MSFT:Burning Sea, The
Contents
Arabesque Sea Travel
It was referenced in an earlier publication that many explorers begin their lives at sea. This much can be said to be true. Much of what can be discovered lies far beyond the horizon, many days, weeks, and months away from the Father Kingdom. A colleague of mine wrote about one such civilization that was encountered beyond the horizon - the Arabesque Confederacy. I would like to speak more today about some of the most common land formation that new explorers come across when heading in this direction for the first time.
A Word of Warning
When you are traveling through Arabesque territory it is important that you check your depth at regular intervals. Due to the nature of the islands in Arabesque territory, there are unseen water hazards that have sent many explorers into a early death or stranded in the Confederacy.
A Primer On the Burning Sea
Ah, yes. The Burning Sea refers to the waters in Arabesque territory. It is so called for spots of water that are literally boiling, ready to sear the flesh of an unwary swimmer from his skin before he even knows he is in danger. Others have called it such for several different reasons: a crude black substance which is akin to a very thick version of lamp oil has been found in certain areas of the Burning Sea, and it is said that if one throws a torch onto a patch of black it will burn for a hundred years. This has yet to be refuted, however preliminary research suggests that such a material may in fact exist. We are currently awaiting samples from explorers afield.
Land Formation in the Burning Sea
It is said that in the Burning Sea, the lands shift and change on a regular basis. Geologists have deduced that the tectonic movements underneath the ocean floor cause new islands and land masses to appear on a regular basis, making accurate charts incredibly difficult. It is said that the Dominor Aeris have devised an artifact that will help navigate the waters - the Stone Bird. Such matters are referred to in its own section. However, that artifact is still under testing, and must not be relied on. A seasoned Arabyan or mariner is your best bet in navigating the Burning Sea.
Treasure Prospects
Some people head out into the Burning Sea in an attempt to salvage the works of previous explorers, be they from the Father Kingdom or otherwise. There are many lost artifacts and foci of power that can be found in the waters if an explorer is properly equipped to handle the intense heat. There is rumor that an explorer has discovered a lost civilization that he refers to as Mu, however further explorers have been unable to find traces of the civilization since the initial report has been made. The account suggests that the civilization might have sunk beneath the sea, warranting research into sub-marine expeditions. However, such prospects are beyond the scope of our current abilities at the moment - we can only wait.
-- Explorer Percival Cormad
