THE
EIGHT
WINDS
BAY |
The gigantic Eight Winds Bay,
stretching almost five hundred
strals east to west between the eastern shore of the Peninsula of Kr'uul
and the western reaches of the marshes, and almost two hundred and fifty
strals north to south, is
located on the western coastline of Northern
Sarvonia, just north of the lands of the
Kuglimz and the
Prominent Mountains. According to myth
and legend, Eight Winds Bay was created in the aftermath of the Battle of the
Winds when water rushed into the area and
drowned four of the Chosen, believed to be powerful avatars of the Gods, and
their armies, leaving naught but three rocky islands and a massive maelstrom of
water and air,
believed to be set into motion by the magical
powers unleashed by these powerful combatants.
The bay is home to the Arthyrón Elves
(lit. "Blessed Sea Elves"), who live
in atypical elven settlements on the rocky
eastern coastline of the Peninsula of Kr'uul and on each of the three islands,
who rely on trade with nearby tribes for their continued existence. The other
main inhabitants of the bay are the Blue
Druids who study the perpetually active maelstrom which is at the heart of
the bay, from their settlement of Tyrling located on the western coastline of
the largest of the three rocky islands located within the bay. This whirlpool,
known to the Arthyrón as
"Tuu'marásh", impacts on all life within this area of Eight Winds Bay. The
three rocky islands, perpetually active maelstrom, coastline and the bay
itself, provide travellers, merchants, adventurers and residents alike with
beautiful and unique scenery. Being captured by the beauty of Eight Winds Bay
can make visitors to the area unaware that they are so close to the blighted
and deadly land known as the Peninsula of Kr'uul, a land not so pleasing or
enjoyable to behold and experience.
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Description.
Moving north over Eight Winds Bay from the
Prominent Mountain or the Wilshirer Heath, one would almost immediately
behold the waters of the bay. Eight Winds
Bay is somewhat akin to an inland sea, such as the
Ancythrian Sea in Santharia, however Eight
Winds Bay is connected to the Sea of Tears by the Waters of Division, known to
the Arthyrón as "Syéth'maría", and
so this waterway is correctly referred to as a bay rather than an inland sea.
In any case, the Waters of Division separates the Peninsula of Kr'uul from the
Lands of the Kuglim, and provides a
secondary outlet from Eight Winds Bay to the Sea of Tears. Indeed, in some of
the halls of academia located in Lorehaven,
Ximax and other places of learning throughout
Santharia debates rage back and forth whether the
Peninsula of Kr'uul should be called an island or a peninsula, and while such
debates are interesting, they are beyond the scope of this work.[1]
All aspects of the bay, whether it is the elves
and druids residing on its western
shore and three islands, the plants and animals who call the bay a seasonal
home, those brave individuals who dare to cross the gaping maw of the
perpetually active maelstrom or the currents and
winds of the area are impacted by this whirlpool. The
Blessed Sea Elves reportedly know
the secrets of crossing this massive and destructive
water feature, known to them as "Tuu'marásh"
(lit. "Water Turn") and a number of the Arthyrón youths, seeking to prove their maturity and readiness to be
adults, take on the journey through the maelstrom as a rite of passage once a
year. Tuu'marásh differentiates Eight Winds Bay from the other bodies of water
on the surface of Caelereth.
The Eternal Maelstrom
("Tuu'marásh")
It would be unwise to mention Eight Winds Bay without fully considering
"Tuu'marásh". This perpetually active maelstrom is believed by many to have
been created at the same time as Eight Winds Bay by the powerful forces
unleashed by the four Chosen, powerful magic
users who believed they were avatars of the Gods, involved in the Battle of the
Winds many centuries ago, sometime in the tenth century b.S. More details on
the Chosen and the Battle of the Winds can be seen below in the
Myth/Lore section. This perpetually active maelstrom
of water and wind, that lies south of the three rocky islands of "Únn'chrónn",
"Galnós'chrónn" and "Masýr'chrónn" at the very heart of the bay. “Tuu'marásh”
is clearly visible from the island of “Únn'chrónn”, the upper reaches of the
northern face of the Prominent Mountains,
the northern parts of the Wilshirer Heath and the Arthyrón settlement of Adlin
on the eastern coast of the Peninsula of Kr'uul. The view of “Tuu'marásh” from
the Arthyrón city of Silven and the
islands of “Galnós'chrónn” and “Masýr'chrónn” is mostly blocked by the island
of “Únn'chrónn”. The effects of the winds and currents stirred up by
“Tuu'marásh” are felt by all who reside in, or visit, this area, however.
The perpetually active maelstrom is responsible for the erratic currents and
the unpredictable weather of the bay, and as such has a profound impact on the
way of life of its druidic and
elven residents. The combined force of the
water and air
that lie at the heart of the whirlpool are believed to have created the eight
winds for which the bay has been named. These
winds emerge from the whirlpool's centre and blow outwards in the four
cardinal directions: north, south, east and west; as well as the half points of
these directions: north east, north west, south east and south west.
Transportation through the bay is also impacted on by the whirlpool and is a
risky venture for those not aware of the dangers presented by the perpetually
active maelstrom and some of the denizens of the
waters of the bay. An inexperienced crew, or even an experienced crew with
little knowledge of the dangers of Eight Winds Bay can find themselves in
trouble very quickly: dragged, pulled and thrown off course and facing the
danger of their vessel being torn asunder by the maelstrom's currents. Maps,
marker buoys, and even members of the
Blessed Sea Elves and Blue Druids
are available to assist with passage.
