The Great Unknown
Sitting in between the nine isles for as long as any race has recorded history, the Great Unknown lays dormant. The deepest part of the ocean in the Nine Isles, the immense threat of its presence has shaped the course of Cantonese history. Since travel through the Great Unknown is incredibly deadly - nigh impossible - the Cantonese have fashioned their boats into the shallow-bottomed Shoreskipper that we know today. This impassibility also limits diplomatic contact, cutting Siskiyou and Sonora off from the rest of the world (since they are buffered by the Seven Ships at Dra Khol to the north and the Tonyth Empire to the south).
Geography
Sudden drop-offs surround the Great Unknown, dropping from the shallow oceans that border the nine isles to the immeasurably deep seas of the rift. Little is known of the ocean floor here.
Ecosystem
Reported Species of the Great Unknown:
- Giant Sharks
- Giant Squid
- Regular sharks
- Sahuagin
- Merrow
- "The Beast"
Localized Phenomena
THE DEEP FOG: A constant fog engulfs the seas of the Great Unknown, making travel even harder than it already was. It is theorized that this fog leads to most disappearances in the region, as ships collide into rocks or other ships.
STORM MAKER: Storms constantly brew in the Great Unknown, ones that are much more violent that the others that brew away from the perimeter of the Nine Isles. About once per century, one brews that is so violent it spills onto land, travelling south and seriously affecting Mundus , Tonyth Empire , and Siskiyou and Sonora.
WATER SPIRITS: Those few shoreskippers that have skirted the outside of the Great Unknown report their ships coming under attack by massive water spirits, that lay waste to the crew before disappearing back into the depths. Occasionally, it is said that ocean creatures join in this tirade. Giant squid and sharks are reported to take entire ships in one fell swoop.
THE BEAST: Only one report is known of a sailor who survived a trip through the Great Unknown. Her story details their ship being attacked by a massive beast:
"The massive arms reached to deliver a deadly grip upon our vessel, and its beak ruptured the deck a mere four yards from where I stood. We could not jump, for the water glowed with power. The creature's arms began grabbing our sailors, pulling them into the depths. I know not how I escaped, for one second I was grabbed then the next I was floating to safety aboard a piece of flotsom"
Alternative Name(s)
The Deep Sea, The Rift
Type
Ocean
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