The Underthing

I live in the Underthing. It goes all over.

– Auri

The Underthing is a long and wandering series of widely varying underground spaces underneath The University where Auri makes her home and which she is the sole keeper of.

Locations

Mantle

Mantle is Auri's private space and bedroom within the Underthing. Along with a bed, there is a fireplace with a mantle (hence the name), a sitting chair, a cedar clothing box, and various other trinkets, including Foxen, which is an ember that is Auri's primary light source while exploring the Underthing. Mantle has three exits, a hallway, a doorway which leads to Port, and a door which she notes "is not for her".

Port

Port is accessed through the doorway in Mantle. It contains a bookshelf, wine rack, and wall shelf, all of which hold many different trinkets. There is a crack in Port's wall which leads to Van, and a slanting doorway which leads to Withy.

Van

Van is accessed through a crack in Port's wall. It is described as being a tall room with straight walls of white stone. It is at least somewhat aboveground, as Auri can see light through a dilapidated archway inside of it. Van is empty except for Auri's standing mirror and hairbrush. Van leads into Rubric,

Rubric

Rubric is accessed through Van. Rubric is made of red brick tunnels that are covered in winding pipes. The pipes vary in type from tin to steel to copper to iron to ceramic. Some are wrapped in cloth of various types, the noted ones being cotton and linen.

Umbrel

Umbrel is between Rubric and The Twelve. It echoes.

The Twelve

The Twelve is far below all of the previously mentioned locations. It is a tall space, crisscrossed by bridges, walkways, and pipes. Gratings at the top of the room lead to the outside streets of the University and occasionally let in light. On the floor, there is a deep pool of water that is filled with pipes. The Twelve changes often depending on the day, and so does its name. It has been referred to as The Yellow Twelve and The Gray Twelve so far.