Pontine Straits

This wide body of ocean separates the Akadonian mainland from Pontos Island. Its notoriously shallow, choppy waters have claimed many ships over the years, littering the seabed with numerous wrecks still bristling with their lost treasures. Nonetheless, the Pontine Straits keep their secrets well hidden. With an average depth of only 50 feet in most spots, it would seem the briny deep’s riches would be ripe for the taking. However, the murky water beneath the surface limits visibility to only a few feet in many locations, which makes it difficult to spot the wooden skeletons concealed beneath thin layers of silt. To make matters worse, sea hags and the waterlogged, animated corpses of deceased mariners lost at sea plague undersea explorers at every turn. On the surface, pirates frequently menace ships sailing through the Pontine Straits, though some may grant safe passage to vessels flying under certain flags who grant them safe harbor or provide logistical assistance with their illicit operations. Surprisingly, none of the major naval powers in the region regularly patrol these waters for various reasons. Some may clandestinely support the privateers, while others wish to avoid giving any pretense to their enemies to respond to a perceived attack or imaginary incident if ships under both flags somehow meet on the open waters.

Type

Strait