Invasion of Sinatold

The Invasion of Sinatold was a military siege of the forces of Soretta, the Undying Aristocracy, by the Kingdom of Konenbur that occured in the Fourth Age. It was a blockade and invasion of the elven colony on Sinatold, which resulted in the withdrawl of elven forces and the official annexation of Sinatold by Konenbur.
This change in ownership would lead to a shift of the balance of the naval powers in the region, which would have echoing effects later in the Fourth Age during the Manslayer War.

Background

Soretta, the Undying Aristocracy

There was a long-time elven colony on the large island of Sinatold, located to the north of Haradren Gaer Arnad. Even after elven motivations had shifted away from colonization, Sinatold remained an important sea port and colony for Sorreta due to its proximity to the elven homeland and the strategic sea location between Haradren and southern Gimora.
When Gimora was split and sundered during the Great War, the landmass of Gimora Minor was moved significantly farther south. Its final position was much closer to Sinatold, closer even than Haradren was.
Though the elves were focused on their own recovery, they watched the changing dynamics of the seas north of their lands closely. With a desire to defend their important asset early in the Fourth Age during the regional uncertainty with the fall of the Kingdom of Gimora, the elves began to increase their naval presence at Sinatold as they repaired their navy.

Kingdom of Konenbur

In the early Fourth Age, the burgoning lands of the Kingdom of Konenbur was established in the region. While the new nation was finding its footing in the wake of the Great War, the other new human lands of Gardenbur and Cascada fell.
This left Konenbur as the only human country with easy access to the eastern seas of Gimora. The kingdom saw a strong drive to establish its future as a major human sea power in the region. This drive was the impetus of the inclusion of much orichalcum equpiment in the growing Konenbur military. The forces of Konenbur grew and they focused on building great vessels like the sister ships, the Navivert and the Plunaire.

Known Events

Rising Tensions

This set off a time of expansion for the Konburian forces beyond the Trident Coast and approaching Sinatold, bring them into closer and closer proximity to the established elven nautical force of the region. As the Fourth Age continued, tensions between these forces grew.
With Soretta holding onto Sinatold so close to Konenbur, and Konenbur seeking to prove itself as a naval power, these nations were in direct competition for the control of the waterways between them. Disputes over the ownership of the sea lanes lead to close contacts between the opposed naval vessels in the eastern Azimuth Ocean and the Seafoam Sea. Several close encounters resulted in skirmishes between ships.
Diplomacy began to fall apart as representatives were unable to come to consensus. The elves viewed Konenbur as an upstart nation, while Konenbur viewed the elves as stiffling and demanding over their independence. Each blamed the other for the fighting.

Typhoon's Wake

Both nations were preparing to head into a full-scale confrontation. Konenbur continued to build its navy, and Soretta congregated more of their navy in the channel in response, leading to a notable increase in the number of ships in the region.
As tensions neared a tipping point and combat loomed, on 24 Avedar 4A 574, a great ocean storm racked the eastern Azimuth Ocean and the Seafoam Sea. There was little warning before the storm struck, leaving many vessels unable to reach port and stranded in the stormy sea.
Many elven vessels were sunk, leaving their naval presence in the region suddenly severely diminished. At the same time, many Konburian vessels, especially those which bore idols and shrines to Sehakora, The Maelstrom, were untouched and spared from destruction.

Blockade of Sinatold

Suddenly, the balance of forces around Sinatold had changed. Konenbur immediately siezed the opportunity and mobilized their navy before the elves had a chance to recover from the storm.
The Navivert and the Plunaire quickly dispatched the remnants of the Sorettan ships around Sinatold and occupied their port. The Konburian navy approached and initiated a blockade and land invasion. The few elven defenders of the colony withdrew to their defenses, and they were beseiged by the Konenbur forces.

Annexation

The elven colony at this point was mostly a military outpost, and few civilians remained. With a diminished fleet and lack of desire for open conflict after losses to their navy, Soretta felt strongly compelled to resolve the conflict quickly and amicably.
Retaking Sinatold would have been a costly and slow affair, and elven leadership felt their was little to gain by attempting to maintain their presence there.
Soretta accepted the loss of Sinatold. An agreement was negotiated, allowing the beseiged elven defenders to leave Sinatold. In exchange, Sinatold was officially annexed and occupied by Konenbur.

Aftermath

In the aftermath of the conflict, the balance of naval power in the region had shifted dramatically. Konenbur had more leeway to expand and control the sea lanes in the eastern Azimuth Ocean and the Seaform Sea. This gave Konenbur a naval victory to rally around and opened the door for Konenbur to become a strong naval force in its own right.
At the same time, by avoiding a prolonged combat, the elves were able to focus on rebuilding their own navy after Typhoon's Wake. However, tension remained after the loss of their colony, which continued the elves' isolationism that had been growing for centuries.

Legacy

• The holiday of Typhoon's Wake began to be celebrated annually in Konenbur, and it was seen as a prominent sign of Sehakora's favor.

• The annexation of Sinatold allowed the eventual creation of Greenscale Port, which would become a prominent naval outpost for the Greenscales.

• The loss of Sinatold led to an increase in elven isolationism, which had ramifications in political relations leading all the way into the Manslayer War at the end of the Fourth Age.

Conflict Type

Siege

Start Date

After 24 Avedar 4A 574

Location
Sinatold

Outcome

• Elven forces withdrawn from Sinatold.

• Sinatold annexed by Konenbur.

Major Combatants

Sorettan Forces

White Navy
Sinatold Colony

Konburian Forces

Greenscales Navy
Navivert