• Page
• Discussion
• Edit
• History
• Print
• Login

Ao Coast

click to enlarge

The Ao Coast is a stretch of limestone cliffs, bluffs and sandy beaches that drives along the southern and eastern coasts of the mainland. It's arguably the most dangerous place in the realm with frequent sightings of griffin, hydra and kraken, but also one of the most beautiful and certainly one of the most profitable.

Dropping off into the Ao Sea, the coast supports massive numbers of wildlife that hunt the teeming fish knots and massive bird flocks all along the coast. Because of the dangerous creatures that inhabit the area, it's a popular destination for warriors in training as well as hunters and questers. Due to the abundance of elemental energy here — particular Water and Air — the coast is also a hotspot for Nymph activity and training.

Despite the dangers, there are many small villages dotted along the coast, from the sea-weathered fishing villages on the Nubian Delta to the quarry town of Despina at the southern foot of the Duskies. Many of these villages have a guard force of sorts that protects against monster incursions, but those patrols rarely extend more than a couple of miles outside their village.

It's for this reason that merchant caravans tend to include a bodyguard or some other form of protection. The cost of such protection is eased to a degree by the fact that traffic to and from the coast is funnelled through the portal in Espur, a handy short-cut that reduces at least some of the distances travelled. This can only be a good thing, as much of Elysia's food is produced here in the fishing villages scattered along the coast and the vast farm ranges spreading north into the Daire Flatlands.