The Shattered Banks are a series of barrier islands in the Chaska Sea, not far offshore from the Western Coast. This stretch of low-lying islands is over one hundred miles in length, north to south. Long, sandy beaches can be found on most of the islands, separating the narrow, beachgrass-covered, and very often treeless interiors from the sea.
Historically the islands have been very sparsely populated. Their sandy surfaces make for terrible foundations, discouraging large settlements from growing in the area. Most inhabitants of the Shattered Banks have been small, semi-transitory communities of fishermen, who simply rebuild their piers and shelters in a new location when storm-driven waves inevitably destroy them.
More recently, the Shattered Banks form a significant part of the territory claimed by the goblin Empire of Pliver. The goblins have attempted to grow existing settlements on the Banks, particularly their capital of Imbez, into grand cities worthy of world renown.
The major passages through the Shattered Banks are guarded by mercenaries hired by the wealthy mercantile interests of the Western Coast. The oligarchs of Vectra place particular interest on ensuring their ships can pass through the Banks without issues, though the mercenaries often levy tolls on vessels that cannot produce proof of their allegiances or charters.