The eight winds, for which this bay is known,
pose another danger for the unwary ship captain. These
winds can blow boats and ships off course,
while also assisting the waters of the
maelstrom in destroying the vessel and claiming the lives of all or most on
board.
The Three Islands
There are three rocky islands that are all that remains of the land that was
here prior to the cataclysmic Battle of Winds that tradition, myth and history
tell us created Eight Winds Bay. These three islands are devoid of trees native
to the area. Flowers, grass and small shrubs are found on these islands, but
there are no trees. For this reason, the elven housing that one would find used
by the elves on the rocky islands and in the settlements on the eastern
coastline of the Peninsula of Kr'uul is atypical when compared to the housing
of elves elsewhere on the surface of
Caelereth. Due to the rocky nature of the three
islands, Blessed Sea Elf and
Blue Druid alike advise visitors not
to use horses or other riding beasts on the islands, as it is likely they'll
stumble and suffer injury on their journey. Times taken for horses to traverse
the island are approximately the same, and possibly even a bit slower, than
those for people on foot. More sure footed beasts such as the the
Landesh Pony are likely to survive
the trip across the islands uninjured, however the
Blessed Sea Elves and
Blue Druids take no responsibility
for injuries suffered by such animals.
- “Únn'chrónn” (lit. "Big Island")
The southernmost of these three islands, “Únn'chrónn”, is also the largest and
holds two settlements: Tyrling, the city of the
water druids, and the village of
Ryart Lvardin, home to approximately one hundred of the the
Arthyrón. The ship builders of the
Arthyrón are the main residents of
this village, which is located on the western coastline of this island. Tyrling
is the place where the Water Druids
meet when a call for their order to gather is issued. It is located on the
eastern shore of this island and is the closest settlement to “Tuu'marásh”,
providing druidic researchers
uninterrupted views of the perpetually active maelstrom. Tyrling is best
described as a seasonal settlement, with the population fluctuating constantly,
depending on what is happening to “Tuu'marásh” at any time. Larger than the
other two islands combined, Únn'chrónn provides opportunities for druid and
Arthyrón alike to study all aspects
of the bay and perpetually active maelstrom closely. The boats of the
Arthyrón,
druids and others take almost two
days to circumnavigate this island, while cross country travel takes almost the
same amount of time east to west.
- “Galnós'chrónn” (lit. "Rock Island")
“Galnós'chrónn”, the island directly north of Tyrling, is so named because it
is almost totally rocky and features jagged hills and ridges. The fishing and
trading settlement of Medagarth is on this island and trades primarily with the
previously mentioned
Arthyrón
settlements of Ryart Lvardin and Silvern, as well as with the
druids of Tyrling. The reefs and
sandbars that surround most of this island have resulted in numerous ship
wrecks over the years, and ships do well to be guided by the charts of the area
made by the Water Druids and
Arthyrón, use the knowledge of Eight
Winds Bay possessed by the
Arthyrón
or to follow the marker buoys deployed by the
Arthyrón that provide safe passage
out to the waters of the bay and beyond. If it weren't for the sandbars and
reefs, boats could circumnavigate this island in just over one day. Due to the
reefs and sandbars, boats generally take between one and a half and two days to
circumnavigate this island. These reefs and sandbars, however, have protected
the residents of the island from the Pyrates, Reavers and other ne'er do wells
that ply their trade on the waters of Northern
Sarvonia. On foot, it takes just over two days to traverse the island due
to the hills and rocky ridges that cover the island.
- “Masýr'chrónn” (lit. "Fish Island")
On “Masýr'chrónn”, which lies north of the village of Ryart Lvardin, is the
Arthyrón community of Lunin. The
elves of this settlement ply the
waters near their home for the
pinnips,
kuk'arg and
copper lopstere for consumption
and trade, which is the reason for the name of this island. A circumnavigation
of this island takes just under half a day to complete, and the fishers who
reside in Lunin can set out at first light for the best fishing spots around
the island, spend several hours fishing, and then return to the settlement,
reaching their homes in plenty of time for the evening meal.
Aside from the three mentioned islands and “Tuu'marásh”, two more essential
features have to be mentioned in order to describe the notorious and dangerous
and yet beautiful and stunning Eight Winds Bay - the port cites and the tunnels
which lead through the Prominent Mountains:
The Port Cities of
Silven and Adlin
On the eastern coastline of the Peninsula of Kr'uul aare two more
Arthyrón settlements, Silven in the
north and Adlin in the south. Silven is the main port of call of visitors to
Eight Winds Bay and is the largest of the settlements around the bay. In terms
of size it has approximate 7500 residents. Merchants and fishers are the main
residents of Silvern, however there are also a small number of ship builders
and a few other professions found amongst the citizens of Silven. Most of the
residents of Silvern are
Arthyrón,
however there are the occasional member of other
elven tribes and races in Silvern. It is the most cosmopolitan of the
settlements on the coastline and islands of Eight Winds Bay.[2]
Adlin is home to many of the finest builders of ships from amongst the
Arthyrón, although they also have
the fishers and the merchants that make up the other main occupations from this
unusual elven tribe. It takes approximately
two days to travel on foot between these two port towns.
The Prominent Tunnels
These tunnels allow the Blessed Sea
Elves to engage in the trade which is so important for their continued
survival as a tribe. Located on the southern shoreline of Eight Winds Bay,
almost directly south of Ryalt Lvardin, the opening of the tunnels is in a
small cove that is marked by a tree stump that is believed by the
Blessed Sea Elves to have been
blasted by lightning at some point in the past.
