Battle of Moon Terrace
Battle of Moon Terrace was one of the many during the War of Scale and Arrow, but for islanders of Silver Shore it was important step towards freedom, or at least, change of the rule. While battles fought on Silver Shore Island didn't give decisive advantage to dragonborn forces, they helped to balance out the power difference between warring nations.
Siege was later described by islenorians as underhanded, cowardly and dishonorable. Those tactics definitely didn't fit the usual ones of tharurian dragonborns either, but they didn't seem to mind as they had found the surprise attack of islenorians earlier in the war very upsetting to say at least. It did, however, proof the Moonstalkers as formidable foe and forged the relationship between the island and Aradace Tharur as allies. It also solidified that that when Aradace Tharur would eventually win the war, they would claim Silver Shore under their command.
The Conflict
Prelude
After Empire of Islenor took control of Silver Shore Island in 3550 AoS, disagreements had been brewing right from the get go. As the Empire outlawed Church of Eilistraee, and started the purification of the island, this caused increasing unrest and hostility, sprouting out several rebellion groups, including Moonstalkers. While Empire managed to cut down dangerous cults and increase the public safety, their views on what was and what was not acceptable and their blind hatred of drow caused them to end up in odds with Children of The Dancer. The Children, drows living in the island have eccentric yet more diplomatic and peaceful ways than their Llothian cousins high elves of Islenor were used to face. This, including other harsh bans of things freedom loving islanders of Silver Shore appreciated, made sure that United Councils of Silver Shore never truly integrated with their Islenorian rulers. As Islenor called for war with dragonborn of Aradace Tharur in 2nd of Sep 4019, they started evacuating islenorian citizens out of the island and adding to the local military force to use the island as a naval base to attack the rear of dragonborn forces. The life of islanders had already gone tougher under the management of governor at the time, Nyvorlas Kevanar. Having all these islenorian troops coming to their land and using their ships, land, and homes as they wished, wasn't bettering the political relations to the parent country. As war started, several dragonborn native to Silver Shore Island seeked refuge from Aradace Tharur, among them Namyse Tiaraad, who have been working years with Moonstalkers. At this point, Moonstalkers had mostly been known to nuisance yet not yet severe threat to Islenorian empire. Some of the activities of the Moonstalkers so far included:
- smuggling out people in trouble with the law
- smuggling supplies
- protecting refugees
- causing rallies and other demonstrations
- fighting censorship
- helping drows and believers of banned religions
- answering the call of those who were afraid to talk to the guards in fear of prosecution
- intercepting islenorian soldiers while they hunted for outlaws from crimes that Moonstalkers did not agree to be crimes
Have the men. I'm tired of these fancy, pale-faced knife-ears not taking a hint. Let the lizards have them.In a week before the battle of Moon Terrace, Leuthil Tum and Naugla Tarn harbors were attacked, and several ships were burned or stolen as a plan from Moonstalkers. Some of the ships were purposefully sunk in-front of Leuthil Tum, making it hard to troops of Islenor move trough the coasts. Islenorians weren't prepared for people of island nations to get rid of their ships. And in the dark of night in 17th of Jul, 4024 AoS, siege of Moon Terrace began.
Deployment
Islenorians had heard about stolen ships, and the local guard and army forces had put more emphasis both guarding the walls and the harbors, with few vessels ready at the bay. Troops of rebels were stationed to tunnels below the city, while dragonborn were approaching Moon Terrace from the sea. A small group of Moonstalkers was tasked to use invisibility and water walk to get to the islenorian ships silently from a distance.
Battlefield
Battle took place in city of Moon Terrace and nearby areas, as well as in lesser extent in Moon Bay in front of the city.
