Mortea (mawr-TEH-uh)

The Dead Ocean

Mortea, the enigmatic Dead Ocean of Aonaran, is a realm shrouded in mystery and trepidation. Its black waters hold an eerie allure, as those who venture into them never return. Along its lifeless shores, no traces of marine existence are found, leaving a void of life contrasting with the vibrant Living Ocean Via. Ships can traverse its surface safely, but a single touch of its waters seals one's fate in the realm of the unknown. Mortea's enigmatic depths, teeming with unanswered questions and uncharted dangers, stand as an unsettling enigma in the planet's rich tapestry.

Geography

Though its surface may seem calm and unassuming, the geography of the Dead Ocean conceals a complex and perilous underwater realm, where beauty and menace coexist in an enthralling and enigmatic dance.
Being nestled in the southern hemisphere of Aonaran, boasts a stark and foreboding landscape beneath its black waters. This enigmatic ocean borders all three continents in the southeast, creating an aura of mystery and trepidation among the inhabitants of Elentiya, Aeron, and Morana. As the Dead Ocean collides with the Living Ocean in the Abandoned Bay and the narrow canal leading to the Flaming Strait, the underwater terrain undergoes a dramatic transformation.
In the Abandoned Bay, where Mortea and Via converge, the ocean floor is marked by a turbulent boundary where the black waters of the Dead Ocean clash with the crystal-clear depths of the Living Ocean. Mysterious underwater rifts and unpredictable currents add to the treacherous charm of this region.
Towards the desert landbridge connecting Aeron and Morana, the Dead Ocean unveils a desolate and ominous expanse. The lifeless, inky waters extend to the northwest from the desert, mirroring the bleak landscape of the arid desert nearby. Here, the spectral guardians' influence is palpable, their malevolent magic infusing the very essence of the ocean.

Ecosystem

The ecosystem of the Dead Ocean is a hauntingly beautiful yet treacherous underwater realm. Its unique and otherworldly characteristics are shaped by both its magical nature and the presence of bioluminescent predators. Mortea's ecosystem is a delicate balance of light and darkness, beauty and danger. The presence of bioluminescent organisms, symbiotic relationships, and the influence of magical forces create a unique underwater world where survival is a constant struggle. The mysteries of Mortea continue to baffle scientists and adventurers, drawing them deeper into its depths, where the true secrets of this enigmatic ocean await discovery.
The ocean floor of Mortea is a diverse and complex landscape. It features deep abyssal trenches, underwater rifts, and expansive plains of silt and sediment. Jagged rock formations and coral reefs can also be found, providing hiding spots for various creatures.
Bioluminescence is a dominant feature of Mortea's ecosystem. Many organisms, including both prey and predators, possess the ability to produce their own light. This bioluminescence is used for various purposes, from attracting prey to mesmerizing potential threats.
Spectral guardians, ethereal beings that inhabit the depths of Mortea, play a vital role in the ecosystem. These mysterious entities emit malevolent magical energy that permeates the water. This energy affects the behaviour of land organisms and maintains the eerie, enchanted atmosphere of the Dead Ocean.

Ecosystem Cycles

Throughout the changing seasons, the ecosystem of Mortea experiences a delicate dance between predator and prey, adaptation and survival. Each season brings its own challenges and opportunities, shaping the behaviours and interactions of the organisms that call this mysterious ocean home.

Rain Season
During this season, the already dark depths of Mortea become even murkier due to the heavy rain that falls on the surface of Aonaran. The increased rainfall affects the ocean's currents, stirring up sediments and creating a challenging environment for both prey and predators. Many creatures retreat to deeper, calmer waters to avoid turbulence, while others rely on their bioluminescent displays to navigate the dimly lit ocean. Some species of prey use the Rain Season as a time to migrate to safer regions.

Leaf Season
As Aonaran experiences its Leaf Season, the waters of Mortea begin to cool down. The change in temperature prompts certain prey animals to migrate to shallower areas, seeking warmer waters. Some bioluminescent predators also adjust their hunting patterns, moving closer to the surface to catch migrating prey. This season is a time of transition, as organisms prepare for the colder Frost season ahead.

Frost Season
With the arrival of the Frost Season, Mortea's ecosystem undergoes significant changes. Many prey animals enter a state of hibernation, reducing their activity levels to conserve energy in the cold waters. Predators like the Phantom Leviathans adapt by going on extended hunts to find the remaining active prey. Some prey creatures seek refuge in the many underwater caves and crevices, where they remain hidden until the temperature begins to rise.

Bloom Season
During the Bloom Season, the ocean floor of Mortea starts to come alive. Nutrient-rich waters from the surface stimulate the growth of bioluminescent plankton and algae, which serve as the primary food source for filter-feeding creatures and smaller prey. This abundance of food triggers the mating and reproductive season for many species, leading to increased activity and competition. It's also a time when certain predators switch to feeding on juvenile prey, taking advantage of the proliferation of young organisms.

