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[[File:Eastsea.png|thumb|right|300px|Map of Asterhaf]]Asterhaf (lit; The eastern sea) is a large ocean region to the east of Scandera and north west of Asterland, it is also known by the names Nardsja, svarthaf, Kakto Dour, Ishashi'mo (literally, the norhtern sea, the black ocean, the norhtern ocean, or the Sahsi/Scanderan sea) and it is very much considered federal waters by the federation but it does not enforce as an extreme claim to the open ocean as it does to the entirety of [[Vattnafalten]] in the south and they don't enforce it as their entire EEZ. The ocean is located around Scandera, especially Imeriata proper, Vedian, and the northern ice plains to the east, surrounding Asterland, and Salywa centrally and in the south can one find the island of the dragon grave, Taranaka, and Salmo and to the far north can one find the Cairn shore.  
[[File:Eastsea.png|thumb|right|300px|Map of Asterhaf]]Asterhaf (literally, "The Eastern Sea") is a vast oceanic region located east of Scandera and northwest of Asterland. Known by various names including Nardsja, Svarthaf, Kakto Dour, and Ishashi'mo (meaning "The Northern Sea," "The Black Ocean," "The Northern Ocean," or the "Sahsi/Scanderan Sea"), the area is considered federal waters by the Absolute Royal Federation. Although the Federation does not assert as stringent a claim over this ocean as it does over the entire Vattnafalten in the southand it does not enforce the entire region as within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ).  


The sea is noted for being very deep in it's centre with tectonic plates slowly driving Asterland away from Scandera resulting in a very deep sea and is the home of the leviathan whales that the sea is known for and submerged volcanos are common and has resulted in several small island chains dotting the region home to mostly Scanderans, Scanderiansied natives, Giels, or even smaller ethnic groups that are just commonly lumped in as mere "Havsavalk" by federal authorities however these peoples are quite rare in modern times as Scanderianisation have historically either assimilated such groups or replaced them with scanderan settlers over several centuries.  
Asterhaf is bounded by Scandera, notably Imeriata, Vedian, and the northern ice plains to the east, and centrally surrounds Asterland and Salywa. The southern reaches include notable locations such as the island of Dragon Grave, Taranaka, and Salmo, with the far north defined by the Cairn Shore.


Economically and military is the region very important and serve as a large transport hub between Asterland, and Salywa and Scandera itself but it remains far from as well used as the Vattnafalten. Historically have the ocean been very important for the people living around the sea and trade between Asterland and Scandera have always travelled from the north to the Scanderan Northern iceplains before they turned south around Aserstrand. Even today is fishing and whaling very important industries for the region but oil drilling have recently also sprung up as an economic activity in the region. Militarily does it provide the Federal and royal fleet with massive naval bases dotted around it to ensure federal control over the region and ability to strike south to defend Vattnafalten without any danger from powers of federal technological levels.
The sea is distinguished by its profound central depth, a result of tectonic plates gradually separating Asterland from Scandera. This geologic activity not only fosters a deep-sea environment but also leads to frequent volcanic activity, contributing to the formation of several small island chains. These islands are primarily inhabited by Scanderans, Scanderianized natives, Giels, and other ethnic groups collectively referred to as "Havsavalk" by federal authorities. Due to historical Scanderianization, these groups have either assimilated or been replaced by Scanderan settlers over the centuries.
 
Economically and militarily, the region is crucial, serving as a major transport hub connecting Asterland, Salywa, and Scandera. Although not as heavily utilized as the Vattnafalten, the sea has historically been vital for regional trade, especially the routes from Asterland to the Scanderan Northern Ice Plains and down to Scandera proper. Today, industries such as fishing and whaling remain significant, complemented by emerging oil drilling activities. Strategically, the region hosts substantial naval bases for the Federal and Royal fleets, ensuring control and providing a strategic point from which to defend the southern territories.


==Geography==
==Geography==
[[File:Eastsea1.png|thumb|left|200px|Map of the larger regions of Asterhaf, left blue is the Scanderan coastline, green is the cairn shore and it's kelp forests, dark blue is the deep ocean, and finally the blue to the right is the eastern shallows]]The geography of the region is due to two factors, the divergent continental drift from the south Scanderan and Asterland continental shelves that have given birth to the very deep ocean between Scandera and Austland but also the warm Vattnafalt stream that brings warm ocean water from the south and brings down cold ocean water to the eastern Vattnafalten. This is responsible for the heavy rainfall on the eastern Scanderan coast and the temperate and artic rainforests that one can find there. From the Islands can one also find large meltwater runoffs that provides the sea with minerals and causes yearly algae blooms that contributes to large fish gathering on the coast to feast and in turn invigorates the ecosystem.
[[File:Eastsea1.png|thumb|left|200px|Map of the larger regions of Asterhaf, left blue is the Scanderan coastline, green is the cairn shore and it's kelp forests, dark blue is the deep ocean, and finally the blue to the right is the eastern shallows]]The region's geography is influenced by the divergent continental drift between the southern Scanderan and Asterland shelves, which has created a notably deep ocean. Additionally, the warm Vattnafalt Stream moderates the climate, causing heavy rainfall on the eastern Scanderan coast and contributing to the region's temperate and Arctic rainforests. Large meltwater runoffs from the islands enrich the sea with minerals, fostering annual algae blooms that support extensive marine life.
 
