Discombobulating. The Swift was silent except for the lapping of waves, the creaking of lines, and the shuffling of feet. I stood at the prow and surveyed the destroyed port of Avalave.

We skimmed the water about 60’ off shore, getting close enough to study the desolation. Of the dockside district, there was nothing to see but a few scattered remaining smokestacks and stone foundations, all dusted in orange and purple. Most all else was gone. Further up the slope, about 50’ up from the water level stood the first line of still-standing structures. Empty. A nearby sailor spoke a soft prayer to Elvitri.

The captain gave a quiet, firm order to the first mate. The ship turned seaward out into the strait. There was nothing more for us here.

That was my first experience with Orange reef.

What is Orange Reef?

Orange reef is a force of nature and strikes awe, excitement, and dread into the fear of any sailor. The phenomenon is massive - stretching out in the ocean waves farther than the eye can see. The expanse is made up of countless orange coral structures that flow and shift together, not unlike the ice packs found in the fjords of Misku'un. Orange reef moves both with the currents of the ocean and of congruence. The structures burst with marine life. Great schools of fish dart about and attract larger mammals. Crab, lobster, and other shellfish scurry about. Octopi and eels quest for said shellfish.

Description

I once had the experience of studying a bit of the Orange reef coral. Upon breaking the coral apart, flecks of purple could be seen, betraying an interesting characteristic of Orange reef: its absorption and chaotic influence on congruence. Within, above, under, and around Orange reef, congruence exhibits wild fluctuations of hot spots and cold spots. The disarray of congruence further influences the marine life, spinning off unusual characteristics in flora and fauna alike. My study of the Orange reef coral included a crab with a few too many legs, a fish that wouldn’t stay one color, and a seaweed that flowed against the current. The congruence fluctuations even influence the water around it, causing tides up to 50’ above or below normal.

Orange Reef’s Effect

The tragedy of Avalave is no mystery. An orange reef found itself flowing through the Strait of Emoe and jammed itself in Avalave’s great harbor. And there it stayed for a year. Ships could not come or go. The tide rose 50’, drowning the lower levels of the port. Marine life made short work of submerged structures. Miniature congruence storms swirled off into the upper levels. The city was abandoned.

It is a great blessing that most made it out alive. Most abandoned the lower districts when the reef was sighted outside the harbor. The Alvanian queen personally led the evacuation. Thousands of Alvanian vessels were called into action. A massive encampment was erected a week’s journey from Avalave, and a great path was cut through the jungle between the camp and the city to shepherd the displaced Avalavan’s to the fleet. The bards still sing of the queen’s fearlessness.

Edit: At the time of this publication, I have heard encouraging reports that Avalave is beginning to see a new generation of inhabitants. Its port and location remains ideal, and young fortune-seekers from Alvania and Karg who lack the memory of the great tragedy are planting their flags and hustling together a new life in the city. It is those questers who will be the lords and ladies of the future Avalave.