Calèdare Sea
Opening remarks of Dr. Hadal's report on The Sea of Sorrows
I believe that no place is as wretched, twisted, and foul as the open waters of the Calèdare. Mangled bodies of tumor-ridden sea life floated about on the surface, and they often exploded when they slammed on the hulls of our passing ship. Twisted clumps of dead kelp bobbed along with the motion of the waves, leaving streaks of black stain on the unfortunate vessel. The stench of death mixed with the salty breeze that billowed over the foam-speckled crests and I was nauseous for the entire duration of our excursion, though not for the choppy conditions. The worst thing of all, though, was seeing a dark mass larger than any known ship swim in the shadowy waters beneath us. Catching the dull, green glow of its mutated, bulging eyes is enough to make the faint of heart never want to see water again! I, however, plan to return in the future.
Overview
The Calèdare Sea (/kæˈlɛdeɪr ˈsiː/ KAH-leh-dair SEE) is a large body of water connected to The Frozen Span, surrounded by the Calèdare basin and somewhat enclosed by land on three sides: on the north by the deserts of Jaddregos, on the west and east by, as of yet, unclaimed wastelands. The Calèdare is thought to have once spanned as far west as the Southern Stretch and as far east as the final peaks of the Cleaved Sisters. Little evidence of this has been brought forth, however, and a more in-depth investigation is needed before conclusions are drawn.
The Calèdare Sea is estimated to span roughly 138,000 miles2, though true and accurate measurements of its extent have yet to be taken. Its connected to the Frozen Span by a roughly 130 mile gap known as The Humming Strait, due to a localized phenomena in which the air shifts with a low droning sound. The Calèdare Sea is host to a dozens of islands that vary in size, with some being of volcanic origin. The largest islands are found in the Kailano Archipelago in its western half, the largest of which is known as Thalassa Spring.
Localized Phenomena
I will never forget the sensation of Marëanna's song that bubbled up from the inky depths when we passed through The Humming Straight. My whole body shuddered and vibrated at the resonant, haunting tune. Part of me wanted to just jump overboard and swim to the bottom to greet her - to embrace her festering corpse at the bottom of that wretched sea.
Storms are measured to be abnormally strong within the Calèdare Basin, and as such it is highly advised that all sailors avoid sailing on days in which there is more than a dozen clouds visible in the sky. While it may seem like an arbitrary number to most, for locals, it indicates that once there is more than a dozen, there is sure to be more being blown in from the sea. Typhoons of high intensity are known to sweep across the coastal regions of the sea during the hotter months of the year. During these storms there have been several sightings of dark green, verdant eyes being visible in the black, murky water, seemingly watching the carnage unfold.
Further south, a supernatural phenomena known as Marëanna's Melody rings through the air. The tune is described as a low, humming drone that, at times, will break into a haunting song. Otherworldly, haunting vocals have been recorded as rising from the depths of the Humming Strait during these events, colloquially refered to as "Operas". These moments are easily mistaken as a mere siren's call by those less experienced with the phenomena. For the most part, it is thought to be totally harmless, so long as one is able to keep their feet aboard whatever vessel they are aboard.
Climate
The Calèdare's climate is roughly split into two halves. The northern-most portion of the sea experiences fairly mild conditions year round, though once winter sets in its similar to the southern, icy reaches of the sea. The northern half of the Calèdare enjoys these warmer temperatures due to the massive, central desert that acts as a dry heat basin on Vasara. This desert is affectionately known as No Man's Land by locals, and contains two main regions which split it between west and east: The Whispering Wastes and the Divine Spears.
In the south, brutal arctic conditions are common throughout the year, and only relents when the summer months roll around. Iceburgs are often seen slowly drifting across the southern expanse, and are known to block the Humming Strait when left unchecked. Snow, sleet, and hail are typical forms of precipitation in the lower half of the sea, and because of this, few plants and crops can survive their shorter growing seasons.
Fauna & Flora
Below are a few of the more interesting species that have been discovered since the events of the Lightfall.
Ink Kelp
This plant has been found in both shallow and deepwater locations of the Calèdare. At some point in its lifespan, the longer stalks of Ink Kelp will tangle with other older plants, and when enough of them do so, the mass of plant matter is ripped from the seabed. This mass of kelp will find itself floating on the surface of the sea, where it will either be harvested for its black dyes to produce ink or make landfall.
