Lough Shears
"A body of water so vast it could house a hundred fleets, yet a single storm can swallow them all the same." - Captain Aldric Hallow, The Shears and the Sea, 331 C.A.
Lough Shears is the largest inland body of water in Everwealth, a sprawling expanse that carves a natural boundary between Everwealth and the bordering nation of Kathar. A lifeline for trade, war, and maritime history, the lough is a keystone in Everwealth’s naval dominance and one of the most contested waters in the region. It feeds from the Green-Thumb River and stretches between the Battlement Cliffs and the Stonejaw Mountains, its waters bending into Kathar before funneling south toward the distant Scale Coast. Its vast, often storm-wracked waters have given rise to generations of sailors, traders, and warships, but its depths are home to countless wrecks, their ruined hulls resting beneath the waves as grim reminders of Everwealth’s past conflicts.Geography
Lough Shears spans a massive stretch of Everwealth’s southern territory, its waters gliding past jagged cliffs, wide plains, and mountain foothills. The Battlement Cliffs, a series of sheer, weather-beaten rock faces, line its northern banks, while the Stonejaw Mountains form a towering border to the west. The lough's waters twist and bend through these formations, creating natural harbors and treacherous narrows alike. Along its southern stretch, it spills into Katharan territory, shaping its borderlands before thinning into the Scale Coast’s winding riverways. Unlike many lakes, Lough Shears does not simply sit still, it moves. Seasonal currents, unexpected whirlpools, and treacherous undercurrents have made mapping it a near-impossible task.
Ecosystem
Lough Shears is a cold, deep-water lake, teeming with aquatic life both natural and strange. Large freshwater fish thrive in its depths, including sturgeons the size of rowboats and serpentine predators that lurk in the lough’s trenches. Massive seabirds nest along the Battlement Cliffs, their eerie cries echoing over the water, while migratory flocks cross the lake in great numbers during autumn and spring. The northern shallows host thick beds of blackwater reeds, whose roots shelter smaller fish and amphibians. However, these waters are not without danger, sudden shifts in weather can turn a placid surface into a maelstrom, while stories persist of creatures lurking beneath the waves, their hulking forms seen only in flashes beneath the lough’s cresting swells.
Ecosystem Cycles
The lough’s cycles mirror the turbulent shifts of the sea. During warmer months, its surface is calm, allowing for easier travel and trade. However, autumn brings violent winds that roar through the Stonejaw passes, kicking up waves large enough to threaten even seasoned sailors. The winter freeze touches the lough’s northern banks but rarely reaches its deepest waters, allowing fishing and trade to continue despite the cold. Spring thaws flood the riverways, widening its expanse and shifting sandbanks, occasionally unearthing long-forgotten wrecks. Fishermen and traders must navigate these changes carefully, misjudging the lough’s moods has doomed many ships to the depths.
Localized Phenomena
- The Shears' Teeth - Sudden whirlpools that form without warning, pulling entire vessels below the surface. Some believe they are the result of submerged caverns beneath the lough.
- The Widow’s Lanterns - Strange lights seen drifting over the water at night, often leading ships astray. Whether they are the souls of drowned sailors or magickal anomalies remains unknown.
- The Weeping Cliffs - A portion of the Battlement Cliffs known for its eerie, natural stone formations that resemble the faces of grieving figures. The cliffs are said to "cry" during heavy rains, their runoff forming crimson-tinged streams down their rocky faces.
- The Sunken Convoy - A graveyard of lost warships, their skeletal remains visible during the rare dry seasons when the lough’s water levels drop.
Climate
Lough Shears endures a maritime climate, with frequent rains and rolling mists keeping its shores damp year-round. Summers are mild, but the winds that rush through the Stonejaw passes make sailing treacherous. Autumn and winter bring unpredictable storms, many of which rise seemingly from nowhere, striking ships with gale-force winds and torrential downpours. The lake rarely freezes completely, but ice sheets can form along its shallows, creating an additional hazard for traders and fishers alike.
Fauna & Flora
- Ironjaw Sturgeon - Ancient, armor-scaled fish that patrol the lough’s depths, known for their immense size and rumored to have swallowed sailors whole.
- Widow’s Eel - A long, pale predator that lurks in deep trenches, said to strike from below in a flash of coiling muscle and jagged teeth.
- Blackwater Reeds - Thick, dark-stemmed reeds that grow in the northern shallows, their roots rich with alchemical properties.
Natural Resources
Lough Shears is an abundant source of natural wealth, its vast waters and surrounding lands providing vital materials for Everwealth and Kathar alike. The lough’s depths are home to rich fishing grounds, sustaining entire industries with their bountiful hauls of freshwater sturgeon, perch, pike, and eels. Oyster beds hidden in deep trenches produce valuable Lough Pearls, sought after by jewelers and nobles for their unique, storm-gray sheen. The marshy shallows and inlets along its banks contain Mire-Iron deposits, occasionally revealed after seasonal floods, offering a steady if unreliable supply of the dubious but valuable metal for trade. The lake’s surrounding forests supply Shipwright’s Timber, sturdy and water-resistant, a crucial material for naval construction. Thick Blackwater Reeds grow in the northern shallows, their fibrous stalks used in insulation, rope-making, and alchemical applications. Additionally, the lake’s silty bed contains mineral-rich deposits that, when dredged and processed, can be used to enrich farmland, improving crop yields for nearby settlements. Though many seek to exploit these resources, the lough’s violent storms and shifting currents make large-scale harvesting a dangerous endeavor, ensuring that its riches are claimed only by those willing to gamble with their lives.
History
Lough Shears has been a battleground, trade hub, and myth-ridden expanse for centuries. Before Everwealth’s unification, warlords fought over its waters, seeking to control its vital trade routes and access to Kathar. During the Schism, entire fleets were lost in its storms, their wrecks now forming eerie silhouettes in the shallows. Naval battles with Kathar have left the seabed littered with rusting hulks, while countless merchant ships have been swallowed by the lake’s infamous whirlpools. In modern times, Lough Shears remains a critical artery for trade, but its legacy of death ensures that even the most seasoned sailors hold a deep respect—if not outright fear—for its waters.
Tourism
Lough Shears is not a leisure destination, but it draws a steady influx of travelers nonetheless. Fishermen, traders, and mercenaries frequently pass through its ports, while ruin delvers seek the lost wrecks hidden beneath the waves. Pilgrims occasionally visit the Weeping Cliffs, believing the stone faces to be the remnants of forgotten deities. Smugglers use the lough’s countless inlets and hidden channels to avoid patrols, making it a dangerous place for those unprepared for the darker side of its commerce. The Katharan border town of Scale’s End offers gambling halls and brothels for weary sailors, while the Everwealthy harbor city of Greatshadow serves as the last civilized stop before venturing into the lake’s open waters.
Alternative Name(s)
'The Ironveil', 'The Dagger’s Mirror', 'The Storm Vault', 'The Sea That is Not a Sea'.
Owning Organization
Inhabiting Species
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