Delve

City Description

Population: ~3,500

Founded: 2196 (194 years ago)

A common misconception about Delve is it was a mining operation that ran dry and was left abandoned for squatters to move in. However, anyone with a history book knows the rift that is Delve has existed since the Constellation Wars, and though there's no book that explains its origin, it can be assumed the scar in the middle of the Duskmaker Plains did not occur naturally.

Regardless of its genesis, Delve has become a home and livelihood for many who prefer subterranean locales. Without much in the way of mountains in Core Vandal, Delve serves as the preferred stomping grounds of Dwarves, Drow, and oddly enough, a large contingent of Tieflings. Despite this, Delve exists as a destination for every kind of person due to the Bounty.

To understand the Bounty, one must first understand no one living has ever seen the bottom of Delve. It goes so deep the air becomes unbreathable, the heat unbearable, and there is a pressure many delvers call unnatural. The citizens of Delve then live on the sides of the rift towards the surface, homes and platforms suspended by chains links as thick as tree trunks that echo clinking all hours of the day. Such a perilous environment where one misstep means death could cause anyone to wonder why the people of Delve risk it. The Bounty is the answer.

Spending any amount of time in Delve invests people with power. This power manifests in a unique way for every person. Some people gain the power of flight. Some gain the power for foresight or reading minds. Others can produce heat or cold with a touch. Regardless the power, it never fails. Spend enough time in Delve, and you'll come out with some power you didn't have before. The Bounty. The catch is the power only exists for as long as one stays in Delve. As soon as an individual leaves the city, the power is gone. Reentering the city reintroduces the power, so Delve keeps careful track of peoples' coming and going.

While mostly anarchistic, Delve does have a few specifically powerful people who enforce who can stay and who has to leave. If a Bounty is judged to be too dangerous, a person is asked to leave and not return. If things ever get too violent or put people at risk, Him Below is brought to handle it.

Most people who stay in Delve stay because they don't want to give up their power. Some stay because if they left their power behind, they would die. Whatever the reason, the people of Delve has a way of doing things, and until one gets their power, they are not fond of sharing that way with others.

City Landmarks

Records of Bounty: a cave in which the paper records of every person who ever developed a power in Delve, including the current known whereabouts of those who left Delve. The information is shared with citizens of Delve, and runs a high price for outsiders.

The Last Breath: the line deeper beyond which those without supernatural abilities dare not travel. It is clearly marked and glowing to inform Delvers to not build or travel deeper, or risk contamination, asphyxiation, crushing pressure, and death.

The Swingset: getting across the gap can be dangerous and difficult. The Swingset is a series of cradles, ropes, pullies, and counter weights that allow people to move from wall to wall, level to level, with as little hassle as possible. Mid-air collisions do happen, but there's always a spare rope or chain to grab for those quick enough.

Korrin's Crossing: the gates of Delve, a large arch that leads to the ramp down into the city proper, named for the first person who discovered they have powers. There is an enchantment on the gate to forbid entry into the city for anyone on the list of Bountiless.

People of Note

Delver have a tradition of getting a title when they manifest the Bounty

Dwerna, the Giver: Female Dwarf, as close to a leader as Delvers come, she can create food and water in unlimited supply

Drex, the Taker: Female Tiefling, modeled her name from Dwerna, has access to a pocket dimension where she hoards things that don't belong to her, close to becoming Bountiless

Iximlox, the Safety: Male Drow, lives on the lower levels and has the power of levitating objects, usually used for saving falling things, including people

Krothat, the Entertainer: Male Minotaur, has the power to brings stories to life with massive illusions, uses it to keep Delvers entertained

Jemeni, the Arbiter: Female Drow, settles many disputes in Delve with her power to see into the recent past

Parsus, the Toll: Male Dwarf, can make his voice sound throughout all of Delve, and uses it to keep everyone aware of city happenings

Him Below (Legendary Being): Male Tiefling, one of the few to go beyond the Last Breath, he dwells down where no others can, and has the power to end life instantly