Aenigma
Located at the heart of the fragmented lands, Aenigma is a unique ocean, a titanic basin into which all the freshwater rivers of the world converge. Each kingdom shares access to its shores, making it a vital crossroads for trade, fishing, and the site of memorable naval battles. Aenigma is divided into 4 seas : Aiora, Goditha, Throth, Visvyoel.
According to the tales of the early prophets, Aenigma was born from a divine tear that fell to the heart of the earth, carving a basin into which the primordial waters poured. This sacred tear, resting in the hollow of a mythical flower, is said to have given birth to all forms of life. Ancient frescoes, poems, and statues found in the ruins converge on a single idea: Aenigma is a female entity, a Mother Ocean, protector and creator, source of life and unfathomable mysteries.
Aenigma's ocean is mysteriously contained in the heart of the land and is home to complex ecosystems that are essential to the prosperity of the land surrounding it. Its coral reefs stand like complex organic citadels, home to numerous marine species. Tropical fish such as the parrotfish feed on the algae that settle there.The sea anemones form a habitat with clownfish, but also attract the most voracious sea turtles, who make them their feast.
Sharks, although sinister and feared, are responsible for regulating marine populations. Although they are a source of fear and dread, they are also the victims of prejudice. Giant squid are said to live in the abysses, but no one has been able to dive so far to prove it. Crabs play a discreet yet crucial role. Necrophagous by nature, they clean the reefs by feeding on the carcasses that litter the seabed.
Above the surface, seagulls and albatrosses form the link between land and sea. But this home remains fragile in the face of fishing disasters. Little by little, the inhabitants are becoming rarer, and the ocean is losing its sparkle and its lively soul. Every creature, from the humblest crustacean to the most imposing whale, contributes to the balance of life and death in Aenigma's waters.
Sea Routes : The Veins of Light
The other world
Ierusylithym, the southern gate, is known for its warehouses full of exotic treasures from distant lands, beyond the human regions, trading gold and spices for goods transported from Leonidas and Nausicaus. The west coast is devoid of harbours, with the exception of Lion's Gate. It is home to the largest market for human slaves, bought and sold by the Leoharix. Attacks are frequent in the north on the Klaes coast, where they replenish their supplies of slaves. What's more, with the complicity of dishonest traders from Phasyneum, the most precarious populations disappear without a trace, fuelling this sordid trade in humans.
The Humans Coast
Aenigma has a complex network of sea routes, linking the powerful ports of Palumglia, Chrystemis, Trothylvanys, Synephium, and Ierusylithym. Sympruosia, a wealthy and influential vassal of Chrystemis, thrives thanks to its strategic control over the sea routes and its age-old harmony with this sacred ocean. Its ports and culture make it a central pivot in the economy of the surrounding lands. Chrystemis prospers through the trade of silks and spices from the Ynopherys desert. Trothylvanys, surrounded by dangerous reefs, is the stronghold of fishermen and whalers. Its skillful ships dominate the whale oil trade.The Bay of Hiatus
Wealth and Resources
Aenigma, the central jewel of the lands, abounds in resources that have shaped the kingdoms bordering its shores. Its waters, both vast and unfathomable, are the stage for a thriving economy and a perpetual struggle for control. Aenigma is both generous and cruel. It offers countless resources : its fish rich waters feed the kingdoms, its tides deposit pearls of priceless rarity, and its phosphorescent algae are used as remedies or sources of light in the deepest nights. The crystalline salt, harvested from its shores or extracted from natural evaporation basins, is a valuable currency and an essential commodity. It is used to preserve goods, purify rituals, and season the meals of both nobles and common folk. It is said that Aenigma salt contains a tiny trace of divine grace, making it particularly sought after.
The great whales, giants of the depths, are hunted for their precious blubber. Refined, it becomes a luminous candles for the Capital of the Empire Chrystemis Capital. This risky and bloody trade is a symbol of power and endurance for sailors. Aenigma teems with lobsters, giant crabs, and silver fish. These creatures nourish the coastal peoples and are delicacies at royal feasts. Fishermen swear that some fish glow faintly in the darkness, marked by the light of the ocean. Sourced from the giant oysters of the reefs, Aenigma pearls are renowned for their unique pearly luster. These jewels adorn the crowns of kings and become protective amulets, said to house a piece of the ocean’s purity. The Shells of Sympruosia are prized by bourgeois families as good-luck charms, much like the Egg.
Sea Monsters
An Enigmatic Ocean
The warm currents harbor gigantic sea creatures, both revered and feared, while the seafloor, for those daring enough to explore, hides submerged caves. These underwater caverns are legendary places, home to forgotten treasures, but also unspeakable dangers.
Some even claim that the ocean chooses who may sail its waters and who must vanish into its depths. However, there are also darker tales. It is whispered that Aenigma holds a grudge against humanity, accusing them of desecrating its waters.
Sailors murmur that anyone who dives deep enough might touch the very essence of this Tear of God, but no one has ever returned. Aenigma, with its unfathomable nature and untamable character, embodies both mystery and raw power, a reflection of life itself.
Aenigma is such a mesmerizing location! The way its mysterious and shifting nature is described makes it feel like a place that’s alive, constantly keeping visitors guessing. It’s the kind of setting that sparks the imagination and leaves you wanting to know all its secrets.
Happy that you like it :)