~Kamudo's Guide to the Underground~
Hey everyone, Kamudo here. Since Underground exploration is pretty popular, I'm going to just rewrite this whole first post to encompass everything people should know. Please note that the following information is a work in progress and is in no way complete. It will be better organized when I have time to work on it.
Basic general things you should know.
The underground is an expansive network of caverns that cover the world. It generally comes in 3 layers, each of which have their own variation of trees, creatures and other things. Below layer 3 is a sea of Magma, that is impassable. Layer 3 also has something in it that allows you to reach even deeper layers.
You cannot fast travel underground.*
*It's possible to travel directly under an above ground site. Whether this is a bug, or what, it's an effective way to escape to the surface, regardless of how deep you may be.
The only ways to reach the underground is by either digging down with a fortress, or finding a cave entrance. Cave entrances do not always guarantee entry though.
Weapons and skills
Dwarves, Elves and Goblins are all now the same sizes, so if you want to have a fully steeled up Elf, go right ahead. If you're planning on going with Melee weapons, be sure to place some points in the fighter skill class, as it will help you better fight off enemies. Ranged attack is not recommended, with the narrow passages, and the lack of ammo. Be sure to get at least Adequate Swimming, as there are many times you will have to swim to proceed. Save often, and if you need, open task manager and close the game, as broken bones will become infected, and we're unsure if you can treat that.
Slashing weapons (Swords, Axes, etc) Are good for slashing off limbs, and cutting through enemies. They are less effective against armored beasts, and creatures that can't be killed by simply cutting it. (IE Flesh balls will not die from slash damage.)
Smash/crush weapons (Hammers, Maces) are good for breaking bones, and getting through tough opponents. Pretty much what was said above, applies here. As in smashing flesh balls.
Food/Water/sleep/ Possible Healing
It's recommended that you take at least two or three waterskins full of fresh water, as we are unable to be certain if muddy water, blood or pus from infections make you sicker when drinking those things. Food can be obtained from underground tribes, but it's still recommended that you bring a lot of food from the surface, at least 30-50 units, as you may be underground for a long time.
Butchery: The butchery skill is incredibly useful, it allows you to butcher creatures. So, as long as you have a dagger (knapping stones too?), you'll be able to carve up anything you want, as long as it's not sentient.
Sleeping. Sleeping is dangerous, as you can be ambushed by anything while this happens. I suggest looking around the immediate area and making sure no creatures are stalking around, and try to sleep somewhere that's not wide open. As that way, you can have less of a chance of being attacked. Like sleeping in a one tile hallway that is blocked at one end allows the monsters to attack from only one direction. Or, sleep with friendly tribes underground, as they will try to protect you.
You can take cloth and wrap it around your wounded areas. The effectiveness of this is still unknown. Fast traveling will help heal you a bit as well, though it's much much slower. If you pick up a crutch, you will gain the Crutchwalker skill, and it will help your movement speed if you're missing a leg or have it broken.
Friendly Underground tribes and features.
Tribes are your best friends. They have food, you can recruit them, and they work well as meat shields, and sleeping companions. (Since sleep is difficult.) You can take all of their food, and leather, and they won't get mad at you.
Features. Features are things such as magma pools, downward slopes, and Deep pits.
Avoid magma. Aside from magma creatures, you have worry of dodging into it if you're fighting near it. Deep pits have no use. They're just there in case you're dying and need a quick way to off yourself. Downward ramps are a great way to get down a layer really fast. Good luck finding one though, they're really rare.
Bestiary
The following area will include descriptions of monsters, and how to kill them, and things you should avoid.
Tribes of Animal People:
Cave Swallow Man: An armless man with the wings and head of a bird. Lives underground.
Information: A friendly tribe, you can find tiny villages of them. They come in two varieties, blowgunners and spearmen. Despite their lack of arms, they use their weapons perfectly fine. They'll join you if you ask, and feel free to take their food. They don't mind.
Batmen: A humanoid with the head of a bat and wings stretching from wrists to ankles.
Information: Perhaps they can fly? They're a friendly tribe, they've got spears and blowguns.
Queen, drone, worker Ant: A humanoid with the head and body of an ant.
Information: Friendly.
Monsters:
Jabberer: A Huge monster that lurks deep under the earth. It uses it's wide beak to reach down and pluck up unsuspecting intruders.
Information: Well, it's a pretty large beast, but I suggest just keep hitting it with all you've got. You shouldn't have any issues if you've got a shield and armor, just watch out for it's bite attack.
Crundle: A tiny underground monster with large claws and horns. It walks two legs and is dangerous when encountered in large numbers.
Information: This monster is pretty weak, so you can mostly one hit kill it, but when they team up, it really means they are dangerous, especially in groups of 10-20s. If you use good tactics, they aren't a threat.
