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Post by Fleischmann on Dec 1, 2021 21:46:52 GMT
Location: Off the coast of VulcanTime: 11:25A ship belonging to the Trade Seas Fleet hears the sound of thunderous cannons coming from an island in the centre of the Ringsea. Curious about what is happening, they approach and begin signalling inquiries. After spying that one of the local castles is on fire, they decide to send some men ashore to investigate the happenings on the island. There they find a scene of drunken revelry, the locals all armed with pitchforks and stolen weapons are dancing in the streets, waving about red and white banners and singing. The sailors wave to them and shout 'What has happened? Why is there a fire and why do we hear cannon?' and get the attention of one of the revellers. 'We've overthrown the knights, we are a free now! Long live the Republic, long live the people!' After hearing this, the sailors take up the cheer and grab some alcohol before then going back to their launch and returning to their ship. Once aboard and having reported what they had found out, an encrypted message is sent back to the Fluttbaurd. It reads simply 'Strategic island, Vulcan, is under revolutionary control. Opportunity to seize it present. Please advise.'
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Post by xander10 on Dec 2, 2021 0:03:44 GMT
Location: Central Ringsea
Time: 1230 Hours
The Merchant Cruiser Hlawbaurgs was doing a routine patrol at the edge of the Sheenish recognised border between Tholish and Sheenish waters, when the Lookout noticed something out of place, The Island of Vulcan surrounded by what appeared to be Sadaler ships. Orders were given to go full steam ahead to reach the Island to see what was occurring. As the ship approached, gunfire was heard, and backup was called for, replies given by 3 bentall class cruisers and 2 Canopus class Battleships who were within half an hours steam from the island. Semaphore was sent to the small Island to assess the situation, the following message was received:
KNIGHTS ARE OVERTHROWN. WE ARE A REPUBLIC> SADALER FLEET'S INTENTION UNKNOWN.
Once the message was received, a response was sent.
IF YOU NEED ASSISSTANCE FROM THE ASSOCIATION, PLEASE ADVISE AS SUCH.
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Post by Fleischmann on Dec 2, 2021 0:23:48 GMT
'Sir, Sheenish ships are approaching us. They were signaling something to the coast, but we did not get the full message. "-OM THE ASSOCIATION, PLEASE ADVISE AS SUCH." They might intend to support the revolutionaries.'
As the Stadhaldja finished his report, the Katilfaðs that was now in-charge of this little impromptu blockade of the island was feeling very self-conscious. He had received orders to keep station off the island and stop others from approaching, but now the Sheenish were here and he could not simply warn them off. There was only one option and it was a really bad one, he needed to try and put his flag on that island first.
'Hairas Willemsen, please take some men, a flag, and a whatever non-lethal weapons we have on board and land on that island... We need to stake an official claim to it.'
'Yes, Katilfaðs.'
Once the Stadhaldja had gotten his men together and set off for the island, the ship's captain pulled the only trick he could and he hoped it would work.
'Helmsman! Turn this ship about and bring us abreast of the Sheenish. Someone else, go find the signal flag... The big yellow one we use when there is a plague in the fleet and prepare to hoist it on my signal!'
The ship began swinging about and as it came closer to the Sheenish ship, he could see them being somewhat confused by it. Once abreast, he went into his cabin quickly, grabbed his dirty sheets, stuffed them into a bag, and then went back and onto the wing of his bridge and started shouting towards the Sheenish after throwing his bag over onto their ship.
'Ahoy there! We are currently enforcing a quarantine of this island and are turning back any ships that approach! Sadly, you have now been infected with the plague and as such will have to avoid making landfall!'
As he said this, one of his men raised the big yellow flag.