The tunnels take the elves past
Rat Brownies, and after paying
a toll to the Kurakim they emerge
in daylight to engage in trade with the
Kuglimz and elven tribes in the southern
part of Northern Santharia. The tunnels have been
carved out by water flows which connect the
southern banks of the Eight Winds Bay coastline with the source of the Luquador
River, high up in the southern foothills of the
Prominent Mountains. Exactly how this is
possible is unknown, however as with other things dealing with Eight Winds Bay,
experts sit around with wise looks on their faces and over a cup of
chá and a plate of spicy paxen
stew, state "it is magic, and wise people who
are in Northern Sarvonia don't ask too many
questions about such things, lest the
Remusians hear about your questions."
This is a long journey for the traders, but taking these tunnels, dealing with
the Rat Brownies and paying a
toll to the dwarves is preferable to being
forced to deal with orcs. As time is money for
all merchants, even those merchants from among the
Arthyrón, the fact that these
tunnels take almost a week off their travel time is also attractive to the
Arthyrón and others who uses the
tunnels for their trade.
Location. The massive
body of water called Eight Winds Bay is
located in Northern Sarvonia and lies
geographically north of the lands of the
Kuglimz. The Prominent Mountains and
Wilshirer Heath are two well known landmarks south of the bay. The bay
stretches nearly 500 strals
from the eastern shoreline of the Peninsula of Kr'uul to the western reaches of
the Shadowlands.
The Waters of Division is a river connecting the bay to the Sea of Tears, a
body of water on the western side of
Northern Sarvonia. This river flows south
of the land mass commonly known as the Peninsula of Kr'uul, a land blighted by
past tragedies and evils. However, as this land is now completely surrounded by
water, there is debate amongst some members
of the scholarly communities of Ximax,
Lorehaven and the
Compendium as to whether it
should rightly be called a peninsula or an island. Brave or foolhardy
adventurers or travellers who seek to explore the City of Parthanon, the
Folkmore Trees, or past the Forbidden Zone to the Ruins of Dak'dinal, Ebony
Lake and Mountains of Despair are well advised to be well provisioned and
protected against dangers posed by the orcs and
Dinali, a tribe of savage humans, that still live in the region according to
myth and rumour. The lore of the region suggest that the Dinali were the
warriors that made up the bulk of the troops of
Eckra the Cruel, one of the Chosen
who fought the Battle of the Winds. More details about the Dinali,
Eckra the Cruel and the Battle of
the Winds are located in the Myth/Lore Section later
in this entry. The famed
compendium artist, Seeker, recently travelled to the blighted Ruins of
Dak'dinal with a group of Knights of the Fallen from the Santharian Province of
Nermeran. Seeker was the only one to survive the
trip and return to talk of it. Additionally, the Mélad'rhím do not talk of
encountering the Dinali, although there are parts of the Peninsula of Kr'uul
that to which they refuse to travel.
The area to the southeast of this supposedly magically created body of water is
rumoured to be home to the legendary ruins of
Fá'áv'cál'âr. These ancient ruins are said to be the residence of all the
races prior to the Great Sundering, an event from the distant past of
Caelereth when the orcs,
dwarves and
humans are believed to have separated from their elf lords and masters and
migrated across both Northern and Southern
Sarvonia and elsewhere on the disc. Other points of
interest east of the bay are the Shadow Marshes, the Shadowlands and the Imlith
Mountains.
People. A multitude of people of various races live in the region of the Eight Winds Bay:
The Arthyrón
("Blessed Sea Elves")
The most numerous residents of the Eight Winds Bay area are the
Arthyrón
or Blessed Sea Elves. These
elves were a sect of elves that left the
Injerín tribe prior to the 3rd
millennium b.S. and became the Folkmore elves. At that stage, they lived amongst
the Folkmore Trees on the Peninsula of Kr'uul and formed the city of Parthenon.
During the year that is commonly called the Year of Darkness across
Caelereth, these elves
were forced to flee during the destruction of Parthenon, said to be caused by
Gouran. Gouran
was an Injerín elf who reportedly went
into the Keep of Tak'dinal to deal with the blight
of Tak'dinal upon the lands. She came back changed
and known as 'the devourer' by the elves.
Fleeing the destruction, these elves found
refuge in the seas and eventually made their way to Eight Winds Bay, where they
made a new life for themselves along the rocky shorelines and islands of Eight
Winds Bay. The
Arthyrón
have not forgotten their roots as Injerín
and Folkmore Elves, and have ceremonies portraying important events in their
history as a people. Two of these include Kára'ecuá (lit. "The Time of
Disconnection") and Weívoc'kará (lit. "Destiny's Time").
The Mélad'rhím
("Grey Elves")
One shouldn't discuss Eight Winds Bay without mentioning the
Mélad'rhím, a nomadic gathering of
elves from the Injerín and
Arthyrón tribe.
These elves trek from the
Kanapan lands on the east coast to Eight
Winds Bay and the Peninsula of Kr'uul on the west coast of
Northern Sarvonia. During the winter months,
they are typically near the shoreline of one of these places, and while they
continue to herd their livestock during this time, they keep close to the
shoreline due to the the wetter air from the sea keeping the weather milder than
in the continental interior. On those years which see them close to Eight Winds
Bay during winter, these elves can be seen near
the shoreline of the bay for anywhere up to three months.
