Spoiler: Ambiance More and more reinforcements arrived in the Southern Hadar Islands that were occupied by the Sendrassian troops. By now, the sheer number of troops that Sendras was becoming more and more apparent as hundreds of thousands of Maz-Allar and other assorted Allar from the Southern continent began teaming into the Hadarian Islands. While the Regalians had managed thus far with the forward assault of their enemy, it was clear that in terms of the real force, they had barely touched the tip of the iceberg. Nevertheless, the brave and valiant Regalian men and women on the front kept fighting, holding the honorable Regalian flag high. The first to rise this week was on Bhoszzaal under Field General Markus Delmotte. Twenty thousand regalians stood behind young Markus Delmotte as he pursued his foes on the island of Bhoszzaal. Fifteen thousand imperials, reinforced by three thousand capital tenpennies and two thousand url warriors, all marching behind General Delmotte’s banners. For hours, for days, they march. With each step of the General another acre is reclaimed from the Sendrassians. Ahead of them is Lyonel Deceres and his company of bastards, scouting forth and clearing a path for the imperial army. Little to no resistance was met along the way, other than the telling sign that they might be closing in on the enemy. Scouting parties grew in numbers, though were swiftly vanquished by the mercenaries ahead and at the flanks. Another mile went by ‘till they reached the heart of Bhoszzaal’s resistance. The Sendrassian Allar’s last stand on the island. Seven thousand warriors huddle behind the hastily fortified position. Delmotte’s fortification experts Wulf Grofsmid and Abad Hussaini noted that the defences the Sendrassians had were easily overcome. Hardened straws and sticks were bound together with vines to create a bare minimum palisade, with sharpened sticks pointing out from the sides like a hedgehog’s back. The general and his commanders knew that this was a victory wrapped in punji sticks and dry vegetation, but to mistake desperation for weakness has been the folly of millions. A set of orders was nonchalantly spoken out to his captains who quickly made off to their regiments. Boots and steel were getting into position, encircling the muddy excuse for a hillfort. The battle has begun. A heavy offensive charge by the two thousand urls started off the fall of Sendras’ final bastion on Bhoszzaal. The ground shook as they ran up with all their might, bringing them to the full attention of the defenders as the url charge did the work of heavy ordinances, crashing through the wicker walls like it was nothing. With the Sendrassians distracted the horns blew to signal the entire army to charge. The regalians swarmed the position, overwhelming the Allar with great numbers. Commander Lazarus Lupenzi took control of the vanguard with Lyonel Deceres and Kyazza Mu-Vyzal, storming and completely swamping the Maz-Allar unaware soldiers. With the enemy distracted the entire army went in on the hillfort, regalian officers and soldiers all confident in a victory this day. General Delmotte watched as his soldiers marched up to take the final piece of Sendras off of Bhoszzaal, but his proud pose was slowly broken down by doubt as he saw nearly entire lines of soldiers fall victim to traps. Pitfalls, spikes, burning logs. The enemy hadn’t spared a single punch. Some accounts tell that almost five hundred men died within the first three minutes of the engagement as chaos erupted on each side of the Sendrassian fort. Allar slingers ran up to the top of the palisades, throwing vials filled with vicious, nauseous gases. Alchemical tricks, of course, for though they knew defeat was certain they wouldn’t give it to Delmotte easy. The Regalians endured the painful gas attacks, coughing up blood and wheezing through on their march up to the fight. A short-lived relief for the General, for a volley of arrows came at him courtesy of the Sendrassians. The first hit his horse in the chest, causing it to rear and save him from two arrows that would hit his steed twice in the neck, but one flew directly into the General’s shoulder, painfully lodging itself in there, nearly scraping the bone. His horse faltered to the side, crushing Markus’ leg underneath the destrier’s weight. The unbearable pain brought the Lord to faint there on the ground, only to wake up heavily sedated in the victorious camp’s medical tent with approximately two thousand soldiers less. Off the