Sun Season
As Aonaran's Sun Season arrives, the waters of Mortea become warmer and more inviting. This season is characterised by an explosion of life as plants and creatures on the ocean floor flourish. Many prey animals give birth to their young during this time, and predators increase their hunting efforts to feed their growing offspring.

Thanks to its proximity to Morana, the Dead Ocean also experiences the supernatural variations of Aonaran's five seasons of this continent.

Shade Season
During the Shade Season, just like on the mainland, the ocean around Morana experiences a phenomenon known as the "Shade Rain," a dark and mystical rainfall. While this rain doesn't nourish traditional marine life, it has a rejuvenating effect on the demonic and spectral creatures that inhabit the waters such as the guardians of the Dead Ocean. The malevolent magic that captivates land-dwelling creatures in a suicidal trance becomes much more potent during this time. In addition to that, the predatory creatures around Morana become more active and vibrant, leading to an increase in predatory behaviour. Some prey animals adapt by seeking refuge in deeper, shadowy areas of the ocean to avoid the heightened predation.

Dusk Season
As the Dusk Season arrives, the already subdued light of Morana further diminishes. This transition impacts the marine ecosystem by reducing the visibility of both predators and prey. Many creatures in the ocean around Morana have evolved heightened senses to navigate and hunt in low-light conditions. Some bioluminescent predators use this season to their advantage, luring prey with their eerie lights, while prey animals develop more acute senses to detect approaching danger.

Eclipse Season
During the Eclipse Season, a magical cold known as the "Eclipse Zephyr" permeates the ocean around Morana. This cold enhances the magical properties of supernatural resources, influencing the behaviour of creatures in the area. Some predators and prey have adapted to feed on these magical resources, leading to shifts in the food chain. Many creatures become more sedentary, conserving energy in response to the frigid waters. Some predators may venture into deeper, warmer waters to find prey that hasn't entered a state of hibernation.

Twilight Season
The Twilight Season brings an unsettling and sinister bloom of supernatural flora in the ocean around Morana. These otherworldly plants release unusual toxins and pheromones, affecting the behaviour of marine life. Some predators adapt to feed on the supernatural flora, while others use the confusion caused by the toxins to their advantage, ambushing disoriented prey. The increased competition for resources and the presence of toxic substances create a challenging environment for both predator and prey.

Fullmoon Season
The Fullmoon Season represents a time of balance in the ocean around Morana, even though it lacks the warmth of a traditional sun season. During this period, the supernatural creatures of the Dead Ocean exhibit a sense of unity and cooperation. Some predatory species form temporary alliances to hunt larger prey, while prey animals develop strategies for protection. It's a season marked by eerie tranquillity as the inhabitants of the Dead Ocean adapt to the unique conditions of Morana's changing seasons.

Localized Phenomena

The Dead Ocean is shrouded in a series of eerie and supernatural phenomena. "Spectral Currents" lurk beneath its inky surface, dragging victims deeper into the abyss. A bewitching "Drowned Mirage" lures sailors with illusions of phantom islands and cities. "Ghost Whirlpools" serve as gateways to the spectral guardians' realm, ensnaring unwary ships. An "Inky Veil" of magical darkness obscures vision and aids the ocean's predators. A mysterious "Phantom Fog" disrupts navigation, concealing spectral vessels. Occasionally, "Guardian Isles" manifest, believed to embody the spectral guardians themselves, adding to the ocean's enigmatic aura.

Spectral Currents
Unseen by the naked eye, the Dead Ocean harbours "Spectral Currents" that flow beneath its black waters. These supernatural currents are said to be conduits for the malevolent magical energy generated by the spectral guardians. They can pull victims further into the depths, complicating any attempts to escape and ensuring that the ocean's predatory denizens have the upper hand.

The Drowned Mirage
At times, the Dead Ocean creates a mesmerizing "Drowned Mirage" on its surface. This phenomenon occurs when the bioluminescent predators near the surface employ their hypnotic abilities to create dazzling displays of light that mimic the starry night sky or phantom islands and shimmering cities appear on the horizon, luring sailors and surface creatures to their watery demise.

Ghost Whirlpools
Mysterious whirlpools occasionally form in the Dead Ocean, known as "Ghost Whirlpools." They are believed to be gateways to the realm of the spectral guardians. Ships that venture too close risk being pulled into these vortexes, never to return.

Inky Veil
The Dead Ocean is covered by an "Inky Veil" of magical darkness. This phenomenon obscures vision even further and enhances the predatory advantage of the ocean's inhabitants. It is a protective mechanism of the spectral guardians to deter any curious land-dwelling creatures.

