Bay of Long

The Bay of Long (also called "Long Bay" and the "Gulf of Long") is an arm of the sea that extends deep into the central western part of the Long Peninsula. The eastern neck of the bay where it empties into the sea is protected by two large barrier islands; thus the Bay's waters are typically very calm. Much of the bay is bordered by wetlands and salt marshes.

History and Culture

The homeland of the Varanus clan lies on the eastern shore of the Bay. The Eastern Bay is also where the Basiliscus Dynasty civilization first developed and the region contains several ancient capitals. At that time the land on the northwest coast of the gulf was home to the Allied Principalities who paid suzerainty and lent troops to the Basilicus Kingdom while maintaining political independence. Even today the people of this area have a strong sense of regional identity: they are loyal to the Dragon Throne but see themselves as removed from the center. The region also has a distinct dialect. The northwestern coast is characterized by dry beaches and rock headlands and it is dotted with many fishing villages.

The southwestern and south-central coast have historically been political and culturally tied to the northern west peninsula region that the rest of the bay. Some of these lands, for example, comprised part of the Taipan Kingdom.

Trade

The Bay of Long has its own trade network (modest compared to trade in the southern and western seas). It was historically governed by the tributary economic system but by the era of Filial Devotion there is more free trade.

There is little merchant league presence and a small number of merchants travel between the Bay and the southern sea by ship which requires circumnavigation of the western and southwestern peninsula.