The Great Sea

The Sea in front of Honadir

Before the city of Honadir to the east lies the Great Sea, which separates Agland from Scirne. Though some scholars argue that the two regions might actually be one, connected either to the north or south by a strip of land and by the polar ice cap, forming a single large continent shaped like a horseshoe. The Great Sea is constantly traversed by ships. Historically, the Royal Navy has been the pride of Agland's military and the main reason for the kingdom's economic growth, providing essential protection for its maritime trade.

The western coast of the Great Sea enjoys warm, sunny summers, occasionally relieved by sea breezes that temper the heat. In summer, the water warms to a pleasantly mild temperature. Springs and autumns are mostly mild and pleasant, though sometimes marked by fierce storms. Winters are generally harsh, damp, and windy, with frequent cold spells due to northern currents.
The Great Sea is known for its crystal-clear waters, ranging from deep blue to light turquoise. Its shores are a mosaic of different landscapes: golden sandy beaches alternate with rugged cliffs and small hidden bays. Sunrises over the Great Sea are spectacular, with the sky painted in shades of red and orange reflecting off the water. On clear nights, the stars offer a pristine view, seeming to dance across the sea's surface. It teems with marine life. Among the most common fish species are sea bass, sea bream, gilt-head bream, and other elegant fish known for their delicate and flavorful meat, found in shallow waters near the coast. Anchovies, sardines, and mackerels, along with other small, swift-swimming fish, are also common. Further offshore, tuna and swordfish abound, and in deeper waters, difficult-to-catch bigeye tuna can be found. Along the northern coast of Honadir, the Dockworkers and Fishermen's Corporation has built several Trabucchi, particularly useful for catching squid and cuttlefish, but also octopuses. Mollusks such as mussels, clams, limpets, whelks, and sea urchins can be found almost everywhere. Among the rocks, crustaceans like crabs, spider crabs, shrimps, langoustines, and along the rocky northern coast, lobsters and crayfish as well.

Mysteries in the Great Sea

However, the sea also conceals mysteries, legends, and secrets. Among these, the most famous among sailors from every nation is the legend of the Lost Sails of Amalachim. Amalachim—a name likely of ancient origin, believed to be derived from HaMalachim—is given to certain underwater ruins visible from boats about 4 nautical miles off the coast of Honadir, where the seabed is not too deep and the waters are transparent. Sailors en route to Honadir, when passing near Amalachim, carefully avoid looking into the water at the site of the ruins. It is said that, especially on overcast days when the sky and sea blend into a single gray expanse and the submerged ruins of Amalachim can only be glimpsed faintly below the surface as elusive shadows and indistinct shapes, the cursed and lost souls of the dead of Amalachim awaken, desperately seeking to communicate with the living. Legend has it that if a ship passes over these ruins at such a time, and a sailor gazes upon the ruins while the souls are restless, they are drawn to him, and the fate of the ship will be marked. In the days that follow, the ship's sails will become unusually slack, as if unable to capture the wind, no matter how favorable it may be. The rowers will feel weak and feeble. The officers on board will appear confused. Old sailors describe these phenomena as the "lost sails" and consider them a sign that the spirits of Amalachim, attracted by the reckless gaze of the sailor, have touched the ship, leaving an invisible imprint on it. Some captains, aware of the legend, change course when the sky turns gray over the coast of Honadir, respecting the silent mourning of the submerged ruins. Some, even on sunny days, prefer to forbid the crew from looking in the direction of the ruins. Others, skeptics, challenge the legend, only to find their sails strangely inert in the days to come.