Nichibotsu Sea (nitɕi.bot.sɨ siː)
Beyond the sunset
And beneath the ocean waves
The Dragon King
Within his fish-scale palace
Waits to welcome my father.
The Nichibotsu Sea is the vast body of water located to the west of the Great Ring. It is known for its fierce storms and dangerous currents, and is said to be the home of many deadly creatures. While there are legends of lands far across the sea and beyond the sunset, there are none living who have crossed the width of the Nichibotsu.
Where the Fish Live
To the northwest of Hoshimoto lies the great fishing grounds known as Umi no Kairaku, the Happy Sea. This area is known for the great bounty of fish found there, and is a vital resource to the people of the Northwestern Region. Control of the Umi no Kairaku has been a point of contention between the Empire of Wamato and the Utari people, and some days the fish feast while the humans kill each other over the rights to the spot.
The Lands of the Dead
For several of the cultures who live on the western edge of the Great Ring, the Nichibotsu is where the spirits of their dead reside. The Yanjin of Wamato believe that the Dragon King has a palace beneath the setting sun where all the dead go, and similar beliefs are present among the Rengo, and the Chilseongsin. The Kizhva also believe their dead cross over the sea, to a floating gate that opens into the afterlife, and they send their deceased out on small boats for the journey. The Utari and Hoshimoto Utari also believe their dead descend to an underwater land, ruled over by the great octopus Atkoru. The Hoshimoto Utari go further to say that their dead continue to war with the Yanjin beneath the waters, with armies of their ancestors attacking the Palace of the Dragon King every day until their living descendants are freed from the Yanjin.
Distant Places
While there are none alive who have crossed the Nichibotsu, there are still rumors of lands beyond it. One is Gurīnrando, a land so far west that the sun rises and sets east of it and the moon can never be seen, and another is Kusan, where nine mountains mark the birthplace of the world itself. Over a century ago, the Empire of Wamato sent out an expedition to explore these distant lands, but many believed the fleet was cursed, and only a single ship ever returned, sailing into Ryūguchi harbor without any people on board.
A Stone Serpent
One landmark in the Nichibotsu Sea is the great stone serpent known as the Final Monument. This statue stands alone in the waters, and is said to mark the resting place of an ancient, drowned empire. You can read more about the Final Monument here.
The Final Monument
A statue of a snake surrounded by nothing but the open ocean.
The Extent of the Sea
While nobody knows how far west the Nichibotsu extends, sailors do mark its borders to the east, north, and south. Most mapmakers agree that anything west of 77 degrees is within the Nichibotsu, with a few outliers marking the boundary as far as the 80th degree. To the north, the Nichibotsu becomes the Avannarleq Sea at the about the 75th degree North, while the border of the Hema Sea is placed at the equator.
This article was originally written for Spooktober 2024. You can find all of my Spooktober Articles at Spooktober Central.
This article was originally written for Spooktober 2023. You can find all of my Spooktober Articles at Spooktober Central.
Your writing is superb! I love your descriptions and the sense of mystery, as well as the intricate relationships of all the peoples. I'll definitely be exploring The Million Isles more :)
Thank you so much!