Pelagian Break Waters

Geography

The Archipelago was formed during the same event that created the Central mountains in Huron. A violent upheaval of land of unknown origin, as the mountain range and the archipelago sit atop a stable tectonic plate. The nearest fault lines being far out to sea in the east several hundred miles away from the mainland. The other being that of the magma chamber that sits under the Valley of Mists and the Ilori Sea.

The region boasts an extraordinary inhospitable landscape for ships to travel. The passageways being filled with riptides and sheer currents. This is because during the tidal cycles every six hours or so, every current between the islands reverses. The entire region being a challenge to mariners and military alike.

The islands themselves are a haven for wildlife and natural resources. The passageways between islands being covered in dense mangroves and along the continental shelf spanning out into the sea is home to the largest coral reef on The Great Tree. Known as the Canopy Reef, this is due to the visual similarity to a tree canopy of a forest, so thick and prolific the corals have become.

The archipelago spans the entire breadth of the eastern shoreline of Huron, offering a godsend in terms of protection. While the high mountain range keeps all foot traffic and threats funneled through the Valley of Mists and the Cold Road through the Northern Wastes, the Break Waters make all sea based invasions impossible without having to travel through the Ilori strait. Which more or less funnels all threats through a gauntlet of defenses and trials.

Localized Phenomena

The region itself holds many localized inhospilities, which has made the islands nigh on unlivable for human and Dwarven peoples. Gnomes have no presence in the region. The islands are wracked with Hurricanes nearly every few months. Though the storms are blown far to the south by powerful air currents listing over the Sea before they ever reach land. The storm surge does in fact, drown the islands leaving only the highest hills above water to weeks at a time.

This effect has been noted to be multiplied by the tides as well, in some storms the islands may as well not be on the maps at all. The mangrove forests surrounding the coastline keep the water stable enough to not wash away the hills and cliff sides of the eastern shore of the continent, though not enough to keep from turning the Ilori Sea from becoming a brackish one. As the glacial melt waters from the Central mountains feed into the sea, as well as having the Ilori Watershed empty an unfathomable amount of freshwater into the basin, the storms push seawater into the strait and turn the calm waters of the inland sea brackish.

All attempts to build any kind of settlement on the islands have failed. The great floods the region suffers are simply too much for any people to withstand. Though numerous attempts have been made, the only lasting structure that has survived the region's onslaught has been the Eastern Watchtower. This is only because of an immense effort to keep the four-hundred foot Lighthouse stable and in repair after each storm.

History

The islands have received the name Break Waters for good reason. Pelagian being a much more modern name for a Taneth The Navigator. Taneth having been immortalized in myth and legend for having created the maps of all the known world, including the detailed maps of the ocean floor.

Taneth had found the islands to be a particular joy for himself. Delighted in the ephemeral nature of the land, the islands are constantly shifting in the current. Having spent enough time to have watched islands move position entirely, finding this a particularly interesting challenge in mapping the coastline. He found wonder and fascination in the coral reef and the mangrove forest. Commenting on the ingeniousness of the The Quartet and their forethought in creating the region.

Over time the region has been used as a hiding place for raiders and pirates. Though this still happens, it occurs in much lower frequencies as the vessels needed to withstand the eddying currents and storms are prohibitively expensive for most raiders to keep functional. The biggest vessels still plague the area for merchant ships passing through the strait. A joint Naval operation between the Caliphate and Huron has proved to be immensely helpful in keeping disruptions to a minimum.

The many settlements that have come and gone, in a fitting analogy, like waves on the beach. These settlements have always been small, the Huronian Marshalls and Navel Governors have always forced an evacuation of these dwellings before the next storm hits. Though they return to find that their homes have been swallowed by the sea, and typically return to the mainland. However this has made the area rich with sunken belongings and lost treasures, making the area a hotspot for divers and scavengers after storms.

In the Year 931 when the Eastern Watchtower was built, the tower had enough weight to begin sinking into the sands as they eroded away under the structure. When the tower finally found bedrock, it had sunk nearly a hundred feet, and still stood tall and strong. The people of Huron had been impressed with the fortitude of the Lighthouse, and built it back to its former height to acknowledge its glory. This being the only permanent structure in the region.

Tourism

Advised only for those who wish to see their makers a bit sooner. Though the vistas available to those with enough courage, skill and knowhow will find the place a pleasant place to avoid the outside world. If not a "somewhat" difficult region to pass through.

Alternative Name(s)

Taneth's Joy, Kin's Reprise

Type

Archipelago

Location under

States of Huron

Owner/Ruler

Huron