Gulf of Zeaz (zah AZ)

the Cinnabar Sea

The Gulf of Zeaz, also known as the Cinnabar Sea, is a marginal sea of the Criup Ocean near the central eastern coast of the major continent of Ethae. Most cartographers show it as part of the Northern Reach of Ethae, known as Novyum. The gulf, in its deepest region, exceeds nine thousand feet and its coasts is made up of rocky cliffs and isolated sandy beaches thanks to the surrounding Cutting Mountains that push against the sea. This has made its shores a difficult region to settle. The gulf is connected to the Ireskanest Sea by the Arada Way in the northwest.

The gulf is an extremely diverse sea, being home to an estimated five thousand species of micro-invertebrate. This brings in larger sea life that feeds on such creatures, which in turn brings larger predators to its warm waters. The gulf gains its alternate name of Cinnabar Sea thanks to this life. While some claim it being the blood from the large sea creatures feasting on the smaller, it is actually millions of these invertebrate spawning during spring, turning large areas of the sea crimson.

Jenuwan Order records show the gulf was once a great inland lake similar to Lake Bemused. This land is believed to have flooded after the Gilgurth impact, melting the glaciers of the Cutting Mountains. Later the ocean would merge with this growing lake, creating the gulf as it is today. It is believed that the gulf, prior to flooding, was the ancient home of the Awadri people in the Randagri Period and Randeris Period. It is further speculated that these people migrated onto the Awardi Archipelago sometime after Gilgurth becoming the precursors of the modern Imaeli people.

Type

Sea