The Sacking of Port Olni
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The Sacking of Port Olni
24th Article for the Gazette
Date: 6th month, 10,175 Contasta Ar
Journal of Arealius, Scribe of Port Olni
By Arealius, Scribe of Port Olni
As I sit in the quiet of my study, the memories of those tumultuous years come flooding back. I was but a young merchant then, having been recently ejected from the caste of scribes for reasons that now seem trivial in the face of what was to come. The fall of Tancred’s Landing marked the beginning of a dark chapter in our history, one that I witnessed firsthand.
The village of Tancred’s Landing was the first to feel the full might of Imperial Ar’s ambition. Ar, with its disciplined legions and the cunning Pirates of the Olni River as allies, launched a surprise assault on the city. The pirates, masters of the river, established a naval blockade, cutting off Tancred’s Landing from reinforcements and supplies. Their swift, maneuverable single masted riverboats patrolled the waters, ensuring that no aid could reach the beleaguered city.
Ar’s forces brought in heavy siege engines, bombarding the wall-less village with relentless precision. The defenders of Tancred’s Landing fought valiantly, but the continuous assault took its toll. After days of intense fighting, a breach was made in the spiked fortified dirt mounts. Ar’s heavily armored infantry, led by seasoned commanders and supported by the agile lightly armored pirate skirmishers, poured over well-prepared trenches reinforced with log spikes to ward off Tarn air cavalry.
A young merchant from Port Olni, caught by surprise at Tancred’s Landing, witnessed the unfolding chaos as the men of Ar approached. The morning mist hung low over the Olni River as their small rowboats, each equipped with a single mast, glided silently towards the shore. The merchant’s heart pounded with a mix of fear and curiosity. The village warriors had fortified their position well, with earth trenches and mounds that loomed ominously on the far bank. The men of Ar were determined to breach these defenses and secure Tancred’s Landing.
As the boats neared the shore, the first arrows whistled through the air, splashing into the surrounding water. The soldiers raised their shields, forming a makeshift barrier against the incoming projectiles. The merchant could hear the shouts of command as the men of Ar disembarked, struggling to maintain formation under the relentless arrow fire.
“Form ranks! Form ranks!” the First Sword’s voice rang out, barely audible over the din of battle. The soldiers obeyed, their training taking over as they locked their shields together, creating a protective wall. They advanced slowly, step by step slipping and sliding in the mud, towards the village warriors’ fortifications. The ground was treacherous, muddy mixed with blood from the river and littered with obstacles and the bodies of fallen warriors, but they pressed on.
The village warriors were fierce, their war cries echoing across the battlefield. As the men of Ar reached the trenches, the proper fight began. They threw their heavy javelins, disrupting the enemy lines. With a roar, they drew their short swords and surged forward, clambering over the earthworks and into the fray.
Hand-to-hand combat was brutal. The village warriors fought with a ferocity that matched their own. The merchant saw men abandon their shields, wielding their short swords and daggers with deadly precision. Blood and mud mingled underfoot as the battle raged on. The First Sword, leader of the company of the men of Ar, a towering figure, fought with unmatched skill, cutting down any who stood in his way.
The men of Ar pushed forward, breaching the defenses and spilling into the village beyond. The fighting was savage, each man driven by the will to survive. The village warriors, realizing their position was lost, fought with the desperation of cornered beasts. In the chaos, some men of Ar took revenge on the wounded and defenseless, their rage blinding them to mercy.
The streets of Tancred’s Landing had become a battleground. The defenders, outnumbered and outmaneuvered, were gradually overwhelmed. The village fell, and the invaders unleashed their fury. Homes were ransacked, treasures looted, and many inhabitants were captured or slain. The fall of Tancred’s Landing sent shockwaves through the Salerian Confederacy, a grim reminder of Ar’s might.
As the sunset, the village lay in ruins, the cries of the defeated mingling with the groans of the dying. The men of Ar had won, but at a terrible cost. The survivors, both from Ar and the village, would carry the scars of this day for the rest of their lives.
The merchant stood amidst the aftermath, his heart heavy with sorrow. The price of victory was steep, and the memories of Tancred’s Landing would haunt them all. But for now, the men of Ar had secured the Olni River, and their empire would march on.
With Tancred’s Landing under their control, Ar and the pirates turned their attention to the Olni River itself. The river, a lifeline for trade and transportation, became the next theater of war. The Confederacy, determined to reclaim their lost territory, launched a series of naval engagements to disrupt the pirates’ dominance.
The waters of the Olni River churned with the clash of warships. The Confederacy’s fleet, larger and more heavily armed, faced off against the swift and maneuverable pirate vessels. The pirates, using their intimate knowledge of the river’s twists and turns, launched surprise attacks from hidden coves and narrow channels.
Despite the pirates’ cunning tactics, the Confederacy’s disciplined naval force river barges secured several key victories. The Second Battle of Tancred’s Landing, fought on the river itself, saw the Confederacy reclaim control of strategic points along the riverbanks. The pirates, though resilient, were forced to retreat, their grip on the river weakened.
The final and most devastating chapter of the war unfolded at Port Olni, the Jewel of the Salerian Confederacy. Ar, determined to crush the Confederacy once and for all, amassed a massive force for the assault on the city. The pirates, eager for plunder and driven by their alliance with Ar, played a crucial role in the siege.
The siege began with a naval blockade, cutting off Port Olni from external support from upriver. Ar’s forces, equipped with siege engines of Ar mounted on armored barges , began their bombardment of the city's famous alabaster walls. The defenders of Port Olni, aware of the fate of First Battle of Tancred’s Landing, prepared for a desperate defense.
Days turned into weeks as the siege dragged on. The city’s walls, though strong, crumbled under the relentless assault. Finally, a significant breach was made near the city temple. Ar’s soldiers, led by their companies led by their commanding first swords and supported by pirates skirmishers, launched a full-scale assault through the breach into the upscale residential area of the city. In the sky above the city squadrons of Tarn air cavalry soared like birds of prey. The Tarnsmen of Ar dominated the sky above Port Olni. They would drop in flights of ten warriors to sow terror and chaos as the surviving warriors of Olni would quickly cluster to defend pockets of the city.
The streets of Port Olni became a chaotic battleground. The defenders, outnumbered and exhausted, fought bravely but were gradually overwhelmed by Ar’s disciplined heavy infantry. The pirates, with their ruthless light infantry tactics, fanned out wreaked havoc, looting and destroying as they advanced.
Port Olni fell, and the city was sacked. The invaders showed no mercy, and the once-thriving city was left in ruins. The fall of Port Olni marked a significant victory for Ar and a devastating blow to the Salerian Confederacy.
The other cities of the Confederacy reacted with a mix of desperation and determination. Ti attempted to send reinforcements, but the naval blockade made it nearly impossible. Vonda, cautious of leaving itself vulnerable, provided limited support. Lara focused on fortifying its own defenses and seeking new alliances. Tancred’s Landing, already devastated, could offer little more than moral support.
The war left a lasting scar on the region. The Salerian Confederacy, though defeated, began the arduous task of rebuilding. The survivors of Port Olni lead by a ferocious lady scribe and a young Olni tarnsman, resilient and determined, worked to restore their city from the ashes. The memory of the war and the sacrifices made would forever be etched in the hearts of the people.
Thus ended the chronicles of the Salerian War, a tale of valor, tragedy, and the relentless pursuit of power. As recorded by Arealius, now a lifetime later, a scribe of Port Olni and young witness to the Sack of Port Olni, may these events serve as a reminder of the cost of conflict and the enduring spirit of those who strive for freedom.
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