coast of Dregux, Wing Admiral Tehrathel Avalorn prepared an attack on the Sendrassian southern fleet which hovered close to shore. Dividing his 16 warships into three groups of five, the Wing Admiral gave flag signal commands from the centre of the formation as the full might of the Avalorn led Naval force descended upon the last known location in which the Sendrassian 5 warship flotilla was seen. The hulls of the ships cut through the waves like butter as the sails caught the southern wind. Rounding the Dregux cape, the sailors aboard the Avalorn vessels were now able to adequately make out that there were now 8 Sendrassian warships protecting the western waters. Adopting the same tactic that had been used last time, the combined force fired from the upward heel. It became very quickly apparent though that the Sendrassian Navy had learnt from their lesson from their last encounter and had mobilised in order to counter it. As the Avalorn fleet attempted their engage and kite tactic, one of the Regalian vessels was led into a trap, whereby it was surrounded on all sides and bombarded with cannonfire. The ship sank in minutes while the remaining Sendrassian ships fired back upon the Regalian Warships, damaging masts and the hulls of six additional vessels. Flying serpents dotted the skies, far more than last time, before descending on the ships and forcing Tehrathel to call a retreat. With one ship down and losing the advantage they had, the Regalian ships retreated and were closely pursued by the Sendrassian flotilla until eventually losing them around the Rikizz channel. After the victory on Zzondaal, Field Marshal Rodrigo Peirgarten put plans in motion to take over the battlelines in Mac Conall occupied Churguzz. After having his men clear up the encampments on Zzondaal, the 25,000 State army trudged through muck and wet soil to the coastline. Storms had blown in and lightning flashed off in the distance as each and every man and woman boarded the numerous Regalian transport vessels to be ferried across to Churguzz two Islands away. At the helm of the warships set to escort these valiant individuals was one Wing-Admiral Abelhard Latimer. The Latimer had spent most of the morning in his personal quarters out of the rain, watching as the Deck Cadet had sailors remove excess water from the storm from the very bottom deck. Outside of his window he watched all 10 Regalian Warships under his command fall into position around the transport vessels, along with Violetta de Piedmont, Muzhu Al-Vyaz and Susan Burch and their personal ships.The shouting of Bel-Gyarbrin Tibaerhtus could be heard atop deck as the man desperately tried to assist Jasper Cassim and Eigoth Latimer secure the rigging that had been undone in the gale force winds. Nevertheless, they had a job to do and the weather would not stop them. Once all the troops had been loaded into the ships hull, Latimer arranged for all the ships to form a convoy consisting of four battlegroups and with three ships sailing ahead as scouts. This proved not to be needed as the Sendrassian Navy did not intercept and thus, the Field Marshal Peirgarten was successfully able to disembark with his army on the Southern shores of Churguzz. The beachlanding was brutal, even with the shelling of the Regalian warships. Landing in the South put the Regalian host at an extreme disadvantage. Rodrigo, who intended to rendezvoused with Field General Eddair Mac Conall could only force his way inland as best he could with whatever men he could get off the transports amidst the attack from the Sendrassian Maz-Allar Shocktroops. Hundreds of Regalian Soldiers either died on the ramps down onto shore or were just simply overcome by the Sendrassian levies that descended upon the Regalian landing zone. Both War Tacticians Eilaria Peirgarten and Cro-Maarx advised that the remaining ships yet to disembark sail up the coastline and reinforce Mac Conall which Rodrigo advised against. They were too stuck in the fray now. This move would prove costly. Florian Peirgarten, Mosmo Duviri and Boromar Gyshara led their troops into a makeshift phalanx formation, grouping up into one massive square formation with emphasis on polearms to jab and stab the oncoming force. This managed to work quite well and allowed enough of a forceful push onto the dunes that the other vessels were able to disembark and join the fight. Rodrigo’s plan was in complete shambles at this point however. His original intent to link up with the Field General in the North was