Canterlot Admiralty Report

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On the Nature and Activities of Locales Within the Unterzee

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Focusing on the Monastic Settlement of the Ebony Towers

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Penned by Captain Cold Harbor

The Ebony Towers, last positioned at three-day’s voyage from Canterlot, are a pair of twin formations resembling stalagmites emerging from the water, with the insides hollowed out and connected via bridges to form a monastery for the so-called “Goddessfall Monks”. It is unknown as to when the Towers were established, as they predate Canterlot’s fall, but the Monks do not resemble the denizens of the Elder Continent, and the mere mention of said continent produces a hostile reaction from the Monks (suggesting a possible ally in any military action taken against the Elder Continent).

The main port of entry is the taller of the twin formations, referred to as Greater Ebony by the Monks, which contains all of their living quarters, gardens, feasting halls, etc. Lesser Ebony, the second formation, while connected via bridges, is unable to be entered by any save a select group of well armed Monks. When questioned, the Monks explained that there are dark things within Lesser Ebony that should never be witnessed by those not brought into the fold of the Goddessfall. When pressed further, they refused to give any further explanation.

The leader of the Goddessfall Monks, and the leader of the Ebony Towers, is a stallion known as the Abbot Commander, the current being an aged and scarred colt by the name of Umbral Shade, who, according to his own words, is always present to greet vessels which dock at his monastery. He often forgoes the robes of his order, allowing others to see the great number of scars marring his body, suggesting that beneath the robes of the other monks are an equal or lesser number of scars. Whether they are self-inflicted or gained from fighting zee-beasts remains to be seen, as Abbot Umbral would not go into detail about said scars.

Something most peculiar about the Monks is that they claim to rarely have outsiders join their order, but they have managed to sustain their numbers over the years. Given the lack of any mares within the monastery, this raises the question of just how they managed to do so, and if it has anything to do with the barring of Lesser Ebony to outsiders.

Trade with the Monks is limited, as they have little in the way of material wants, save for one. The Monks adore surface wines and will gladly pay for shipments of wine to be brought to the Towers, though this begs the question of where they get the money to pay for such shipments, as they pay in Equestrian Bits, a currency not previously found within the Unterzee.

Lastly, it is unwise for vessels to remain in port at the Towers overnight, as between the hours of midnight and 3AM, it is almost guaranteed that at least one deckhoof will disappear with little more than a scream to alert anypony else of what was going on.

Report delivered to Admiralty by First Mate to Captain Cold Harbor following the Captain’s untimely death.

Author's Note

These reports are not meant to take the place of chapters, but to fill out as much of the lore as I feel necessary. There will be one or two spaced between chapters over various things, like settlements, zee-beasts, species, things like that.

Chapter 2 will be coming out soon. At the time of this being posted, I am nearly finished and almost ready to have it edited.