Event 3
Storming of the North
21st Jun - 18 Jul, 2015
Introduction
Just after midnight on the 1st Sun, soon after the summer solstice. In the far north, people slumber in a season when the sun doesn't truly set; Belport's nights are dim but not dark, and a sleepy midnight sun hangs over Valsk. By all means it is a traditionally auspicious time, but not tonight. Unbeknownst to them, the unthinkable is about to happen. The very thing that safeguards their citizens has become their fatal weakness.
In the interrogations that surrounded the failed search for the saboteur of Tusa's Scrying Tower, the Chancellor of Song-Lu came into the possession of information even more valuable, information that could give the Empire an enormous conquest - details about the secret catacombs connecting Belport and Valsk. Originally built to guarantee an escape route for the citizens if one city were to fall, it is now a path for the Empire to strike right at the heart of the nigh-impregnable Valsk. A Belporter merchant ship stolen in the Day of Keys attack slips soldiers into the mouth of the Eirafon; starting from there, the Empire forces move by cover of night to occupy the lifeline between the two cities and, when all is ready, attack.
The strategy is successful. Valsk and Belport are exposed in a way they never thought was possible, and they are cut off from each other. Fight turns to flight as their scrambling armed forces turn their focus to evacuating so many vulnerable citizens. The North Continent is in the palm of the Empire.
Empire forces have launched a devastating surprise attack on Valsk and Belport. Caught unawares and vulnerable, the northerners have no choice but to rush into a mass evacuation. The entire population of the North at risk, and all the help the rest of the Kingdom can muster is needed!
Event Details
Storming of the North
Over the past three weeks, Empire forces have been positioning themselves for the high-stakes conquest. Having arrived undercover on board a stolen Belporter merchant vessel, crack troops travel up Maelog's Throat - the underground river connecting Valsk to Belport - via the Eirafon by night. At 1:30am on the 1st Sun, a distraction fleet from Bratkowice begins the operation by drawing out a Belport navy still on edge from the Day of Keys attack, away from the city in a game of cat and mouse. At 2am, the attack begins in earnest. Troops burst into both cities simultaneously, through the flood tunnels of Belport and the city catacombs of Valsk. Their goal is to strike hard and fast, targeting the barracks of the local armed forces and the residences of the Margrave and Regent. Damage to the city is to be minimised. Once the north is in their grasp, steam warships waiting in the waters around Song-Lu will sweep in to seal the victory.
For Valsk and Belport, the priority is evacuation. Citizens from Belport are loaded into ships bound for Amedra as fast as possible. Those from Valsk are faced with a different challenge - with their sister city now compromised, they will make a dangerous two-week trek through Fulwyt Forest. The Helvarg's assault division will lead the defense and buy time for escape, and its flight division will form the vanguard and escort for evacuees. The final destination, they hope, is the shores of Delverne.
The rest of the Kingdom scrambles to aid where they can, but the options are limited. Very quickly, the Miras Armada decides that the North Continent itself has been infiltrated too critically to defend - instead, they sail out as far as they are willing given the situation, to protect the fleeing ships from Belport. Meanwhile, an emergency agreement has been struck with Delverne - they will accept the fleeing Valski on their shores, however they will not keep them. Rather they will be collected by a convoy from Cantor there, and given permanent refuge in Cantish lands. Transport carts laden with supplies are sent up the pilgrim road through the Tira Forest to receive them.
Story
Activities
Event Outcomes
Member participation will determine the shape of the events throughout the attack and the evacuation period. While the North has truly been taken by the Empire, the success of the danger-fraught mass flight (from the defense mid-flight to their reception in Delverne and Amedra) and the cost to the Empire will be determined by what happens in canon. Characters currently in Valsk or Belport should now either flee, or stay and become part of the captured population.
Event Participation
Event Art
Draw, write or in any way depict your character's involvement in the main event to affect the outcomes! Art or literature entries will receive a bonus 30 EXP. Only main characters are eligible for the bonus EXP and the outcome.
Event Participation
Prompt Art
For characters who cannot be directly involved in the event, you can use this event as a prompt (e.g. reacting to the news from another city). Prompt submissions will get a bonus 10 EXP for the submission but will not count towards the event outcome.
Event Participation
Action Statement
If you don't have time to make an art piece, you can get 5 EXP by simply stating what your character is doing for the event via a post in the #event-board Discord channel. This applies to main characters only and there must be direct involvement with the events to get this. Side characters' involvement can be described to contribute to the event canon however no points will be given. If you go on to enter an art submission later, the EXP received for this will be replaced by the art submission points.
Special Role
🙡
None
There are no special roles or quests for this event/interval
Conclusion
Empire forces moved swiftly in the North. Despite their lesser numbers, their positioning allowed them to storm both Valsk and Belport with speed and efficiency. Both the ground forces and the Bratkovan fleet performed bravely, handing the Empire a victory under the Northern midnight sun.
The Valskis fought fiercely and proudly; many sacrificed themselves for the safety of their brethren, demonstrating the strength of Valski solidarity and helping to make the escape a successful one. For two weeks they trekked through the Fulwyt to reach Delverne by ship, where they were greeted with a great help effort. Delvans rose to the challenge, as did a large Cantish convoy made up of both abbey officials and citizens keen to help however they could. The call to aid had been met excellently, thus doing good on the newly strengthened diplomatic ties between Delverne and Miras. Those who made it from Valsk would be provided for.
Belporters also came together to help each other escape as fast as possible. The forces that sailed out to meet the Bratkovan fleet changed their focus to defending the escape route, ensuring a clean flight to Amedra. At the shores of Amedra however, despite the efforts of the Armada to give them safe passage, there was little the city could do to accommodate the refugees. Already busy reconstructing their own lives, there simply were not enough hands available to give the displaced Belporters the support and shelter that they needed. As more and more poured in, frustrations rose and it became clear that the Sunlit Bay could not give what was necessary.
In the wake of the battle, there has been a shift in sentiment all over the Kingdom. Even in those who previously felt ambivalent about the war, anger at the actions of the Empire has awakened. The Kingdom is upset and finally, it seems, is ready to go to war.