The Blue Druids
The largest of the three islands in Eight Winds Bay, known as
"Únn'chrónn", serves as a base for the water order of druids known as the
Blue Druids. When the call goes out
for these druids to meet, they
convene at the city of Tyrling on this island. They are interested in the
effects of the whirlpool on the bay and the others who live here, and seek to
understand its creation and continued existence. Apart from the
Arthyrón Elves,
and the occasional visitor or researcher who seek them out for their assistance,
these druids have little contact with people outside of their order.
The Rat
Brownies
In the caverns branching from the underground waterways beneath the
Prominent Mountains - the waterways
linking the Eight Winds Bay to the Luquador River - live a tribe of
Rat Brownies. Despite the
Arthyrón,
Kuglimz or
Kurakim traders that frequent these
tunnels, this tribe has steadfastly refused to make contact with any outside
tribe. Judging by the work of noted
Rat Brownie researcher, the
Milken Brownie Gratcha Swath, these are most likely to be of the Mud
Rat Brownie variety. Traders
travelling north or south through these caverns have often spoken of seeing
'beady eyes peering at them' on their journey either to to the
Kuglimz or the
Arthyrón.
Those traders who decide to spend the night in these caverns will find parts of
their produce and food stuffs spoiled or stolen if they don't set a watch.
The Kurakim
Dwarves
The
Arthyrón
have forged close ties with the Kurakim.
These dwarves, who reside in the conifer-clad
Prominent Mountains, are important trading partners and allies of their
northern elven neighbours. The
Arthyrón
pay a toll to the Kurakim dwarves to
travel through the underground rivers of the
Prominent Mountains, and emerge in the Luquador River in the daylight in
order to trade with the Kurakim,
Injerín and
Kuglimz.
The Susilgerim
("Silent Dwarves")
The
Arthyrón
are aware of the Susilgerim dwarves
of the Imlith Mountains, but have little contact with this tribe. This is mainly
due to the Susilgerim's focus on
the Rhom-oc orcs that threaten them
regularly. However there are times that these dwarves go down to the rocky
shoreline of Eight Winds Bay to supplement their mostly fruit and vegetable diet
with some seafood.
The Ashz-Oc ("Noble
Orcs")
The Ashz-Oc orcs sometimes trade with
the
Arthyrón,
although they seldom come as far north as Eight Winds Bay. These are the closest
of the orcish tribes to the waters of Eight
Winds Bay, as the Rhom-oc are stopped
and killed by the Susilgerim dwarves.
Others
Traders from the Kuglimz and the
Remusian tribe of the
Ice tribes often skirt the edge of
Eight Winds Bay on their overland trading missions north and south. Like the
Arthyrón,
members of both of these human tribes use the
tunnels beneath the Prominent Mountains to
trade with each other or with the
Arthyrón
or Injerín elves or the
Kurikam dwarves. The occasional
representatives from the Kanapans
and Antislar will also travel to Eight Winds Bay to trade and deal with the
Arthyrón Elves.
Coat of Arms/Sign.
The Arthyrón Elves are the largest
group living in and around Eight Winds Bay. As a result, theirs is the coat of
arms that is most frequently seen on the islands, shore and boats found in the
bay. Their coat of arms is a combination of two older coat of arms from the two
separate groups that make up the Arthyrón
Elves[3], however the
Blessed Sea Elves coat of arms is the
only one of the three seen around the bay. The coat of arms of the Arthyrón
Elves is a silver ship, with flags unfurled, riding upon a blue ocean,
consisting of three stylised waves. The sail of the ship is unfurled, and the
background around the ship is black.
The sign of the Water Druids can be seen as one travels towards the city of
Tyrling on Únn'chrónn. This sign is rather simple, and consists of three curves
depicting waves.
Climate. Climate in
the Eight Winds Bay region varies greatly between the summer and and winter
months of the year. Members of the Blue
Druids and the Blessed Sea Elves
postulate that the weather patterns over the bay are a naturally occurring
phenomena, however others, including the Daughters of the Devourer, a sect from
within the Arthyrón which work
towards the return of Gouran, and some other
believe that the weather patterns are the result of the powers unleashed by the
four Chosen who reportedly battled and died there. More details on the beliefs
regarding the origins of the bay, including the climatic patterns, are available
in the myth and lore section, below. Regardless of their beliefs, all agree that
the weather patterns around Eight Winds Bay are extreme. Whatever its origin,
days and nights during winter are frosty and chilly, however the frozen
landscapes endured by the Antislar and
Ice Tribes further to the north are not experienced by the druidic and elven
inhabitants of Eight Winds Bay. The summers are rather pleasant and mild in
comparison to the summers further north. Those who travel north from
Santharia or west from the
Kanapan lands would notice the temperature
during the summer months to be much cooler than they are used to, however it is
not subject to the perma-frost to which those tribes further north are
subjected. Any residents of the continent of Nybelmar who travel to Eight Winds
Bay would notice a great difference between the climatic conditions of their
homeland and those of Eight Winds Bay.
The winds and tides of Eight Winds Bay are
dictated by Tuu'marásh at the heart of the bay, and the
druids and
elves alike have made numerous observations
over the years to describe the effects they have seen and experienced. Some of
these appear below to explain the effects on the plants, animals, people and
constructed aspects of the bay.
An Arthyrón resident of Adlin had the
following to say about the wind's effect on her garden, "my rosemint bushes were
uprooted and sent across the backyard and slammed into the side of my house."