Phantom Fog
An unpredictable "Phantom Fog" can roll across the surface, making it impossible for sailors to navigate. Some claim that the fog conceals spectral vessels from another realm.

Guardian Isles
Every few years, "Guardian Isles" rise from the depths. These spectral landmasses are believed to be the materialization of the spectral guardians' presence.

Climate

The Dead Ocean experiences a perpetually dark and misty climate characterized by its oppressive, otherworldly ambiance. The waters are bathed in perpetual shadow, with bioluminescent flora and fauna providing sporadic illumination. The climate is eerie and inhospitable, dominated by the enigmatic and often malevolent forces that govern the ocean's depths. It remains consistently cold and unforgiving, with variations tied more to supernatural phenomena than traditional meteorological patterns. The shifting seasons of Aonaran and Morana influence the ocean's inhabitants and magical properties, creating an environment where magic and mystique are woven into the very fabric of its climate.

Fauna & Flora

The Dead Ocean's bioluminescent flora consists of spectral plants that glow in eerie patterns, providing both illumination and enchanting pheromones, which can bewitch and disorient prey. The fauna of this shadowy abyss includes a variety of predatory species each equipped with specialized adaptations, while the prey animals camouflage, symbiosis, and bioluminescent displays to evade these relentless hunters. The interaction between these unique flora and fauna creates a delicate balance in the mysterious world of the Dead Ocean.

Flora
In the depths of the Dead Ocean, a unique and eerie marine flora thrives. These bioluminescent plants take on various forms, from drifting kelp-like structures to phosphorescent corals. Their glow provides a surreal illumination in the otherwise pitch-black environment, and they play a crucial role in the ecosystem by serving as a food source for some filter-feeding creatures. However, these spectral plants also exude pheromones and toxins that can disorient and bewitch prey, making them vulnerable to lurking predators.

Fauna
The inhabitants of the Dead Ocean exhibit a haunting beauty and adaptability to its shadowy depths. Predators such as the Phantom Leviathan, Ghostshark, and Shadow Serpent have evolved specialized adaptations for hunting in the dark. Their bioluminescent features, hypnotic abilities, and paralyzing toxins are well-suited to capturing prey in the inky abyss. On the other side, prey animals such as Shimmering Clams, Silent Squills and Mystic Spiralsquids have developed various defence mechanisms, including camouflage, symbiotic relationships, or bioluminescent displays, to evade their relentless hunters.

Natural Resources

While the Dead Ocean harbours many natural resources, with its haunted reputation, no marginally sane person would ever dare venture into the black waters to harvest any of them. And thanks to the strong underwater currents, none drift to the shores of the continents.

History

In the ancient annals of Aonaran's history, a chapter unfolds deep beneath the surface of the Dead Ocean Mortea. Life in this dark abyss began much like its counterpart, the Living Ocean Via, teeming with a diverse array of marine creatures. The deep-sea ecosystem was mysterious and thriving, with each species adapting to the inky blackness and the harsh conditions of the ocean's depths.
Then, an event of unfathomable magnitude occurred, altering the course of life in the Dead Ocean forever. This cataclysmic event sent shockwaves through the ocean's depths. Some believe it was a colossal upheaval of magical energy from the planet's core, while others speculate it was a clash of mystical forces beyond mortal comprehension. Whatever its origin, this event had devastating consequences.
The cataclysmic surge of magic transformed many of the ocean's inhabitants into spectral beings, imbued with the power to control and manipulate the malevolent magical energy that had engulfed them. Once ordinary marine creatures, these beings became the spectral guardians of Mortea, their forms shifting into ethereal and ghostly entities. 
Initially, their newfound abilities were born out of sheer survival instinct. They used their magic to shield the marine life within the ocean from the destructive forces that had threatened to annihilate them. These guardians became the protectors of the Dead Ocean's unique ecosystem, ensuring the survival of countless species in their care.
However, as the spectral guardians grew in power, so did their malevolence. Over time, their protective instincts evolved into territorial aggression, and they began to view any intruders as potential dangers to their realm. They fashioned the once-thriving Dead Ocean into a haunting, treacherous expanse, rendering its surface devoid of life and repelling all who dared to approach.
This change happened millions of years ago. Today, many legends and myths talk about the spectral guardians and serve as warnings to any who dare venture into the black waters of the Dead Ocean. No scientist or biologist has been able to prove their existence, nor that of any marine life in the depths of Mortea. But the haunting presence of the Dead Ocean still fascinates and terrifies every creature of Aonaran.

Maps

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  Mortea's Dead Ocean Map

  This map shows Mortea, the Dead Ocean, and it's neighbouring landmasses.

Interesting Fact about the Name
The word "Mortea" is a combination of the Latin words for death ("mortem") and ocean ("oceanum").

Alternative Name(s)

The Dead Ocean

Type

Ocean

Location under

Aonaran