Scythe Reefs

The Scythe Reefs are an archipelago of small islands, reefs, and skerries named for both its crescent shape, and their deadliness.

These islets and reefs have claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands over the millenia. Even the most experienced sailors can find themselves battling rogue waves, sudden storms, and hidden rocks with swordlike sharpness.

The Scythe Reefs are scarcely inhabited. Those few who call it home are lonesome hermits, outcasts, or strange creatures who would not do well among the common races of the mortal world. Those who choose a life among the harsh, windswept stones are typically hiding, either from something specific or the world at large. Despite their dearth of inhabitants the famous hero Squalo Darkwing hails from one of these islets, having been found there as a baby, and adopted by a band of outcasts who taught him the ways of the monk.

Creatures

Dragons

Both blue and red dragons have been seen flying over the Scythe Reefs. These dragons, while not rivals with each other, are extremely aggressive and have been known to sink ships and murder entire Mestran villages that have tried to make a life for themselves on the islands in ages past.

Aras-Vuur, an infamous and millenia-old red dragon, terrorizes Coralia: the last Mestran village ever settled in the Scythe Reefs

The Blue dragons are far more common, and seem to fly all over the reefs, whereas the red dragon sightings have been limited to the islets near Seasmoke Pyre.

Merfolk

Whenever experienced sailors think of creatures in the Scythe Reefs, their mind jumps to mermaid and mermen. Elusive, but not uncommon, the curious merfolk of the Gulf of Sirens and Mestran Sea have been seen along the bows of ships sailing through the reefs. Some swear by the kindness of mermaids, who guide ships safely through harsh passages between reefs. Others call them cruel, leading sailors to their deaths, for plunder and the joy of murder.

Fiends

Rumors abound of demons and devils inhabiting the waters, coast, and dry stones of the island called the Reveler's Vineyard. Though these rumors have never been confirmed despite their numerousness, and are likely little more than tall sailor tales.

Sea Giants

Extremely rare, elusive, and ferociously violent juggernauts; these underwater giants of the Gulf of Sirens seldom abandon their thalassic homes at the bottom of the sea, but when they do they're best avoided.

They have been seen making chairs out of cliffs, and staring plaintively out at the horizon. Some have been seen lumbering aimlessly through the shallows of some small island. Do not approach under any circumstances.

Of all the dozens of tales spun about the Sea Giants, even the most fanciful has never recounted a victory against them in battle.

Civilization

Deepneedle

The underwater city of Deepneedle lies just a stone's throw from entrance to the Scythe Reefs. The Tritons of this mostly underwater city keep close to their stony shores, only sailing into the reefs when necessity demands it.

The Tritons of Deepneedle are shy and permit few travelers past their briny gates and into the city proper, but they're slow to cause harm. Deepneedle scouting ships and guards will only harm travelers in self defense, and will do nothing beyond exacting a small toll when passing through their sea-gate.

A meager New Mestran sailboat navigates the narrow sea gate of Deepneedle. The city spires tower above, built into the shallow reefs and islands around the gate.

The Reveler's Vineyard

Reveler's Vineyard, as the ancient Mestrans named it, is an island in the easternmost edge of the archipelago. For a thousand years, superstition from Mestran and Halfling culture has regarded it as a cursed place. Misfortune and horror is said to befall anyone foolish enough to set foot on its shores.

Despite the curse, thousands of foolhardy sailors, pirates, and adventurers dock their ships on the island, after spotting civilization high up on the islands' mountain. Upon the mountain's heights torches burn, the buildings of a village can just about be made out, and a larger structure burns with red torchlight on the summit.

The beaches and shallows are littered with the grounded ships of travelers who docked at Reveler's Vineyard and never left.