halted when Latimer disembarked them in the south and there was naturally no chance for a pincer maneuver. All he could do was hope and pray to the Spirit that the Field Commanders would pull through. Thousands upon thousands of Regalian soldiers engaged the 8,500 Sendrassian Allar. The battle raged on for hours but Regalia pulled through, pushing the Allar off of the Island without the assistance of Field General Mac Conall who was still waiting for Rodrigo to rendezvous with him. The Field Marshal succeeded in cleansing Churguzz of the Sendrassians at the cost of 3,000 Regalian troops in a battle that should have been a decisive victory due to sheer Regalian numbers, with 2,000 Sendrassian deaths while the rest retreated from the Island. These errors would be the subject of some controversial talk at home, especially regarding both Rodrigo and Abelhard, who had both made serious mistakes already in this war. Noelle Peirgarten attempted to save a number of wounded but given the seriousness of most of the injuries, fails. By the time Eddair finally arrived to engage in the pincer maneuver that had been planned, the entire battle was already over which seriously annoyed the Highlander. Him and his entire army were forced to just return to camp without seeing any combat and plot their next move. On the fortified island of Zzonzeer things were going about as usual. Cinna’s Citadel was a peaceful safe haven in the middle of the grisly war and the soldiers hadn’t so much as seen bloodshed since they left home. The leisure and comfort of being stationed in Zzonzeer was so fondly regarded that the nickname ‘Cinna’s Citadel’ was being threatened with the new ‘Little Solacia’, much to the dismay of the Admiralty who saw this trend as a future disciplinary problem. The serenity of the island and safe waters had led to a steady enough supply line that the Yellow Palement had been reduced to nothing more than a mere passing nuisance. Life was good. Life was, however, not good for a certain Zzezzhitz, an Allar of a remarkably shy and cautious nature who is suspected for espionage. In the early morning of his usually quiet days of picking herbs he was apprehended by Einherjar and seven tenpennies. In an unexpected turn of events the Allar simply dropped to the ground cowering and pleading in a slurred native tongue. The poor figure was hoisted up nonetheless and brought back to Cinna’s tent for interrogation. The other allar working in the camp knew this one, many sympathizers tried to convince the soldiers to leave him alone but to no avail. Once in the tent Cinna would immediately start questioning the shy herb-plucker, using an innate ability to see into his emotions. Looking into his loyalties became a sad venture through the Allar’s mind. There was nothing but confusion and fear within him, he truly had no idea why he was here. Cinna and her Captains came to realize that this one was nothing more than a mentally ill outsider who had been at the wrong place at the wrong time. This theory was backed up with claims from one of the camp cooks that he sent Zzezzhits out to pick him some herbs for the commanders’ supper, some further questioning revealed that this was true and that Zzezzhitz was lurking about the command tent because of a simple misunderstanding he didn’t know what to do with. In the meantime three actual spies on their way from Zzonzeer to the front had been killed by a passing naval patrol. Shameful display. Humaira Reinard and her personal retinue went their merry way into the villages of Zzonzeer to teach the natives how to fight and defend themselves. The sentiments were appreciated, but the general mood of the different villages were unamused at best. They were told by natives and their elders that they fail to see why they need to learn how to defend themselves when no harm will come their way. Zzonzeer was practically an imperial province at this point, they said, claiming that no Sendrassian fleet would be foolish enough to attack the Emperor’s borders, falsely assuming that the Emperor was somewhere on the island with the Regalians but the opinions were understood and respected. With not a single lesson accepted they went their merry way right back to headquarters again. It would appear that the natives weren’t the only ones displeased with Cinna’s inactivity. Arriving back in the command tent Humaira and her retinue would walk right into the middle of Lord William Howlester and a trio of the Qar-Digmaan’s councillors reprimanding General