Land of the Hydromancers and Merfolk

The South: The Land | Climate | The People | Settlements | Trade
The North: The Land | The People | Settlements | Trade
Notable Characters

Oceanuus is the only region of the Silver Moon Empire that is divided into two areas: Northern Oceanuus, in the upper hemisphere of Lyran Tal, above the region of Thermador -- and Southern Oceanuus, located in the lower hemisphere of Lyran Tal, south of all the other regions and west of the Badlands. Both parts lay claim to vast, uncharted areas below the sea as well as a host of islands scattered with small towns and ports. To the south, the weather is temperate and there is a collection of sizable islands along with the advantages of a closer proximity to the mainland. To the north it is not unexpectedly cold, and the total land mass is much smaller, cutting down drastically on the number of human habitations. While significant parts of their society necessarily overlap, the Oceanuusians are generally viewed as two distinct entities, and when ones hears the words "Oceanuus" or "Oceanuusians," it is usually in reference to the southern area.

Southern Oceanuus

For decades, Southern Oceanuus has been plagued by political and social unrest. The islands suffered three major, long-reaching events that took place in the mid-1260s: a tidal wave, the eruption of Mount Mana'o on Xieng Khouang, and the disappearance of Archmagess Elorac Seamere. Following the devastation of the Wave of 1263, government fell under control of the Pirate Nations and lasted for ten years. Under the much-criticized leadership of the native-born Aikiliano Bashar (variously referred to as Crazy Kili, the Crimson King, and Butcher Bashar), the islands established complete independence from the mainland and succeeded in destroying class and race boundaries. It is also during this time that use of the native slang term S'osha or S'oshan (S' = Southern, Osha = Oceanuus) became widespread.

It was after the Pirates had become drawn into the mainlanders' battle with the Klockwork forces that Elorac Seamere returned and attempted to reestablish herself by currying favor with Pirate King. Although she was instrumental in defeating the Klock Armies along the coasts of both Luminii and Shadokhan, she was ultimately betrayed and murdered by Bashar. Returning home to the islands after the last devastating engagement in Port Ethralest, the Pirate Navy was surprised and subsequently defeated by the combined efforts of remnants of the Crystal Fleet and an army of Mer. In yet another astonishing act of betrayal, the Mer turned on the Fleet after they had mostly subdued the Pirates and completely annhilated them. Following a ritualistic trial, the former king was banished from the Islands and set adrift, presumably to die. The Devvol twins, Tahvanainen and Ulanen (sons of King Cyyroidius of Northern Oceanuus), laid claim to the islands as their own, both above and below the water.

The rule of the twins was not, in reality, as harmonious as it was made out to be. While observing and enforcing the strict laws against interracial liaisons, the Mer started a collection of slaves (generally confined to the exotic-looking blonds and redheads), strictly monitored Portal use and trade with the mainland, and took advantage of the native and Half-lo population, using them as cheap labor while patronizing them with 'important' administrative positions.

The Land

Made up of many islands, from the Shallowreef Isles in the west to the Seven Sisters in the east, the main island of Xieng Khouang is the largest, even after the catastrophic devastation of tidal wave and volcanic eruption. Once known as a favorite vacationing spot of the well-to-do, turmoil and tariffs have put the tourist trade nearly out of business.

The outlying islands are low-lying for the most part, although Alanya, the largest of the Windward Isles (also known as 'The Island of Silver Mists'), has a central rocky plateau, and Ruka, to Xieng Khouang's east, is the second highest mountain island in the chain. The white sand of the wide beaches is composed chiefly of coral and so remains cool even on the hottest days.

Xieng Khouang ('The Big Island')

• Aloryn Thar, the beautiful coral palace built into the walls of a cliff by the Seameres, was meant to house the reigning Archmage. Severely damaged by the affects of The Wave of 1263, the remains have since been cannibalized and completely torn down. A new structure going by the same name was begun by the Mer. However, the palace no longer resides at the top of the cliff where it once stood. Hydromancers and geomancers are working together to rebuild it into the face of the cliff itself (with a goodly portion of it below water level), adapted to satisfy the needs of the Mer regime.

• Keiki a Kala'una, the training center for aspiring hydromancers, is located in an underground cavern whose landward entrance is said to be guarded by maze.

• Shipyards all around the Big Island - and ships - are a new, busy industry, whether the products are used locally or sold on the mainland.

Manu
A tiny island directly east of Xieng Khouang.

The Shallowreef Isles
A collection of islands northwest of the Pearl Isles. Although some would consider them a part of the Pearl Isles, one thing defines their boundaries -- a shallow reef that extends around and between them. The only way to access the islands is using a small craft, such as a catamaran. Between the islands, the reef is so shallow that, in the smoother sections, it is possible to walk or wade between them at all tides. In fact, these very reefs served to shelter this small collection of islands from the tidal wave of 1263.

