The Dying Seas

The Dying Seas

  The remnants of the ocean that once covered Dunia, now reduced in size dramatically due to the Cataclysm. It is a dangerous and unpredictable area, filled with mutated marine life and inhabited by pirates, smugglers, and other nefarious characters.  

Features

  The Choke - A constantly-changing locale that is choked with volcanic ash being emitted from 'The Stacks'. It is always downwind of The Stacks and effectively kills anything that isn't adapted to the environment. This cloud will often cover large swathes of the Coral Wastes landbridge.   The Hadal Rift - The Hadal Rift is what remains of the ocean-floor volcanic vents that once divided the tectonic plates of Jazirah and Karrah.   The Saghiras - The islands that were once host to many different proxy wars throughout the Last Century, the Saghiras were often the stepping stones for the Shedari Alliance and the Verdoyant Coalition.   The Stacks - Active volcanic vents in the middle of the Coral Wastes landbridge, in the narrow straits of water, that regularly spew ash but don't spill lava. Alaibaratu-Maebar is located in a large column of The Stacks. It may refer to the centermost island, but also the surrounding volcanic vents.  

Inhabitants

  These sapient species can be commonly found in this region.   Humans (Tangata) - The Tangata humans are very frequently found throughout the Saghiras but their largest concentration is on the Southern island of Malabar.   Kamoa - A large population of Kamoa can be found on and near the island of Malabar. They are environmental stewards of their land and will always opt to defend their sacred waters from invaders.   Tieflings (Pirates)   Seirenes   Tu'aatu    

Major Settlements

  Alaibaratu-Maebar   Alaibaratu-Maebar is a port situated where the Hadal rift's most volcanically active islands were before they became mountains in the shallow sea's remains. In common it is simply called 'The Crossing', but in Khar-Kushak it translates roughly to 'Where the ferry crosses the sea'. Simple names at least convey their meaning quite clearly. The semi-active volcanoes periodically eject ash into the sky so Alaibaratu-Maebar can be quite miserable at times. This port is more of a network of motorized pulley-crossings between the dotted islands of the former chain. The large pulleys at each island are capable of moving massive vehicles between themselves. One must use this port to get to Jazirah if going by landbridge.   The Stacks (The Centermost Smokestacks of Alaibaratu-Maebar)   In the centermost island, comprised of active volcanic vents, there is a structure that is built around The Stacks, which is controlled by one warlord at any given moment. If the constituents of Alaibaratu-Maebar commit mutiny, the individual controlling The Stacks is quite literally overthrown, often thrown out of the windows in 'The Pent', cast out several hundred feet below to shallow, polluted water, almost always killing the individual instantaneously as their bodies hit the pointed rocks just under the surface. The Pent is lavishly decorated and filled with the spoils of extortion, and is merely a shortening of penthouse. It has 5 sides, but the one facing Eastward has the largest windows, ideal for defenestration.   On the West side of The Stacks, there exists a floating city of ramshackle containers, which often floods on the lower levels during high tide. It is an ad-hoc mess of structures, but also affords room for movement to and from the different connecting motorized pulleys, and even the largest of landships are capable of utilizing this space.   The Stacks are host to the largest number of connections to the rest of the oil-slicked waters of the narrow sea that bridge the two continents, and as such, anyone who is making the crossing must pay their tolls. Otherwise, the pulley operators, who are often caged nearby or attached by chain to the gargantuan motors, will not ferry them across. Slavers fetch a good price for healthy individuals who don't pay their tolls, who are often then shackled to the lowly position of a pulley operator.   Interfering with a pulley operator's job is punishable by death or by worse yet, forced Crude consumption and subsequent immolation. This punishment involves chaining the user to a floating platform, forcing their jaws open, and pouring raw, unprocessed Crude into their mouth so the black substance trickles down their neck and onto their body, then firing an incendiary weapon at them after they are pushed out to sea, so that the victim erupts in a gout of flame, seemingly emanating from their head.  

Monsters