Deep Lake

This lake is located in western Baitha between the edge of the Dark Forest and the city of Lathear along the river Bearith. On the maps, it is often labeled Lake Bearith, but locals often like to refer to it as the Deep Lake, as it is known to be exceptionally deep, especially given the mostly flat terrain around it.

It was likely formed when the ground shifted underneath the river Bearith during a massive earthquake a very long time ago. Whilst it is surrounded by several smaller and shallower, but similarly long and narrow lakes, it is by far the largest, deepest and most dangerous out of all of them.

What looks like a calm and peaceful lake on the surface is actually much more dangerous than it seems. The walls of the lake drop quite steeply into the depths almost immediately, and the river flowing through it towards the waterfall just downstream of the lake creates strong currents that are difficult to notice for the untrained eye.

While swimming in this lake is strongly discouraged, locals have been using the lake as a plentiful source of fresh water and food for ages. They either fish at the shores or boat out onto the lake, though navigating its currents requires some skill, especially closer to the the waterfall downstream.

Although there is no concrete evidence of its existence, locals tell legends of a great lindworm living deep beneath the surface of the lake, a beast left from the time when dragons are believed to have roamed the area.

It is believed to be mostly peaceful, but there are stories suggesting it has on occasion capsized fishing boats and devoured the fishermen on them.

These stories are often used by parents to dissuade their children from trying to swim in the lake, which takes a few lives each year due to its depth and its strong currents.