Haiyuan Ocean

Geography • Bluewater Ocean

Quick Facts

Geography & Character

A broad continental shelf skirts Lelien before falling to cobalt deeps. Plumes from the Yinlong He, Harvest Ribbon, and Highcano Wash paint a green seam along the shore; outside the color line the water turns indigo and cold. To the north, Arya’s katabatic winds can knife off the icefields; to the west, only Nezb’s far‑southern capes dip a toe into Haiyuan before the shelf bends away toward the Glassflow basins that serve Rihsama and Dajjashi.

Winds, Currents & Seasons

• Jadeflow (Coastal Current): Warm drift running south→north along Lelien in Qiyuan, speeding northbound convoys; it weakens and meanders in Yiwang.
• Archivist’s Return (Offshore Counter): Cooler counter‑set north→south that feeds approaches to Haixing Channel; fog banks form where it undercuts the Jadeflow.
• Storm Paths: Long‑period swells arrive from far west; Yiwang lows hook toward Paleflame Passage, sharpening squalls under auroral nights.
• Hexie Calms: Glassy seas demand kites and sweeps; schedules become negotiations.

Approaches & Lanes

• South‑Eastern Gate — Haixing Channel: Broad intercontinental corridor. Crossing it leads to the center continent: Nezb fronts Haiyuan directly, while routes onward bend into the Haixing Channel Sea to reach Rihsama and Dajjashi behind Lelien’s shield.
• Northern Littoral — Paleflame Passage: Cold, luminous waters between Tang and Arya; technically still Haiyuan, but a notorious choke where katabatics and currents cross.
• Coastal Chain (East Rim): Linfar Gulf and Tang Bight, staging points with pilot lodges, cadence beacons, and chain‑boom defenses.

Ports & Shore Sites (Lelien Rim)

• Scholar’s Sound (Tang): Fog‑prone courier corridor; mile‑bells and cadence towers keep barges off the basalt teeth.
• Linfar Gulf (Chen): Deep, calm capital approach; chain‑boom and night lantern inspections.

For river detail see Waters & Ways — Lelien Empire (Yinlong He, Harvest Ribbon, Highcano Wash, Yulan River, Red Hollow Run).

Hazards & Phenomena

• Sky‑Mirrors: Inversions paint phantom headlands and false lights; steer by soundings and cadence.
• Blueback Squalls: Narrow dark bands hiding sudden wind spikes; catspaws warn attentive pilots.
• Black Pumice Rafts: Rare after distant eruptions; foul intakes and chew paint.
• Whale Roads: Low, regular drums through the hull forewarn changes two to three days out.

Law & Neutrality

Imperial admiralty holds within beacon sight; beyond, the Empire honors Neutrality Charters. Pilot‑writs are mandatory for entries/exits along the coastal chain. Unlicensed captains are refused towage except to the nearest safe roadstead.

Travel & GM Tools

• Coastal hop (Linfar → Huangdao): 3–5 days with trades, 6–9 against; Navigation DC 10–12 fair, +2–6 for fog/night entries.
• Haixing crossing (toward Nezb / Glassflow): 4–7 days on the offshore return; +2 days under Hexie calms without kites.