Eledhwen for not making use of a well supplied, costly army in the middle of a war where every soldier counts. One would certainly hope that at least one lesson would be learned this day. Across the waves somewhere in the sea between Zzondaal and Untingi Admiral Valentino Solisti’s voice boomed over the deck of his flagship, his lungs wasting nary a breath to spread his motivational quotes taken from a popular series of cheap novels. The sailors had heard it all before, simply tending to their duties while letting the Admiral live out his cinematic moment in peace. They were on their way to revenge, and to defend the island of Untingi. Their pride has taken some hits, but none can compare to Sir Edrick Black’s, who is fast approaching with a fleet of his own, with the wind in his sails. An armada of sixty-one ships, all weathered through past battles and manned with experienced marines. They would have victory. Thirty-two ships flying Sendrassian banners went sailing for Untingi, unaware of the oncoming hammer and anvil, battered and bruised from the previous engagements. The apparent incompetence of the Regalian admirals had boosted their morale and most certainly their confidence. The Sendrassian Admiral had no issue guiding his ships straight to the destination, fearing no retaliation after the humiliation he had brought upon the Regalians earlier. That attitude would lead to regret. Untingi was slowly becoming visible on the horizon when the crows’ nest started spotting Regalian sails, Solisti’s. The Sendrassian Admiral beckoned his officers straight to them after receiving a count of the enemy ships, for now they were determined to vanquish this fleet once and for all. They’ve brought bloodshed and cruelty, not a sliver of mercy. If only they knew what Admiral Valentino had with him. The fleets are close now, only moments before engagement. Just out of reach of eachother the Admirals start signalling out to their ships the formations, preparing for what could be their final battle. Aggressive bell ringing and shouting echoes over the waves, something unexpected was happening. The No-Longer-Late Edrick Black was here, with twenty-eight reinforcements. Celebratory clamoring rung over Valentino’s ships, perhaps a tad too early, for the Sendrassians cannons began to pop out of the gunports. Fire! Fire! The first volley came from the Sendrassians, hastily trying to seize the advantage from the Regalians. The surrounded and outnumbered Allar ships couldn’t. Regalian firepower overwhelmed them. The fighting was somehow even, friendly fire assisting the Sendrassians as the combat grew closer. Through the fire and smoke, under the waves, an ominously large shadow of a creature lurked. Gently navigating under the keels of the ship but never breaking the surface. An omen, but of what we don’t know. An indecisive victory was won, five ships from each fleet sinking to the bottom of the ocean and half the Sendrassian fleet badly damaged. The Sendrassians made for a quick retreat, making way for a safe harbour within friendly control. Admiral Valentino, his defeat avenged, and Admiral Edrick, his reputation redeemed. It was a good day for the Regalian Navy. While all of this unfolded elsewhere in the theatre, Field Marshal Reimar Typhonus landed upon the island of Dregux to take over command of the former Vicieux army stationed there. Joining the Field Marshal was the now well experienced Field General Valarosta Ino-Femunn with her own sizable host of 34,000 linking with Reimar’s own 43,000. This combined force of 77,000 prepared itself in the base camp on Dregux. The two Generals convened in the former Vicieux Field Marshal’s command tent, organising a formation that would allow for an efficient and adequate pincer maneuver to be enacted. Valarosta saw to ensuring that the soldiers began to file into formations while Reimar himself oversaw defences to the siege camp and prepared artillery for counter attacking any large bestial creatures that may still inhabit the Island. Reimar expected an attack from the Sendrassians but again, none seemed to come. Manning the battlements, Reimar looked out over their massive host as the evening air filled with nothing but the sound of wind rustling through the jungle foliage. Ibrahim Batunoglu, Vivana Avalorn and Philippe du Langelier patrolled the lines, ensuring everyone was in their place, the hoof noises from their horses being the only thing breaking the tension that fell among the ranks. Even Zelgius Pavise and