Eternal Ocean

Overview

  The Eternal Ocean is the largest and most infamous body of water on Asiendal’s world — and ironically, it is not known for storms or raging seas, but for its unsettling calm. For hundreds of leagues, the ocean stretches as a flat, unbroken expanse of glass-like water beneath an oppressive sky.   There are stretches where no wind blows for weeks, sometimes months. Sailors speak of the Eternal Ocean as a place where time itself seems to halt — where the horizon never changes, the waves never rise, and the silence grows so loud it gnaws at the mind.  

Geography & Extent

  The Eternal Ocean lies between:   East: The coasts of Schuttarch, including the Gulf of the Emperor and the Holy Peninsula.   West: New Aurien, with the Pass of Endurance connecting it to smaller western seas.   South: Aenn Voaenn, where the icebergs drift silently through the White Gulf.   The entire stretch is so vast that it takes months to cross even with modern magitech airships — and much longer for conventional sailing vessels.  

The Curse of the Calm

  The stillness of the Eternal Ocean is considered one of its greatest dangers:   No Wind: Sail-driven vessels can become stranded for weeks in the dead calm, running out of supplies.   Psychological Toll: The unchanging horizon and ceaseless silence have been known to drive sailors to madness. Mutinies are common in the far reaches of the ocean.   Eerie Phenomena: Sound travels strangely far; a whispered word can seem to echo for miles. Ghostly lights are said to appear under the surface on moonless nights.  

Cultural Impact

  Sailors consider crossing the Eternal Ocean to be a test of will more than skill.   The Federation of Pratt offers hazard pay to crews willing to risk the crossing, not because of storms or pirates, but because of the mental strain.   Empire of the Eastern Lion uses press-ganged criminals and magically warded ships for its convoys, believing the Ocean itself to be cursed and eager to claim souls.  

Strategic & Military Role

  Because of its calm, battles here are rare — fleets are forced into slow-moving duels or must rely on steam power and magic to maneuver. Asiendal’s steampunk-magitech fleet thrives here, as its engines are unaffected by the lack of wind.   The Battle of the Pass back in 95 650, was particularly one-sided because the Empire of the Lion’s wind-reliant ships could barely move, while Asiendal's warships cruised effortlessly, bombarding them into oblivion.  

Sailor Superstitions

  “The Ocean Listens.” Crews whisper rather than speak loudly, believing the water carries words to spirits below.   The Drowned Reflection: Some claim to see themselves in the water — but older, deader, or smiling back when they are not.   Nightfall Silence: The quiet becomes absolute at night. Even the sound of a ship’s creak is deafening in the still air.  

Modern Crossing

  Only the most prepared ships dare to cross the Eternal Ocean regularly.   Teleportation gates are preferred for vital goods, but maintaining them is costly.   Asiendal’s modern fleets use rune-powered engines, allowing them to treat the ocean like a calm highway rather than a prison.   Smaller nations still fear it, and some believe it is a divine warning — that mortals are not meant to venture so far into the heart of the world.