The Ocean

The ocean is a gaped maw between lands. It stretches farther than the eye can see and its floor is an unknown realm that has played with the heads of sailors since memory. There is not a presence so daunting and indifferent. Indeed the sky is more beloved for the rain it casts and the pits for their riches then the sea is for as soon as one passes the bays and coastlines it engulfs the senses, commands them and holds you at its fickle mercy. The oceans grip is heavy, and the deeper, farther you go the tighter it becomes. It is the most cruel desert there is, surrounded by water that drains your strength with every sip.

— Unnamed traveler

There is something about an abundance of a usually essential resource being completely hazardous that preys on the mind. The ocean flats are in many ways abundant in uses. They act as a home for many things people have use of, fish, mollusks, seaweed, and others can be used for food. Salt can be dried out of the water and ships guided by favorable winds can outpace the fastest carriages and scouts. But it nonetheless remains a hungry mistress that takes as much as she gives.

Geography

Around land the the oceans floor is reasonably close, often within distance for skilled divers. Farther out it has been observed that this drops suddenly into an unexplored abyss. The floor of the "ledge" is often covered in a dense layer of silt or sand while others are occupied by rock outcroppings, coral reef, or dense kelp forests. These features draw irregular outlines around landmasses. After the drop-off there is almost nothing but water, occasionally a sea mount, a small area of shallower waters or a steep island will rest but it is otherwise the ocean is as good as bottomless.

Ecosystem

The ecology of the ocean varies from area to area but research has shown that it is undeniably related following circular patterns guided by currents and seasonal changes. These patterns are used by some animals to remain in areas with the most favorable conditions such as with whales that have young in the warm waters Kyalia during winter but move north during fall and by winter are nowhere to be seen.

Large schools of fish migrate according to their food, smaller fish, and they smaller fish and so on until whatever the fish, or in some cases shrimp are eating is unperceivable. This cycle in turn is utilized by fishing fleets.
[be] When something dies and is not completely consumed while it drifts in the open ocean it land on the bottom where various scavengers finish disposing of it. This of course is only is verified where the seafloor is observable if that is the open ocean has one.