Kelhaad Ocean
The Kelhaad Ocean is the largest and deepest ocean on the planet, spanning between and touching all four continents... and concealing a former fifth.
Geography
This massive ocean lies south of Saeaan and Naralaan. Its eastern border is formed by the west coast of Isaana, and it is bounded to the western side by the jagged crescent of Yien Vuura.
The ocean is home to several island chains, and owes its name to the greatest among these, the Ros'iin Kelhaad (Kelhaad Islands), which lie southwest of Saeaan. Other major islands and chains include volcanic isles such as the Imithe Islands, Kiir Vaauo islands, and the large lonely island of Naehi, as well as the mountainous Auate'iin and Tlohaiya'iin chains, composed of jagged and stony lands that represent the last remains of an ancient mostly-sunken continent dubbed 'Elyuum'.
Southeast of the above-water Tlohaiya Islands lie the shallowest parts of the capsized landmass, covered in huge collections of of sponge-like filter-feeding creatures, echoing the vast red-leaf forests that stood in those lands eons ago. These undersea pseudo-forests are known as the Teleth'iin Elyuumi, and revered as one of the great wonders of the planet. In fact, one of Aethis's most ambitious arcology projects, Serei Elyuumi, was constructed here on the tilted seafloor amidst the eerie splendour during the early days of Imperial expansion, and to this day draws tourists and sometimes residents from across the Imperium.
The southernmost reaches of this ocean are covered in a mass of frigid ice, forming Aethis's southern ice cap. Aethis's far south lacks any major landmasses, so unlike its northern counterpart which is partially composed of glaciers and ice sheets anchored to the immense landmass of Saeaan, the southern ice cap is an entirely free-floating chaos of grinding sea ice.
The ocean is home to several island chains, and owes its name to the greatest among these, the Ros'iin Kelhaad (Kelhaad Islands), which lie southwest of Saeaan. Other major islands and chains include volcanic isles such as the Imithe Islands, Kiir Vaauo islands, and the large lonely island of Naehi, as well as the mountainous Auate'iin and Tlohaiya'iin chains, composed of jagged and stony lands that represent the last remains of an ancient mostly-sunken continent dubbed 'Elyuum'.
Southeast of the above-water Tlohaiya Islands lie the shallowest parts of the capsized landmass, covered in huge collections of of sponge-like filter-feeding creatures, echoing the vast red-leaf forests that stood in those lands eons ago. These undersea pseudo-forests are known as the Teleth'iin Elyuumi, and revered as one of the great wonders of the planet. In fact, one of Aethis's most ambitious arcology projects, Serei Elyuumi, was constructed here on the tilted seafloor amidst the eerie splendour during the early days of Imperial expansion, and to this day draws tourists and sometimes residents from across the Imperium.
The southernmost reaches of this ocean are covered in a mass of frigid ice, forming Aethis's southern ice cap. Aethis's far south lacks any major landmasses, so unlike its northern counterpart which is partially composed of glaciers and ice sheets anchored to the immense landmass of Saeaan, the southern ice cap is an entirely free-floating chaos of grinding sea ice.
Fauna & Flora
As with most oceans on life-bearing worlds, Aethis's oceans are home to an endless diversity of strange and sometimes beautiful life-forms. The Kelhaad Ocean, being the largest, hosts the greatest variety of different species.
Kelhaadi fauna range from simple pseudo-plankton and multicolored mound-sponges to large, highly intelligent oceanic reptiloids and the bizarre sea ribbons, thin serpent-like swimming creatures that can reach nearly a kilometer in length and split into two fully-functional organisms when bitten or torn asunder.
Underwater flora here are equally varied: in the grand Kelhaad one may find bioluminescent floating aivar-endla wave-bulbs, or mats of red ileronad seaweeds with filter-roots and fruiting lure-stems dangling far into the deep. In shallower parts, forests of bushy, kelplike beige auelek plants can be seen rooted to the sea bottom, with their crimson leaf tips gently swaying in the currents - many hosting brownish, parasitic (but delicious!) elmei-elmei plant tufts attached to their slender stems.
Between these familiar classifications lies an interesting and unique third category, indigenous only to the shallower parts of the largely underwater former continent of Elyuum. These are the grand "sea itariasts", or itariast'iin vaeli, named for their vague resemblance to a common type of large brown-leaf tree found on land.
These unique organisms have their figurative roots in Aethi sea sponges, having broken off from the more mundane clades of mound-sponges and brittle-straws found throughout the seas. However, unlike those common sponges, the literal roots of the sea itariast reach deep into the sea floor like those of a terrestrial plant. They provide an unshakable mechanical anchor, but more uniquely, the specialized tendrils are tasked with absorbing minerals that are critical to the biological processes and structural integrity of the sea itariast.
The upper part of the oceanic 'tree' is a roughly spherical, loose collection of red branches covered in feather-like filtering appendages. Mature sea itariasts are often about 450 meters in height, and can stretch up to 700 meters tall in rare cases. The lazily waving fronds that reach from the central 'trunk' collect sunlight and drifting biological particles in the water, both of which are critical to the organism's survival. These branches can reach outwards to a distance of approximately 80 meters before they fracture and snap in the changing currents, at which point they may tumble along the inclined sea bed like tumbleweed, shedding their feathery 'leaves' which can then take root and begin the cycle anew.
Kelhaadi fauna range from simple pseudo-plankton and multicolored mound-sponges to large, highly intelligent oceanic reptiloids and the bizarre sea ribbons, thin serpent-like swimming creatures that can reach nearly a kilometer in length and split into two fully-functional organisms when bitten or torn asunder.
Underwater flora here are equally varied: in the grand Kelhaad one may find bioluminescent floating aivar-endla wave-bulbs, or mats of red ileronad seaweeds with filter-roots and fruiting lure-stems dangling far into the deep. In shallower parts, forests of bushy, kelplike beige auelek plants can be seen rooted to the sea bottom, with their crimson leaf tips gently swaying in the currents - many hosting brownish, parasitic (but delicious!) elmei-elmei plant tufts attached to their slender stems.
Between these familiar classifications lies an interesting and unique third category, indigenous only to the shallower parts of the largely underwater former continent of Elyuum. These are the grand "sea itariasts", or itariast'iin vaeli, named for their vague resemblance to a common type of large brown-leaf tree found on land.
These unique organisms have their figurative roots in Aethi sea sponges, having broken off from the more mundane clades of mound-sponges and brittle-straws found throughout the seas. However, unlike those common sponges, the literal roots of the sea itariast reach deep into the sea floor like those of a terrestrial plant. They provide an unshakable mechanical anchor, but more uniquely, the specialized tendrils are tasked with absorbing minerals that are critical to the biological processes and structural integrity of the sea itariast.
The upper part of the oceanic 'tree' is a roughly spherical, loose collection of red branches covered in feather-like filtering appendages. Mature sea itariasts are often about 450 meters in height, and can stretch up to 700 meters tall in rare cases. The lazily waving fronds that reach from the central 'trunk' collect sunlight and drifting biological particles in the water, both of which are critical to the organism's survival. These branches can reach outwards to a distance of approximately 80 meters before they fracture and snap in the changing currents, at which point they may tumble along the inclined sea bed like tumbleweed, shedding their feathery 'leaves' which can then take root and begin the cycle anew.
Comments