Geological Survey Of The Kapaerian Island Chain

Geological Survey of The Kapaerian Island Chain Presented by House Sivis In the year 945 YK It is with the gracious support and tremendous resources of House Sivis that this geological exploration mission was undertaken. A lifetime of memories and adventure are herewith in the form of a true and accurate accounting of the landforms and strata of the Northern archipelagos’ of Xen’drik. This report is submitted in memory of Xillik Cill, Servern Forot, Kellwyn Humber, Derwk Pith, Welliam Rothhart, Parter Masters, Adrew Duncaste, and Lostrum Kiim1. Without their sacrifice and bravery our team would surely be lost and the valuable survey unnoted. The general features of Kapaerian Island proper and its satellite landforms are dominated by the limestone primary surface and the volcanic materials which thrust it above the waters of the Pheonix Basin. Kapaerian Island itself is an extension of the landmass that is from its dominant continent, Xen’drik2. Basalts and other igneous crystal bearing formations are very much the prized features that surround the volcanic isle. The disturbance that formed the islands however has long past due to the absence of pumice and other heavily pored rocks on the shores of the nearby associated islands. The activity of the volcano has settled into a stable equilibrium of slow steady release from Kyber below and the turmoil’s of violent eruption are not an immediate threat. Of particular note and value are the deposits along the outer islands of Rhyolite, the same stone of value that in a single vein can produce the strong properties of granite and the highly versatile obsidian. The near granite is a defensible material we saw much of in the ruins of architecture from the long past civilizations. The durable material seems to have lost little in the carved details of its use by those same peoples. The obsidian was used heavily in the tools of the past and by the savage remnants of those societies which use the material for everything from weapons to clever little reflective panels that can light an underground cave3. The topography can vary between the volcanic isle and the outlying islands quite dramatically. The volcanic isle rises and falls as one would expect from a towering volcano such as the Kapaerian mount. There are fingerling foothills that all run out and away from the original flow lines of the volcano. The outlying islands that rose with the swelling from Kyber however are relatively flat and covered with a scrub jungle on the periphery and shores and a dense high canopied jungle that rivals anything on Khorvaire for wild untamed forest. The jungle floor covers the formidable limestone subsurface that drastically shapes the islands more that an idle traveler would know. Rivers are absent from the islands in the manner which are familiar to natives of Khorvaire. The waters, which are 1

It is hoped that one day the circumstances of their valiant deaths can be made public and what knowledge of their remains passed along to their families. 2 A marine survey will have to be undertaken at a future date to confirm that the island chain is in fact a part of the continent that was previously submerged along an underwater shelf or extension of the land itself. However the limestone of the islands all conform to the same standard of the north west of Xen’drik, an important indicator that as such is true. 3 Several of the panels were collected and are now installed at the Korranberg Museum of Gnomish Achievement to light the mining display.

immense during rainy season, collect in lakes that are better understood as surface basins. From these lakes the limestone allows the water to run underground as deep as the layer persists in some locations and quite separate from other systems yet interconnected with others still.4 The nature of the underground water system is confusing at best. Local savages make use of the system to supply fresh water and living space in some instances. The Drow elves, as they are known, of the islands are quite violent and have little to offer academically as their understanding of their surroundings is primitive at best and they warrant a wide berth from any exploratory party.5 Mineralogical explorations have yielded little in the way of valuable materials thus far. There are examples of classic volcanic gemstone varieties but not in the quality or the quantity to justify an expedition. What follows is a detailed and systematic report of the samples taken and the methodology used to determine the characteristics of each island and its general structure.

Dearest Banick, You may be interested to know that a Zilargo sponsored expedition was immediately put together and sent to these islands. The haul is suspected to be a goodly quantity of both Kyber and Sibyrs Dragonshards. It would seem that the public accounting was quite a bit different that the actual. In any event that expedition was centered on Kapaerian 7, the isle of your interest. Their base camp was some mile inland and the approach was the southern beach shores. Hard to miss among the short cliffs I understand. Good Travels, Kilp Harvestman

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Evidence of intermingling with saltwater could be found on some surface locations miles from the shore. Yet pristine fresh water was also found in many deep cave basins that interconnected with others. 5 Noted linguist Admiral Jillent Houwsent made several attempts to recruit the Drow as workers for our party. Her efforts were met with outright hostility and violence. While their language is the same as their continental brethren their scope of utility is quite limited.