A sneeze destroys a magical civilization Chapter 121 Extremely harsh living environment
In Faerûn, the history of the Underdark precedes the surface world.
Long before the creator race rose and established the first civilization, the aboleths were already the undisputed overlord of the Underdark.
Among them, ancient races like the Kuo-Toa can be traced back to the time when the creator race ruled the earth before the rise of dwarves and elves.
Later, with the arrival of the dark elves, and the gradual emergence and proliferation of gray dwarves, beholders, mind flayers and underground gnomes, the competition for precious survival resources here gradually became more and more fierce and bloody.p>
For example, clean drinking water may be nothing in the surface world, but in the dark regions it often means the survival of a city or even a race.
Therefore, most ethnic groups that enter the underground world and derive corresponding subspecies often show cold, cruel, and evil characters that are completely different from their cousins.
This is true for the dark elves, a subrace of elves, and the gray dwarves, a subrace of dwarves.
In Zuo Si's view, the result of this convergent evolution is most likely not only related to the evil gods they believe in, but also to the harsh and cruel living environment in the Underdark.
After all, in the face of the pressure of survival, so-called morality is worthless.
When all kinds of resources around are extremely scarce, any race that wants to thrive must do its best to compress the living space of other races.
They even plunder what they need from the other party, including food, water, slaves, minerals, etc.
This is why most cities in the Underdark still retain the primitive slavery system and are very keen on expansion and conquest.
Among them, the dark elves and gray dwarves, who occupy relatively strong ecological niches, often enslave slaves several times their own number to engage in various heavy manual labor to ensure the normal operation of huge underground cities, or in battles
When used as cannon fodder to attract the opponent's spell attacks.
If there are too many slaves, they can be sold to the mind flayers.
Anyway, these monsters who make a living by eating brains always have an attitude towards slaves that they take as much as they want, and they are extremely generous in paying remuneration, and they never care about it like other races.
In fact, the real Underdark is far more complex than surface world scholars believe.
Many times, what people call the Underdark is actually just the shallowest layer of this huge underground maze, and it is also the upper layer closest to the surface.
Since food and water resources are relatively abundant, and trade with the surface world can be carried out to a certain extent, the number of races and various creatures living in this layer is also the largest.
Most of the more famous underground cities are basically concentrated in this area.
Going deeper, into the middle level of the Underdark, water and food begin to become extremely scarce, and large gathering places or cities rarely appear.
Creatures such as kuo-toa, troglodytes, goblins, and kobolds all live scattered in small tribes of no more than 300 people.
Because they are weak and lack the means to resist, they are the main source of slaves for the dark elves, gray dwarves and mind flayers.
As for the deeper third layer, food and water have become so scarce that they cannot support civilization.
Any race living here needs to fight for their right to live through extremely barbaric and cruel cannibalism.
At this level, intelligent life is actually not much different from beasts.
Under normal circumstances, except for those myconids that look like large mushrooms, the most common way to greet you is to suddenly burst out of the darkness, then use fangs or claws to tear you into pieces and eat you.<
/p>
No communication!
No communication!
There is only the eternal killing between hunter and prey.
As he went further and further into the underground world, Zuo Si could clearly feel the huge impact of environmental changes.
Especially the dark elves headed by Drizzt have become silent, nervous, and vigilant at a speed visible to the naked eye, and their eyes will flash a cold light from time to time.
[To tell you the truth, I have been using the Changing Source app recently to read and catch up on updates. Changing sources allows me to read aloud with more sounds.
Obviously, this is completely different from their relatively relaxed state on the surface.
In order to reduce the potential dangers caused by speaking and making sounds, the entire team's communication method has completely changed to complex sign language since they officially entered the Underdark.
Fortunately, Zuo Si had spent some time learning it a long time ago, so he was not unfamiliar with this kind of body language.
Quite the opposite!
He can even use sign language fluently to issue orders to every dark elf in the team.
At first, even the well-informed Drizzt was shocked by this move.
The legendary ranger originally thought that Zuo Si was already quite powerful if he could master Underground Common and Drow.
