The waters south of Xabraedia and north of Hagswood are known as the Strait of Curses, named for the hags who prowl these treacherous waters. The strait is also inhabited by large, nasty serpents known as Silkwurms—creatures that can wrap entire ships in silk and knot them to the seafloor, dragging vessels and crews to their doom. The hags of Hagswood maintain an uneasy alliance with these serpents, communicating with them and occasionally working together to claim victims.
Ships that must cross the Strait of Curses do so quickly, in convoy if possible, and never at night. Even then, losses are common. The hags seem to know which ships carry valuable cargo—or valuable passengers.