The lava filled canyon that separates the Scarlet Sea from Death's Sea is known to travellers as Dead Man's Gullet. Bored into the basalt cliffs of Dead Man's Gullet is the deserted kaer of the Scavian people. The haunted kaer is now empty yet still retains some of the grandeur of its original construction. It stands now as a folly, representing misplaced arrogance in the face the Horrors. For more information regarding the Scavian people and the fate of their kaer please consult that excellent FASA source book, "Denizens of Earthdawn: Volume 1", pages 47 to 49.
Still, despite its haunted past the Scavian kaer was a huge, rich kaer that now acts as magnet to adepts, grave robbers, treasure seekers, Scavian restorationists, merchants and explorers. The kaer also holds more than its fair share of treasures with many thread items of a martial nature being lost within the lava caverns during the Retribution. Also hidden within the kaer are ghosts, spirits, elemental beings and, of course, Horrors.
As yet the Scavian kaer is a relatively unvisited destination for adepts due to its remoteness and difficulties involved in physically travelling to such an inhospitable region of Barsaive. Airship is the only common means of reaching Dead Man's Gullet. Travellers must try and negotiate their own passage from the elemental fire miners that ply their trade around the Scarlet Sea and Death's Sea. Such passage is not only difficult to obtain but often proves to be expensive, unreliable and down right dangerous.
There is but a solitary destination point for any traveller to Dead Man's Gullet: the tented, shantytown of Wake.
Finding an entry point into the kaer is not difficult a number of portals are know to local scouts and the Cold Dish. However, all of these entrances are in the cliff face looking out over Dead Man's Gullet itself. Explorers are required to scramble down ropes and nets that have been put in place in order to reach their chosen entry point. In a few cases rough stairways have been carved into the black basalt cliffs down to well know portals.
If trying to their way to a particular part of the kaer, adepts are wise to hire a guide. Large portions of the kaer have been explored or are known through stories and ancient records. When negotiating with the local scouting talent, explorers should be guided by the principle of caveat emptor as though a scout may know where a particular cavern is he may not actually been there himself or even know anyone who has. Consequently, the route to your destination may not be a simple as is first thought. Fees for guides are variable; nearly all prefer to paid up front and in advance rather than accept any share in found treasure. Minimum rates begin at 5 sp per day and increase rapidly with the experience and skill of the guide.
As with all things at Dead Man's Gullet, it is the Cold Dish who hold all the best cards. They know more about the kaer than any other living source. The Dish have old maps, records and journals taken not just from recent explorers but some stretching back to when the kaer was first constructed before the Scourge. The Dish will allow explorers to examine their records if it can be proved that the expedition ties in with their goals.
