A broad, shallow bay on Westrim's southwestern coast, providing Atriik's only maritime access. The bay takes its name from the shark populations that patrol its waters, a hazard for swimmers and small boats but manageable for proper vessels.
Character
Shark Bay is protected water, sheltered from the open ocean's worst weather by headlands and offshore islands. The depth is modest: large ships must anchor in the outer bay and transfer cargo to shallow-draft vessels for the final approach to shore. This has shaped the bay's economy: local pilots who know the channels are essential, and the Kendor sea-folk of Watalina have built their influence on that expertise.
The water is warm, clear, and productive. Fishing villages dot the eastern shore where Sprenwood meets the coast. Shark Bay's catches supply protein to Atriik's interior settlements, traded upriver in exchange for forest products and goods from the desert caravans.
Watalina
The Kendor settlement of Watalina occupies a cluster of partially-submerged structures and floating platforms in the bay's southern reaches. The Kendor are a sea-dwelling people, not fully aquatic but more comfortable in water than on land. Watalina serves as their trading interface with the land-based nations of Atriik.
Watalina controls:
- Pilotage: No ship enters or leaves the bay without a Kendor pilot, by longstanding agreement
- Shipbuilding: The best boats in Atriik are Kendor-made, built from Sprenwood timber to Kendor designs
- Offshore fishing: The deeper waters beyond the bay are Kendor territory
- Pearl cultivation: The bay's mollusk beds produce modest but consistent pearl harvests
The Kendor remain neutral in Atriik's internal politics. They trade with all four city-states equally and refuse to take sides in disputes. This neutrality is enforced by their ability to simply withdraw from trade, and no one in Atriik wants to lose access to the sea.
Notable Features
The Outer Anchorage: Where visiting ships moor while waiting for pilots and lighters. A small floating market operates here, trading in goods too perishable or too illicit for formal port channels.
The Salt Marshes: Where Sprenwood meets the bay, tidal flats and salt marshes support a distinct ecosystem. Salt harvesting here supplements Atriik's food preservation.
Shark Shoals: Shallow areas where shark populations congregate. Kendor hunters harvest sharks for meat, cartilage, and the teeth that feature in traditional jewelry. Outsiders are advised to stay clear.
The Headlands: Rocky promontories that shelter the bay from southwestern storms. The seaward sides are battered and dangerous; the landward slopes support scrubby forest and goat herds.