Leviathan Artery
Uniting Veins
Legends say two leviathans fought here, tearing one another apart. But even then their veins kept pumping, refusing to die before the other one did.
Amongst the Weave, one of its more navigated currents is the Leviathan Artery. A highway that connects most of plane's upper regions, it provides the most secure way to traverse it.
With its existence being crucial amongst the kingdoms, controlling it is crucial to their survival. Hence why many try to control it, either through union or by conquest.
Highway of the Sea
Transportation Through the Vein
Being located at the nexus of several larger kingdoms, the Artery is crucial to transportation between each of their domains. One of the largest known current found on the Plane of Water, it runs straight through the Upper Seas.
On average, it is miles wide, branching out into many smaller currents into the regular waters. Rapid currents allow vessels to travel at speeds not normally achievable. With all these elements combined, it is the binding force that unites many kingdoms.
Entries and Exits
The biggest problem with the current is that its high speeds do not allow safe entrance at most points. Should a vessel try to enter the circulation in a wrong place, it could break its hull and tear the whole thing apart.
As such, ships can only enter the Artery through specific entry points. Smaller currents that allow vessels to adjust to the higher speeds in time, or to slow down during exit. Because of it, such points in the current get populated by small hubs and settlements.
However, it also makes these points crucial to protect against outside forces. Losing one entry be drastic for most kingdoms, if not sever it entirely from the rest. Hence why most are protected against any outside threats, whether they be sealife or pirates alike.
Migration Seasons
Due to cilvilsations living around the Artery, people have hunted its sealife to near extinction. Either overfishing or scaring them off, less and less sea creatures show up over the years.
Kingdoms try to encourage species to migrate again, minimising transportation during these seasons. Hence why during the high flow seasons, less vessels travel through the Artery.
However, that does not stop poachers from hunting them anyways. Some species are valuable on the black market, making them easy targets for those wanting to make a quick buck. Neither does it stop the occasional predator threatening these schools that are part of their diet.
What a cool article! I'd like to read a bit more about what the arteries / plane of water actually means in your setting? Is it a normal water river, or maybe something more alien?
It's less as a direct "river", and more like a giant water current underwater (it is the plane of water, a giant underwater realm anyways). Imagine it like a highway of fast-flowing water that allows vessels and creatures to traverse the open waters at much faster speeds, while anchoring floating isles of civilisation in the flow. A huge web essentially.