Exploring underwater in the Sundered Isles
Many dangers and discoveries await under the waves of the Sundered Isles. Submerged
ruins, sunken fleets filled with lost treasure, and immense beasts hiding in deep waters.
These oracles give you an idea of what might be hiding in the blue expanse underneath your
vessel.
You might explore the underwater wonders of the Isles simply by diving and holding your
breath, or by using the Submersible Mode module or the Diving Bell support vehicle. Other
than this, magical spells and potions or technological advancements might allow your
character to explore the depths beyond their ability to hold their breath.
The Shallows
Shallows surround every island of the Sundered Isles, but can rarely also be found in the
middle of the sea where sea mounts or reefs sit near the surface of the water. Sunlight
penetrates the waters easily, making life abundant. Sometimes, hazards like reefs or rocks
make crossing the shallows by sailing ship hazardous. The Shallows are most familiar to the
inhabitants of the isles. It is where they swim, fish, and start their seafaring journeys. Still,
the shallows of distant islands might hold mysteries and discoveries.
The Fathoms
Away from the islands, the seafloor drops down into the darkness. Sunlight does not reach
here and the building pressure makes human exploration immensely difficult. Animals found
here are exotic and strange, only known in the stories of fishermen who let their nets sink
deep. When diving in most of the oceans of the Sundered Isles, you will find yourself in the
unexplored Fathoms, where dangers and discoveries abound.
Roll when diving from your vessel or when learning about the location of a distant sunken
location. If you are diving at the coast of an island, you will always find yourself in the
Shallows.
Water Depth
Myriads Margins Reaches Depth
Central seas Outer Remote seas
seas
1-40 1-30 1-20 Shallows
41-100 31-100 21-100 Fathoms
Roll when diving in the Shallows or when you encounter a waypoint during underwater travel
through the Shallows.
Features in the Shallows:
1-2 Animals migrating in huge 43-44 Schools of tropical fish
amounts
3-4 Calmly waving seagrass 45-46 Sessile animals nestled in the
sand
5-6 Camouflaged creatures 47-48 Sharp rocks breaching the
surface
7-8 Colourful sponges 49-50 Skeletal animal remains
9-10 Creature outside of its usual 51-52 Skeleton clutching a >Token
habitat
11-12 Curious animals 53-54 Square stone blocks
13-14 Dead and bleached corals 55-56 Statue covered in algae
15-16 Dilute cloud of blood 57-58 Stromatolites
17-18 Field littered with cannon balls 59-60 Strong currents
19-20 Floating debris 61-62 Sunken chest
21-22 Gigantic clam 63-64 Sunken coffin
23-24 Invasive animals 65-66 Thick kelp forest
25-26 Loose anchor 67-68 Torn fishnets
27-28 Rocks covered in oysters 69-70 Turbid waters
29-30 Rocky arches 71-72 Upside-down longboat
31-32 Rotten remains of a flooded 73-74 Vast coral reefs
forest
33-34 Rounded pebbles 75-76 Slope to >The Fathoms
35-36 Sand bars just below the 77-80 >Cave
surface
37-38 Sand kicked up by fleeing 81-86 >Shipwreck
animals
39-40 Sandy bedforms 87-90 >Ruin
41-42 Scattered cargo crates 91-100 >Descriptor + >Focus
Roll when diving in the Fathoms or when you encounter a waypoint during underwater travel
through the Fathoms.
Features in the Fathoms:
1-2 Animals grown to enormous size 43-44 Pod of whales passing by
3-4 Bioluminescent lifeforms 45-46 Preserved air pockets
5-6 Bioluminescent plankton 47-48 Sand kicked up by fleeing
animals
7-8 Blue emptiness 49-50 Scattered cargo crates
9-10 Brine pool 51-52 Scavengers feasting on a
dead animal
11-12 Creature outside of its usual habitat 53-54 Sessile animals nestled in the
sand
13-14 Creatures diving or surfacing 55-56 Skeletal animal remains
15-16 Curious animals 57-58 Skeleton clutching a >Token
17-18 Distant ominous sounds 59-60 Sperm whales sleeping
upright
19-20 Featureless sandy landscape 61-62 Steep ravine leading even
deeper
21-22 Field littered with cannon balls 63-64 Strange lifeforms
23-24 Giant animals fighting 65-66 Strong currents
25-26 Hydrothermal vents 67-68 Sunken chest
27-28 Large bubbles rising from below 69-70 Sunken coffin
29-30 Large eyes in the dark 71-72 Underwater mount
31-32 Large filter feeder with its mouth wide 73-74 Underwater volcano
open
33-34 Lights in the distance 75-76 Slope to >The Shallows
35-36 Loose anchor 77-80 >Cave
37-38 Marine snow falls from above 81-86 >Shipwreck
39-40 Pale sponges 87-90 >Ruin
41-42 Patterns in the ocean floor 91-100 >Descriptor + >Focus
Use this table when encountering a peril while diving underwater.
Underwater peril:
1-5 Cold or pressure weakens you 51-55 Sinking debris
6-10 Currents pull you towards 56-60 Swarm of aggressive creatures
danger
11-15 Difficult path 61-65 Territorial creatures
16-20 Disturbing remains 66-70 The deep calls to you
21-25 Entangling debris 71-75 Up and down become
indistinguishable
26-30 Entangling plants or creatures 76-80 Venomous animals
31-35 Equipment begins to fail 81-85 Visibility is hindered
36-40 Huge animals fail to notice you 86-90 Volcanic vents expel hot, toxic
water
41-45 Predator approaches 91-95 Your air grows thin
46-50 Sense of being watched 96-100 Roll twice
Use this table when encountering an opportunity while diving underwater.
Underwater opportunity:
1-25 Useful plantlife or animals 66-85 Opening to escape or avoid
foes
26-40 Clear path through difficult terrain 86-96 Cache of cargo or supplies
41-55 Impressive vista offers comfort or 97-99 >Treasure (Small repository)
inspiration
56-65 Source of breathable air 100 >Treasure (Medium
repository)
