October 620 – February 621. Vol 6, Issue 1   Battle for Kings Port Continues As we go to press, the battle for Kings Port is ongoing. Nowhere in the city is safe for the citizenry. Archduke Oldis has raised emergency militias and the Bluecoats have brought in reinforcements, and so the battle rages on. However, there are signs that an outcome may be known in the coming days. When we learn anything definitive, we will publish a special issue to bring you the news.   WTC Invades Fatu Hiva! While bluecoat forces concentrate on their siege of Kings Port, Oleon settlements far from here have discovered that the war is not contained to just our island. Our man on Île d'Or in the East Prio Sea has sent word that the WTC, the rogue Corish trading company, has seized the Oleander city of Fatu Hiva! Our reporter’s eye-witness account follows: As the WTC fleet opened fire on the shore batteries, one thing quickly became clear: A gentle sea breeze ensured clear shots for the ships, while a lull in the wind over the largest fort obscured the landward gunners' vision, forcing them to fire blindly at the enemy. With muzzle-flashes to aim for, both forts were quickly reduced to a rubble by the heavy guns of the ships. In closing in on the quays and beaches at the head of the line, however, the WTC Red Sun was hit by a field gun emplaced on the quay, striking its bowsprit. With a long audible groan, the foremast fell, and the vessel, now out of control at such a critical moment, drifted on to the beach.* Despite a grounded vessel, Count Mesabi was undeterred and ordered his forces, more than four battalions, into the city. The WTC marines landed in what can only be described as unexpected order, formed up on the shores, and marched to face the Olean troops guarding the settlement. Count Mesabi is said to have led the troops personally, ordering the soldiers from his position on the beachhead. For a few largely bloodless hours, the two fairly evenly matched forces maneuvered to try to gain the upper hand. However, with the fleet anchored in the bay, guns at the ready, the Oleander forces were limited in their options, and soon had to acknowledge defeat. To the cheers of the WTC, the Oleander colors were hauled down, and a small fleet of the Royal Navy entered the harbor and landed reinforcements of the Corlander Army. Some say the residents of Fatu Hiva should be grateful the redcoats proper arrived before the WTC had free roam of the city. Count Mesabi was last seen leading his personal contingent towards the Basilica of the Faith. After a brief conference, now joined by redcoat officers, the bluecoats were allowed to march off with all military honors, to make camp outside the settlement on their word of honor not to join the fighting again until such a time they can be shipped off for a neutral settlement or exchanged.** The WTC Quartermaster is said to have made much of not being allowed the horses of the Oleon officers, muttering something about feeding the troops, but it seems some of the stables have already seen disappearances. -------- OOC: *The WTC Red Sun is beached until a build is made showing some sort of recovery. ** 60 soldiers are available for pickup by neutral shipping. 240 of the fort garrison will rejoin the forts, if/when they are rebuilt by Oleon.   Greenies Land Mercs at Pamu Residents in Pamu were overjoyed when an Eslandian merchant fleet made port and unloaded its cargo of mercenaries! More than four battalions -- including infantry, cavalry, and artillery -- have reported to local Terraversan commanders to see how best they can reverse the tide against the bluecoats. Already we hear rumors that, with these reinforcements, a push to force the Bluecoats out of Kings Port is imminent.   Prio Offers Aid More good news for Terraversa’s defense! Archduke Alexander Prio of the Isle of Romantica has sent his trade fleet to Terraversa with an offer to coordinate with our own navy to drive off the Oleon invaders. Commodore Francisco de Pernica personally delivered the offer of assistance upon reaching the port of Pamu. It is heartening in these hard times to know that we have many allies across the Brick Seas.   Sea Rats Attack ESL Convoy Our man in Salida Este sends word that an Eslandian trade fleet was attacked by a Sea Rat fleet flying Oleon colors! Commodore Janszen of the galleon La Contessa de Victoria reported directly to Eslandian officials at the local naval offices. From the crews we hear that the man-o-war Migery’s Revenge and the brig Fenris Ranger were both lost in action before the trade fleet managed to escape. But the real concerns are political, as the Sea Rats flew both the Oleon colors under a Letter of Marque and the Black Flag of piracy. The scuttlebutt around this navy town is that the offending Rats may be marked for special attention from the greenies in the future, and that they also intend to take up the matter with Oleander officials. The crews of the Sea Rat ships Atropos, Lachesis, Enyo, Golden Rat, and Joker’s Folly may want to lay low for awhile.   Pirate Round-Up Sea Rats in Scrape with Bloody Bill! Our man in Jameston sends word that a Sea Rat merchant fleet led by Odin’s Scorn arrived in port with three of Bloody Bill’s ships in tow! Given that Bloody Bill is frequently seen at Sea Rat ports, the question on everyone’s lips here is: who attacked who? The Sea Rat crews are not talking about this for now, but have revealed that Bloody Bill departed the encounter on his flagship, the brig Rusty Claw. Bloody Bill has never been known to attack Sea Rat shipping of any kind. Have the Sea Rats turned on their own? Or was this all a misunderstanding, and if so, on whose part? For now, the encounter remains a mystery. LeColeon Escapes from Mardier Fleet Mardier sailors are claiming victory in the Garveyian port of Kieg after repelling an attack by the pirate LeColeon, but all may not be as rosy as they make it sound. The Mardier decoy fleet of five ships lured LeColeon to attack with his 3-ship squadron. Although two of LeColeon’s ships were damaged, the pirate managed to sink the Mardierian flagship, the man-o-war Majestic, before making his escape. If this is victory for Mardier, it is a Pyrrhic victory indeed! Namerean Traders Repel Jan Van Sud From Terreli we hear that Namerean traders fought off an attack from pirate Jan Van Sud near the Halosian coast. The traders lost the large merchant sloop Ninja to Davy Jones’ Locker before forcing the pirate to disengage.   - page 2 -   Storm Ravages Continental Coast and Western Islands A western storm system hit the Halosian coast this month, forcing several ships to divert from their intended destinations. The Mardierian terraman Macaw sank when it was dashed on rocks along the Eslandian coast. The Altonian brig Aurora had to make port in Aden when it sprung a leak in the rough seas. And the Corrish ship HMS Alice was forced to wait out the storm in the Garveyian capital of Kieg. Farther south, the Oleon ship Le Aspiration was forced to return to Le Bellan shortly after leaving port, taking shelter in Eltina. Elsewhere, storms in the Sea of Thieves tossed the Sea Rat trader Triton’s Pithy around quite a bit, ruining their cargo, and FTA Achemar was forced to make port in Leopaldis after taking on water. From the New Haven Sea we hear reports that a Lotii war fleet was caught in a squall off the eastern coast of El Oleonda, but we cannot confirm any casualties.   Mercantile Report Our man in Mesabi Landing reports that Sea Rat merchants are celebrating after crews of The Octopus II and Margaret combined to take in more than 1000 DBs for their cargo. (No word yet on whether their subsequent luck was good or bad at navigating the wheel of fortune that is the Mesabi Landing customs agency.) He also reports that the crew of the Corrish ship Octan Tanker 1 were quite pleased with the price for their cargo of whale oil. From Kieg we hear that the crew of the Mardierian terraman Midnight Sun were spending freely after netting 450 DBs for their cargo, although celebrations were subdued due to the loss of man-o-war Majestic in action against the pirate LeColeon. Meanwhile, from Prinport we hear that another large batch of illicit goods have hit the black market. Our source in a certain Sea Rat port that will remain nameless (if our source wants to stay alive) tells us that the Nymeria and Akela made nearly 800 DBs on their run when they delivered their cargo from the east. Our reporter in Quinnsville sends word that WTC officials are pleased with the profit brought in by the Red Queen, and that horse steaks were had by all the crew. From Westface we hear that our national fleet has returned home with valuable supplies for the war effort. Our man in Mooreton Bay reports that the crew of the Corrish trader Alexander Keith were in high spirits after receiving more than 400 DBs for their cargo. Finally, from Bardo we hear that the local fisherman who had such trouble last month was able to bring his haul into port this time, netting 300 DBs for his catch.   Notable Events No Need for a Green Thumb in Wullham From the Carnovian settlement of Wayport we have reports of ships laden with fresh produce arriving from the new Corlander settlement of Wullham, of the island of Panarium in the northern reaches of the New Haven Sea. One of the sailors transporting the delectable-looking cargo described the island as a veritable goldmine ... for growing food! With reports that new settlers who had never before taken a hoe to a yard garden are now proud owners of full-fledged profit-producing agricultural powerhouses, streams of prospective settlers are reportedly asking about how they can gain passage to Wullham so they too can make fortunes in the food business. With soil so rich, Panarium might soon be referred to as the Breadbasket of Corrington! Supposedly the new commander of the settlement is Captain Brickleton, recently of the Elizabethville colony. With him in charge, settlers appear confident in the security and future prosperity of Wullham.   Punto Sur Hosts Successful Octoberfest In our last issue we reported that the Eslandian Octoberfest held annually in Weelond was rumored to be moving east. The rumor proved to be true, with Eslandola’s settlement of Punto Sur in the New Haven Sea serving as the new host of the festivities. Partiers of all factions flocked to the hamlet, making it the fastest-growing boom town in the Brick Seas. Despite that, our man there tells us that Punto Sur is looking for more permanent settlers, and is willing to pay licensing fees for settlers looking to build residences in the town. Contact @Capt Wolf for details.   Ships Lost to Davy Jones’ Locker Fenris Ranger (Capt Wolf/Eslandola)
Macaw (Mardier)
Majestic (Mardier)
Migery’s Revenge (Eslandola)
Ninja (Namere)
  Ships Captured MOC’d:
WTC Agnes Y4 (class 0) taken from Bloody Bill by Roadmonkeytj Un-MOC’d:
Little Scavenger (class 3) taken from Bloody Bill by Roadmonkeytj
Cutlass (class 3) taken from Bloody Bill by Roadmonkeytj
  Known Black Flag Ships Still At Large (all of their crews scoundrels and wanted for piracy) Alexander
Apollo’s Mirth
AQAR
Atropos
Audacious
Dreamchaser II
Enyo
Golden Rat
Hand of Fate II
Hotspur
Joker’s Folly
Jolly Rogers
Komodo Dragon II
Lachesis
Marvel II
Maverick
Nightingale
Puck’s Jest II
Purple Rain
Stormbringer II
The Andromeda
The Drunken Monkey
Valkyrie
Villain’s Boat
Viper Note that Black Flag Sea Rat ship locations are hidden when docked in Sea Rat ports, Garveyian ports, and Barracuda Bay or other pirate hideouts.   Result tables to follow shortly.