The Antler Incident

Disaster / Destruction

While surveying an area near Mert for a future forestry settlement for the Vintian Imperium, communications is lost with Antler's Company. Two weeks later the mercenary company contacts the Republic of Kishara and demand tribute for the safe return of their denizens as they have taken over the frontier settlement of Makasi. The Asha demanded the Queen of Vintia to resolve the matter.   The resulting assault by Vintian forces proved catastrophic, with 76 civillians killed while only 6 of the 30 known members of Antler's Company have been eliminated.   The event has led to mistrust between the colonies of the Darsal Crest and Kishara, mistrust which remained up until the War of the Darsal Sea 150 years later.

While surveying an area near Mert for a future forestry settlement for the Vintian Imperium, communications is lost with Antler's Company. Two weeks later the mercenary company contacts the Republic of Kishara and demand tribute for the safe return of their denizens as they have taken over the frontier settlement of Makasi. The Asha refused to negotiate with the rouge group and sent representetives to the Queen of Vintia demanding she will solve the matter or it will be considered by the republic as an act of war.   Queen Aurelia Von Fritz orders the Vintian Imperial Navy to eliminate the mercenary company and 3 platoons are sent to deal with the occupation.   Unbeknown to the Vintian Intelligence Service, the mercenaries forced the people to man the settlement walls and even tied them to its most fortified positions, using the local population as shields. Some denizens even had weapons and shields straped to their hands.   Before the assult on Makasi, a few airborn squads have indetified more than 60 armed coombatants on the ground and walls. Communications with the Kisharan intelligence was severly lacking and the force was estimated to be at least twice the size.   Commanding officers at the location decided to launch a surprise attack during the night on the settlement, aided by presicion bombing from flying brooms. The result was catastrophic, as Vintian soldiers massacared the helpless denizens of Makasi who offered little resistance to the heavily trained forces.   In the aftermath it was found that 76 civillians have been killed while only 6 of the 30 known members of Antler's Company have been eliminated. Later investigation revealed that citizens screamed for help and mercy in their native tounge, Kershiri, which the Vintian soldiers either did not recognize or mistook for spell casting.   The incident caused an uproar in Kishara, who up until that point was heavily invested in the Darsal Crest and sponsored many expeditions and permenant settlements in the area. The Kisharan ambassador was removed from his office in Vintia for 6 months as protest, but many settlements, mostly those of the Darsal Crest continued to call for more severe actions and even retaliation. Not wanting to open a front with the Imperium and lose access to their trade, the republic eventually caved in and returned their ambassador to their office in Vintia, but with a much smaller staff.   The event has led to mistrust between the colonies of the Darsal Crest and Kishara, mistrust which remained up until the War of the Darsal Sea 150 years later.