The Great Vortex

A neverending whirlpool. A hole in the world. Who knows where the water goes?

Gnarling up the sea as a testimony to the destructive energies of the Time of Woe, the great vortex is an endlessly consuming whirlpool that marks the point of the impact that destroyed the world. The eye of the vortex is roughly two-hundred metres across but very few ships or creatures that approach within a mile are able to escape the relentless current.

It is unknown where the water that drains into the hole goes - just that it drains forever but the sea level has not lowered.

Ecosystem

Normally, a whirlpool of this magnitude would destroy all life around it. However, the vortex is kept free of ocean life by a hidden, underwater druidic circle made up predominantly of tritons and merfolk. A few birds nest on the jagged rocks in the vicinity, circling to find edible salvage and what little sea life gets through the circle.

History

In the year 274AA, an unknown object hurtled out of space and impacted with the ground in the centre of Great Sond. This impact was forceful enough do shatter the continent into the current arrangement and there was universal destruction and death. In the centre of the resulting ocean, the great vortex whirled away.

Once the various races began to reinhabit what was now known as the Riven Lands, the danger of the vortex was more thoroughly mapped out. An independant group of ship captains mapped out the jagged rocks and reefs around the vortex and began the constructions and rigging that would eventually become the town of Flotsam and its surrounding nets.

Tourism

The great vortex is too dangerous for conventional tourism. However, daring crews of nimble vessels find sport in racing around the vortex as close to the centre as they dare.

Alternative Name(s)

The Eye of the Sea

Type

Abyss

Related Myths

• Seeds from the Sky

Summer Camp 2021

Article Links
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This was an article originally written as part of the 2021 Summer Camp challenge. I have edited the article since then, so what appears on this page no longer reflects the original competition entry. - Theoclymenus