Real world Underdark?

[Lord of Shadows]

Conquering an Infinite Cave (http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2011/01/largest-cave/jenkins-text) from National Geographic

“Past the hand of dog, watch out for dinosaurs,” says a voice in the dark. (First line of the article)

Big enough to hold a skyscraper, and no end in sight... the Beneath (or whatever it's called in your campaign) may be closer than we think.

[KingOfLaughter]

Conquering an Infinite Cave (http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2011/01/largest-cave/jenkins-text) from National Geographic

“Past the hand of dog, watch out for dinosaurs,” says a voice in the dark. (First line of the article)

Big enough to hold a skyscraper, and no end in sight... the Beneath (or whatever it's called in your campaign) may be closer than we think.

That right there. Is why the world is awesome.

[Moff Chumley]

:smalleek:

They'll encounter Peewee Herman's empire of mole-men.

[Snow Leopard]

This cave is really beautiful and the photo is very good taken

[Savannah]

Is it just me or does that first picture look like the top half of a skull, with the two lights in its eye sockets?

[AsteriskAmp]

Is it just me or does that first picture look like the top half of a skull, with the two lights in its eye sockets?

I think that effect was intentional.

[Lord of Shadows]

Is it just me or does that first picture look like the top half of a skull, with the two lights in its eye sockets?

The shot is taken from high overhead where the explorers are at, They are the two points of light (eyes?) on what looks like water. The slideshow is really cool too, Click on "Photo Gallery" at the top of the article, or click here. (http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2011/01/largest-cave/peter-photography)

[Coidzor]

Avernum (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDEL6pnzuDw&feature=related)... :smalleek:

[grimbold]

when i read that in my nat geo i was like OH MY GOD THIS IS AWESOME!!
suddenly i was not so depressed

[rayne_dragon]

Avernum (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDEL6pnzuDw&feature=related)... :smalleek:

All of a sudden, I'm irritated by the idea that I may need to go into this cave system and fight an ancient evil demon named Grath-Hoth again and then deal with some annoying subterranean alien-things with a penchant for crystals. I was happier when I was picturing mole-men. =p

[Lemonus]

That right there. Is why the world is awesome.

Exactly. However, we need to beware of Drow invasions.

[dgnslyr]

Drow invasions? There are more frightening things that dwell in caves...
Hehehe, am I the only one who thought of Dwarf Fortress's extensive caverns? Dig too deep, and you might find HFS...

[Timeless Error]

Wow, that's amazing. I am inspired to run a massive cavern dungeon delve D&D campaign now, if only for the sake of showing my players these pictures one by one as they enter the next room.

Nice find!

[AshDesert]

Cave pearls the size of baseballs? :smalleek: Good lord, those are massive! I still think Mexico's crystal caves are cooler, but this is definitely a close second. I like the expedition's naming conventions too.

[Elfin]

That right there?
That is pretty cool.

[Gwyn chan 'r Gwyll]

...
I'm going. I may suck at caving, never done it before, but going to this cave has just made my bucket list.

[Amiel]

Conquering an Infinite Cave (http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2011/01/largest-cave/jenkins-text) from National Geographic

That's pretty excellent, the wonders of the Earth are never-ending it seems.


“Past the hand of dog, watch out for dinosaurs,” says a voice in the dark. (First line of the article)

I'd watch out for the morlocks or the below* personally
*http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/51/Crawlies.jpg


That right there. Is why the world is awesome.

The world is just awesome (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=at_f98qOGY0)

[CynicalAvocado]

...
I'm going. I may suck at caving, never done it before, but going to this cave has just made my bucket list.

it's not that hard, once you get past the clausterphobia.

i've squeezed through so many spaces smaller than me thinking, "if this goes south, i'm screwed" it's not even funny

[Gwyn chan 'r Gwyll]

Aye, but I'm a wee bit lacking in the 'physical strength' department. I got the cajones, and I got the endurance and the skinny, and the fine-with-tight-spaces-and-darkness.

[CynicalAvocado]

Aye, but I'm a wee bit lacking in the 'physical strength' department. I got the cajones, and I got the endurance and the skinny, and the fine-with-tight-spaces-and-darkness.

i'm not exactly charles atlas either

[KerfuffleMach2]

it's not that hard, once you get past the clausterphobia.

Not sure if that'd be a factor in that cave, actually.

So wanna see that cave now.

[CynicalAvocado]

Not sure if that'd be a factor in that cave, actually.

So wanna see that cave now.

yeah, i prefer spiderholes myself

[Rob Roy]

Drow invasions? There are more frightening things that dwell in caves...
Hehehe, am I the only one who thought of Dwarf Fortress's extensive caverns? Dig too deep, and you might find HFS...
I'm more worried about Illithids. The clowns will only kill you, or torture you for all eternity, Illithids'll make you mind-slaves. Much, much worse than torture. :smalltongue:

I can't wait 'til someone opens up a hotel in it. With tours of the cave and maybe a nice zoo of native life to offset any damage to the cave. It'd be much more awesome if the hotel was hanging from the from the ceiling like a giant stalactite. Likely impossible, but really cool.

[Form]

That is awesome, a whole ecosystem underground. I'd definitely go to a place like that if I ever got the chance.

[Teutonic Knight]

That crystal picture, the one at the end of the slide show really got me.

Hooray for the motherland!

[Amiel]

That is awesome, a whole ecosystem underground. I'd definitely go to a place like that if I ever got the chance.

And then you find scorpions the size of tanks and elephant-sized centipedes.

[Deth Muncher]

And then you find scorpions the size of tanks and elephant-sized centipedes.

You've become jaded from living in Australia, methinks. :smallwink:

[Morph Bark]

...
I'm going. I may suck at caving, never done it before, but going to this cave has just made my bucket list.

Same here. My sister actually also has already told me she would like to go with me if the plan of going there ever finds solid ground to stand on.

I might lack in upper body strength and stamina compared to other people, but that shouldn't stop me from doing awesome things. :smallwink:

[Lycan 01]

I'd be less worried about finding Drow, and more worried about awakening the Balrog. :smalleek:

[Galileo]

I'd be less worried about finding Drow, and more worried about awakening the Balrog. :smalleek:

Exactly. Forget hard hats and ropes, the real protective gear you need when exploring massive caves is an epic-level wizard.

[dgnslyr]

Pfft, what good will a wizard do you when you run into Hidden Fun Stuff?

[The Vorpal Tribble]

If ever I can get paid to explore these places, and write about it, I'll have found my perfect occupation.

Screw illithids though, I'm more worried about the creatures from the deeps that even the Yith (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Race_of_Yith) feared.

[dgnslyr]

Illithids are flesh and blood (or something?) beings that can be harmed by a good +Silver Warhammer+ to the face, and what good are mind-affecting abilities on a Dorf? The beard does all the thinking anyways, and I'm not sure how a Mind Blast affects a creature without a discernible brain. On the other hand, Clowns are full of all sorts of nasty things, and you never know what syndrome a Clown can give, only having some Fun will tell. Reality affected by FPS drain? A terrifying thought indeed.