Firewater Straits

Firewater Straits
Location information
Location	Southwest Rohagi

The Firewater Straits, also known as the Sanguine Straits, are a body of water located to the southwest of Rohagi.

City-states

The Firewater Straits border several known city-states, including Tesh, Geshen, Maru'ahm, and Shud Zar Myrion Zar Koni, also known as the Witchocracy.

The island-nations of the Straits are nominally independent of the Witchocracy, but are noted as being "oppressed". Geshen is one of the notable islands in the area.

History

Prior to and during Anno Urbis 1780, the Firewater Straits were too remote for New Crobuzon trade ships to reliably reach, making them infeasible as a trade route to the far side of Rohagi. However, by AU 1806 the straits had become a heavily-trafficked trade route for the merchants and traders of New Crobuzon and other city-states, such as The Brothers, thanks to agreements with the Witchocracy and advances in technology.

Events preceding the Tesh-New Crobuzon War

In the years preceding the outbreak of the Tesh-New Crobuzon War, Tesh and its close ally, the Witchocracy, had all but closed down the straits to New Crobuzon ships through sanctioned piracy and high tariffs which made passage uneconomical.

Tesh-New Crobuzon War

At the outbreak of the war, Tesh and the Witchocracy caste a potent thalassomach hex that shut the straits down to New Crobuzon Merchant Navy ships. It was not until several years after the start of the war, by 1806, that New Crobuzon thaumaturges managed to break the hex and allow the New Crobuzon navy to move about the coastline.

Post-war

In the wake of the Tesh-New Crobuzon War, the Firewater Straits become known as the Sanguine Straits, in reference to the fierce and costly battles fought in its waters.

Notes

• The Firewater Straits were first mentioned in The Scar. They featured more prominently in the background of Iron Council.
• Carrianne is the only named character from the Firewater Straits.

Places and locations of Bas-Lag