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Post by xander10 on Dec 2, 2021 0:35:35 GMT
WE REQUIRE ASSISSTANCE, SADALER TROOPS LANDING
At the exact same moment, it was noted that the Sadaler had hoisted their favourite flag of all, the yellow flag of plague, and informed the Sheenish they in fact had plague, however, the Sheenish Captain of the Hlawbaurgs was having none of it, afterall, his doctor and wife had both said he was in perfect health before he had set sail towards the Kaskader Union. Spotting the Sadaler planting their flag, the captain called for full steam ahead and for the Ensign Flag to be planted as soon as landfall could be made. Hastily a life boat was jettisoned with a landing party to plant the ensign flag and defend it with an assortment of items from the mess hall and whatever else they could find. The Captain was clear than anyone who used their firearm would meet a fate worse than Sadaler Cheese.
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Post by Fleischmann on Dec 2, 2021 0:49:37 GMT
Climbing off the beach and onto the nearest and most prominent hill they could find was hard. Planting their flag in such a way as to make it clear for miles around was hard. Doing so after they had accidentally tipped their boat was just painful. For their troubles, they were awarded a good twenty or so minutes of success before they noticed that the Sheenish had bypassed their ship and had managed to also land a party on the island. A further fifteen minutes passed before they saw the most ridiculously sized flag being flown on another hill. It was at this point, that they knew this would not be a simple matter of raising a flag first. 'All right men, we can not kill them! This is a matter of utmost importance, we will likely be shot by our own side if we accidentally kill one of them... So, I want you to take off your coats and tie them firmly around your clubs and brooms. Half of us will remain here, the other half will go to the Sheenish and ever so "gently" beat them away so we can tear down their flag and rip it to shreds. If they try and do the same to ours, beat them back but do not kill them! All right, you four stay, everyone else come along.' And like that, the party split in half. Five going to the Sheenish and four staying behind. The attackers tried to sneak up on the Sheenish and hid behind a local farmer's cart as he made his way to a nearby village. He seemed to not mind the strange foreign men holding padded clubs and did a heroic job of ignoring them as they kept pace with him. As they neared a bend that would take them away from the flag they so desperately wanted, they broke away and gave up trying to sneak up on the Sheenish. Recalling something his mother told him, the Stadhaldja started making a deep and eerie baritone sound and his men did the same, them all now extending their arms out with clubs, trying to intimidate or scare off the Sheenish. |
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Post by xander10 on Dec 2, 2021 1:03:20 GMT
The 12 Merchant mariners dispatched to fly the Ensign Flag felt that they had clearly won due to the fact they had the biggest flag on the island. They were confident until they heard the sound of 5 men pretending to be ghosts. The Captain gave the order to his men to prepare to dance in the ancient Sheenish warrior dance of the Morris dance, using hankerchiefs in place of what was traditional, in an effort to scare the Sadaler away.
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Post by Fleischmann on Dec 2, 2021 1:16:07 GMT
The men stopped a bit and formed a line, watching the Sheenish men with their handkerchiefs and their hats dancing and singing. The performance was so good, that once they stopped the sailors temporarily put down their weapons and clapped for them with a few cheers too. That wonderful performance done, the men picked up their sticks again and now started moving back and forth, trying to trip one of the Sheenishmen or knock them down. The Sheenish picked up their frying pans and ladles and in turn obliged to return the treatment.
This went on for a good minute or so before the brave sailors of the Raikh heard their leader shout 'Oh, come on, let's get 'em!' and all simply rushed into the mass of waiting enemies. The fighting was brutal, with many a whacked head and sore chest and ankle, the opposing masses shoved and hit each other repeatedly, neither giving ground! Despite their superior numbers, or rather because of them, the Sheenish were not able to actually push off their assailants, as they had made the mistake of completely surrounding them and were not pushing them back and forth between themselves.
It was while this affair went on, that a young cabin boy who had fallen down in the fight, managed to crawl his way out of it and grab the flag. Lifting it with his entire body and strength, he started running away with it towards the local village. It was only once he was half way down the hill, that the Sheenish noticed him and started chasing after him. Naturally, his crew mates chased after the Sheenish in turn.
Despite his small size, he was able to make it all the way to a forge before the older sailors caught up to him and he hurled the flag straight into its fire, successfully destroying the vile flag of the city!
