Jade Well

Jade Well is the name of a settlement of geologists and a massive vertical cave located in the highlands to the north of the Western Gates mountains. A couple of decades ago, prospectors examined the Amphisbaenas River and found tiny bits of unknown minerals in its mud. Traveling upstream, their concentration would grow and reach its peak at the foothill of where Jade Well is located.

It was later established that a small stream originating in these highlands brought the minerals into the most extensive known river. The stream would create somewhere in the depth of a gargantuan vertical cave. The walls of the thousand feet deep Jade Well are covered with living clay organisms of green color. They feed on the rocks and secrete viscous goo that falls down and allegedly mixes with the stream. The goo is rich in complex chemical solutions and dissolves into simpler elements when they dissolve in water.

These 'green blobs' seem to be unique to the Jade Well cave. A few dozen prospectors residing next to the cave collect the goo and store it in large waterproof containers that are picked up by a cargo airship once every couple of months. The sticky liquid is a perfect conductor and a source of unique chemicals with multiple applications in both engineering and pharmacy.

Also, the highland site offers access to more familiar metals and crystals found on tree bark, fruit, and rocks. Despite its economic and research value, a nasty combination of high humidity and average daily temperature make Jade Well a place for a rare breed of people who can handle such living conditions.

Due to the high concentration of gas as a by-product of dissolving goo, trips to the very bottom of the cave are still regarded as dangerous. Recently, a few thermal cameras were delivered at least 300 feet down the Jade Well until the fluids damaged them. Despite the breakdown, scientists were able to capture the contours of a massive object resembling a stalagmite at its very bottom. At least, that is the hypothesis, as the cone is a few degrees colder than the rest of the environment and must consist of some sort of ore.

Over the last year, Duante Kone has looked for ways to build a lightweight diving suit to enable the expedition to the bottom of the well. But the Solar Dale chapter of Profit Priests refuses to fund the endeavor due to a lack of understanding of the matter. On the other hand, there are always risk-takers from Crimson Rock...

The Green Grow sometimes visits Jade Well to study green blobs and the different plants and animals unique to this place. Thunder Kakadu is one of the most intriguing species. These colorful birds produce electromagnetic fields that allow them to glide effortlessly in the air, almost without using wings and wind. This unusual ability likely has to do with their diet, which includes fruit, flowers, and yellow crystals. During heavy rains, birds prefer to hide in leaves, as water drops cause small electric charges and seemingly deplete their power.