One of the fisherfolk of the settlement of Ryalt Lvardin on “Únn'chrónn” had
this to say following the disaster that befell a merchant ship that dared to
enter Eight Winds Bay: "the Troblydyte became driftwood, the crew of the ship
were washed up, bedraggled and close to death, on the shores of Big Island. We
did what we could for them, as did the
Blue Druids, however most of the surviving crew died, some were eaten by a
monster trolog attracted by the ship wreck, while many of the others succumbed
to their injuries."
An elf from Medgarth discussed the effects that
the winds whipped up by Tuu'marásh had on their settlement: "all the buildings
had their roofs picked up and blown away, thanks to the powerful winds whipped
up by Tuu'marásh. I even heard one young female elf state that she had a feeling
that 'we weren't in Medgarth any more.'"
One of the traders from the Kanapans
had the following to say about the fate of one of the birds of the area, caught
up by the winds whipped up by the perpetually active maelstrom: "the poor flying
fisherman was caught out in the winds. Around and around and around it was
blown. It eventually managed to escape the pull of the
winds, but when it did so, we had to cover our
children's eyes as we didn't want them to see a naked bird."
Finally, in the wake of the search for five recently missing fishers, the
Blessed Sea Elves governing council
made the following statement: "the five fishers have been lost out on the waters
of the bay for at least two days now. Little hope is held for their survival. It
is believed that their boat was pulled into the tides of the maelstrom and grave
fears are held for their survival. Increased activity by the Monster Trolog in
the area surrounding where we believe the fishers were lost suggests that they
may have come to a painful and grizzly end."
Flora. The bay is home
to a plethora of plants, some, such as the
cerubell flower and azure flower
are on the shorelines and islands, while others such as the
krakenweed,
lifereed and
waterstar are found in the
waters of the bay. As previously stated, the
three islands are devoid of any plant life larger than the
redberry bush as well as the
juk'lan shrub. The usual answer to
questions about this is "it is magic, go and ask a magician for an explanation".
In any case, all three islands in the bay are notable for their lack of trees.
Flowers
The cerubell flower is pollinated and
spread by the ceruwing butterfly
which spends part of its annual migration in and around Eight Winds Bay. The
berries from the cerubell flower
together with those of the redberry bush are used by the
elven and
druidic inhabitants of the bay for
cooking purposes. The azure flower
is another flowering plant found on the islands. The
alth'mon also grows on Únn'chrónn and is
used by the elf and druidic
inhabitants of the bay to heal animals and to trade with some of the other
tribes in Northern Sarvonia.
Bushes
and Shrubs
The previously mentioned redberry bush as well as the
juk'lan shrub are located on the
islands, as well as on the eastern coastline of the Peninsula of Kr'uul and the
northern and western coastlines of the bay.
Trees
As previously mentioned, trees native to other areas of this region of
Northern Sarvonia are unknown on the three
islands of Eight Winds Bay. The Prominent
Mountains are connifer-clad, however, and through trade agreements with the
Kurakim Dwarves who reside there,
the Blessed Sea Elves have access to
that wood for their boats, furniture and
weapons.
Water
Plants
Lifereed,
krakenweed and
waterstar are three of the water plants
that are found in the waters of Eight Wind
Bay. The variety of water plants found in the area are eaten by the sea life
that live in these waters. Another water
plant that is found in the bay is a peculiar reed called "puér'echalonuá" (Styrásh
lit. "Salt Wood-Grass") by the Arthyrón,
and "salt reed" by the Blue Druids.
The salt reeds grow in great numbers near the mouth of the Liben River, and act
as a saltwater barrier: they filter the salt out of the water that makes its way
from the bay into the Liben. This filtering is so effective that the Liben,
although emerging from the saltwater bay, is itself almost free of salt, and
carries fresh water towards the lands of the
Injerín and
Kuglimz. This salt is harvested by
the
Arthyrón
Elves in order to add flavour
to their cooking and by the Blue Druids
in their studies of the waters of Eight Winds Bay. As with the seafood they
catch, the Blessed Sea Elves trade
the salt harvested with the other tribes with whom they trade.
Grasses, Weeds and Sundry Plants
As Eight Winds Bay is believed to have been created by the powers of
magic unleashed during the cataclysmic Battle
of the Winds, wizardleaf is a plant
that is found on all three islands as well as on the shoreline of the Peninsula
of Kr'uul in small groves. The mutliweed is found on the coastline of the
Peninsula of Kr'uul where it borders eight Winds Bay and on the coastlines
north, east and south of the bay. The three islands are devoid of this weed,
more than likely due to the deep root system that is a hallmark of this pest.
There are a number of grasses in the area, but of particular interest is crystal
grass growing between Silvern and Adlin on the Peninsula of Kr'uul, adding some
weight to the belief that there were many deaths in the area in ages past.
Fauna. A variety of creatures both great and small have made their home in and around Eight Winds Bay. Whether feathered, furred, or scaled, these animals play an important part in the environment encountered by both the residents and visitors to the bay.
Fish
As this is a large body of water, fish and
other sea creatures both large and small are some of the most important and
together with the elven and
druidic residents of the bay, and the
other animals and plants of the bay to form a complex interconnected
environment. Fish such as the kuk'arg
feast on the smaller fish that live in the waters
of Eight Winds Bay, and are in turn caught and eaten by the
Arthyrón
Elves and by the flying
fisherman and other birds of prey that inhabit the area.
