The Lochstar

Location

The Lochstar is an underground sea loch unknown to humans but well known to the The Selkes - Main who use the labyrinth of caves and tunnels leading and coming from it to enter Alven and the capital of the Thane, Highfort.

The loch is found underneath the enchanted The High Forest in the north of Sutherlands. The forest is only a few miles north of Highfort and is mostly impenetrable.

The entrance to the Lochstar cave system is to be found on the jagged coastline of The Shimmering Seas west of Highfort. The caves are only accessible by boat and have not been explored by humans who fear the magic of the High Forest.

The Selkes have also over the years propagated stories of ghosts and other monsters to keep the humans' curiosity at bay. They may also have played at frightening some of the more enterprising humans away from the place.

This does not mean that the caves and tunnels are not home to truly dangerous creatures, and even the Selkes know which tunnels and caves are safe to take to come in and out of the Lochstar.

Ecosystem and Cycles

The ecosystem in and around the loch is very particular. Many sea creatures of the loch once roamed the ocean but were trapped in the distant past inside the loch.

Over the millennia, plants and animals have evolved into different species from their ancestors. The creatures of the loch are not to be seen anywhere else in the world. Some of the loch predators if disturbed could be dangerous, but most of them are harmless.

The loch is contained mainly within three immense caves. Marine creatures - and that include Selkes - can swim from one part of the loch to the other through huge underground tunnels. Three of the caves are lit by the blue glow of the Quartit peppering the cave walls.

The effect is like moonlight from a full moon. The fourth cave is totally dark and void of Quartit. Even Selkes avoid this cave and not many things are known about it. The few selkes who have ventured into the dark cave have mentioned seeing some strange lights in the waters but did not go closer to investigate.

The loch goes through two 'seasons' during the year. During the Dark Days when rainfalls and snowmelts increase the amount of water above ground, the loch receives a certain amount of fresh soft water from above and the water level of the sea loch rises by a few inches.

The influx of new water is often the sign for certain species to start mating and spawning. Later on in the year, when the Light Days come back, the water level of the sea loch drops again.

Localized Phenomena

Due to the immense size and depth of the loch, it is subject to the attraction of the moons. It will move from sides to sides in a succession of small tides. The waves on the loch are not big unless the loch is itself stirred up by other forces.

Currents, undercurrents, and whirlpools also exist in certain parts of the loch, created by the huge funnels between the three caves. These currents are well known to the Selkes who know how to avoid them.

Flora and Fauna

Fed from the luminescence of the quartz, seaweeds and other loch shore grasses have adapted to their underground settings. The plant ecosystem is fragile and none of the cave species would be able to survive very long on the surface.

Some of the grasses can flower and these pure white blooms are said to be some of the most beautiful in the whole of Alven.The Selkes call them Starbloom.

Many species of fish and shellfish feed on the weed and grasses, and some can be found in the rock pools along the shore. The rock pools are usually seasonal and filled with the soft water of the surface in the Dark Season.
The salinity of the loch varies according to the times of the year, and the loch species had to adapt to this over time.

The Lochstar also boasts of a few large predators preying on the school of fish abundant in the loch. The biggest of them is a huge Conger Eel, four meters in size. Selkes name these creatures, Demon Snares and know how to give a wide berth to their lairs and hunting grounds.

Natural Resources

The Lochstar is lightly mined by the Selkes for the luminous Quartit found on the cave walls and some of the tunnels adjacent to the loch.
Not much is known about the nature of the stone. As per all material in the region, it seems to have been magically enhanced and buried under the High Forest a long time ago.

The Selkes use the Quartit to craft jewelry, but the stone also has many practical uses - providing light in the dark depth of the ocean is one of them.

Access

The Lochstar can be accessed not only from the cave systems adjacent to the Shimmering Seas in the west but also from the edge of the High Forest near Highfort. Between Highfort and the town of Windbay, there exists a very strange but well-known inn, called The Seal Maiden.

The inn is run by a couple of Selkes shapeshifters and their main duties are to guard one of the safe exits from the Lochstar system. Deep within the inn are the main tunnels coursing a safe passage to the loch.

There are other means of access to the loch from within the High Forest, but even the Selkes will not dare trekking through these enchanted and dangerous lands.

Story Leads

A Selke falls in love with a human and tells him or her of the entrance, the 'lover' sells the information to a bunch of adventurers who want to find out if the loch and the caves exist

A young seer gets lost in the High Forest during a ritual and falls inadvertently into one of the tunnels. He or she has to find their way out - they might be accompanied by their pets or another friend/rival.

Sleepwalking one night in the Seal Maiden, a chieftain's daughter overhears the Innkeepers discussing strange activities in the basement, she and two of her clanswomen decides to investigate

An inexperienced young Selke and his friends decide to make the journey through the caves and tunnels by themselves to find a treasure, they get lost and meet more than they bargained for, they may even ask for help in Highfort

a mage whose passion is archeology finds a strange glowing blue crystal for sale in one of Highfort's bazaars and is intent on finding out where the stone comes from, and its magical uses

Type

Lake