The Black Tide

The Conflict

Prelude

Over a decade after the Van Kan family crossed the Eperom wall and established the port city of Van Kan. They attempt to establish the first northern trade route that connected the northern end of Antaustret to Sovar in the south eastern end of Nog Hreud. Aware of the lawless and ununited port cities in the Gloomy Sea, Salamon Van Kan believed that he could seize the port city of the Cliff and create a mid point for future trade ships to restock before reaching Sovar.

Sea Conditions

As the 1st Van Kan fleet left port on the 3rd Sol of Arah Sabatu, there were clear skies with a north western wind to fill the sails. Over the next few sols the sea and winds changed as the fleet edged closer into the Gloomy Sea. On the 4th sol, a storm pushed in from the west.

by stayinwonderland

Deployment

With the approaching storm, Salamon ordered the fleet to move further east and sail along the coastline. As the sun began to set and the storm reached the fleet, ships began to appear to the rear of the fleet. The 1st Van Kan fleet pushed north in the hopes of loosing their pursuers in the oncoming storm. In the morning as the Van Kan fleet continued to push north, dozens of ships could be seen on the horizon in all directions.

Battlefield

With cliffsides to the east and ships to the north, west and south; it became clear that running was no longer an option. Salamon quickly ordered the fleet to turn their course south in the hopes of breaking the enemies lines and retreating back towards home. With the storm at their backs, the Burning Fleet coming in from the west were first to hit the Van Kan fleet. Known for tying barrels of oil to the front of their ships, within minutes several Kahn's burst into flames sending sailors overboard in an attempt to escape the blazing fires. To the north the Royal and Cliffside fleet would be next to reach the Van Kan Fleet. Volley's of arrows and stones would tear apart almost a dozen ships as they attempted to flee. To the south the Black Fleet would wait as the Van Kan fleet fled towards them. In a last attempt to escape, Salamon ordered the remainder of the fleet to spear head the ships to the south in the hopes of breaking through. As night began to set, with the remainder of the fleet now engaging the southern part of the Fleet, Salmon was able to slip away back to Van Kan. As the sun rose, the remaining Van Kan ships surrendered. The King of the Sea's would order the surviving sailors to be chained to the mast of their ships and sunk to the depths below.

Outcome

With the destruction of most of the 1st Van Kan fleet, Salamon Van Kan sent a crow to meet with the heads of the joint fleet. To his and the companies surprise, he learned that the Free Port cities were actually in fact united under a single lead, the King of the Seas. For several hours he tried to negotiate with the King in an attempt to create a trade route for the company. In the end the King set an ultimatum, any trade moving through the Gloomy Sea would be done by ships of the Free Harbors. Any goods would be moved to the most southern and eastern port before being loaded on Free Harbor ships.

Conflict Type

Battle

Battlefield Type

Naval

Start Date

3rd Sol of Arah Sabatu, 203 EM

Ending Date

8th Sol or Arah Sabatu, 203 EM

Conflict Result

The 1st Van Kan Fleet is Destroyed

Location

Gloomy Sea

Belligerents

1st Van Kan Fleet

• Van Kan Family

Free Harbor Joint Fleet

• The Free Harbors

Strength

40 Kahn's
12,000 Sailors

The Royal Fleet:

18 Royal Frigates
4,500 Sailors

The Burning Fleet:

25 Steel Heads
4,000 Sailors

The Black Fleet:

32 Black Foots
11,000 Black Boots

The Cliffside Fleet:

17 Stone Throwers
4,500 Sailors

Casualties

34 Kahn's
10,451 Sailors

The Royal Fleet:

3 Royal Frigates
250 Sailors

The Burning Fleet:

7 Steel Heads
1,287 Sailors

The Black Fleet:

2 Black Foots
200 Black Boots

The Cliffside Fleet:

0 Stone Throwers
200 Sailors

Objectives

To Seize the port city of the Cliff and establish the first northern trade route under the control of the Eperom Mari Trading Company.

Maps

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  The Gloomy Sea