Molluscs and Crustaceans
Molluscs such as the gnacker as well as crustaceans such as the flying crab and
the copper lopstere are also found
in and around the waters of the Bay, although they tend to stay away from the
whirlpool. These sea creatures are much prized by the elven and
druidic residents of the bay and they
use them for a variety of purposes to aid in their everyday life. The
Arthyrón
only take what they need of these creatures in order to allow them to regain
their numbers for future seasons. The
Arthyrón
realise that if they want to be able to survive into the future, they must allow
the plants and animals to gain in number during the current season. These
shellfish rely on the plankton, reeds and other underwater fauna of the bay.
Pinnip
The pinnip is another sea creature
encountered in the waters of Eight Winds Bay. Predominately of the caped
variety, these beasts are prized by the
Arthyrón
for both their flesh and their waterproof skins. The
Arthyrón
also welcome viewing these creatures at play in the Bay. As with the other sea
creatures, the pinnip tends to stay
away from the whirlpool. Occasionally, a
pinnip will be found with a parasitic limpet attached to it, a cause for
much sadness amongst the elves. These pinnip
eat a diet of kuk'arg, flyer crabs
and smaller fish which reside in the bay's waters.
Amphibians and Reptiles
The green frog, the greater hooded trolog and the
spiderturtle are some of the
remaining sea creatures that live around Eight Winds Bay. Living both on shore,
and in the water, the spiderturtle,
or "már'thuoc" as the
Arthyrón
call them, are prized for their shells and their fresh meat. As the
elves are concerned with ensuring there are
enough of these creatures for future seasons, they ensure that the fishers from
Naurooth, Darooth and elsewhere do not take too
many of them, forcing these fishers away in order to protect their future stocks
as necessary. Seaweed and small fish found in and around Eight Winds Bay keeps
the spiderturtle fed.
The fearsome and deadly greater hooded trolog is a dangerous amphibious
reptiliian creature that is found solely in the
waters of Eight Winds Bay. More active in the summer months than during the
winter, the greater hooded trolog is a predator that measures in the order of
ten peds long and features a
pair of poison sacks to either side of its maw of gaping teeth. These features,
together with its scaled skin and spiked tail make it a danger to the animal,
Arthyrón
and druidic inhabitants of the bay as
well as to any visitors who decide to try their luck on the
waters of the bay.
The green frog is found in small numbers around the
waters of Eight Winds Bay, and feasts on the
flies and skeetohs that inhabit the environs of Eight Winds Bay. The prime
locations that these frogs are found are near the waterways that lead under the
Prominent Mountains, as well as the rivers
that head out of the bay to the north, south and east from the bay. The boys
amongst the
Arthyrón
like to collect the green frogs in order to give them as gifts to girls amongst
the tribe that they are attracted to. Sometimes these gifts are appreciated by
the girls, and at other times they are not. The
Arthyrón
believe that this is an indication as to whether or not the feelings expressed
by the boys are reciprocated in kind. The
Arthyrón
as well as the druids also enjoy the
frog choruses that start up during the seasons of spring, summer and autumn.
Insects
The ceruwing butterfly are seen
in their multitudes around the bay during the summer months, basking in the sun
and sipping nectar from the cerubell flowers
that grow in abundance. By autumn, they have begun winging their away through
their migration pattern and are not seen again until the summer months of the
following year. The fly and the skeetoh are also found around Eight Winds Bay.
These annoying insects are a pest to all residents of the Bay,
elf and
druid alike.
Birds
There are a variety of different birds that make their home in and around the
bay, feasting on the fish and crustaceans that make the bay their home. The
flying fishermen, the már'vévan (Styrásh,
it. "water-bird") and the kingell bird are
three of the more noteworthy birds that can be found in this area. The
kingell roost mainly roost on
Galnós'chrónn Island and the
Arthyrón
who make that island home are fascinated by their behaviours. The
már'vévan is a water bird that
spends its life on the waters around
Masýr'chrónn, unable to fly, but diving under the
water for the fish it eats as its diet. The
Arthyrón
of the settlement of Medgarth value them for their beautiful plumage, unusual
calls and delicious eggs. The smaller groups of
flying fishermen that come to the
bay during the warmer months are another welcome sight to the
Arthyrón
and druidic inhabitants of the bay.
Resources. Eight
Winds Bay has an abundance of animal, plant and other natural resources that are
used by the elven and
druidic residents in order to meet
their own needs and to trade with each other as well as the nearby tribes of
humans, dwarves,
elves and even orcs
on rare occasions. It is this trade that enables the Arthyrón
to continue to thrive in such an inhospitable environment. The fish and other
seafood keep the Arthyrón and
Blue Druids fed, and they trade this,
together with the berries grown in the region and the salt harvested from the
salt reeds at the mouth of the Liben River. One of the key things that they
trade with the Kurakim is access to,
and use of, the connifer trees that grow on the
Prominent Mountains within the area of
this dwarven clan.
Myth/Lore. There are
numerous myths and lore about Eight Winds Bay and the whirlpool at its heart.
The Arthyrón have been the main
source of the myths and lore presented here as the Bay and maelstrom are key to
their survival as a tribe. In fact, some claim that the Arthyrón
have the whirlpool and bay to thank for their continued existence as a tribe,
and that without the protection that both provide, they would be easy prey to
the tribes of orcs and dark elves of
Northern Sarvonia or the pirates that
traverse the waterways of the cold climes of this area of
Caelereth. Other entries document the creation of
the bay, however a brief summary appears below.
