Location Widowmaker Reef

[Balderdash]

Widowmaker Reef Widowmaker reef is located about two hundred meters from the Nykan coast, and can generally be located by the tufts of kelp floating on the surface of the water. These stalks go down for several yards into the reef proper, and are one of the reasons people risk their lives there. A sunken Zeltivan galleon has its guts spilled out at the bottom of the slope upon which the reef grows that's become a haven for countless fish, eels and the occasional shark and there are the gigantic oysters tucked into the many nooks in the reef and below which are rumoured to hold all manner of treasure, including the ludicrously rare and prized obsidian pearl. Unfortunately, to reach them, one must navigate the reef itself. At first it may seem as innocuous as any other cold water reef, until one notices the uncomfortable presence of countless shattered, half-digested bones littering the ground and the occasional floating corpse. The Widowmaker reef got its name for a very good reason, and countless treasure seekers have left their wives, husbands, and motley crew of unlikely lovers waiting in vain at the shore. Flora and Fauna Diver Kelp : Threat Level: Very Low Frequency: Common Uses: Medicine, Oxygen A fairly simple looking if exceptionally robust brown algae, diver kelp is generally sought after by herbalists and medicine makers for the powerful disinfectant that can be rendered from it, and by divers for the breathable air trapped inside its many bulbs. A lifesaver in the reef for any non-aquatic races, and one of the few merciful things there. Widowmaker Hydra : Threat Level: High Frequency: Common Abilities: Great speed, strong digestive juices Uses: Jelly? The Widowmaker reef’s namesake and partially responsible for the formation of the reef in the first place, the widowmaker hydra likes to hide in the many holes dotting the reef and burst out like a tentacled trapdoor spider to seize and instantly swallow any prey that wanders too close. Not the smartest creature, “prey” to the hydra means anything that moves close enough to the thin translucent trigger hairs that stick out of its hiding place and can be visible to the very observant. It resembles a clear-coloured hydra complete with tubular body and tentacles surrounding a mouth that doubles as an expeller for waste, except that it’s large enough to engulf an Akalak with ease. As fast as it is deadly, an ambush from these creatures is an exceptionally common way to die in the reef. Bowbreaker Shrimp : Threat Level: High Frequency: Moderate Abilities: Incredibly powerful punches, exceptional eyesight Uses: Delicacy meat, iridescent dye. An extremely colourful crustacean the size of a large dog with two clubs tucked against its thorax, the bowbreaker shrimp is straightforwardly named for its abilities to sink ships with a couple well-aimed punches capable of boiling the water around its “fists” from the sheer speed and force of the impact, and smashing apart just about anything else its clubs come in contact with. Its bulbous eyes can see a dizzying spectrum of light and color, and it uses them to detect prey, which it then swims up to and mauls to death. It will happily kill a man, punch him into nice little bite-sized pieces, and store parts of him for later. Its meat is said to be as delicious as it is dangerous to get and can fetch a decent price. Its carapace can also be sold to dye makers, who turn it into a pigment with the same shimmering quality as the creature it came from. Giant Nykan Clam : Threat Level: Moderately Low Abilities: Clamming up, making pearls Uses: Living treasure chests! Food They’re clams! They’re giant! These big fellows are about as straightforward as they look. They tend to swallow a great deal as they filter their food, and encase the lot of it in a hard grey-green mucus that can be broken apart by a determined man with a chisel to reveal all manner of things. Tales abound of riches, gems, bounties of pearls, and other lovelies being found in these clams (almost as much as men being too slow on the draw and getting their arms bitten off by them), and they are one of the main things that attract treasure hunters to the widowmaker reef. They’re also an ample source of meat. The giant Nykan clam is subject to many legends about their ability to produce obsidian pearls, a rare and extremely valuable component in Magecraft, but to date only three such pearls have been successfully found. For many it’s mere myth, and for the most part the attitude is a correct one. Grader Note: Roll 1d100 in Chat for contents of clam. If: <30, junk. (Old boots, bones, etc.) 30+, valuables (Jewelry, gold mizas, ordinary pearls, etc.) 100, single obsidian pearl Sea Wolves : Threat Level: Moderate alone, High in packs Abilities: Group hunting, strong bite Uses: Lubricant, leather, meat, shrimp/shark repellent The sea wolf is actually a species of predatory eel that gets its name from their propensity to hunt in packs of up to twelve individuals. About as long and thick as the average man’s leg, sea wolves are slippery due to a thick layer of mucus secreted by their skin, and like to surround their prey and harass them until an opening appears or the prey gets exhausted, at which point they move in to tear them apart with their powerful jaws. They have a surprisingly strong sense of vengeance, and will often go after creatures that have killed one of their own. This vindictiveness made an impression on native sea life, and sharks and other predators will often steer clear of anything stinking of a sea wolf’s mucus. They also produce solid quality leather and their meat has been compared to gamey tuna.