Bay Keep

Still maintained and operated, the Keep has heavily smoked glass surrounding its light. Unlike many lighthouses which used a cut lens of glass to focus the light into a beam, Bay Keep instead appears like a dim, floating effervescence of light. Almost intact, several sections of the lighthouse wall have broken free, falling into piles of rubble around the base and exposing the interior structure to saltwater air; corrosion clings to the skeleton and stairs, rust falling like snow when the metal is disturbed.

Purpose / Function

Bay Keep was created to cast light onto the opening of Ioun's Bay, pinpointing the location of a safe harbour for vessels caught in a storm. Though arguably less necessary than other lighthouses in the world such as Islepoint Guide or Mistwatch, it was heavily valued by vessels when sailing nearby.
After the Cataclysm, it was used at night to attract shoals of fish to the surface for trawling nets to sweep through and collect. The lens was locked into position by jamming the gears, restricting its ability to turn during bad weather. Such gatherings were performed weekly, though unfortunately, such a regular occurrence drew less caring attention.

Alterations

After the raid from the Elven people, the lighthouse was modified severely. The glass was smoked and charred with fire, soot and ash staining it dark while the lens was dismantled, creating a hushed light which seemed to float in the air. The damage to the tower was reinforced with lengths of wood and metal salvaged from the lens array to strengthen the holes and provide a barrier against accidental falls. As a result of the changes, though the night fishing can no longer occur, the waters have become too risky in the shallow areas now. Without prior experience of the area, it's impossible for night time travel to occur without beaching the vessel.

Architecture

Constructed from interlocking blocks, the tower is capped with a steel and glass cage. Rather than being lit through traditional means of oil or wood, Bay Keep instead contains a large, cut crystalline growth which has been hollowed out. A lamp burns within the hollow at night, its light reflected by the facets of the crystal into an almost blinding glare.

History

With Ioun's Bay serving as a valuable location for ships to stop over in during bad weather, but many ships fouled by deceptively shallow waters within the Bay, the lighthouse was established to both illuminate the Bay and sweep the sea as a marker for ships in a storm. It served its purpose well and continued to do so after the Cataclysm. In particular, it was used to lure fish to the surface during the night.
Unfortunately, the regular use of the lighthouse attracted the attention of the Elven slavers from Merilun. During one of the fishing outings, the ships were set upon by the slaver vessels, the light from the Bay Keep allowing the vessels to navigate through Ioun's Bay, ransacking the central islands and Eyeholm. In the wake of the raid, the focusing lens was removed and the glass darkened; no longer would the lighthouse cast a beam of illumination and radiate over the bay, but instead would serve as a marker, only those who lived on the bay knowing the safe ways based on distance.

Tourism

Eyeholm regularly sends people to the lighthouse to maintain the supply of fuel for the lantern; without oil in ready access, grain alcohol is instead used to fuel the flames within the crystal. They also maintain the structure, performing rough repairs and reinforcements of the materials at times.

Type

Lighthouse

Parent Location

Aesmaril