The
Dinali
The Dinali, along with the orcs and the dark elves, formed the armies of
Eckra the Cruel in the time of the
War of the Chosen. The Dinali
were reported to be a savage human tribe of
fanatical fighters who did not care if they lived or died, often putting
themselves into harms way to cut down as many of the enemy as possible. When
ill-prepared adventurers enter the Peninsula of Kr'uul and do not return, it is
said that they were taken by the Dinali. The
Mélad'rhím ("Grey Elves") who
traverse the Peninsula of Kr'uul as part of their annual migration do not speak
of encountering the Dinali on the Peninsula, however there are parts of the
Peninsula, such as the area surrounding the Keep of Dak'dinal, that they do not
venture.
The
Creation of Eight Winds Bay
Eckra the Cruel is rumoured to have
once been the ruler of the land which has since been covered by the
waters of Eight Winds Bay. According to lore
about the Battle of the Winds, Eckra the
Cruel set out from his fortress at Tak'Dinal,
heading east with his troops of Dinali and orcs.
Arrayed against Eckra and his troops
were the combined forces of the half elf Dra'va'ensle and Coulande the White,
two avatars of the White Side during the
War of the Chosen.
Eckra, Dra'va'ensle and Coulande,
together with Yalrok were Chosen.[4] The
armies of Dra'va'ensle and Coulande were comprised of
elves, humans
and dwarves, that were the ancestors of the
Injerín,
Arthyrón,
Kuglimz and
Kurakim. Bloody battle ensured, and
these three powerful Chosen were in time joined in battle with a fourth Chosen,
Yairok. At the height of the battle, powerful magic
forces were rumoured to have been unleashed and the land was cracked asunder.
Water rushed in, and the common theory is
that this water drowned the four Chosen and
their troops. Folklore has it that the only land that survived this destruction
were the three islands, which were forever scarred and unable to grow plants
that were larger than bushes, as a response by the surface of
Caelereth to the foul and unnatural sorceries
unleashed by the four powerful combatants. Tradition places the creation of the
maelestrom, which is still active today, at the heart of Eight Winds Bay, as
being set in motion as a result of this battle.
The Blue Druids argue that Eight
Winds Bay and the perpetually active malestrom at its heart is a naturally
occurring phenomena on the surface of Caelereth,
that coincidentally came into existence at the same time that the Battle of the
Winds reportedly took place. They believe that the charges that one feels in the
area is just part of the phenomena along with the perpetually active maelstrom
and dangerous currents, the typically unfriendly weather conditions and the
three rocky, treeless islands.
Some among the
Arthyrón
believe that the two avatars of the White Side, the Chosen Dra'va'ensle and
Coulande decided that they couldn’t allow
Eckra and Yalrok to continue to
cause havock and they willingly allowed themsleves to be killed in order to stop
the madness that was unleashed upon the land and upon the
elves, humans,
dwarves and orcs
that took part in this battle. This myth says that Dra'va'ensle and Coulande
sank below the waters, dragging the other two
Chosen with them, and that the four chosen remain down there today, forever
struggling against each other, keeping the maelstrom perpetually in motion as a
reminder to the people of the bay of the madness and sacrifices of the past. It
is said that when the waters are at their
calmest, that Dra'va'ensle and Coulande are in control of the other two Chosen,
but that when the waters and
winds of the bay are whipped into a frenzy,
that Eckra and Yalrok are gaining
the upper hand.
The
Terror of the Bay
For as long as the oldest of the currently living
Blessed Sea Elves have been alive,
there have been stories of a mysterious creature that lives in the roughest
waters of Eight Winds Bay, thriving in “Tuu'marásh”.
Dwarfing even the largest of the monster
trolog, this mysterious water creature, is
reported to be a multi-limbed clawed montrosity with a gaping maw, wings and a
steamy breath weapon. Experts amongst the
Blue Druids, such as Steferin the
Blue, actually believe that the "Terror of the Bay" to be two distinct
creatures, as the reports of its existence mention either the breath, wings and
claws or the multiple limbs and gaping maw features. Steferin argues that the
steamy breath, wings and claws are the key features of the
sea dragon, while the multiple limbs
and gaping maw are characteristic of the giant
kraken mentioned in rumour and in myth.
Loss
of Or'injèrá
Lore uncovered from the area indicates that the
weapon Or'injèrá was carried into
battle by one of the orcs under the command of
Eckra the Cruel. Known as 'the
Tutor' to humans, this blade is rumoured to be
buried deep under the waters of the bay when
its wielder was killed by the waters that rushed in. Despite numerous efforts to
find this legendary blade, it remains undiscovered to this day.
Arthyrón
Ceremonies
The
Arthyrón
place great importance in their past so that they can learn from it and remember
what brought them to the Bay in the first place. Weívoc'kará (lit. "Destiny's
Time") is one such ceremony and it directly concerns Eight Winds Bay, as the
elves remember the sea saving them from the fury of
Gouran, a former princess from amongst the
Arthyrón
who returned to Tak'Dinal to deal with the blight on
the land caused by Eckra the Cruel,
but was instead changed by the experience into
Gouran, who the Blessed Sea Elves
blame for The Year of Darkness. On the fifth of Cort'ometra, children from
amongst the Blessed Sea Elves drop
wooden boats into the waters of the bay, which signify their escape from
Gouran. The rest of that day, and the next is
spent in contemplation and fellowship with their family, and no food or drink is
consumed. On the eighth of Cort'ometra the
Blessed Sea Elves feast and
celebrate, as they remember the islands that rose out of the waters to greet and
save their ancestors. The Blessed Sea
Elves have their very survival tied to Eight Winds Bay and they readily
acknowledge this fact.
