Indel

Sitting miles beneath the sky and sea, a vast ocean awaits those who seek refuge.

The density of the liquid allows it to sit hidden away, protecting those that hide from humanity. A vast, nearly endless pool of brine entirely toxic to those who sink below its surface.

Most skirt the edges of the underwater sea, or avoid it entirely, but for those who hope to cross it, find they must wait for days until a guide comes to ferry them across, using the small islands that intermittently jut out above the surface of the deathly murk. But what purpose does crossing it serve? After days of travel, the travelers come across another island, indistinguishable from the rest.

Among the rocky surface, it falls in on itself, exposing a sizable hole, dropping down twenty feet before being shadowed in darkness. The guide and their herd of souls swim down, a small shard of light shining from a crystal in their hands gives the only indication of movement from the group.

Half an hour pass, the hole seems bottomless, but eventually, finally, it opens up into a large cavern. This giant cavern is covered in crystalline structures, scattering light from the small light the guide holds. They swim towards the towering western wall, where, in comparison, a small but well-kept airlock sits flush within.

The party crowds in, closing the door behind them. They wait for the water to drain, the guide slowly opens the heavy door. Their eyes brighten with hope as prismatic light floods from the state-sized cavern. A large set of stairs leads down to the city, while a small waterfall trickles down to the east. The city sits on a raised portion of the floor, packed with houses and shops, continuing on into the cavern walls.

The ceiling, floor, and walls are littered with chunks of crystals, the light from the city scattering through them, acting like thousands of prisms. These crystals can be seen integrated into the architecture, used in some lighting itself, pouring out from homes. The cavern floor sits a few hundred feet deeper than the city’s landing. It’s filled with fresh seawater, and on the eastern side, the river meets up with the body.

Small holes are carved beneath the water around the large lake. They move water through a pump, hidden in the walls, taking the newly filtered water back up to the waterfall to be reintegrated with saltwater taken from the sea it rests under. A rather large portion of the lake is covered in an algae that seems to shift colour, glow slightly. It’s hard to tell if the colour is from the prismatic light or if it’s an intrinsic property. Regardless, it’s apparent this algae provides much needed breathable air for the denizens of this city.

This is Indel, a city of prosperity.