Draltha: A large, long-bodied grazer with a thick mane that feeds on the top of tower-cap mushrooms deep underground.
Information: They're generally not hostile, and try to avoid being seen. They're not overly threatening, so don't worry too much when fighting them.
Blind Cave Ogre: A large cavern-dwelling humanoid monster. It has a gaping mouth with many sharp teeth. It has no eyes and only two digits ( Fingers & Toes? ) on each hands and feet.
Information: Hack and slash. Have fun. They're blind, and mostly useless.
Elk Bird: A large creature found grazing on mushrooms deep underground. It walks on two legs, and has the head of a bird with the horns of an elk.
Information: What a weird looking beast, yeah? It shouldn't be to hard to beat, the only thing you should worry about is its horns, but if you've got high speed, and can wound him quickly, then they're not a problem.
Bugbat: A small bat-like creature with the head of an insect. It lives deep underground.
Information: They like to travel in swarms, and can fly, so try kill them if they're on the ground. Not sure what you can do if they're in the air. Throw a rock or something, no idea. Just be careful.
Gorlak: A Small Round humaniod found wandering the caves deep underground. Most of it's body is taken up by a huge tusked mouth.
Information: They're fairly weak. Not much to really say.
Troll: A humanoid monster with coarse fur, large tusks and horns.
Information: Dur, its a troll. Just attack it. I don't know of anything to worry about.
Cave Blob: A strange shapeless life form with an orange leathery skin containing a liquid interior. It can secrete it's internal liquid.
Information: Pretty much any little poke of a sword or smash of a blunt object will puncture and kill this thing. I'm sure if you punched it, it would explode.
Flesh Ball: A large ball of skin found moving around the debris near underground ponds. It is there that it absorbs dead matter for food.
Information: Passive, doesn't fight back, sits there and looks ugly. It's hard to kill with slashing weapons.
Creeping Eye: A small underground monster that crawls across the cavern wall with it's four clawed hands. It has a single large eye which can shine with it's own light. Otherwise it's stony skin blends in with the rock. It has no mouth and is said to feed on evil alone.
Information: It's a badass creature, and travels in swarms, goes underwater and on land. They're fun to make splat. Not really threatening to a well prepared adventurer.
Gremlin: A small humanoid creature with a mischievous, toothy grin.
Information: Weak
Naked Mole Dog: A large, pale rodent with loose, hanging, hairless skin. It has long teeth and an incredibly powerful bite. It is found underground.
Info: They're just an annoyance, incredibly weak. I've only found them alone, but they might travel in packs.
Troglodyte: A savage man-like cave creature.
Info: They're fairly easy to kill, but very aggressive and they often come in small packs. Just make sure you don't dodge off a cliff or something and you'll be fine.
Giant Mole: A gigantic digging creature found underground.
Info: They're similar to naked mole dogs. Virtually harmless.
Bloodmen: A Man-shaped Abomination made entirely out of blood. These cursed creatures are only found very near the underworld.
Information: These things are non-friendly, and die especially easily if you use a slashing weapon on their liquid body.
Plump-helmet Man: A small humanoid resembling a walking mushroom with arms and legs. It lives far underground near water and soil.
Information: They're not hostile, just don't try and eat them. o:<
Hungry Head: A fearsome, long-toothed mouth the size of a man's head, flying on bat wings. It is found in deep caves.
Information: Travels in groups, but are still weak.
Reacher: A humanoid monster found lurking far underground. It feigns death, usually near water until a victim passes by. It then uses it's long arms to drag it's prey into the water to drown or strangle them.
Information: Runs away at first but jumps you later.
Voracious Cave Crawler: A huge cave monster with hundreds of feet moving along the bottom of its long body. In place of a head, it has an enormous toothy maw.
Information: Relatively weak.
Giant Cave Spider: "A large underground monster with eight legs and sharp, venomous teeth."
Information: The Giant Cave Spider has become a lot less deadly, but it still can spray you with web, and has toxins, so take care when fighting one.
Giant Toad: "A giant amphibian predator found underground."
Information: Has the ability to travel underwater. Not too deadly.
Pond Grabber: "A small creature that lives in watery ditches deep underground. It has a sharp beak and four tentacles with claws at the end."
Information: Weak, dies fast. Shouldn't pose a threat.
Cave Crocodile: Information Pending.
Musicality!
For us adventurers with a keen imagination. I believe I've found a great song for Cavern travel.
Behold the DarknessWho I'd like to thank:
Mythos, for providing a lot of tips.
Lucied, for collecting monster information for me.
LukeRM, for healing notes.
Cerion, for point out several things.
Spartan117, Adding entries to the Bestiary
