Travelguide to the Crystalline Lands (Lair of the Dragon)

To the northeast of the great Lair of the Dragon lies the Crystalline Lands covered by a petrified forest. Below its many islands runs a network of caverns that connect all the islands. Hamlets and villages are scattered throughout, but the most noteworthy is the Gemfarm Village located in the center of the main landmass. In the northeast lies the Inverted Tower and in the cavernous depths the Crystal Vaults can be found.

The Northern Suboceanic Labyrinth

An immense subterranean cavern that connects all the northeastern islands. Rumor has it that there is also a passageway to a western cavern system. But no kobold, townfolk or adventurer has been brave enough to venture deep enough to ascertain any truth to it. The labyrinth is only a problem for non-natives of the Crystalline Lands. Every island has at least one obvious and stable entrance that even a large sized dragon may enter with ease. Main passageways and thuroughfairs are lit by luminous moss and mushrooms farmed by the kobolds and other townsfolk. It has been described by some curious adventerers as an underground highway connecting huge caverns that are large enough to have thier own atmousphere and unique biomes. There is no official map and non-natives have often relied exclusively on verbal directions to navigete. Some swear that even taking multiple trips between two points of interest, they never took the same path twice. It could just be that many passages look the same and none are marked by a universal system of symbols.

Nevertheless, the Suboceanic Labyrinth is as alive with commerce, travel, and culture as the lands on the surface; if not more so. Although, if you wish to know of the individual villages, trade hubs and vacation spots within the Labyrinth, you will need to ask a local or avid adventurer sure of their memory and sense of direction. As a side note, if you, dear reader, intend to buy a map of the caverns before a visit beware the many fake or incomplete maps available. If is speculated that there are enchantments in place to prevent proper mapping of the area, but it has never been confirmed.

Crystal Vaults

Deep within the Northern Suboceaanic Labyrinth lies the vaults of the Crystilline Clan. Only the best and brightest faceted gems are kept here, although, some younger kobolds whisper of a nearly complete rock collection that they claim to have contributed to. The gems come from many foreign lands; some aquired by honest trade, others gained by plundering. Regardless the Clan leader values any and all contributions to the Crystal Vaults. There is but one singular goal, to fill them to the brim and become the greatest gem hoard that anyone has ever heard of or seen.

The Inverted Tower

It has not been reliably recorded in the Lair of the Dragon's history on who exactly built the Inverted Tower. The only resident confirmed is an ancient wizard who abandoned it centuries ago to bugger off to who knows where. Perhaps the wizard died, records do not say. A popular theory is that the wizard just summoned it overnight after a flight of fancy. Another goes that the wizard's late master painstakingly constructed it through the use of golems, air elementals, and an assortment of charms. The locals say that no one constructed it, that since its always been there it is as natural as the surrounding landscape. The truth is that theories emerge all the time and get progressively stranger, but still not as strange as the tower itself. Who would want to live in an inverted tower? It is needle thin at the base and rises up 15 stories with its biggest floor being at the top. The foundation spire hovers just above an inlet on the island. One needs waterwalk or levitation or the ability to fly to reach it. There is not much left in the rooms of the tower, anything grand has long since been added to the Silver Dragon's hoard. Still, it inspires awe in any that espy it.

Gemfarm Village

A quant village on the main landmass of the Crystilline Lands. It can be found deep inland after travel through rough roads and total wilderness. The reason that this village can survive deed within? In short, dragons. Well, more specifically, crystalline clan dragons that make regular trips there. They come for the gems that are grown and stay for the quiet springs that burble up gently from the earth. Many a traveler is delighted to find that this is not some farce just to have exorbitant prices for travel packages to this region. Gems truly can be farmed if one has the right know how. It really can be done anywhere, at least if you are an alchemist or a wizard. This special group of kobolds claim to have learned thier craft from the wizard that resided in the now abandoned Inverted Tower far to the northwest. Details on how to grow the gems are kept a trade secret though. One of the many reasons visitors still come to gawk at the farms found both on the surface and in select caverns in the area. It is unknown whether the gemfarm caverns connect to the Northern Suboceanic Labyrinth.

Petrified Forest

A vast petrified forest streatches accross the expanse of the Crystilline Lands. Don't think that the trees are fossilized. They still live and grow. They are simply as hard as stone. Quite a few varieties grow within this everblue forest. Yes, everblue. The leaves have a noticable blue tinge to them lacking true chlorophil. The food of these trees is made by chemical means within the roots of the trees, bacteria, fungi and insects work hard to provide nutrients for these living fossils. Some varieties of moss also provide water from the air, so this forest is not limited to ground water in order to survive. Smaller normal shrubs and plant varieties manage to survive in this unique biome. Snarky travelers joke that the ancient wizard of the Inverted Tower must be responsible for this to, but the locals usually just carry on with thier foraging. To them, this place is perfectly natural and it is oaks and willows that are strange and mysterious.