The Shallowreef isles are four inhabited islands: Pal Mons, Benay Loa, Gangdoh, and Ki Kumodi, in order from largest to smallest. There are also several small bits of land scattered about that are relatively tiny in comparison to the main islands of the Shallowreef.

Benay Loa is the farthest East of the Shallowreef Isles. A fishing village. The center of this round island holds a dense jungle, surrounded on all sides by white sand beaches. A lagoon is located in the center of the jungle.

Gangdoh is the location of Stilt City.

Ki Kumodi is the smallest island. Its several cliffs jut high out of the reef. The beaches on either end are yellow sand and the island itself is covered in dense jungle. The population is small, with a few scattered compounds. The island is accessible only by small craft. Ki Kumodi is also home to the Ki Kumodi Drake.

Pal Mons' beaches are rainbows - white and black, silver and even blue with expanses of sediment shining like polished cobalt at sunset. There is even said to be one that is as bright pink as shark meat, speckled and sparkling with bits of volcanic glass. It is only the sediment of constant traffic from hovel to fishing spot and back that dulls the effect. But if one wades and stands long enough off the western edge fire ignites and flames seem to smolder before the observer. The natives quaintly point out that Pal Mons is two separate islands stacked one on top of the other. The upper one is for the rich, while the lower one is the poor home of Half-los and a few destitute humans. A man named Yui controls the island's economy, taking a portion out of everything that's done on Pal Mons. Most of the underclass people work for him in some capacity, and most illegal ventures must go through him.

The Pearl Isles
Nestled between Xieng Khouang and the Shallowreef Isles, they consist of Tora'shi, Eikasho, Yu'zi and Ruka. Of them, the last is the least habitable, due to its steepness and lack of any real beach area.

Loesan
Loesan lies directly south of Xieng Khouang and is home to the small town of Purnnula. Mystery and rumor surround this small island. No one can explain how the tidal wave left most of the buildings standing, nor why every living creature was washed out to sea. Today, birds and ghosts are its only inhabitants...

Windward Isles
From west to east: Akheri, Krita, Narai, and Alanya ('The Island of Silver Mists').

Seven Sisters Archipelago
"The Wave devoured two of the Seven Sisters and almost all of their inhabitants in moments. When the waters receded, coral and sand, broken bits of rock and stone, most anything rooted or not beneath the surface was lost to the tide. The waters carved furrows into the islands' heads, chiseled off the faces of cliffs with sledges' force, and what remained were nothing but skeletons.

In the hollowed skulls of Hoaku, Belakamai, Ife (pronounced ee'fay), Pa'ahana, Hi'ilani, the sea took hold with black, endless claws, crept in silently, and settled into tidal pools and the wide-broken mouths of new-formed reefs. To the Islanders who once plied their trade from Big Island to Luminii, this was the home of shadows and ghosts, a beacon for ill omens; to those who made their own luck, who walked in the shadows and kept company with death, it became a haven.

Then that peace was broken, its spine shattered on the steel edge of someone else's conflict. It did not recover."

(From "Fallen Stars," by The Shrike)

Settlements

The Drift, Gangdoh - A small but sprawling city of shallow-drafted seacraft. Afloat and bound together only by streets of planks and driftwood, The Drift constantly moves to the roll of the sea. Boats and rafts of every size provide space for both shops and homes. Nothing blocks the view but waving masts and everything one can want is on display at a safe distance from the big ships forced to anchor well at sea or risk wrecking their vessels on the shallow rocks and coral shoals.

Stilt City, Ki Kumodi - On one side of the island, Stilt City hangs out over the water. Several cliffs are connected by hanging bridges and balconies supported by enormous strutwork. The only access from the water is a pulley system and a series of retractable rope ladders.

Wailewa, Pa'ahana - Pa'ahana's claim to being the wettest island has forced inhabitants of the city to elevate their homes on posts. The spindly-legged structures don't look entirely secure, but they are certainly picturesque. A few enterprising locals have taken to capturing a few drops of water in miniscule bottles. Tied up with "magic rune beads," the trinkets are then sold as "Tears of Ninidia" (the local goddess of truth, balance and fertility).

Xieng Khouang, Xieng Khouang - Located on the southern tip of the Big Island and usually referred to simply as 'The City' by the locals, the resurrected metropolis bears little resemblance to the careful cultivation of the years before The Wave. Most of the old city was washed out to sea, the land upon which it stood consumed by the waves. While its trademark diversity remains, the balance of control has swung away from the vaunted nobility and is now in the hands of half-los and natives.

• The Front on the southernmost tip of Xieng Khouang is comprised of a series of wharves protruding from the shore like teeth, backed by warehouses and shops.

