Esterod Secret Cove

Place

Place Name:

Esterod Secret Cove

Biome:

Secret Cove

Size:

Unknown

Continent:

Unknown

Subcontinent

Unknown

Geography

Esterod Secret Cove is not very large in size, spanning only around 4,240 square kilometers. The opening of the coastal inlet that connects with the rest of the sea is quite average, spanning about a hundred and fifty feet across. The entrance to the inlet becomes a couple dozen feet wider during high tide, and vice versa during low tide as more of the rocks are revealed. The inlet itself is about two thousand feet in diameter and several hundred feet in depth. Trying to enter by boat, especially boats of this era made of simple wood, can be extremely dangerous due to the sharp rocks. Even swimming through can be dangerous if not careful. There is a large system of interconnect caves that can be entered right on the beach and beneath the sea.

The water entrances can be difficult to enter due to how far down they are. There are hundreds of caves that have been found, but there are rumors that there could be more undiscovered ones. Some of the caves are completely submerged and are mostly inaccessible, save for a few, while others are only partially submerged. There is one particular cave that is completely devoid of light. The rest of the caves have bioluminescence light in the form of aquatic animals, plant life, or gems in the cave walls. The climate is oceanic, meaning summers are warm and winters can be cold and windy. Temperatures during the summer are usually between the low seventies and the high eighties. There are some extreme days where the temperature will rise higher or lower, but those are rare.

In the summer, temperatures will usually stay between the low thirties and the high forties. The waterThe wind can be cutting in the winter, but is blocked off due to the shape of the cove, depending on what direction it is blowing. Rainfall and thunderstorms occur often and throughout the year, though there are stretches of dry weather as well. Snow can also occur, but not nearly as often as rain. The cliff that sits above the cove, keeping it protected and covered, stretches up almost three thousand feet. A dense forest sits nearly at the edge of it, with a few trees that grow out of the cliff. The sand on the beach is smooth and soft. It stays somewhat warm, and sometimes scorching hot, in the summer and cool in the winter.

Due to the constant, albeit light, push and pull of the sea, the size and shape of the beach can change over time. It can take years for the change to occur to do to how calm the water usually is. Vegetation mainly grows in the sea or within the caves. There are some species of grass that grows on the beach, in the sand. Some plants cling to the cliff or to the rocks on the outer edges of the cove, near the entrance from the sea. The majority of animal life are of the aquatic species, with a few migrating birds, and even less land animals.

Plants

The majority of plant life in the Esterod Secret Cove are of the aquatic variety. They grow in the sea or within the caves. Most are inedible due to the location they grow in, what surrounds them, or the level of salt within them. Some have a bioluminescent glow to them. Axune are average-sized flowers that grow up to two feet tall. Their light blue stem is thick and splits into five branching stems at the base. Around eleven large, green, teardrop shaped leaves with jagged edges grow at the base of the stem. The ends curve slightly upward. A single flower, about twelve inches wide, sits at the end of each stem. Their purple and blue spotted petals are round. They grow in a tight spiral upward, each lying a bit on the one below it.

They can be found in some of the deeper caves that aren’t submerged, on the cave floors. Around a dozen usually grow around each other. Axune are one of the bioluminescent plants in the cove. They are inedible and have no medicinal benefits, but the zu’aan there usually use them to paint their skin for ceremonies, as they do with all the glowing plant life. They stay in bloom throughout the year.Iabet is a species of sea grass native to Esterod. This grass can grow up anywhere from three to almost sixty feet, depending on where it grows and how close its roots are to the surface. It is a very delicate plant due to its environment being relatively calm. Dozens of thin, blue stems grow around each other.

Purple and blue, spiraled leaves that can grow to a length of three feet climb up the stem, equal on both sides. They can usually be found at the very bottom of the inlet, but there are a few that grow closer to the surface. Due to their salt levels, it’s best not to eat iabet by itself. It’s better to wash it off and dry it in order to get rid of as much salt as possible. So instead of eating it, the zu’aan usually use it to wrap their seafood. Eoklos are average-sized flowers that cling to the sides of the cliff, from the top all the way to the bottom. There are two, four inch, silver stems that are thick and a bit curved. Their large, silvery blue leaves are circular with toothed edges and they grow just beneath the flower heads.

