Deadwood Reef
A underwater forest cursed by the Gods
A shallow reef 4 x 3 miles of sturdy petrified tree trunks. This dangerous reef is a hazard to shipping in the Emaba Strait, located between the west coast of the Kingdom of Kanday and the Anfla island. Only a shallow draft boat has a reasonable chance of safely traveling through it, and then some luck and much skill are required. Many pirates and smugglers use this reef to evade pursuit, only to never be seen again.
The Curse of the Gods
The folk-lore of the Gemalan people and the Adaenum Barbarians have remarkably consistent stories about how this reef was formed. However, the Adaenum stories go into much more detail.
In the legendary past, the God Manclir, slayer of the crab-titan Odsidapor, grew angry with the Earth Witch's, plots, and schemes. Manclir summoned a tremendous storm that swept her covens into the sea and sunk the land.
As a final act of spite, the Earth Witch cursed the trees, turning them to stone, and the vermin who grew deadly with a desire to kill any of Manclirs worshipers who ventured too close and keep her dark secrets.
The Ecosystem
The reef is shallow, with numerous blackened petrified tree trunks and logs emerging from the water. It is not as desolate as it first appears; sturdy dark seaweed is prevalent, small fish and large crustaceans hide in its murky water, while fungi, insects, and seabirds cover some of the protruding tree trunks. Sharks and marine mammals seem to avoid this location.
Of the hazards, the Deadwood Blights are the most well-known, fist-size blood-sucking flying insects with long spiked proboscis. These lurk in petrified tree trunks swarming the unwary. They usually feed on fish but prefer their blood warm and enthusiastically attack humans on sight. There are also legends of far worse colossal Daddy Long Legs like spiders which are mistaken for tree trunks, able to destroy a warship. Most Loremasters claim this is only a myth or confusion with sea monsters like a Vorang (Kraken).
Manclir
Slayer of Odsidapor, Master of Wind and Wave, Saver of Lives and Drowner of Men, Soul of the Thunder.
The god of the coastal Adaenum barbarians. He is the chieftain of the spirits of the sea and air. He is equally capable of peace and wrath.
Earth Witch
The Lady of Misery and Ruin
This demigoddess hates the sea, she is the mother of the spirits of rock, rats, and other vermin.
Comments