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Post by Wilhelm Cransnikov on Dec 2, 2021 1:38:58 GMT
~a few days prior~
Gerrit sat in the great hall with a cup of tea, though his old bones ached he nevertheless felt a twinge of annoyance after all such luxury is unbecoming of a proper knight much less one who has failed in his sacred mission. Arthfael spoke up interrupting Gerrit's thoughts, "my friend speak of your troubles, surely no minor trifle would bring such an illustrious order to my halls." Gerrit sighed at this, "indeed, those damnable peasants spurred on by sinful things smuggled in like Sheenish books, electricity, and beer bottles have risen up and laid waste to the sacred halls of our most sacred isle of mist." Arthfael's eyes lit up at this, "so you need a most chivalrous band to restore order on the island and recover the holy artifacts within?!" Gerrit was taken aback by Arthfael's enthusiasm, "I... yes.. I suppose I do." Arthfael rose at this failing to suppress the giddiness in his voice, "Hakkon, Bar fetch me my armor, sword, pen, and ready my horse, I must go on a quest!"
Gerrit and his men stood confused but quite pleased by the rather large number of nobles who answered the call, even more so by the number who proudly donned plate and raised their heraldry, though ultimately the fact that these assembled nobles have multiple sail boats that were both functioning and designed as if they were made in the 900s rather the modern day between was the oddest. It was a lucky thing though these ships are making the most of the heavy mist surronding the island of ten-thousand names and would certainty not offend the noble spirits of the isle.
Soon the first ship landed and after a brief period when the men disembarked, if they wished climbed atop their horses, and raise their heraldry before a great number of horns rung out at once and the men advanced beyond the mist that concealed them.
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Post by xander10 on Dec 2, 2021 1:52:46 GMT
After being informed by the Hlawbaurgs of the destruction of the first flag, more men continued to land, bringing further Sheenish flags and to try and destroy the Sadaler flag before it was allowed to fly for even a night. The Flags were placed in prominent places and the Captain met the President of the New Republic of Vulcan in the local pub, where a few Sadaler were already very drunk. There it was agreed that the Associated Cities would provide however much protection it could until something could be sorted out officially. This would mean at least 2 Bentall Class Cruisers defending the island 24/7 until the issues are sorted out.
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Post by Wilhelm Cransnikov on Dec 2, 2021 2:07:34 GMT
The Tholish forces surprised and slightly saddened by the lack of an army beyond the mist to do battle with, instead head for the great castle intent on immediately saving the artifacts housed within. Traveling along the secret trails revealed by the knights to reach the stone bastion built upon the side of the most holy mountain it did not occur to any of the tholes that their shiny metal armor reflecting against the sun was rather conspicuous. As the force approached the castle they were shocked to find the gates raised and the doors smashed, even more so by the fact that the entrance hall was in a similar state with lowlifes picking through the debris. After cutting down the cretins inside the castles the nobles quickly went about manning the castle walls, raising their banners, searching for the many famed artifacts of the castle, and putting the insides back together (via their servants).
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Post by Dunwik on Dec 2, 2021 13:27:19 GMT
Thomas Gatwick rubbed his forehead and took a sip of his favorite soda as he heard the news. He had come to this island to sell vanilla to the nobility, while en route to Sadalen, but they were now all dead, meaning that this effort was wasted time. He still had permission to enter the castles, although they all laid in ruins. But when he thought the day was wasted, a few of his men came in, remarking on some odd game occurring between the Sadaler, the Sheenish, and now... he rubbed the sleep from his eyes as he squinted at the flags flying from one castle ruin. Those were Tholish flags. Reports of brawling came in swiftly, but no remarks of any real injury.
Gatwick thought for a moment, hearing of fighting over some flags, and decided to play his hand at this game. The cargo of vanilla would have to wait for now, as he called on his ship. The fun part of owning a Dunwikki ship was flying whatever flag got you the fewest in tax, so he had a wealth of flags to pick from. However, in his somewhat tired state, Gatwick thought for a long time about what to do.