There are usually around six or seven leaves per flower. One large flower sits at the end of each stem. They are about a foot in a half in width. Each flower has five fan shaped petals that range in colors of blue and purple. They have small, white, star shaped centers. Eoklos has a subtle sweet scent to them and their petals are edible. They also have a range of medicinal benefits. Their petals can reduce stomach pains, their leaves can be used as bandages for wounds, their stems can be made into a paste that helps with wounds, and their roots can break fevers. They don’t glow like the other plants and they only stay in bloom during the summer.

Animals

The majority of animals that inhabit the Esterod Secret Cove are aquatic species. While there are a few herbivores and omnivores, most are carnivores. Akloqi is a type of invertebrate native to Esterod. Their bodies grow to about six inches long, not including their ten, three foot long tentacles. They have a thick, armored skin that is a light blue for males and light purple for females. They are one of the few herbivores, with a diet of mainly sea grass. Their red, beady eyes make for poor sight, leaving them to depend on vibrations to get around. Their heads are relatively small in comparison to their bodies. They mate around five times a year and females usually lay around twenty eggs per mating.

Akloqi are docile for the most part, but they can become extremely aggressive when provoked. Their tentacles have little stinging hairs that can easily get under the skin and release venom into the bloodstream. While that can cause discomfort, irritation, and severe pain, getting stung by one is not life threatening. The strength of their tentacles is what is dangerous. To protect themselves, they wrap themselves around predators and squeeze. Once they’ve clung on, it’s almost impossible to get them off. They are one of the most dangerous animals in this ecosystem. Grousine are a species of nonnative fish. They can be found just about on every coast due to their migration patterns.

They can grow to be quite large at almost seven feet long. They have two sets of ribbon like fins and a long, powerful tail. Dark green scales cover their thick skin. Their slim bodies allow them to move quickly. Despite their size, they are omnivores. Due to their noncombatant natures, they lean more towards plants. They mate for life and females lay up to ten eggs in her lifetime. There is nothing really unique about these fish other than they taste slightly sweet compared to others. Loqon are a species of fish native to Esterod. They live within the partially and fully submerged caves. They only grow to about six inches in length. They have tiny, wispy side fins and a small, wispy tail, both of which appear a bit translucent.

Their thin skin is covered in a mix of blue, purple, and green scales that are oval shaped. These scales are bioluminescent. They have small, round, pale blue eyes and razor sharp teeth. Loqon are omnivores and can take on some of the largest animals, despite their small size. This is due to their habit of swarming their prey. At least two hundred loqon can make up a single school. With their glow, they circle their prey in order to confuse and disorient them before attacking. Females outnumber males and will usually mate with up to three at a time. They can lay up to twenty eggs per successful mating. While they are mostly found within the caves, they can sometimes be spotted close to the surface near the beach. This happens when they get separated from their school.

Historical Timeline of Ages

Age Name	Dates	Controller
Stone Age	Before 1E 0	Unknown
Copper Age	1E 1–1E 2200	Unknown
Bronze Age	1E 2200–1E 4400	Unknown
Iron Age	2E 0–2E 700	Unknown
Ancient Age	2E 700–2E 2200	Unknown
Middle Age	3E 0–3E 2050	Unknown
Early Modern Age	3E 2050–3E 2600	Unknown
Industrial Age	3E 2600–3E 2700	Unknown
Machine Age	3E 2700–3E 2800	Unknown
Atomic Age	3E 2800–3E 2850	Unknown
Space Age	3E 2850–3E 2875	Unknown
Information Age	3E 2875–3E 2900	Unknown
Genetic Age	3E 2950–3E 3000	Unknown
Awakening Age	3E 3000–3E 3415	Unknown
Twilight Age	4E 0–4E 500	Rak'delo Tribal Zu'aan

This article is written by DreamCatchie#3401. Copyright 2026 DreamCatchie#3401. All rights reserved.