Lanterns of the Lost
These jellyfish are thought to be immune to the corrupting forces that plague the Calèdare, as they produce a light blue glow with their bioluminescence instead of the typical dull green associated with wildlife in this sea. Soul Jellies, another name for the Lanterns, are thought to be the physical incarnations of the souls of those that worshipped Marëanna in life.
Bulging Sharks
While there used to be many species of shark that inhabited the sea, there are only a handful that remain. One of these is the Bulging Shark, given its name due to the large and often bulging (if not bursted) pustules and tumors that are speckled across their bodies. These tumors give off a dull green, somewhat sickly glow while in the water. Sharks with these pustules on them are known to be incredibly aggressive, with some going as far as bitting into the wooden hull of passing ships.
Natural Resources
The Calèdare Sea used to be a large hub for deep sea fishing some two millenia ago before the Empyrean Schism, and has not recovered its original prestige since. In the modern era of Vasara, it is largely untapped due to the hyper-aggressive nature of the flora and fauna that now inhabit the sea. The few resources available to be exploited safely are typically found in the coastal regions of the Calèdare. These include, but are not limited to: Ink Kelp harvesting, Black Pearls from mutated clams, and tumor-ridden fish caught from the shoreline. There is a theoretical resource that could prove useful, Divine Ichor, but it has yet to be confirmed to be present in large enough quantities within the waters of this sea.
History
The Calèdare was once a truly beautiful body of water. Colorful coral spanned the coasts and all manner of wildlife inhabited those shallows. At night, the reefs would ripple with life in all manner of bioluminescence; greens, blues, and even pinks dominated the waves. Thus, I must say, it is such a shame that the Calèdare's magnificence has been lost to drab blacks and dull greens.
Before Lightfall (A Brief)
During the Thaumition Era in which the Dominion of Vasan eventually came to rule over the majority of Vasara, the Calèdare was once used as a southern trading hub between major settlements of various powers. Traders would bring silks, spices, exotic plants, and other such luxury items through the cold waters, as it proved useful given its rather central location. Whaling was common in this time, as both their blubber and meat was highly sought after. Bornham was often called The City of Pearls due to immense quantities of quality pearls that could be found along its southern banks. Aside from being a major economic hub for the ancient world, the Calèdare seemed to be of little import to the more influential powers to the north.
During Lightfall (Another Brief)
The goddess of water and peace, Marëanna, was slain during the events of the Lightfall Cataclysm. Her remains are thought to have been discarded in the deepest location of the Calèdare Sea. Due to the corrupting nature of the curse that poured from the wound between realms, her once calming blood - Ichor - was twisted to have the opposite property. Spilling from her wounds, her essence billowed through the briny waters of the sea; this initially made most sealife fairly tranquil. As time crawled on, her ichor that mixed with the sea was corrupted, and turned an inky black; any creature subjected to this substance was immediately turned hostile to anything and everything around it. The wildlife of the region would go on to mutate as well, with many bearing their Lady's dark, umber green in the form of large pustules and tumors.
After Lightfall (Final Brief)
After the events of the Lightfall and the conclusion of the Schism, the Calèdare Sea fell into a state of near-abandonment. Most of the settlements along the coasts of the sea were ravaged by the new, mutated wildlife, and the storms that were common to the region began to grow more intense. The once azure waters of the Calèdare had turned into a dull brownish black, with little light being able to penetrate through the surface. Because of this, the flora that can now be found within the sea have also, for the most part, turned black. There is currently only one city with active ports on this sea, and that is Bornham; the city itself largely lies abandoned, however, due to the collapse of the artificial sun built near its center. Due to this large-scale abandonment, the fauna populations have boomed, and the sea is considered to be incredibly dangerous because of the inate hostility of life there.
Tourism
Do not.
Maps
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Calèdare Sea
The largest, southernmost sea on Vasara. It is home to some of the most mutated, corrupted, and vile creatures one can find on the continent. Its depths have never been explored, and none know what truly lies beneath the inky, black waters of the Calèdare.
Disclaimer: While the state of Jaddregos claims the sea as its own sovereign territory, it has no way in which to enforce its claim. Because of this, both The Wissan Dominion and The Luminforge Syndicate have sent innumerable expeditionary teams to the region in search of new, potentially valuable resources. Often times, only a few members of these expeditions return alive, and fewer still return with any good news to their respective governments.
Islands
While many of the islands of the two archipelagoes within the Calèdare are still habitable, many of the natives have long abandoned their homes. Only a few of the more steadfast and stubborn of the island peoples remain to tend to their ancestral homelands.
An image of the Snag-eye Blightfish, one of the more common mutants that fishermen may encounter in their day-to-day operations.
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