The sea is divided into five distinct areas: the northern kelp forests, the dense pine mangroves of eastern Scandera, the shallows of Asterland, the volcanic islands, and the deep black sea. These regions are interconnected, facilitating large-scale migrations of marine wildlife.


This has divided the sea into five distinct regions, the northern kelp forests, the dense pine mangroves of eastern Scandera, the shallows of Asterland, the volcanic islands, and finally the deep black sea. Each of these regions are however connected through the sea and affects the wildlife that often migrate between them in large titanic schools.
===Scanderan Coast===
===Scanderan Coast===
The Scanderan coast is a very long and shallow region, home of a lot of either kelp forests or large pine mangrove forests and the home of a lot of bio diverse species, fish, seals, walruses, whales and dolphines, bears, and other semi and fully aquatic mammals make their homes there and it's also the home of some species of northern sea lizards but these tends to be very few in numbers compared to Vattnafalten to the south.  
This extensive coastal area features kelp forests and pine mangroves, hosting a biodiverse array of species, including fish, seals, walruses, cetaceans, bears, and semi-aquatic mammals. Northern sea lizards are also present, though in smaller numbers compared to the southern Vattnafalten.  
===The Cairn shore===
===The Cairn shore===
The absolute north of Asterhaf ends in the chilly shores that is simply called "The cairn shore" or "Brasstrand" is a chilly artic land of rocks and snow and is the home of a thick massive kelp forest to the far north that serves as the home of numerous walruses, dolphins, seals, smaller whales, fish, crustaceans, octopi, and sea lizards that either feeds on the large kelp or on those that feeds on the herbivores. The rocky shore has however historically been the home of three different civilisations. The ancient pyramid builders that nothing is known about but their ruined cities and large step pyramids still litter the coast and most federal researchers suggest was an ancient human civilisation from before even the dawn age, however it is assumed that they were destroyed by the Wharen alongside the golem builders of the broken back islands.
At the extreme north, the "Cairn Shore" or "Brasstrand" is a cold, rocky landscape dominated by a massive kelp forest. It supports a rich ecosystem of walruses, dolphins, seals, small whales, and various other marine species. Historically, it has been home to several civilizations, including ancient pyramid builders and cairn builders, known for their necromantic practices, which led to their eventual demise at the hands of Scanderans. The modern population is somewhat Scanderianised but they also keeps a lot of traditions and languages of their Cairn builder forebears.
 
Much younger are the so called cairn builders that was a group of peoples that used to build large burial cairn necropolises and Scanderans interacted with until the end of the 16th century when they were finally driven away and vanquished as they practiced vile necromantic arts and often drew ships into the shore with fake pyres afterwards they tended to feast on any corpses and they build burial cairns for their dead, all crimes that none from the civilised south could tolerate. Modern people that far north are far between but remains under federal control, they speak queer tongues and worships in the chronological manner or follows a stern winter father God and his ocean wife and practises kremation.


===Eastern shallows===
===Eastern shallows===
[[File:Eastsea2.png|thumb|right|200px|The ocean currents that effect the asterhaf]]
[[File:Eastsea2.png|thumb|right|200px|The ocean currents that effect the asterhaf]]
The eastern shallows is the region around asterland and can cover either shallow sandbanks, seagrass meadows, kelp forests but also just open sea that just lacks the abysmal depth of the deep sea.
Surrounding Asterland, this area includes shallow sandbanks, seagrass meadows, and kelp forests, and lacks the profound depths found in the central sea.


===Islands===
===Islands===
Most of the islands found between Scandera and Asterland is volcanic in nature, they tend to be very small and rising out as large pillars from the sea making these areas are often very fertile with large birch forests cover the fertile volcanic soil. Similarly do they cause large meltwater to pour into the sea every spring and summer that causes large algae bloom and massive population blooms of huge schools of fish that feasts on these algae which in turn causes annual migration of predatory fish and mammals from the coast out into the deep waters to feast either on the fish, the algae, or the migrants.
The islands between Scandera and Asterland are volcanic in nature. Their fertile soils support birch forests, and seasonal meltwaters contribute to significant algae blooms, attracting massive schools of fish and their predators.
 
The most noteworthy of these island is the island simply named "The grave of the dragon" that while large stands mostly uninhabited bar some minor religious orders and federal military outposts, the thing that truly makes it noteworthy however is the large fossilised bones of a gigantic sea dragon of horrific proportions that lays on the island and has given it it's foul reputation as tainted and unholy. Most federal subjects stay clear of this island and even historically have trade routes that would have saved weeks of their journeys and could have used the island as a natural harbour and refueling station have still stayed clear of it.


