Reefs of the Menagerie Coast

The reefs of the Menagerie Coast are a major geographic feature of the Lucidian Ocean off the southwestern coast of Wildemount and around the Swavain Islands. There are six notable reefs: Deep Row, Dragshallow, Inkclaw, Mother's Sigh, Torrid, and Southern Gate. The reefs protect and provide for the cities and islands in the region, creating fishing grounds and often making waters dangerous to traverse.

The Dragshallow Reefs surrounding Darktow Isle and the Inkclaw Reef surrounding Urukayxl are notably treacherous and make approaching these islands a challenge; these two reefs are also known to house dragon turtles.

Deep Row

Deep Row Reef.

Deep Row Reef lies close to the northwestern shore of Bwualli. It was first mentioned in "O Captain, Who's Captain?" (2x36) as one of two possibilities for the reef Fjord was attempting to identify on a fragment of a map of the Swavain Islands. It was mentioned again in "Dangerous Liaisons" (2x37) when Fjord lied to Avantika and told her that the Cloven Crystal in his possession was hidden on an island surrounded by the Deep Row Reef. When asked for a more precise location, Fjord chose Vide Cay, located a little over 100 miles to the northeast of Deep Row; Travis, out of character, lamented that he picked the one reef without any islands in its midst.

Dragshallow

Darktow Isle, surrounded by the Dragshallow Reef.

The Dragshallow Reefs, also referred to in the singular as the Dragshallow Reef, are an expansive and treacherous reef system that encircle Darktow Isle. The reefs cover about 200 square miles and surround the island on nearly all sides. The only way to approach the pirate city of Darktow on the island's southern tip is by a narrow channel to the south-southwest.

Shallower waters in the reef are marked by shipwrecks and accumulated driftwood. The shipwrecks are also used by the pirates of the Revelry to reinforce the reef's natural defenses; sunken ships and skeletons were dragged onto the rocks to serve as both barrier against and warning to trespassing ships. They also built sentry watchtowers, siege weapons such as bolt throwers and catapults, deployable hazards, cannons, and other hidden weaponry on more stable where the reef is shallow or breaches the surface to guard against assaults by sea. These defensive towers, called War Posts, are also equipped with flares and beacons to alert the city.

Ships entering the reefs that do not fly the Revelry's colors and other unauthorized ships are attacked on sight. Additionally, the dragon turtle Idok lives in the reefs. Per an agreement with the Plank King, Idok preys on trespassing ships but ensures safe passage for pirate vessels. According to Gallan Westman, a former member of the Revelry, some believe this arrangement to be urban legend.

These defenses are described as one of multiple reasons the Clovis Concord has not yet reclaimed Darktow Island over the course of the Revelry's existence, and they are so effective they have apparently left the volunteer dock watch of Darktow inexperienced in handling large-scale violence and disruption in the shipyard.

The Dragshallow Reefs were first mentioned, by description, by Fjord in "O Captain, Who's Captain?" (2x36) as one of two initial possible reefs on a fragment of a map of the Swavain Islands, though he immediately decided it was not the reefs around Darktow. Avantika first mentioned the reefs by name in "A Pirate's Life for Me" (2x41), and the reefs made their first appearance later in the same episode as the Squalleater passed through them to Darktow. They appeared again in "In Hot Water" (2x43) as the Mighty Nein left the island again in the Squalleater.

Inkclaw

Inkclaw Reef surrounding Urukayxl.

Inkclaw Reef is a treacherous reef surrounding Urukayxl to the island's north and the west. The waters around the reef are murky and dark, and many sea creatures living in the reef tend to kick up the silt at the bottom. This obscures where the reef comes close to the surface of the water, giving the reef a reputation of sneaking up and raking through the bottom of passing ships.

It was first mentioned in "O Captain, Who's Captain?" (2x36) as one of two possibilities for the reef Fjord was attempting to identify on a fragment of a map of the Swavain Islands. He decided upon Inkclaw, and Orly Skiffback, a more experienced navigator, confirmed the reef to be Inkclaw. The reef itself appeared for the first time in the same episode, as Fjord and Orly navigate The Mistake through it. Though they make it to the other side, the reef broke through the hull, and the ship began taking water.

The reef was passed again in "Dark Waters" (2x98) as the Mighty Nein and the Dwendalian Empire's fleet sailed through the waters to the north on the way to peace negotiations with the Kryn Dynasty. Days later, in "High Seas, High Stakes" (2x99), Fjord instructed Orly to pass Inkclaw to the south on the way to Rumblecusp. Doing so attracted the attention of a dragon turtle inside the reef.

Mother's Sigh

Twinward Isles and Mother's Sigh Reef.

The Mother's Sigh Reef stretches 200 miles from the eastern coasts of the Twinward Isles to the shore of the Menagerie Coast a little over 75 miles directly west of Feolinn. It creates a bountiful fishing ground in the waters near Feolinn but makes for rough waters by the Twinward Isles.

Torrid

Torrid Reef, surrounding Everplume.

The Torrid Reef is located in the seas off the northwestern Coast, about 150 miles southwest of the mouth of the Doralle River. The reef stretches over 400 miles in a U-shape. It surrounds the Everplume volcano, which causes its waters to be murky with soot, full of toxic fumes, and boiling in temperature. Influence from the Everplume is also physically changing the fauna of the reef into fire-based creatures.

Torrid Reef is first mentioned in "O Captain, Who's Captain?" (2x36) as one of the reefs Fjord knows about, then again in "A Pirate's Life for Me" (2x41) as the cast, out-of-character, attempts to identify the landmasses in Fjord's dream.

Southern Gate

Bwualli and Southern Gate Reef.

The Southern Gate Reef lies directly against the southeastern shore of Bwualli.

Trivia

• While attempting to identify a reef in "O Captain, Who's Captain?" (2x36), Travis, in-character as Fjord, listed an Everplume Reef and then the Torrid Reef, apparently referring off his notes. However, the Explorer's Guide to Wildemount indicates that the Everplume is surrounded by the Torrid Reef and does not name a separate Everplume Reef.
• Orly briefly referred to Inkclaw Reef as the Inky Claw in "O Captain, Who's Captain?" (2x36) in a manner that suggested it is an alternative name for the reef. However, Jester called it by this name immediately before he did, making it possible he was simply repeating her.
• The Torrid Reef is likely so named because it surrounds the Everplume volcano, as "torrid" means "hot and dry, scorching".
• The Dragshallow Reefs are likely named after their shallow depths and tendency to drag ships under.

References

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