JAKAA

Jakaa is the largest of the Crater Isles, haven to Illmark, and the home base for any pirate lord (or aspirant to that position). The island is also called Moonspur, although that name properly belongs to the mountain on the southern end of the island.

The Moonspur is a huge spear of land thrusting 8000' above the sea. Above about 1000', however, it is bare, windswept rock, stripped clean by winter storms, with only lichen and an occasional nesting seabird living above. The mountain shoots up from the southern end of the island, with the northwestern part of the island forming a protected peninsula lying in the shadow of the huge peak. The Moonspur can be seen on a clear day from nearly 100 miles away, making it a landmark for navigation throughout much of the central Crater.

The lower portions of Jakaa are more hospitable. Jakaa has three protected harbors, the largest of which (on the northwestern side of the island) can hold over one hundred ships. Moreover, the land on the western side slopes gently to the Kavut of the Moonspur, providing over seventy square miles of land within an easy climb of the harbor. This main harbor is the site of Illmark's Hold, the main settlement on Jakaa. The harbor is defended by several measures, including:

harbor chains - huge chains which can be raised from the bottom to block the harbor mouth. When raised, the harbor chains prevent any ship from entering or leaving the harbor. The chains are raised primarily to keep out attackers, although in a few instances they have been used to trap unwary captains in the harbor during the periodic factional wars which sweep Illmark's Hold.

breakrocks - artificial reefs set in the harbor at strategic points just below the waterline. Only an experienced pilot who is familiar with the harbor at Illmark's Hold can hope to sail a vessel of any size through the harbor without running onto one of these reefs. Thus, any invader who breaches the harbor chains must' still find his way through the maze of underwater hazards before he can come ashore.

ramships - light galleys crewed by ten men (usually slaves or prisoners). These ships are little more than rams mounted on oared platforms; their mission is to ram enemy ships in the harbor. A loyal pirate is usually aboard, piloting the vessel and exhorting the oarsmen to the requisite speed. Although these ships are small, their low rams and high speed make them a threat to all but the largest ships. In desperate circumstances, they are loaded with combustibles, driven swiftly toward a target ship, and set aflame just before arrival.

All of these defenses are coordinated from a large fortress set 80' high in the cliff along the western side of the harbor entrance. This fortress is also the site of the Utharian bombards, mystical devices which fire a flaming projectile at enemy ships. The fortress has four of these monsters, which may fire at any target in their line between 120 yards and 480 yards away. Closer targets may not be struck, as the bombards cannot be lowered to aim at them, while the projectiles fall before reaching more distant targets. The bombards fire huge hollow stone balls filled with fluid purchased from the H'El Lords of Utharia that, placed in the bombard, ignites and carries the flaming stone ball to its target. These bombards are wonders of the age, but are hampered by their size (each is larger than a manor-house in Kuv City), the required fluid (which the Utharians part with at a dear price), and their lack of accuracy.

The other two harbors lie along the southern and northeastern edge of the island. Both are formed by natural crevices in the Moonspur. The southern harbor can hold nearly sixty ships, and is protected by a curving arm of the Moonspur which forms a natural barrier. The narrow mouth of this harbor is guarded by a fort with another four Utharian bombards, harbor chains and other defenses, much like the northern harbor. Trails connect this harbor to Illmark's Hold, and the overland journey can be made in less than four hours. The southern harbor is thus a popular docking point for ships who have little or no cargo to unload. Despite the protection offered by the Moonspur, however, the winter storms push the waves through the entrance (which has no seawall), driving ships trapped in this harbor onto the unforgiving cliffs of the Moonspur. This harbor is thus evacuated through much of the winter months, the ships scattering to other, smaller harbors throughout the Crater Isles.

The northeastern harbor lies within a grotto of sea-caves which can hold nearly a dozen ships. The sea-cave entrance is open at all times, but at high tide and during storms it is not possible to sail in and out of the entrance. Also, the caves have an evil reputation, with rumors of contact with various subterranean inhabitants, including pathways to the Underearth itself! Nevertheless, the twisting caverns are a favored hiding place for pirates who have made one too many enemies, and are also rumored to hold the hidden treasure of more than one pirate-living and dead.