Such complex sign language would take at least several months to a year to master, even for those born in Menzobrai.
But what makes Drizzt even more incredible is that as a surface human, Zuo Si seems to be no stranger to the Underdark.
Especially in a dark environment that is so quiet that you can hear your own heartbeat, it is easy for people who are accustomed to living in the sun to have inexplicable panic.
But Zuo Si always acted like a normal person and did not show any discomfort.
Coupled with the effect of transformation magic, the dark elf ranger even had the illusion that the other party was a fellow dark elf.
While he was sitting down to rest, Drizzt finally couldn't help but came over and asked in a low voice: "Have you been to the Underdark before?"
Zuo Si immediately smiled and shook his head: "No, no, this is the first time. But I have been to the Leyline Maze City in Waterdeep City before, where I met the dark elves, mind flayers, beholder demons and other people living in the underground world.
I have dealt with creatures before, so the Underdark is not completely unfamiliar to me."
"Have you been to Earthline Maze City? No wonder!" Drizzt suddenly showed an expression of realization.
He has also visited Waterdeep and knows that there is a large area under this legendary city that is very similar to the environment of the Underdark, and is even a huge maze connecting the Underdark.
Wherever you go on an adventure, it’s basically equivalent to going to the Underdark.
"By the way, how far are we from your hometown of Menzobrebrai?" Zuo Si asked casually.
Drizzt replied without thinking: "It should be very close.
We entered the Northern Underdark through the Luskan Underpass.
Therefore, it is relatively close to the city of Gleixtug and Mantodris.
Further north, you can even see the ruins of Bullingdon Stone City, which was abandoned by the underground gnomes.
Keep heading east along the tunnel, and you will soon see a huge underground lake - Lake East Negaton.
This is the place used by the city of Menzobrebrai to raise Loth beasts, and there are often dark elf patrols around.
As for the fungus forest you are looking for, it is just south of Menzobrebrai City and Lake East Negaton, occupying almost a large area in the center of the Northern Underdark.
It is said that the fungal creatures there are very ancient, especially the myconids, which are too numerous to count.
The city of Menzobrebra once sent several teams to investigate the fungus forest, but without exception, they never returned, even the undead creatures controlled by the priests were no exception.
Maybe this ancient fungus forest was created by the fungus lady Zug Moyin."
"In other words, in another twenty hours, we will officially enter the sphere of influence of Menzobrei City?"
Zuo Si touched his chin and glanced at the simple map of the underground world in his hand.
He is obviously very interested in this ancient dark elf city.
According to the information currently available, ever since the old matron of the Baenre family, who lived for more than 800 years, was killed while leading an army on an expedition to Mithril Hall, the entire city of Menzobrevi has been plunged into chaos.
Since the first family no longer has overwhelming advantages and power, the other dark elf families behind them have taken advantage of the situation.
At present, many ambitious matrons are doing their best to recruit troops, hoping to take advantage of the chaos to improve their family's strength and ranking.
At this moment, the entire city of Menzobrebrai is like a huge powder keg, and no one knows what will happen tomorrow.
Of course, it is this kind of chaos that gives countless mercenaries the opportunity to make a fortune.
But only for dark elf mercenaries.
If they are gray dwarves or other races, they are very likely to encounter a situation where the gangsters eat the gangsters, or they may simply be captured directly and sold into slaves without paying any salary.
The chaotic and evil nature of the dark elves determines that they will not abide by any so-called contracts or terms, and they may backhand their so-called "allies" at any time if they have the opportunity.
Drizzt nodded slightly: "If nothing else happens, we should encounter the first wave of Menzobrevi patrols coming to the city in about ten hours.
You must deal with it carefully, and you must not be able to see even the slightest flaw, otherwise our situation will become extremely dangerous.
In addition, remember that in front of women, especially priestesses, never try to talk back or refuse any request she makes, otherwise it will be regarded as an offense."
"Don't worry, I know how to play a sinister, cunning and ambitious dark elf male."
To be continued...