Loch Domhainn

Loch Domhainn by tumblr user @thewatchau

Location of Loch Domhainn in Duilintinn by tumblr user @thewatchau

Loch Domhainn is a large bay that opens out into the Eastern Sea on the coast of House Schneeplestein, Duilintinn. As one of the few locations on Duilintinn’s coast that can safely serve as a harbor year-round, the loch has been one of the most economically significant locations in the Feadhainn Valley since the Waldren Occupation.

Additionally, Loch Domhainn is one of the most common locations for the benevolent Fae being known as the “Ocean Man” to appear, second only to the Cuartalan Wetlands.

## Name Origin

Domhainn roughly translates to “deep down dark deep deep down” in Scottish Gaelic.

## Geography

Loch Domhainn features shallower waters than the rest of Duilintinn’s coast, deep enough for even the largest ships to travel easily, but too shallow for the Reapers that live in the deeper, rockier waters of the Eastern Sea. Occasionally, one will get stuck in the shallows and cause a lot of excitement, but for the most part, Loch Domhainn is populated primarily by whatever coastal wildlife that isn’t frightened off by the ships pulling into and out of the harbor.

Most of Loch Domhainn’s coast is made from white stone, which forms tiny cliffs and outcroppings along the northern and southern boundaries of the bay. There are very few true beaches, save for a pocket beach on the westmost coast of the loch. The northern banks of Loch Domhainn also form the southern edge of the Domhainn Peninsula, roughly 15 miles south of the northern edge formed by the Guardian River.

## Settlements

As one of the few safe places for a harbor on the coast of Duilintinn, Loch Domhainn is a safe haven for any ship that braves the Duilintinn’s rocky coastline or seeks shelter from the Eastern Sea’s intense winter storms. Combined with the mountains and forest encircling the kingdom to the north, west, and south, this makes Loch Domhainn Duilintinn’s primary doorway to the rest of the world. It’s no wonder, then, that the region of the Coastal Plains surrounding Loch Domhainn is by far one of the most urbanized regions of Duilintinn.

Located on the southern edge of the bay, Fionport is the largest and most prestigious port city that calls Loch Domhainn its home. In addition to being the regional capital of House Schneeplestein, Fionport is the center of Duilintinn’s international trade and travel, with a harbor large enough to hold an entire Trade Season’s worth of foreign merchant ships during the summer months and several lighthouses. The vast majority of people traveling into or out of Duilintinn, whether for business or pleasure, will almost inevitably pass through Fionport.

Domhainn Outlook Outpost is an outpost of The Watch located on the northern banks of Loch Domhainn. The main buildings of the outpost are perched atop a rocky, elevated cliff just over the entrance to Loch Domhainn. A lighthouse of bright white stone stands on the southeast edge of the rock. About a mile east of the outpost, a small pier sits at the northwestern edge of Loch Domhainn, where boats are constantly coming and going on their way to patrol the coast or travel to Iolla Beacon Outpost. Only Watchers are allowed to use the port facilities at this outpost, although exceptions are often made in emergencies.

Other small, privately owned ports can be found along the banks of Loch Domhainn, but none have the reputation or responsibilities of Fionport or Domhainn Outlook.

## Trivia

It was originally thought that the coast of the Eastern Sea would be either a ria or a fjord coast, but after further research, this seems to not be the case. While the cliffs of the coastline are very typical of a ria or fjord coast, the geography lacks the ridges, parallel bodies of water, and geological history that define either type of coast.

The name “Loch Domhainn” was one of the first- if not *the* first- names chosen for the locations in this world. The name predates Duilintinn, certainly; the only names that might possibly have come before were Fort Stiofán and Fort Conchúr. The name is a reference to the phrase Sean McLoughlin - the AU’s inspiration and source material - used to describe the depths of the ocean while playing the 2018 game “Subnautica.” On a whim, I had typed the phrase “"deep down dark deep deep down" into Google Translate, resulting in the word “Domhainn.” In reality, “domhainn” simply means “deep” or “profound.” To date, it is one of the only place names that was chosen based on Google Translate, rather than the far more trustworthy source of the Am Faclair Beag dictionary that’s used for almost every other major placename.