Half-Haul Canal

Half-Haul Canal is a large island chain off the coast of Sun's Beacon, in the Brutish Sea. It is an important strategic naval position and was fought over violently during the Mage Wars. In the Ages of the Alliance it became an important hub of commerce as well as a popular resort destination. The southwestern-most islands are particularly well-known for their black sand volcanic beaches.

The Necrotic Zone

In the New Day era, the southwestern-most shore of the main island is rather derisively called "the necrotic zone". This name is owed to the large number of Necromancer resorts that effectively control some of the best beach-front property in the region. Though most of the beaches on Half-Haul canal are good, the ones in that area are noteworthy for the especially fine volcanic black sands, preferential weather, and a host of other factors.

The resorts are of course open to anyone willing to pay the fee, and outsiders are not intentionally excluded. It happened that, during the later stages of the Long Night, the first people to re-settle Half-Haul Canal were necromancers. They built a number of rock-cut temples according to specific astrological alignments in the volcanic cliffs overlooking the beaches. The people of these temples lived and farmed on the slopes and fished off the beaches. When the New Day Alliance was founded and formal governance brought to the island, the land officially became the property of the temples.

With Half-Haul Canal poised to regain its position as an important hub of commerce, the region was again an excellent site for tourism. The temples opened to the public, and the beach became home to many all-inclusive resorts. They were of course built and owned by necromancers, and catered primarily to necromancers; but outsiders were welcome as their money folded just like anyone elses. Though not popular for long stays with non-necromancers, no one has ever reported feeling unwelcome in The Necrotic Zone.