Daughters of the Devourer
The Daughters of the Devourer are rumoured to be a secretive sect amongst the
Blessed Sea Elves which reportedly
believe that Gouran didn’t die at the Battle
of the Mithril Bridge, but instead returned to Eight Winds Bay where she was
drawn to the powers of the Chosen underneath the
waters of the Bay. Seeking to harness the powers of the four Chosen, The
Daughters of Gouran believe that she was
dragged to her death by one of the tentacles of the Terror of the Bay. This
cult, if indeed it does exist, is dedicated to restoring
Gouran to power and life and are reportedly
willing to sacrifice themselves if need be to achieve this goal.
Crossing Tuu'marásh
To the
Arthyrón,
Tuu'marásh is a challenge as well as a saviour and deliverer. Their past tell of
stories of their escape from Gouran and it
was the islands that ended up saving them from her rage. Over the years, the
unpredictable nature of Tuu'marásh have brought both catastrophe and wonder to
the Blessed Sea Elves. Even though
they are elves and do not give in to the fancies and follies of the other races,
the adolescents amongst the
Arthyrón
none-the-less see Tuu'marásh as a challenge to be conquered and as a rite of
adulthood. On the fifth All Night Moon of the year, such youths gather on the
island of Únn'chrónn in specially designed boats called hár by the
Arthyrón.
These are said to be replicas of the boat used by Agricola, an
Arthyrón
who is reported to have been the first Blessed Sea Elf to have successfully
crossed Tuu'marásh.
Songs
about the bay
The following song was discovered by noted
compendiumist, Shabakuk
Zeborius Anfang, whose work on animals with unusual calls brought him north to
Eight Winds Bay to investigate the már'vévan. He presented it to Deklitch
Hardin, the author of this work, on Shabakuk's departure for the
Compendium in
Lorehaven.
Nafil’s Lament
by Shabakuk Zeborius Anfang
”Nafil’s Lament”, a folk song of the Artyrhón elves, tells the story of the
seafarer Nafil, who tried and failed to cross the infamous whirlpool in the
Eight Winds Bay. Among the Arthyrón,
Nafil is usually assumed to have been an elven lady “from far away”, and
scholars have speculated that the song may refer to a
Sanhorrhim explorer, who strayed
far from her home waters in search of adventure, and whose real name may long be
forgotten.
We were homeward bound one night on the deep,
Lying in my hammock I fell asleep,
I dreamed a dream that I thought was true,
Of Lady Nafil and her gallant crew.
With a dozen sailors she sailed away
Over the ocean to the Eight Winds Bay
To cross the maelstrom with its maw so deep
Where a thousand sailors forever drift asleep.
And past the islands she steered her course,
The eight winds sang with eight voices hoarse,
The eight winds blew, and the ship did strive,
But into the maelstrom the golden bow did dive.
Jaws of water they snatched the ship.
They broke her oars and her sails they ripped.
Tongues of darkness, lips of foam –
The cruellest mouth that ever the ocean did roam.
In the Sea of Tears, where the whalefish blow
The fate of Nafil no dream can know,
The fate of Nafil no tongue can tell –
Oh where do Nafil and her poor sailors now dwell?
My dream is over, my tears are dry.
Here in my hammock still I lie.
Here in my hammock still I think
About brave Nafil, and where her dream did sink.
____________
Footnotes.
[1] Readers interested in some of the works on such a topic
should refer to 'The proper way to reference bays, seas, lakes, rivers, streams,
islands, peninsulas, hills, mountains and other similar landforms by
Raxintilious Voldingir, Professional Researcher and Director of the Institute of
Landform Names. This work has also been found to be useful to aid in falling
asleep on sleepless nights, as a paperweight, to crack open nuts or crustaceans
or as a door jam. Another book on this topic, "Who Cares What Its Called! Lets
Just Go There & Search For Treasure!" by Galindos Astares, a self-funded
explorer and adventurer, believed to have been originally from the citystates of
Zhunite, based on accent and
appearance. This second book, is not as long or detailed as the first book, and
is written in a far more conversational style. [Back]
[2] The
Compendium Researcher, Deklitch
Hardin, is rumoured to have a house on the outskirts of Silvern, built in the
Arthyrón style. The precise location
of this house, if the rumours are true, are kept a closely guarded secret by
Deklitch, so as to avoid being visited by the notoriously awful poet "Sordoc the
Great". Part of the rumours around the house is that Deklitch has a male
Arthyrón gardener and fisher and a
female Susilgerim cook and
housekeeper who maintain the house for him in his absence. All
compendiumists are of course
welcome to come to the house to stay for a while should their research needs
dictate such an excursion. Visit one of the offices of "Lawabel and Sons" in
New-Santhala, Marcogg,
Naios or Caelum for directions. [Back]
[3] The
Arthyrón Elves are believed to be
comprised of the Folkmore Elves that fled the destruction wrought by
Gouran as well as remnants of the
Lost Ones sect of
druids. Both of these groups
seperated from the Injerín Elves in
times past. It is known that the current
Arthyrón coat of arms is made up of the coat of arms of two former groups.
As the Lost Ones are reported to have
never had a coat of arms, the second coat of arms that was used in the current
sign of the Blessed Sea Elves was
either that of a group to honour the Lost Ones,
or was that of a third, unknown group that subsequently became woven into the
rich social fabric that is the Arthyrón
Elves. [Back]
[4] The Chosen were ancient magi
of great power who reportedly believed themselves to be avatars of the Twelvern
Gods revered throughout Santharia in Southern
Sarvonia. [Back]
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