Part of Winds of the World - Winter 223
The Twinblade Confederacy
Beyond The Concord's awareness, but exacerbated by its presence, a dispute has waged for the past two years. Debts, revenge, obligation and greed have tied The Twinblade Confederacy together for thirty-three years. But it appears that is no longer.
While The Concordian Foreign Service is still scrambling the catch up with events over Summer, what is known is as follows:
Early in November a large Bailite army led by Iren Morgan entered Aprivano and remained there for some time. What was thought to be the cause for a delegation of leaders of all three factions of The Twinblade was in fact a political disaster. Details are still to be revealed but a standoff between The Golden Fleet captained by Ophelia Diablos and The Adanji Fleet loyal to Majiid nearly brought the city to ruin. When tensions broke, the Bailite army departed from Aprivano aboard The Golden Fleet, leaving silence in their wake.
The Golden Fleet was next sighted by private sailors off the Cape of Vidania, tacking east at full speed and at greater than full size. The fleet was added too with trading cogs, sloops and even a stolen Illsevir barge. Its sudden arrival was such a concern that an alarm was sounded in Lerona Mere and the port was closed. But the fleet crossed the bay and made landfall at the Bay of the Calliban, where Baile Fealtiori meets Baile Lochra. The fleet offloaded its passengers and then left.
Brave Concordian sailors making the journey eastward around the cape of the Bailes told tales of great amounts of movement along the coast; quickly established port settlements, armed warbands on the coast, and watchers on the walls. All of this under the green banner of a crowned tree. None can say if these returned Bailites have fought with the Illsevir that still occupy Baile Lochra but it is likely that this is the case.
Over to the west, things were little better; following the standoff with the Adanji Fleet in Aprivano, the entire Western Coast of Esterra was similar to a kicked wasps’ nest. Ships sailed in all directions under new banners and old. Reports of more than a few acts of piracy from both sides were heard in every tavern, and there were thoughts that Aprivano would sail across the strait and lay siege to Banathea, putting an end to Ophelia Diablos’ independence.
But by Autumn's arrival the prophesied war was still unseen; the banners had become normalised and the west of Esterra was changed like the tides.
The Golden Fleet has returned to flying its own shining gold banners, these pennants flying proudly from the port of Banathea on The Guardian and atop the masts of their many vessels. Aprivano has affected itself with a banner of red and gold, stylised as a sunset over water and even the Adanji Fleet has returned to flying its own banner, a Blue Moon over red and gold. While the port of Aprivano remains closed to Concordian ships that value their lives and goods, intermediaries have told that the region is styling itself as ‘The Trade Principality of Aprivano,’ and lays claim to the territory of Aguinaldo in addition to Corvarrias.
The Twinblade Confederacy is no longer. In its place are three that were once one. Some are celebrating this development as a victory for The Concord. Others fear that we have traded one blade to our throat for three in our back. Only time will tell.
Game Information
The Twinblade Confederacy has broken down along faction lines. In its place comes the Trade Principality of Aprivano in Corvarrias and Aguinaldo, The Golden Fleet on The Guardian and The Kingdom of the Bailes in Baile Lochra.
A vast-many decisions will need to be made across The Concord in regards to this development and The Concordian Foreign Service Report and the Civil Service Report reflects a lot of these changes.