• The Wall begun by Kili Bashar to stand as protection between the wharves and the city is repaired and continues to grow. The bulwark stands between The Front and The Splash, and glitters with the reflection of sunlight. White-washed and imbedded with shell mosaics, it has been elevated from ugly necessity to awe-inspiring wonder.

• The Splash (once known as The Splash Mercantile Exchange) is the marketplace and merchant district. There is little resemblance to its predecessor. Shops and businesses give way to houses of every color and shape as one travels inland, eventually petering out in the arms of the jungle.

• The Nest was once a well-reputed inn near the summit of a steep hill in the northern portion of The City. Taken over by the pragmatic Pirate King to serve as his base of operations, it is still in use by the new government. Half-lo and native guards patrol the high, sturdy walls.

• The Drip: a place that the city's wealth and good fortune seem to have passed over. Here the line of demarcation is clear; within a few hundred feet the homes and shops of prosperous Xieng Khouang City give way to weather-worn shacks. Here is squallor and overcrowded living conditions. Most of the inhabitants are dark-skinned natives, though one can sometimes find the occasional gull. The City Guard is noticeably absent. For good reason...

• The Grotto doesn't exist, officially. Hidden beneath the city, it is the place to be when one doesn't want to be found.

 

Climate

A pleasant tropical climate is one of the area's main assets, with moderate temperatures averaging about 78° annually. Variations in rainfall are dramatic. Pa'ahana is often called the wettest spot in the world, with an annual rainfall of 300 inches. Loesan on the other hand, has an annual rainfall of less than nine inches. The rainy season extends from mid-Goldfall through mid-Gentrain, and the dry season lasts the balance of the year.

During summer, the north-westerly trade winds are more persistent and constant blue skies are not uncommon for weeks on end. In the winter cycles, the trade winds are often interrupted by other winds, bringing intervals of widespread cloud and rain. During heavy winter storms 3-4 inches of rain can fall in an hour. The windward east coasts are more exposed to these winter storms and often receive their mean rainfall in just a hand-full of these winter storms.

Xieng Khouang's weather is heavily influenced by the volcanic mountain, Mount Mana'o, that resides on its northern end. Climate changes 2°C for every 1000 feet making temperatures on Xieng Khouang's peak fall below zero in winter, resulting in snow. The slopes of upcountry Ruka and the Big Island are therefore much cooler than the coast.

The islands do receive the occasional cyclone (mostly from Meridian to Moonshare, although the official cyclone season ends in Bitewind) although these are less frequent than in the southern Elbonian Sea. Earthquakes and Tsunamis are unpredictable events that rarely strike Southern Oceanuus, but have done so in the past with devastating effect.

A variety of commercially useful trees grow on the islands, among them pineapple, coconut, breadfruit, banana, mango and citrus fruits. There are also thatch-palms and some mahogany, the latter of which is used primarily for producing small furniture such as chairs, chests or screens. Rare as it is, it is highly sought-after by the wealthy, and extremely expensive.

Islanders are mainly self-sufficient, depending on the sea for fish; the littoral for coconuts; the valley for taro, the lower slopes for sweet potatoes, yams and bananas; and the mountains for wood. Besides open-sea fishing, there are also stone-walled fish ponds built semi-circularly from the shore.

The People

The islands once claimed a population of over 300,000 people. Even following the destruction of the tidal wave, those of native island descent comprise the largest ethnic group, while those of Half-lo descent make up approximately one fourth of the remaining population. A typical islander is brown-skinned with either straight or curly black hair. They are generally of medium build and fine physique.

Half-los, so named because half their heritage is derived from below the water, are part human and part Mer. They are found in all their wildly varying shapes, color and and sizes on the islands of both Northern and Southern Oceanuus. (For more information, see Half-los)

Merfolk themselves are humanoid in form, with gills and webbed feet and hands. Like fish, their skin comes in many hues. And, as with fish, there are several different subspecies of mermen ranging from Moraeans (half eel) to Molluskians (half octopus). Mermen are known to inhabit Northern and Southern Oceanuus. Their range farther out to sea is not known. (For more information, see The Merfolk)

Most of the pre-tidal wave mansions are gone. Most houses are usually of wood frames and thatched, with stone floors covered with mats. Food is cooked in holes in the ground by means of hot stones, but many foods are eaten raw. One of their more popular local drinks is made from fermented ti roots.

Islanders excel in athletics. Frequent contests are held in swimming, boating, wrestling, boxing, spear throwing, swordfighting, coasting the waves while standing on narrow sleds, bowling and running.

There remain rumors of a band of ocean-traveling Sea Folk. A mélange of human, Mer, and Half-lo, they travel the oceans, only setting foot on land for trade. Their lives are dependent on a strict code of laws which guide every aspect of their lives. Known only as Sea Gypsies, very few have ever heard of them.

