Frozen Sea

Geography

The frozen sea really deserves its name. Eventhough called sea, it encompasses the whole northern arctic region. The northern pole is hidden under a thick layer of ice and glaciers, but underneath the vast frozen sea streches all over the arctic region. Or shall I say under?

The Creatures

Depending on the season the ice reaches further down - during winter as far down as to the southern shores of the twilight archipelago, during summer it retreats a bit further north than the most northern point of Nandaahr. And with the ice, a lot of strange beasts tag along. Giant white bears and evil spirits of the winter are the most commonly known ones.
But whats on the ice ist just the tip of the iceberg, underneath the ice, in the cold dark, you can find a whole other universe, ruled by the mighty krakens. These creatures are to be discussed further in another place, but let me tell you, they come in a few different species and forms, but they all share an enormous size and and an evil, hungry, alienlike intelligence. Especially around the twilight archipelago they seem to lurk around. But maybe thats just because more people are around there. Even if most people who head for the twilight isles, as they are called to, never return. But thats another story...
This sea hosts besides all its dangers many treasures that the people of Nandaahr pursue. The frozen sea is the home to many different species of whales, some gentle giants, some ruthless predators, as well as walrusses, seemingly endless amounts of fish, shellfisch and seals. Speaking of the seals, there are some strange rumors about the people of the twilight archipelago and the seals of the frozen sea, but this has to be discussed elsewhere.

Weather

Apart from the obvious cold temperatures the frozen sea is notorious for its suddently upcoming thick mist, that disappears as quickly as it shows up. Some argue that due to its strange behaviour it can´t be natural and must have some dark unnatural origin, but the most part of the more educated folk discard that talk as sailor´s yarn. An incredibly beatyful weatheranomaly are the northern lights, a veil or curtain of light, varying from red to green, blue, sometimes yellow and all kinds of colors in between. They undulate and flow through the sky at night, mostly during the long dark in the winter. Sometimes fast, as if they are chasing each other, sometimes slow, looking like they were dancing. A wonderful sight to witness - but you have to survive evil spirits, the hungry beasts of winter and the unbelievable cold temparatures and storms that come with the dark during winter. Another dangerous trait of the frozen sea are its tides - they vary greatly from place to place. In some places, they are nearly nonexistant, elsewhere the whole ocean suddently disappears, which means some rocks break the surface at low tide, which has cost a decent amount of unaware fishermen and traders their ships and their lives as well.

Human activity

Nowadays there are a few traderoutes that cross the southern, permanently icefree and least dangerous part of the frozen sea. The shores of Nandaahr have three harbours, but only the harbour of Olim really deserves this name. The others are a small summercamp for whalers, ivory- and furhunters, lumberjacks and outlaws inn the "whaler´s rest" bay, called Dengeir´s rest. Up the fjord in this bay you will find the famous Arcanuem ultima, the home of sorcerers, battlemages, conjurers and other magic folk. But eventhough this place is known to all of Nandaahr and many parts of Andaahr as well, its harbour consists of two sad landing docks, three warehouses and a tavern that is a brothel at the same time. Yet still aadventurers, pirates, hunters, fischermen and whalers set out for its many treasures - eventhough a lot of them die in their boots.

Thule

Why mentioning a single Island you might ask? Now let me tell you. Thule isn´t just a piece of rock somewhere in the far northwest, Thule is a strange place, some say the dimensions aren´t as clearly seperated there as anywhere else in Aar, some say its its special location that causes its anomalies, fact is, that this Island hosts some remarkably creatures and plants. Some of theese have strange effects when added to potions and Thules landscape is a sight to behold. The problem is finding Thule. Some old captain once said its all due to the currents from the smoking sea - they cary warmth up there so all kinds of strange things can survive there and its also the unpredictable currents fault that so many people who seek the island just drift away and never find it.

Location	Arctic region, encompasses the whole polar region of Aar
Biome	Frost desert on the surface, icecold dark under the ice
Main Dangers	The mist and the krakens
Best season	Travel around the peak of summer, now the weather is the most friendly and the strange spirits have retreated to the allways dark northern pole

Type

Ocean