===Deep Sea===
===Deep Sea===
The region most thought of when most federal talk about the Asterhaf is it the deep sea they think of and its deep sea, this is a very deep region due to the continental divergence occurring between Scandera and Asterland and as a result is it the home of large very deep trenches, volcanic activity is high and one can find numerous volcanic island chains dotting the deep sea as large pillars. This is also the home of the largest of the animals of the sea and one can find massive filterfeedeing whales and sharks that travels the deep ocean but also massive macro predatory whales, large kraken squids, and sea dragons that hunts these giants. This has historically also traditionally kept sea exploration on the deep sea somewhat limited and very dangerous and instead forced sea crossings to go north before heading south. However modern ships are generally safe from attacks from these giants even if danger is still present if one would underestimate them.
Characterized by its depth, the deep sea region is the site of significant volcanic activity and hosts large marine fauna, including kraken squids and sea dragons. Although modern navigation is safer, the area remains treacherous due to its predatory inhabitants.


==Biology==
==Biology==

Revision as of 19:08, 17 August 2024

Map of Asterhaf

Asterhaf (literally, "The Eastern Sea") is a vast oceanic region located east of Scandera and northwest of Asterland. Known by various names including Nardsja, Svarthaf, Kakto Dour, and Ishashi'mo (meaning "The Northern Sea," "The Black Ocean," "The Northern Ocean," or the "Sahsi/Scanderan Sea"), the area is considered federal waters by the Absolute Royal Federation. Although the Federation does not assert as stringent a claim over this ocean as it does over the entire Vattnafalten in the south, and it does not enforce the entire region as within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Asterhaf is bounded by Scandera, notably Imeriata, Vedian, and the northern ice plains to the east, and centrally surrounds Asterland and Salywa. The southern reaches include notable locations such as the island of Dragon Grave, Taranaka, and Salmo, with the far north defined by the Cairn Shore.

The sea is distinguished by its profound central depth, a result of tectonic plates gradually separating Asterland from Scandera. This geologic activity not only fosters a deep-sea environment but also leads to frequent volcanic activity, contributing to the formation of several small island chains. These islands are primarily inhabited by Scanderans, Scanderianized natives, Giels, and other ethnic groups collectively referred to as "Havsavalk" by federal authorities. Due to historical Scanderianization, these groups have either assimilated or been replaced by Scanderan settlers over the centuries.

Economically and militarily, the region is crucial, serving as a major transport hub connecting Asterland, Salywa, and Scandera. Although not as heavily utilized as the Vattnafalten, the sea has historically been vital for regional trade, especially the routes from Asterland to the Scanderan Northern Ice Plains and down to Scandera proper. Today, industries such as fishing and whaling remain significant, complemented by emerging oil drilling activities. Strategically, the region hosts substantial naval bases for the Federal and Royal fleets, ensuring control and providing a strategic point from which to defend the southern territories.

Geography

Map of the larger regions of Asterhaf, left blue is the Scanderan coastline, green is the cairn shore and it's kelp forests, dark blue is the deep ocean, and finally the blue to the right is the eastern shallows

The region's geography is influenced by the divergent continental drift between the southern Scanderan and Asterland shelves, which has created a notably deep ocean. Additionally, the warm Vattnafalt Stream moderates the climate, causing heavy rainfall on the eastern Scanderan coast and contributing to the region's temperate and Arctic rainforests. Large meltwater runoffs from the islands enrich the sea with minerals, fostering annual algae blooms that support extensive marine life.

The sea is divided into five distinct areas: the northern kelp forests, the dense pine mangroves of eastern Scandera, the shallows of Asterland, the volcanic islands, and the deep black sea. These regions are interconnected, facilitating large-scale migrations of marine wildlife.

Scanderan Coast

This extensive coastal area features kelp forests and pine mangroves, hosting a biodiverse array of species, including fish, seals, walruses, cetaceans, bears, and semi-aquatic mammals. Northern sea lizards are also present, though in smaller numbers compared to the southern Vattnafalten.

The Cairn shore

At the extreme north, the "Cairn Shore" or "Brasstrand" is a cold, rocky landscape dominated by a massive kelp forest. It supports a rich ecosystem of walruses, dolphins, seals, small whales, and various other marine species. Historically, it has been home to several civilizations, including ancient pyramid builders and cairn builders, known for their necromantic practices, which led to their eventual demise at the hands of Scanderans. The modern population is somewhat Scanderianised but they also keeps a lot of traditions and languages of their Cairn builder forebears.

Eastern shallows

The ocean currents that effect the asterhaf

Surrounding Asterland, this area includes shallow sandbanks, seagrass meadows, and kelp forests, and lacks the profound depths found in the central sea.

Islands

The islands between Scandera and Asterland are volcanic in nature. Their fertile soils support birch forests, and seasonal meltwaters contribute to significant algae blooms, attracting massive schools of fish and their predators.

Deep Sea

Characterized by its depth, the deep sea region is the site of significant volcanic activity and hosts large marine fauna, including kraken squids and sea dragons. Although modern navigation is safer, the area remains treacherous due to its predatory inhabitants.

Biology

Fish

Sea Lizards

Cetaceans

Fish

Seals and Walruses

Otters and beavers