Bahr Al-Nour (bɑːɾ əl nʊɾ)

Bahr Al-Nour is the largest lake on the island of Saba. It is located southeast of the island's center, in a low-lying, marshy area. The lake itself is about ten square miles in the midst of the swamp, and is known for the faint glow that the water emits. The Naga have long considered the lake to be a sacred place, and will travel to bathe in the waters and seek a connection with the Deva within.

At night, the lake becomes a mirror of the sky, with every star somehow made brighter by the luminescence of the water. The surface is unnaturally calm and still, and moving about in the water leaves only a few ripples that fade after less than a foot. Star charts drawn with the aid of the lake are more accurate than those directly from the sky, and contain fainter stars than can usually be seen overhead. Many consider Bahr Al-Nour at night to be the most beautiful vision in the Sabaen Archipelago, and the lake has inspired more than a hundred classic poems among the Naga.

Notable Spirits

The Deva of Bahr Al-Nour is named Lolo, and is said to manifest as a great floating flower, something like a waterlily combined with a lotus. Lolo does not speak, but their manifestation brings great comfort to those who witness it, and many who have encountered Lolo wear a pin shaped like the flower to remind them of the deva. They also claim that Lolo will appear in their dreams later in life, radiating a sense of calm and peace, especially in times of great stress. They call themselves the Dhany Lolo.

Bahr Al-Nour is said to be particularly valuable to those who suffer from mental illness, and that drinking the waters of the lake will soothe the troubled mind, especially for those who suffer from extreme anxiety. Shortly after drinking water from Bahr Al-Nour, fears become distant and the mind calms. This effect is not permanent, but does last for a few days, and those who have relied on it for some time say that the gift lasts longer each time. However, the water must be freshly drawn from the lake, and cannot be stored for more than a week without losing potency. Thus, some have chosen to move near to Bahr Al-Nour, and there are several villages within a day's travel of its shores.