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Episode: Shattered Peace

Posted by Story on 07/30/22
While bloody, the battle was turned on its head when Lord Baltus Darkwater arrived. His appearance was at first hailed with good cheer by the progressives, until he promptly turned his fleet of ships onto the //other// Darkwaters, creating a good deal of chaos and forcing the loyalist members of House Darkwater to call for a retreat.

With substantial losses being faced by all on the waves that day, House Redreef called for a retreat as well. There are none in the Mourning Isles who feel she should have stayed a second longer, and while the inevitable siege is not ideal, it is even less ideal to fight until the very last man is lost. Her decision is viewed as shrewd and practical; because everyone knows how difficult it is to take a holding that is entrenched in their castle.

Strategists point to the campaign to reclaim Whitefrost as a comparison point, where Grimkin has dug in and become a festering wound on the island.

With Redreef falling back, all others begin to disburse as well. Houses Halfshav, Proscipi, and Blackshore are the last to retreat and make the heroic decision to hold the line until the last second in order to cover their allies.

They're joined by Lord Wash Kennex, who sacrifices his own ship to buy more time. Significant losses are taken across the board, and the Kennex caraval that Lord Wash captains is lost fully, but what remains of the loyalist forces is able to escape. It's this decision that prevented the bulk of the fleet from being harried as they sailed to safety.

During and even in the wake of the battle, the Mercies are given the space to attend to the many injured that are taken from the sea or their ships. Their services are invaluable and are attributed to the great preservation of life.

As the war progresses, it's clear they'll be dearly needed. And now? The siege of House Redreef looms, an ominous inevitability.