Veskaren Seas

Veskaren Seas

Veskar is bordered by several seas, each with its own dangers, wealth, and significance. These waters define trade routes, shape cultures, and isolate or connect nations across the continent.

White Sea

Names: White Sea/Halaeth Eyr

The White Sea borders more nations than any other, and most western traders call it home. It is named after the white sands of its beaches. This color is only found on the northern continental coast, far from the silt-heavy river deltas. The sands of Quianmye are also white-ish, but not as pearly bright as those of the continent.

All ways out of the sea are narrow, and there are three in total. Only two are regularly used. The most important is the Serpent Strait, located in the southeast. The northern strait is primarily used by ships traveling to or from Tiananmye.

Naming

"White Sea" is what most people and nations call it. This name can be traced back to the proto-human language. But the elves have their own name for it: "Halaeth Eyr," which translates to something like: "The (final) destination of water."

Weather

The White Sea is known for its high waves and frequent rainfall year-round. This is why large, sturdy ships are required to navigate it safely. In autumn, violent storms and hurricanes are common, making travel much more dangerous.

Waters

The water here is relatively cold, since the current comes from the north, flowing south into the Enyanian Sea. It is very clear, allowing people to see the bottom quite far offshore.

Serpent Sea

Names: Serpent Sea

The narrow sea between Enyanin and Tiananmye is often called the Serpent Sea. Its narrowest point is the Serpent Strait, named for the many sea snakes that inhabit these waters, especially along the rocky Enyanian coast.
This name originates from the elves, but it was translated and has since been adopted by the whole world.

Trade

This strait is the most important corridor between east and west, connecting the White Sea to the Enyanian Sea, which then leads to the Yenoan Ocean. Whoever controls this strait controls trade. Historically, Enyanin and the island elves have held the closest ports to it. Western powers have long envied this position, which has fueled their efforts to control other strategic points—most notably, the mouth of the Marn River.

Geography

The Anmyan coast is smooth and gently sloping, but drops off quickly underwater. The Enyanian coast is steep and rocky, with underwater caves and a rich underwater ecosystem. Many fish, shellfish, and crustaceans live among the kelp and reef-like formations, many of which make good meals for the sea snakes after which the Strait is named, allowing them to thrive. Sharks and dolphins are also common predators in these waters.

Waters

The serpent sea waters are slightly warmer than the White Sea average, having been warmed a bit already, on their way south.

Sea of a Thousand Isles

Names: Sea of a Thousand Isles/Sea of Storms/Gobla Dihn/Steyeranki/Kram Ku Aqa

In the far north, bordered by mountains to the south and sheets of ice to the north, lies the Sea of a Thousand Isles. It is named for its countless small islands—bare, storm-battered, and inhospitable.

Naming

This sea had many names across different languages, but Sea of a Thousand Isles is the most popular, and it originates from Westingham, who named it based on a description given to them by a traveler.
The dendorians call it: "The Stormy Sea," and the natives call it: "Gobla Dihn," which means something similar.
The Aneira call it: "Steyeranki," which means something like: "off the western shore."
The Orcs call it: "Kram ku Aqa," which translates literally to: "Storm Man Water," because to them, this is the place where they trade with the people who call themselves Storm Islanders.

Life

Despite the harsh environment, the sea teems with life. Shellfish such as oysters and scallops cling to the seabed, feeding on nutrients washed down from the islands. Eels hide in rocky crevices and sea caves, while crabs roam the seafloor, cracking open mollusks with their claws.

People

Though few would choose to live here, some still do. The storm islanders are hardy descendants of the Dendorians and share their religion. Their only regular contacts are the Dendorians themselves, occasional orcs, and—rarely—the Aneira.

They trade smoked eel, fresh shellfish, crabs, and pearls—their most valuable commodity. Pearls from this sea are considered among the finest in the world.
Since nothing grows on the islands, the islanders rely on mainland trade for wood and grain, usually provided by the Dendorians.
Their houses are built from solid rock, with uneven stone floors designed to drain water quickly. Doors are usually made of heavy leather, offering some protection from the wind. The buildings are low, aerodynamic, and built to withstand the relentless storms.

Waters

The waters off this sea are freezing cold year-round, and they freeze over in the winter, allowing people to cross from Dendor to Aneira on foot, without having to navigate the black mountain coasts. Still, this is quite dangerous, as blizzards are a near-constant occurrence here during the winter.

Terhikai Gate

One of the islands is home to a Terhikai Gate—a rare and powerful magical phenomenon. Its presence has drawn mages from across the continent, and around it grew the only true city in the Sea of a Thousand Isles: the mage academy of Mashrae.

The Khellan Channel

Names: Khellen Channel/Yenoan Channel

This is the narrow sea between Khellador and the island of Reianmye. It is part of many important overseas trade routes, making it ever busy with ships.
While the enyanians heavily patrol their seas, as well as the Yenoans, and any other civilized nation, these waters are far from any of those, and in particular, the city of Fellkarth has allowed piracy to flourish here.

On occasion, one of the nations more reliant on this trade route, such as Isich or Yeno, sends a large convoy of pirate hunters here, which often temporarily dampens the issue, but not forever.
Enyanin at one point attempted to besiege the city of Fellkarth, looking the end piracy once and for all, but this was in vain, and after about a year, they gave up and went back home.

Naming

The whole world calls this the Khellan Channel, except for the Yenoans, who insist that it is rightfully theirs, since Khellador is their tributary, and should therefore be called the Yenoan Channel.

Whaling

Besides piracy, this region is also a popular whaling spot, as many of the creatures pass through here on their way to and from the Yenoan Ocean.

Weather

The weather here is pleasant most of the time, but Hurricanes are not unusual here.

Waters

The waters of the Khellan channel are warm, owing to the slow current here, and most of its water originates from the relatively warm Enyanina Sea. This has also given rise to many coral reefs here, and it makes an excellent diving spot.