-ground essence.

Layer 5

 * Features: Solid metal, thin cave systems with few openings

Layer 5 is a thinner cave system with very few openings. It is almost entirely solid, and made of metal.

Layer 5 contains much more Essence than layer 4, but the solid metal surrounding it is too difficult to cut with current technology.

Layer 6

 * Features: Dirt and stone, trees, gems, large clearings

Layer 6 is similar to layers 1 and 2, filled with dirt and stone. There are large open spaces. There are trees and plants, and strange noises.

Layer 7

 * Features: Dyed and painted stone, mazes, empty buildings and villages

Layer 7 is made out of patterned stone, and contains very large open spaces. There are reports of complex structures and "abandoned cities".

Layer 8
Layers 8 and below are unexplored.

Layers 9, 10, 11, 12
It is rumored that there are 12 or even 24 layers, and most research allows for the existence of them. It has been said that these layers have beneficial effects, extra species, entire societies, rare materials, and more. None of these claims have been verified, as nobody has reached Layer 9.

Layer death
Layers 7 and beneath allow for a situation known as layer death. This is when someone's lifeforce lowers to 0, which would make them dead on the overworld. However, layer effects allow them to stay conscious.

A layer-dead animal will instantly die physically upon ascending to layer 6 or higher. As long as the animal did not descend to level 8, they can be resurrected if the layer death happened in the last 24 hours.

Effect resistance
Reptiles have a natural resistance to layer effects. Lizards and birds feel no effects from layers 1-3, and dragons feel no effects from layers 1-6. Therians feel no effects from any layer.