Deep Roads

The Deep Roads are an expansive network of subterranean passages, trade corridors, and spiritual chambers that stretch beneath the surface of Terasil and Minthal. Carved over millennia by the Minthari and expanded in collaboration with the Duranthi, the Deep Roads represent both a practical infrastructure and a cultural legacy tied to the subterranean identity of Terasil.

Historical Origins

The Deep Roads began to take shape during the Age of Deep Roads (c. 5000–6200), a period of intensified subterranean activity following the Great Migration.

The Orasians, whose ancestral halls already extended deep into the rock were gradually linked together by Minthari corridors connecting new Duranthi settlements. This convergence formed the foundation of what would become a realm-wide system of shared passage and exchange.

Structure and Geography

The Deep Roads are not a single unified structure but a layered and often labyrinthine system of interconnected tunnels.

Spirits and Lore

Several Spirits are believed to inhabit the Deep Roads, including the ancestral spirit Tharoz-Mir, who is thought to dwell within the oldest passages and bear witness to all who travel them.

Trade and Conflict

The Deep Roads serve as a primary artery for resource trade across Terasil, especially in stone, metals, and crafted tools. Control of key junctions has occasionally led to disputes, particularly in early phases of Minthari expansion. However, formal pacts and stone-etched agreements between Duranithi councils and Minthari elders have maintained stability across most of the system.