Mantali Incident

People act like we executed harmless monks. If that were the case, how did two of our guards get stabbed?

— Mantali Coast Guard Officer

The Mantali Incident was a disastrous conflict between a small missionary group and a Mantali coast guard unit. Mantalos, its coast guard, and its leadership have faced heavy criticism since the incident.
Many from Salaris and Torverath claim the Mantalos military slaughtered innocent monks trying to spread the Divine Teachings of Torva, a message of love, while Mantalos argues the missionaries attacked Mantali Coast Guard while illegally on Mantali shores.

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Magistrate: Tell us in your own words what happened.
Coast Guard officer: We were patrolling the southwestern quadrant, and we spotted a dinghy rowing into {piratey-sounding name} Cove. We've had issues with this area before, with smugglers, and the craft looked suspicious.
Magistrate: Suspicious how?
Coast Guard Officer: It was unmarked and did not look to be Mantali-made. So we pulled up closer to investigate. Upon seeing us, the four men in the craft rowed faster and ignored our commands for them to stop.
Magistrate: Did you or your fellow guards identify yourself?
Coast Guard Officer: Of course. Several times.
Magistrate: What happened next?
Coast Guard Officer: We followed them to shore, where they tried to run. I tackled one man to the ground. Another immediately went to his knees with his hands raised in surrender. I thought they would cooperate.
Before I could see what was happening with the others, Jensen screamed. Next thing I know, it's complete chaos.

-Testimony from conduct evaluation hearings

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Had they cooperated, they would have been fined and sent home.

— Mantali Chief of Justice Department

Many from Torverath and Salaris claim this testimony to be unreliable, little more than an attempt to rationalize the murder of devout followers of Torva.

The Conflict

Prelude

In 970 DE, Ariadne became High Priestess of Torverath, and brought a renewed zealous energy to the Temple. She began an aggressive campaign against non-followers, and this lit a religious fervor throughout Torverath and Salaris.
As a result, "missions" abroad to "bring lost souls to Torva's light" increased in frequency and intensity, despite the fact that the majority of Mantali people were not receptive. Angered by the increasingly aggressive manner of these "missions," the disrespect to the Mantali people and culture, and the dismissal of their own goddess, Mantali leadership banned further Torvae missions, beginning in early 978 DE.
Mantalos issued warnings, and turned away religious missionaries at the ports. By mid-year, Mantali leadership began dealing with this trespassing more harshly, specifically through arrests and heavy fines, increased port inspections and coast guard activiites.

Outcome

The four missionaries died during the skirmish. Two of the Mantali Coast Guard were injured and required healing, but did recover well.

Aftermath

Tensions greatly increased between Mantalos and the Salaris-Torverath Alliance, and the STA placed heavy trade sanctions on Mantalos and banned certain Mantali goods, particularly luxury goods.

The Magic Freedom Coalition siezed this opportunity to improve trade deals between themselves and Mantalos, and in doing so, formed the Magic Alliance Trade Agreement between Necros, Rhovan, Mantalos, and Eldahi.
In 980 DE, Mantalos officially joined the Magic Freedom Coallition, an alliance directly opposed to the political actions of Salaris and Torverath and their attempts to control how other nations practice and regulate magic.

Tensions between the MFC and SETA continue to rise as the two factions reach ever nearer to the brink of war.

Location

Sandy beach on the southwestern coast of Mantalos

Conflict Type

Skirmish

Battlefield Type

Land

Start Date

978 DE

Ending Date

978 DE

Conflict Result

Torvae missionaries intercepted

Belligerents

Mantali Coast Guard

• Mantalos

Missionaries of Torva

• Torverath

Strength

Coast guard unit

4 missionaries

Casualties

2 serious injuries

4 deaths

Objectives

To remove trespassers

Spread the Divine Teachings of Torva

Rumors & Conspiracies

If they were simple missionaries, why were they armed? Why'd they attack? It makes no sense.

— Mantali citizen

Many Mantali citizens question the real motive behind the incident and why the missionaries did not yield to arrest, why they were armed, and why they were really there. Were they simply religious fanatics? Or were there some ulterior motive to foment war?

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