The Orange Sea stretches along the southern coast of Arnot, a subtropical expanse of water whose unusual hue gives the region its name. From afar, the sea glows amber and gold, shimmering like molten citrus under the sun. Closer inspection reveals the reason: a century of maritime trade, piracy, and sunken cargo has left the waters scattered with floating citrus fruits, oranges, lemons, grapefruits, and exotic variants that once formed the trade lifeblood of Paradise’s merchant fleets. Sailors joke that the sea tastes faintly of orange blossom, though none dare try it.
Subtropical Coastline: Lush palm groves, orchards, and fishing villages line the shores. The climate is humid but temperate, giving rise to the fruits and spices that feed both local markets and international trade.
Hidden Reefs & Ship Graveyards: Many pirate and merchant ships have sunk here over the decades, forming reefs rich in coral and shipwreck treasures. Some of the sunken vessels still release fruits and goods into the current, creating the sea’s signature floating bounty.
Islands of Paradise: Small islands dot the Orange Sea, some inhabited by independent pirate enclaves, others by small trading outposts. These islands act as safe harbors for merchants, and occasionally as traps for unwary navies.
Fruit Trade: Floating citrus is both hazard and boon—some are collected for export, others left to rot and feed the sea’s rich ecosystems. This bizarre phenomenon has made the Orange Sea famous among foreign merchants.
Merchant Routes: Elio Coin, with Mitera Sehashi’s navigation mastery, transformed the Orange Sea into a trading highway connecting Arnot to Paradise and beyond. Even pirate raids are organized around profitable cargoes, especially citrus and other perishable commodities.
Smuggling & Piracy: Pirates who operate here are clever and opportunistic. Ships often sink, intentionally or by accident, leaving their floating bounty to be salvaged by clever crews.
Floating Oranges as Omens: Local sailors and pirates consider floating fruit omens of fortune or doom. An orange in the current may signal good luck for the day’s raid, while a grapefruit could portend a storm.
Pirate Superstitions: Some pirates claim that the spirits of drowned merchants linger in the floating fruits, whispering secrets of hidden treasure or guiding ships toward safe harbors—or treacherous reefs.
Celebration & Festivals: Coastal towns celebrate the Harvest of the Orange Sea, a festival where locals harvest citrus and honor drowned sailors with floating lanterns tied to fruit crates.
Trade Gateway: The Orange Sea is the lifeline of southern Arnot, connecting Free Cities, Freedom Bay, and the ports of Paradise. Whoever controls it wields immense economic influence.
Naval Challenge: Its reefs and unpredictable floating debris make navigation treacherous, ensuring that only skilled sailors—like Mitera Sehashi—can safely traverse it.
Pirate Playground: Many pirate crews have made the Orange Sea their domain, hiding treasure, ambushing merchants, or attempting to sink ships for both profit and spectacle.
Fruit-Fed Ecosystem: Citrus in the water nourishes a diverse ecosystem—small fish, crustaceans, and seabirds thrive on the floating bounty.
Predatory Species: Larger predators, including carnivorous fish and giant sea serpents, have learned to use the floating fruit as cover to ambush prey, making the sea dangerous even for experienced crews.
⚔️ Style Note:
The Orange Sea is more than a body of water—it is a living archive of trade, piracy, and death, shimmering with both wealth and danger. Ships here are tested by currents, reefs, floating fruit, and clever adversaries. Only navigators of legendary skill, like Mitera Sehashi, can harness its bounty safely, turning treacherous waters into pathways of empire.