Blackwater
The Blackwater is the ocean that encircles the continents of Evera. It earned its name from the perilous nature of its fickle waves, which make navigation extremely dangerous. Most vessels dare not venture farther than half a day—at most a full day—from the safety of the coast.
Localized Phenomena
The Formation of the Naetneth Currents
During the Third Age, the Narmiron fleet used these currents to defeat the ships of the Beastman invasion forces.
North of the continent, within the Blackwater, three great currents have ruled the ocean since the dawn of time. Closest to the shores flows the Adanaril, wide and calm, moving from west to east and accompanied by abundant rainfall. Beyond it runs the Kaalian, traveling from east to west and carrying warm winds. Finally, there is the Gitinan, a treacherous current that repeatedly rises to the surface only to plunge back into the darkest depths, endlessly circling the entire continent. At times of high tide, it poses a grave threat to ships that stray too far from land.
In the First Era, the Elves came to understand these currents and learned to exploit them, allowing for swift and relatively safe travel across the waters as their tribes exchanged goods with one another.
At the beginning of the Second Era, however, sea travel to the lands of the Narmiron became increasingly dangerous. Seemingly erratic, suddenly forming, and fast-moving currents disrupted the established order of the seas. These were often accompanied by powerful gusts of wind that cut across the northern currents. Countless ships vanished without a trace. These currents and winds frequently carried biting cold, altering the climate of the northern coasts. Winters grew longer and harsher from one year to the next.
Ice made fishing increasingly difficult for the coastal tribes. The underwater ecosystem was thrown into disarray, and creatures and predatory fish previously unseen—or only rarely encountered—began to appear in the shallower coastal waters, or swam upriver in search of prey.
Under the guidance of the priestess Naetneth Lowren (nat-neth lov-ren), the coastal tribes learned how to endure these new and unfamiliar conditions. They built sturdier shelters for the winter months and developed new methods for storing food. The first few decades took a heavy toll on the people, yet in time they learned to recognize the signs heralding the arrival of the currents—and to turn them to their own advantage.
Megjegyzések
Author's Notes
The Formation of the Naetneth Currents: Entry for Worldbuilding Summer Camp 2020; Answering: "Write about the events of a devastating natural disaster in your world, either past or present."