Drowned City of Thresben

Crossing the Shard Strait without an experienced guide on board is a sure fire way to fill your hull full of holes

— Old sailor to merchant captain

History

Once a major port city of the Efristan Empire, Thresben now lies beneath the waves of the Shard Strait, creating a treacherous sailing ground for the inexperienced. Many of its tall buildings lie just beneath the surface of the water, and some of the tallest even stick up from the water in places. Buried seventeen years ago, during the last Rising, it was a major loss to the Empire, it had been a thriving city and a major hub for trade with the rest of the world. Not only that, but it had held one of the biggest centres of learning in the Empire, The Imperial College of Science.
Thresben had been one of the cities which held an Apocalypse stone, so its citizens got warning of the coming Rising a day before it started. The stone had been held within the college, and the scholars there were well aware of its importance and kept it monitored at all times. It was this which saved the lives of many of Thresbens citizens, though there were a few who scoffed at rumours and legends and refused to leave their homes until the waters began to rise. By then it became too late for some.
In the years after the Rising a few people did try to scavenge the underwater ruins. Some were successful, but more often than not those who attempted it often died. The ruins were dangerous, not just due to buildings settling and collapsing under the weight of the water, but also due to shifting currents. There were also several years of nasty storms within the strait, which put off most peiople from sailing those waters.
Some of the aquatic races had more luck than their landbound counterparts, however it soon became apparent to even them that unnatural dangers lurked within the city. The Empire had also done its best to patrol the waters around this area in an attempt to keep away pirates and scavengers, for although the city was underwater it still technically belonged to the Empire. In the last few years the Empire has created a slew of legislation regarding salvaging rights within their borders. This has legalised the salvaging of underwater ruins, and even turned it into a profitable business if you are good at it.