Reefs of the Menagerie Coast

The reefs of the Menagerie Coast are a major geographic feature of the Lucidian Ocean by the Coast and around the Swavain Islands. There are six notable reefs: Deep Row, Dragshallow, Inkclaw, Mother's Sigh, Torrid, and Southern Gate. They protect the cities and islands in the region and make the waters often dangerous to traverse.

Deep Row
Deep Row Reef lies close to the northwestern shore of Bwualli. It was first mentioned in as one of two possibilities for the reef Fjord was attempting to identify on a fragment of a map of the Swavain Islands. It was mentioned again in when Fjord lied to Avantika and told her that a Cloven Crystal was hidden in an island surrounded by the Deep Row Reef. When asked for a more precise location, Fjord chose Vide Cay, located a little over 100 miles to the northeast of Deep Row; Travis, out of character, lamented that he named the one reef without any islands in its midst.

Dragshallow
The Dragshallow Reefs, also referred to in the singular as the Dragshallow Reef, are an expansive reef system that encircle Darktow Isle. The reefs cover about 200 square miles and surround the island on nearly all sides. The only way to approach the pirate city of Darktow on the island's southern tip is by a narrow channel to the southwest. The rocky waters are shallow, and they are filled with the wreckage of ships and collected driftwood.

The pirates of the Revelry reinforced the reef's natural defenses by dragging sunken ships and skeletons on top of the rocks, serving as both barrier against and warning to trespassing ships. They also built sentry watchtowers, siege weapons, deployable pitfalls, and hidden weaponry on more stable terrain within the reef to guard against assaults by sea. Ships that do not fly the Revelry's colors and other unauthorized ships are attacked on sight.

The dragon turtle Idok lives in the reef. Per an agreement with the Plank King, Idok preys on trespassing ships but ensures safe passage for pirate vessels.

The Dragshallow Reefs were first mentioned, obliquely, by Fjord in as not one of the possible reefs of the fragment of map he had because it was the incorrect shape. Avantika first mentioned the reefs by name in, and the reefs made their first appearance later in the same episode as the Squall-Eater passed through them to Darktow. They appeared again in as the Mighty Nein left the island again in the Squall-Eater.

Inkclaw
Inkclaw Reef is a treacherous reef surrounding Urukayxl to the island's north and the west. The waters around the reef are murky and dark, and many sea creatures living in the reef tend to kick up the silt at the bottom. This obscures where the reef comes close to the surface of the water, giving the reef a reputation of sneaking up and raking through the bottom of passing ships.

It was first mentioned in as one of two possibilities for the reef Fjord was attempting to identify on a fragment of a map of the Swavain Islands. He decided upon Inkclaw, and Orly Skiffback, a more experienced navigator, confirmed the reef to be Inkclaw. The reef itself appeared for the first time in the same episode, as Fjord and Orly navigate The Mistake through it. Though they make it to the other side, the reef broke through the hull, and the ship began taking water.

The reef was passed again in as the Mighty Nein and the Dwendalian Empire's fleet sailed through the waters to the north on the way to peace negotiations with the Kryn Dynasty. Days later, in, Fjord instructed Orly to pass Inkclaw to the south on the way to Rumblecusp. Doing so attracted the attention of a dragon turtle inside the reef.

Mother's Sigh
The Mother's Sigh Reef is stretching 200 miles from the eastern coasts of the Twinward Isles to the shore of the Menagerie Coast, between Port Damali and Feolinn. It creates a bountiful fishing ground in the waters near Feolinn but makes for rough waters by the Twinward Isles.

Torrid
The Torrid Reef is located in the seas off the northwestern Coast, about 150 miles southwest of the mouth of the Doralle River. The reef stretches over 400 miles in a U-shape. It surrounds the Everplume volcano, which causes its waters to be murky with soot, full of toxic fumes, and boiling in temperature. Influence from the Everplume is also physically changing the fauna of the reef into fire-based creatures.

Southern Gate
The Southern Gate Reef lies directly against the southeastern shore of Bwualli.

Trivia

 * While attempting to identify a reef in, Travis, in-character as Fjord, listed an Everplume Reef and then the Torrid Reef, apparently referring off his notes. However, the Explorer's Guide to Wildemount indicates that the Everplume is surrounded by the Torrid Reef and does not name a separate Everplume Reef.
 * Orly briefly referred to Inkclaw Reef as the Inky Claw in in a manner that suggested it is an alternative name for the reef. However, Jester called it by this name immediately before he did, making it possible he was simply repeating her.