The Five Seas

The Five Seas: Cradle of Conflict and Civilization

The world of Aithyris the heart of modern history is a vast and interconnected region of five great seas. These waters bind the continents, separating the ancient lands of Tey-Semal and Chan Ser from the great, Y-shaped continent of Tha'ran, the primary stage for our Saga of the Silver Blade. It was across these seas that the Vesprian shandaryn fled their fallen kingdom of Sinda'lar, settling the volcanic island of Dyth Seran and beginning a new age of exploration. In the centuries since, these waters have become the cradle of empires, the battleground of gods and mortals, and the arteries of trade and war that define our time. To know the Five Seas is to understand the soul of the people who sail them.

Moving from the harsh north to the tropical south, these are the five seas that shape our world:

The Nord Sea

The northernmost of the Five Seas is a realm of ice and fury. A cold, wind-swept expanse, the Nord Sea is bound by the endless ice of the pole to the north and the rugged, fjord-gouged coasts of Nord to the east. It is a place of howling storms and winter ice floes, inhospitable to all but the hardiest souls—fishermen, whalers, and the brutal Stornir raiders who sail from their grim Blood Isles. It is a sea that does not suffer the weak, a true barrier at the top of the world.

The Eleysian Sea

Nestled in the grasping, protective arms of the continent of Tha'ran, the Eleysian Sea is a place of comparative peace and breathtaking beauty. For much of the year, its calm waters are like a mirror reflecting the heavens, a quality that led the Vesprians to believe it was claimed by Gaily'a, Sister of Expression. Though sheltered, it is not without peril; storms can rage through the narrow Strait of Eleys, and the winds that rise over the Sentinel Peaks mountains can stir its tranquil surface. It is a sea of reflection, but one that hides a deep and unpredictable power.

The Therysian Sea

True to its namesake, the capricious Sister of the Sea, the Therysian Sea is a tempest in a bottle. It is a convergence zone of powerful currents, where cold waters from the Nord Sea clash with warmer streams from the south. The result is a perpetually rough and stormy sea, a constant challenge for the sailors who call it home. Its most infamous passage is the treacherous Dragonforge Gap, a narrow strait of churning water and contrary winds that connects the Therysian and Eleysian Seas. The gap is formed between the Dragon's Hammer peninsula to the north and the Silverstrand Shore, the flat face of the Black Anvil region, to the south.

The Dawn Sea (The Sea of Thalass)

The easternmost of the Five Seas, this is the body of water from which Elos, Father of Light, is said to spring each morning. Early Vesprian explorers, following the path of Asharavae, the Morning Star, named it the Sea of the Dawn. The southern peoples of Thallia have long known it as the Sea of Thalass, believing it to be the home of their mother goddess. This dual naming is a source of cultural friction, a quiet war of words that reflects the deeper ideological conflicts between the Vesprian and Thallian faiths. It is a sea of contested identity, whose shores are home to true believers and zealous crusaders alike.

The Sea of Asum'ra

The southernmost of the Five Seas, the Sea of Asum'ra is a warm, tropical body, its waters circulating north from the vast Aswama'a Ocean. It is a sea of stark contrasts; the western coasts of Tha'ran are lush with wet jungles and mangrove swamps, while the eastern coast is an arid desert. The sea is named for the ancient Khet god who carries the souls of the dead, and the frequent, violent tempests that sweep across its waters are believed to be the passage of his great ship. Today, it is a dangerous place, its waters patrolled by the slavers and pirates of the Asum'ran Empire, a realm where one's life is only as secure as the strength of their sword or the depth of their purse.