Amethyst Cove Harbor

The western shores of the Great Sea is a treacherous place respected - if not feared - by all who make their living plying the oceans of Cartyrion. Some therfore think it ironic that one of the most sheltered harbors in all the world is located along that shore: the natural harbor at Amethyst Cove.

They called the natural harbor Amethyst Cove, because of the abundance of the semi-precious gems found in the rocks that formed its borders. It is said that the beaches were littered with glittering purple gems eroded from the rocks by the force of the sea, so it is little surprise the Dwarves established a settlement along the inner shores of the natural harbor, naming it after the cove.

The reefs guarding the cove are expansive, and provide a natural breakwater that prevents waves from even the greatest sea storms from affecting the harbor. These reefs, some of which actually peek above sea level at low tide, form not only a natural breakwater, but also a formidable defense against sea-based brigands. And while the latter would not be much of an issue for the first few thousand years of the settlement's existence, it became far more important during and after the Great Strife with the rise of the Kingdom of Tyrnabay.

Between the reefs and the hilly, rocky land that forms the coastline in this region of Tyrnabay, ships safely anchored in the cove with sails reefed have no difficulty riding out even the strongest tempests the Great Sea can muster. When warnings of the approach of one of these great storms are heard, vessels ranging from small fishing craft up to the largest of the three-masted merchant ships head for the safety of the cove to ride them out.

Environment and Ecosystem

The natural breakwater formed by the reefs that span almost the entire mouth of the cove result in the harbor's waters being considerably calmer than the sea -- with ocean-born waves breaking on the reefs, the waters of the harbor are no choppier than those of a large inland lake. Once beyond the reefs and inside the cove itself, the waters return to depths that cause no threat to the hulls of even the largest sailing ships. The white sandy floor of the cove causes the waters above to take on an aquamarine hue much lighter than the deep blue of the ocean.

Sea life is abundant in the waters of the cove. In addition to a variety of fish, the cove is home to the Amethyst Blue Crab, a crustacean highly prized by gourmands of the region, if not the entire world.

Development of the Harbor

Dwarves being Dwarves, the natural protections of the reefs and the shape of the cove itself were not enough. Over the years, the residents of the settlement at the cove made "improvements". One such improvement that truly was necessary was the clearing and dredging of one narrow stretch across the reefs to provide a single "safe passage" corridor into and out of the harbor.

They chose a path that ran alongside a curious rocky pinnacle that jutted out of the waters - a formation that would become Amethyst Tor. This glistening peak that appears to be capped with glistening gemstones marks the one narrow passage through the reefs that are capable of ripping a ship's hull to shreds.

During the Great Strife, the Dwarves who managed to hold the city against sea-borne attacks further strengthened the defenses of the harbor by erecting a gate across the safe channel. This consisted of two circular stone towers - one at the foot of Amethyst Tor and the other atop the reefs across the channel. The towers were formadable; each was fitted with a heavy ballista capable of launching bladed projectiles that could cut a ship's rigging and sails to shreds, and a catapult capable of launching Gnomish Alchemical Fire onto the decks of any invaders. But the true purpose of the towers was to house the mechanisms that raised and lowered a great chain that spanned the distance between the two towers. When raised, the chain completely blocked the passage of ships into or out of the harbor.