Rudolph Wentz could tell something was wrong. They should have been attacked hours ago if the force was coming. Instead, what was occuring was an attack from the other side of the Island. Maz-Allar had, according to scouts Yue-Liang Hou and Cazna Teken’rret who had observed these transports in the Southern Regalian occupied portion of the jungle. It would seem to all those in camp that the creature from weeks before had been a distraction so that the Maz-Allar could continue to attack the coastline, taking small villages as they went and slaughtering hundreds of innocents in their wake. Figuring that what was likely to have happened was that the excursion Sendrassian force was probably the smaller one and that the real force was likely still encamped. Staying back, Reimar sent Valarosta in with her pincer. Splitting her force into two groups of 17,000, they marched on the last area the Sendrassians were sighted in. Khaine, Lithuandir and Thalion took the Northern flank while Mateo and James Larkson took the Southern, snapping in on the Maz-Allar camp. As the palisades came into sight, the order came in to attack. Mae Keppkuula, Nerissa, Kabili Drulvaar readied their magic, charging into.. Nothing. Battlecries fell silent as the troops halted outside of an empty encampment. They had been seriously duked. Valarosta entered the vanguard, taking a look around the camp and swearing to herself. Lifting an arm, she called for the force to return to Reimar to report back that the Sendrassians had moved on, likely during the Naval battle with Avalorn. Back at the Vicieux camp, Vivana Avalorn, Philippe du Langelier, Zelgius Pavise and Rudolph Wentz were sharing war stories, all respectful with one another and their experiences as they passed the time. The sound of wings in the air announced William Arnyn’s presence as he kept watch on the camp’s borders, harmonizing with the sound of rock against steel as the Lord Chancellor himself, Jared Bancroft, sat in one of the tents sharpening his scimitars with a brooding look. “When in this thrice be damned Realm will this Army show up” he thought to himself. Avaineiral Rilynnlues and Nym’vrae Helvath meanwhile discussed the upcoming battleplan and critiqued it with plans to bring their thoughts to the Commanders, which did not happen. Moments later, Valarosta’s troops returned with news that they had missed the Sendrassian force. Reimar cursed this mistake, huffing as he ordered for the camp to be readied for their next movements. Further inland, the Sendrassians had ravished the land, pushing quickly through as they flanked the Regalian host and took a significant portion of eastern Dregux. If there is any man in the Empire who knows how to use overwhelming power to destroy his objective it’d be the Hound Lord of Vlissinghelm. Unfortunately he is on vacation, so Theopold Kreiburg will have to substitute. The General Kreiburg and his twenty thousand soldiers were very much capable of taking up the mantle, bringing with them siege artillery to utterly annihilate any remaining squatters on Zzondaal with extreme prejudice. Kreiburg maneuvers his twenty thousand around the last known position of the Sendrassian remnants. Outnumbered almost six to one. Grand bombards are hoisted up into range with long convoys of workhorses, stacks of heavy cannonballs set up at the posts with three barrels of gunpowder to each bombard. Emmeline Latimer oversaw the whole operation, pointing, waving and daresay even shouting. She would also be the one to be given the signal by Theopold, and BOOM. The bombards thundered through the night, lighting up the battlefields while the enormous cannonballs tore through the Sendrassian defenses and soldiers alike. Once it was nothing more than a smoldering heap it was Gerard Kreiburg’s turn to act. Sir Gerard marched into the encampment with his retinue, sweeping down the last of the defenders in a slaughter. Five hundred Regalians paid with their lives for the victory, and General Theopold Kreiburg didn’t even have to leave his tent. While the Regalian generals fought on their fronts, ships had delivered a new batch of Sendrassian soldiers to Bexestaan and Driskaan, overwhelming them quickly and occupying the Islands in the West. In the East, while the 22,000 Sendrassian troops tricked Reimar and Co on Dregux, Zilat had been fully overrun with a force of 30,000. It was time for the Marshal Cabinet to redefine their presence in this war as the real challenge began to rear its head. Updated Theatre Map
