Waterways on Aurea
The Aebasan Sea
The Aurean Sea
The Aurea Sea, also known as the Golden Sea, was long dominated by the Great Empire during the Third Age of Man. Since the dawn of the Fourth Age of Man, trading vessels have begun to again ply her waters and most of the trade lanes are now dominated by Narbonne, Treva and, of course, the independent merchants of Aescalapea. The sea is a relatively shallow offshoot of the Betshaban Ocean, abundant with fish, that remains warm throughout the year. Though there is some disorganized piracy along the Ganesian shore, the waters remain relatively safe. There are rumors of merfolk in the central Aurean Sea, though there have been no recent sightings to confirm these legends.
The Betshaban Ocean
The Eternal Ocean
The Eternal Ocean lies to the west of the known world. It has two known currents. The colder, northern current flows south, bringing cold waters from the White Ocean south along the western Auric coastline, feeding cold water into the Aebasan Ocean through the Tangar Sea. The warmer, southern current moves warm water north along the western shore of Gallorea, an stream feeding warm water into the Aebasan Ocean before the main current cuts west into the trackless sea.
There are no known land masses in the Eternal Ocean, nor even rumors of such. It is rumored that the Eternal Ocean literally goes on forever, though scholars knowledgeable about geography point out the world being round makes that theory little more than ignorant myth. Like the Endless Ocean in the east, the Eternal Ocean is home to numerous monstrous creatures of legendary size, some of which wander close enough to the continents to terrorize shipping.
Sonat Bay
A large bay in central Aurea, Sonat Bay is dominated by shipping between Anclea, Drussa and rising Scalaro. Murgosia long ignored the small fishing villages along the Sonat Bay that paid homage to its King, but recently the Murgosh have been building shipyards and a proper trading city on their shore to compete with (and possibly use as a base to attack) their neighbors.
The Tangar Sea
A remote stretch of water connecting the Aebasan Ocean and the Eternal Ocean along southwestern Aurea, Tangar has a reputation for being a wild and dangerous body of water, with unexpected doldrums, chaotic winds and surprisingly heavy storms, particularly in the autumn months. Recently, there are rumors of strange, black ships plying her waters and even more alien vessels with odd, ribbed sails. As most respectable merchants have little reason to cross the Tangar, these rumors are as yet unconfirmed.
Tanos Bay
Situated in central Aurea, Tanos Bay is a large, deep bay with shores well-suited to several deepwater docks. Primarily used by Cordosan, Drussan and Scalaran merchant vessels, the central dangers come from privateers of those various countries attacking merchant ships of their enemies. There are rumors of an unmarked island, perhaps a floating island, somewhere in Tanos Bay with a tower on it. Though there are several legends about this tower, none have been substantiated as no one can lay claim to have visited the island more than once.
The Valtaani Sea
The Valtaani Sea lies in the frozen north between the continents of Duria and Aurea, bisected by the rocky peaks of the Valtaanni Peninsula. The currents in the Valtaani Sea are often unpredictable, particularly in the stormy winter months, where intrepid sailors must be wary both of sudden, violent storms and pack ice moving southward. In warmer months, the Sea is patrolled by Valtaani raiding ships looking for easy prey.
The White Ocean
The cold waters of the White Ocean lie north of the continents of Aurea and Duria. It is dominated by a sluggish eastern current that dips into the Valtaani Sea before moving northward back across the northern Durian continent. Some parts of the White Ocean freeze over, particularly the portions north of the eastern half of the Durian continent, sometimes freezing all the way to the shoreline. The late spring and early summer tends to be a very dangerous time to travel in the White Ocean as huge icebergs break off the ice pack and flow southward.
There are very few monstrous creatures known to live under the waves of the White Ocean, though much of it is patrolled by Valtang raiders, making mercantile travel dangerous even in warmer seasons.
| This article is part of the Player's Guide to Aurea | |
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Introduction · Economics and Trade · Legends and History · Religion · Regions and Realms | |
| Regions and Realms on Aurea | |