 

Trade

Over the course of the last two decades the islands of Southern Oceanuus have gone from major tourist attraction to potential tourist trap. The Mer in political and financial control of the area developed a taste for slaves, and the native population (both human and Half-lo) are sharply divided on the subject. While slavery is not a major line of business, it can be quite lucrative.

More common trade items abound; local supplies of tropical fruits, taro, sweet potatoes and yams, cocoa beans, shellfish, honey, medicinal herbs, and jewelry are heavily exported. The ship-building trade is also experiencing remarkable growth, and shipbuilders as well as hydromantic pilots are in demand.

The Islands are well known for their fine jewelry and masks fashioned from shells, wood, and other natural objects. Other artwork of note includes their bright paintings, mosaics and clothing. With the settling economy there has also been a resurgence in island dance and music, chiefly based on the colorful rhythmic intensity inherent in their culture. They are fond of both vocal and instrumental music and have percussion, string and wind instruments.

One item of peculiar interest in the history of Oceanuus' trade was the production and sale of the drug, Glitter Glee. The bluish, powdery substance was known to deliver euphoric effects, easy profits, an uhealthy pallor... and an ominous warning rattle in one's breath as death drew near. Before the wholesale marketing of Glitter Glee, 'mancers allegedly used it in illusions. Outside of the circle of magic, humans employed the substance to keep the Half-los in Mertown, and the Half-los used it to forget they were there. The drug operation allegedly fell under the auspices of either Benzenotto Murkinvaald, a member of Oceanuusian high society, or an Oceanuusian lord of vice, one Enver Vivid. The drug's era was claimed to be short-lived. However, the production and sale of Glitter Glee that was presumed ended with the Great Wave of 1263 has begun a steady upswing. The initial targets of this perilous comeback are obvious: the capitol cities of the other six regions...

Production and exportation of merisite has also resumed, political power has shifted to the Half-lo population (under the control of the Mer, of course), and tentative trade agreements have been reached with both Shadokhan and Luminii. Even so, trade with the southern islands is unpredictable, and the S'oshans are adept at manipulalting the market to their own benefit. However, since the winter of 1275 prices and supplies are being undercut by black market trade. Ships plying the waters between S'osha and the mainland are subject to sporadic inspections by the Mer, with little to show for it. There is no apparent pattern or purpose to this traffic, which has given rise to rumors that the Sea Wolf is on the prowl again, resurrected from the dead, or merely haunting his Mer enemies...

Northern Oceanuus

Things are somewhat different in the Frigin Sea. After Emperor Tumian's death the Northern Mer withdrew almost entirely from the affairs of the foolish humans. While there is occasional, minimal trade between them and the mainland, the alliance between the Mer and Elves has remained unaffected. The two share an equitable and profitable relationship that has been in place for many years. Recent agreements have resulted not only in the sharing of their expertise with hydrodynamics, but in Mer patrolling Arborian waters and discouraging ships traveling there unless they can provide proper identification. Their monitoring extends east along the Balthazorian coast and and some of Thermador as well.

The Land

There is surprisingly little known about the islands in the north beyond the fact that they exist. Rumors of strange peoples abound. It is rumored that Northern Oceanuus plays host to a unique prison built especially to house very dangerous criminals of the magical sort. This prison is said to be located a full mile under water and operated by Merfolk with special associations with the defunct Dreven Empire.

Settlements

Hvannadalshnukur - In the northern region beneath the icy waters of the Frigin Sea is the city of Hvannadalshnukur, the heart of the Merfolk. Most of the Mer population resides there and the city boasts nearly one hundred thousand Merfolk inhabitants as well as many other races who can live without the need of air.

Hvannadalshnukur is reputed to be the most beautiful city in the Silver Moon Empire, consisting primarily of natural coral formations and Mer-made buildings. Natural underwater fungi line the city's buildings and coral provides a mystical sight to those approaching the famed city. Cyyroidius Devvol, the Mer King, and his Queen, Gervoia, rule Hvannadalshnukur. They govern in true equality, neither holding a stronger voice than the other in political affairs. Both are also Hydromancers of the highest skills. Hvannadalshnukur is thought to be the northernmost city of Lyran Tal and beyond it the arctic waters are almost as inhospitable as the desert of Thermador. It is rumored that many secrets lie waiting to be discovered there.

The People

Specific information about the people can be found here: The Merfolk

Trade

The Northern Mer primarily export underwater foodstuffs and coral, which is in high demand by those who use it for jewelry and decoration.

 

---

Notable Characters in Oceanuus

(Click on a name to go to the character's Who's Who entry.)

 

For more information on Oceanuus, contact:

The Oceanuus Region Leader

The South: The Land | Climate | The People | Settlements | Trade
The North: The Land | The People | Settlements | Trade