He glanced back at his soda. Sugar. Stimulants. Energy. He then looked at the people there. What if he exhausted everyone by running numerous decoy flag operations and then sold sugary drinks to everyone present as a performance enhancer?
He brought his ship to harbor, and slowly commanded his men to spread out, hoisting flags from numerous different nations at strategic points all through the island.
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Post by xander10 on Dec 2, 2021 16:28:39 GMT
The result of the meeting between the Captain and the President of the Vulcan Republic was that they would be allowed into the Association as an 8th member or as part of an already standing member if they supported the Sheenish side in the squabble and later negotiations. The Sheenish captain made his way to the largest town's Town Hall and set up a provisional government that would support Sheenish interests on the Island, and officially founding the Free City of Vulcan.  |
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Post by xander10 on Dec 2, 2021 16:36:02 GMT
Dear The Gracious Mister Karl Helgi Drake,
I am contacting on behalf of the Free City of Vulcan requesting that you have the Sadaler forces acting to terrorise these people, who have pledged loyalty to the Sheenish Association to stand down. In return we will be accepting from local Dunwikki traders a shipment of Vanilla, half of which will stay in the hands of the free city and the other half to be sent with your ships back home. We hope this will be enough for you to recognise the Free City as the rightful state that holds the lands and support your friends and allies, the Sheenish People.
Regards,
Captain Twoflower.
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Post by Fleischmann on Dec 2, 2021 17:00:31 GMT
Dear The Gracious Mister Karl Helgi Drake, I am contacting on behalf of the Free City of Vulcan requesting that you have the Sadaler forces acting to terrorise these people, who have pledged loyalty to the Sheenish Association to stand down. In return we will be accepting from local Dunwikki traders a shipment of Vanilla, half of which will stay in the hands of the free city and the other half to be sent with your ships back home. We hope this will be enough for you to recognise the Free City as the rightful state that holds the lands and support your friends and allies, the Sheenish People. Regards, Captain Twoflower. As the Raikhsgamotjing was letting out for a mid-afternoon snack, Hebithdräkh af this Garda, Karl Helgi Drake received an odd letter from an unknown Sheenish captain. As he sat down to eat his egg sandwich and drink some tea, he opened it up and read it with a small amount of confusion. Where in the world was Vulcan and why was a random Sheenishman trying to pay the Raikh to acknowledge a Sheenish claim to it? Realising that the amount vanilla offered was likely quite substantial, he quickly scoffed down his sandwich and set off towards one of the libraries to find a book with all the various maps of nations. 'V, V, V, V- Ah, Vestrubia, Violence-of-the-Lord-Be-Upon-Ye... Vulcan! Ah, page two-hundred and one...' He quickly flipped through the pages until he found the one in question. It was several small maps put into a patchwork, with the names of islands on the top. Grabbing the magnifying glass attached to the book, he looked down at it and started reading their names. 'Vulcan! A small island less than eight square miles in size... Derives its name from the local word 'volcano', which refers to a fire-spewing mountain...' The island was absolutely worthless and unimportant. Its population was tiny, its size almost laughable, and it was only notable for having a large number relics from this or that holy war. It was in no way even remotely interesting to the Raikh. Armed with this knowledge, he went back to his desk and wrote a message to this captain accepting his trade deal and also a second letter to the military informing them that an island called Vulcan was now officially recognised as Sheenish soil.
Captain Twoflower, Your offer is deemed acceptable, please deliver the promised payment no later than two months from now in Morthal. Regards, Sa Hebithdräkh af this Garda, Karl Helgi Drake |
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Post by xander10 on Dec 2, 2021 21:20:01 GMT
With the Sadaler problem taken care of, Captain Twoflower contacted the Merchant Marine for reinforcements, who organised the sending a company of men to help defend the new member city. It was not known how to deal with them, but what was for sure, they would make Sheenish Politics far more complex in the future.
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