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BLCC-15

Tubilis Castle after CC-15

Garontor Castle after CC-15

Set 1

Wagenburg

Set 2

All This Fighting...

Set 3

And to What End?

# THE ROCK

## Lore

*A trade war rapidly approaches its violent end.*

*Long have the Aserai been renowned for their expertise in trade and sailing, enriching themselves off the flow of goods through Husn Fulq and Quyaz into Calradia. The capturing of Garontar by Unqid's forces ushered in a golden era for the Sultanate financially, allowing it to finance its military with more swords and shields and transition its noble guards into fierce frontline fighters. With control of both sides of the straits, the Sultan and his Emirs have nearly unchecked influence over the Perassic.*

*None have suffered more from this agreement than the Vlandians, as their rivalry with the Aserai has escalated into the Sultanate closing the sea off to Vlandian ships. A small and isolated war has raged around the islands off the Golden Coast for months, and the fighting has caused both sides' trade to suffer. Despite Derthert attempting a more diplomatic approach to resolve the crisis, the bloodthirsty within the faction have taken it as a sign of weakness.*

*Coming to the conclusion of his more hawkish dukes, King Derthert of the Vlandians has amassed a larger host than any of his previous battles. Along with that, the King has been able to procure wood from a temporarily embarrassed noble crossbow salesman, and used it to construct more ships to carry his massive army. If Unqid will not open the straits, then Sergeants and Knights will.*

*With Husn Fulq under Imperial control, Sultan Unqid has faced some resistance at home, even with rumors of a brief but fierce insurrection by a minor Aserai noble. The loss of one of their two major trade hubs has put a significant dent in Aserai profits, and Unqid more than anyone knows how fortune builds empires. Closing the straits was a wildly popular move for the Sultan, and despite any grudges his still loyal Emirs may hold against him, all will gladly line up behind him for the chance to send the Vlandians back across the sea.*

*Both Kings gather their men for what may be the battle of the year. Even those elsewhere in Calradia watch with great interest, waiting to see if Derthert can successfully blow open the Perassic to Vlandian trade. In his way stands Garontar Castle, known simply as "The Rock" by the Aserai due to its natural defensive position and extensive fortifications added onto it. If the castle falls, no one can predict what will come of Southern Calradia and the Nahasa...*

## Post Event Lore

*This was the culmination of the long-running rivalry between the Aserai and Vlandians over the Bay of Charas and the Straits into the Perassic. A decisive action that would secure one side's commerce over the other. An all-out assault to force open the Straits, and secure the Bay's islands.*

*The Vlandians had reorganized after their past defeats, King Derthert now personally commanding an elite squadron of knights while leaving infantry command to the newly appointed Guardian of the South, Duke Alexander dey Vilsen. The Aserai in turn were not idle, as Sultan Unqid knew that the Aserai had to hold the Straits lest their lands be pressured from both sides. Organizing his army and taking personal command, the Sultan was well supplied with cavalry in the hills and ambushes in the village.*

*The Aserai Fleet was driven back behind the straits by the Vlandian flagship, the dey Talbot clan's proud Spear of the North, and landed north of Tubilis castle. They were already within sight of The Rock of Garontor. They would take a small Aserai (if heavily Imperialized) village on the south side, cutting off access to Garontor. Once before, the Vlandians had attacked this region and were repelled only by the walls of Tubilis. Neither side intended on a repeat.*

*The Vlandians assaulted in force, cavalry dueling each other for control of the outskirts as infantry moved to secure key crossroads. The Aserai attempted to stop the attack at the edges, only to pushed back by Vlandian Sergeants, the balconies stormed for crossbowmen to take position, and soon the village fell.*

*Undeterred by how swiftly the Vlandians overwhelmed them, Unqid made his next move - baiting the Vlandians to the top of the hill lest he rain worse than arrows upon their landing, and sending his bravest veterans to harass their flanks. The Vlandians accepted the challenge and charged up the hill to meet the Aserai, taking a convenient depression before charging the Aserai and destroying them.*

*Once more, the Aserai had been foiled, and now it seemed the Vlandians held the upper hand. Unqid made one more effort: an all-out assault on the now-bracing Vlandians to drive them back to the sea. Alas for the Banu Asera, the Vlandians were ready. The Aserai found themselves slain, beheaded, and routed from the battlefield in humiliation. The Vlandians' morale soared, and it felt that it would take an act of the heavens to stop their advance upon the Rock of Garontor.*

*Sometimes, the heavens take pity on the vanquished.*

*A storm came in, stopping the Vlandians from taking the Rock, but the Sultan knew once it let up the Vlandians would simply resume the assault. Anything lost in the storm would be restocked from their island caches prepared to support the siege. And in that moment, the Sultan stared at a way to avoid complete catastrophe. It would be a dangerous and daring gamble: he would destroy those supplies. It would not be easy, as the islands were organized and defended by the Duke of Sargot's men, proven defenders, but it was his only chance to avert complete catastrophe.*

*Spotted by sentries as they landed, the Aserai were initially repulsed by the dug in Vlandian troops. Undeterred, Aserai ships deployed more men and more importantly the powerful cavalry of the Aserai to overwhelm the infantry defense. They assaulted the rocks the Vlandians used to defend, and slowly pushed them away from where the caches were. Skirmish parties remained at the rocks to see to the destruction of the supplies while their comrades held back Duke Alexander's counterattack. The Aserai rallied their forces, and the reinforcing Duke found his men driven back. It had been close, but despite all odds the Banu Asera managed to hold long enough to destroy the supplies.*

*The Sultan's daring, matched only by his warriors' refusal to go gently into the ocean depths, had averted disaster. They held onto the Straits, and thus control over who enters or leaves the Perassic. Yet the Vlandians, while unable to open the Straits as they desired, had rightfully claimed the honor and pride of shattering Unqid's host and establishing unquestioned control over the Bay of Charas' islands. They had reminded the continent that they were not weak and divided as their rivals continued to crow.*

## Aftermath

No lands were exchanged between the Kingdom of Vlandia and the Aserai Sultanate.

## Links

Event post: [1]

Wrapup post: [2]