Port Nexus
In Caliban, the New and Old Districts are defended by the Moon Guard, housed in Fél’s Hold in Dragontide Bay. In Varoona, the cities of Sotto Varoona and Varoona Proper are kept safe by the Bay Guard, positioned at the edge of Goddess Bay in Port Oceana. On Dremora, most major naval forces are not housed directly in the city they defend. When the Barrier broke, authorities on Dremora determined that Lark’Hal needed a more formally established and improved naval force should anything else come crawling through the broken Barrier.
Establishment of Port Nexus
Initially, Lark’Heléz – the Gem of the Coast – was considered as the location of choice for the new naval port. As a port city, it already had extensive infrastructure to effectively manage the large influx of merchant ships. However, leadership in both Lark’Heléz and the Heart of the Desert opposed the idea. The increased presence of naval ships would consume valuable space and interfere with the trade in the bay; trade that supported the entire desert region. Further, Lark’Heléz was not the most proximate location to the Barrier Break. Nearby regions, such as Oshiv’Ran, would not be as easily defended.
In 2138 YAR, an alternative location off the coast of Lark’Hal was determined to be suitable for the construction of a naval port. In a little under two years, Port Nexus was constructed as both a point of defense against external threats… and as a launching point for Dremoran expeditions to the miasma-covered continent of Jalasar.
The Continental Guard
Following the naming convention of other naval forces, the Continental (Barrier) Guard is the naval fleet that operates out of Port Nexus and is primarily responsible for overseeing the defense of the Barrier break. The original fleet was composed of a select few ships donated from the newly renovated Neg’Varos Bay Navy (the pet project of previous High Lord Kuan-Ti Ironborn). A small fleet even from the beginning, the Continental Guard’s numbers have dwindled over time. As the original ships fell out of commission due to general wear and tear over time, the lack of any major trouble at the Barrier meant there was little motivation (or funds) to replace ships.
Currently, there are only four operational battle ships, two of which are always positioned at the edge of the Barrier Break (“on defense tour”). The remaining two can be seen docked in the shipyard of Port Nexus. When the Port was first built, the crews of the fort-bound ships would be nearby and ready to deploy at a moment’s notice. Nowadays, however, being at Port Nexus means you are free to laze about as you see fit. There’s not been any trouble in a century. Why would that change now?
Leadership: Admiral Carthalo Hegazi
Every fleet is led by an Admiral. In the Moon Guard, the Grand Admiral is most commonly found aboard their flagship at the front of the naval fleet they command. This is not the case in Port Nexus. Admiral Carthalo Hegazi spends most of his time within the Fortress on top of Port Nexus, where he serves more as an administrative overseer than a military official. Despite not having a formal vessel or commanding a ship in recent history, he has the mind of a military tactician and a very good grasp on his defensive (and offensive) capabilities from within the Fortress.
Features of the Port
Port Nexus itself is broken into two major components: The Fort and the Port. The Fort is located on top of the sheer cliffsides and forms a U-shape (with the top of the U pointed out towards the ocean). The Port is located within the water-filled chasm or crack in the sheer cliffside. Paths have been constructed alongside arcane lifts to move people back and forth between the port at water-level and the Fortress above. The Port features a fully functional shipyard, though it is rarely used, and a set of underwater biofuel refineries that produce the fuel needed for the battleships' arcane engine array.
Battle of the Barrier Monument
Although not directly located at the sight of the Battle, Port Nexus features a monument to all those who fought to defend the continent. The monument features 13 massive pillars placed equidistantly along an arc with the ocean and distant Barrier as the scenic backdrop. Each pillar was constructed from different materials representative of each region that contributed forces to the fight. Various artists contributed to the project, but it was overseen by Zephus Hevego in the decade prior to his death. With permission from the Temple of Lark, the paint applied to the monument is the newly developed and highly coveted Mycellia (“Shroom”) Paint. On the anniversary of the battle, the paint comes to life one statue at a time, bringing the fallen champions to life once more for a moment.
Founding Date
2138
Type
Military, Base
Characters in Location
Related Reports (Primary)
Getting to Port Nexus
Ironically, it is unlikely one would arrive to Port Nexus via ship. The port was designed to cater only to naval vessels. While a passenger ship may arrive on occasion, Port Nexus is not a regular stop on any non-military vessel. In fact, the only “non-military” vessel regularly at the Port are the two retired battleships that are used to ferry individuals and supplies to Jalasar. More common methods of getting to Port Nexus include: Sivat, Sand Seal Sleds, Arcane Skiff, or by foot.
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