The Engagement
Battle started as Moonstalkers infiltrated main building of Academy of Magi during late evening in 17th of Jul. The plan was simple; now when most of the islenorian forces had been deployed to expected positions, group of rebels stormed inside the Academy of Magi to secure a base of operation and as many magical items as possible to continue rest of the siege. Rebels had several contacts inside the academy. This included illusionist Gnut Weaseltail that had now established himself as one of the leading figures in Moonstalkers, making this infiltration possible. While there, they could also secure the vaults of Academy, so nothing there could not be used against them.
Surprise attack proved to be effective, even though casualties were many. The battle climaxed as Gnut Weaseltail and his group ended up in same room with archmage Sylveiros Traceran, leader of the Academy and right hand of governor Nyvorlas Kevanar. According to accounts of the eye-witnesses, Sylveiros would attack the intruders and end up in duel with Weaseltail's spymaster, Driz'Mer Shadowblade. According to reports, Sylveiros swore that he wouldn't let a drow roam around his city, and he and Driz'Mer engaged in the unconventional battle of blades and magic.
Accounts of this duel are confusing to say at least. This uncertainty might be contributed that this duel was between very talented archmage, and sword fighting sorcerer, known from his unconventional, engaging methods. What these accounts agree though, that after Sylveiros wounding Driz'Mer and blows exchanged, Driz'Mer managed to use Misty Step to teleport behind the archmage and pierced him with a flaming rapier. For several hours of the battle, wounded Driz'Mer would carry Sylveiros' severed head on his belt. Gnut Weaseltail has been recorded telling about the event:
That is my Chessie for you. It's not only that bastard hits hard, but no matter how hard you hit him, he always comes back and kicks you eventually.After securing the Academy, the building was used as a base of operation and way to attack men on the wall from behind. As groups would pop into the city, they slowly started to secure the road towards the harbor. Scout patrols on Bay managed to burn a good amount of army ships before High elves had time to regroup. Dragonborn arrived to Moon Terrace on sunrise, and head of Sylveiros Traceran was presented to general Iriek Maxil as sign of allegiance. After this battle got tougher as islenorians were now ready to take on attackers and both sides tried to avoid needless civilian casualties, this slowed down the campaign immensely, but by 19th, islenorians pulled away from the city, and governor Nyvorlas Kevanar was dead, after several injuries. This victory marked the start of the conquest of Silver Shore and ended the Battle of Moon Terrace.
Outcome
Moon Terrace was established as a base of operation for Aradace Tharur in Silver Shore, making significant blow to islenor troops in the island. Despite both sides agreeing on avoiding civilian casualties, such is unavoidable in battle. There was a lot of hatred with both sides, causing more damage than hoped for, causing some war crime trials to ensue after the war. Civilians were divided if they saw the dragonborn as liberators or new tyrants, and that caused a lot of stir.
Aftermath
After the war, Silver Shore Island was given to dragonborn territory, lifting most of the unwanted bans from the islanders. That said, out of spite, dragonborn exiled all high elves from their now held areas and established 15-year ban, where no high elf was allowed to enter Aradace Tharur soil or any area they occupied with a penalty of death.
Historical Significance
Legacy
The battle established friendly relations between United Councils of Silver Shore and Aradace Tharur, but further distanced both of them from Empire of Islenor. Conflict has influenced heavily all geopolitics of continent of Umeros, keeping the political climate tense.
Included under Conflict
Conflict Type
Siege
Battlefield Type
Urban
Start Date
17th of Jul, 4024 AoS
Ending Date
19th of Jul, 4024 AoS
Conflict Result
Moon Terrace got occupied by forces of Aradace Tharur, starting the conquest of Silver Shore Island
Location
Belligerents
Aradace Tharur
Led by
Strength
Because of main conflict at the continent, dragonborns of Aradace Tharur only had limited amount of warriors to send to Silver Shore Island. Troops included veterans dragonborn could spears as well as fresh recruits to fill up lines.
Moonstalkers had collected their own skirmisher troops, which were boosted by soldiers from Yanta Menothar, sent by Great Matron Council of Silver Shore, including several drow soldiers. Added to the force where troops sent by Stone Hall Council and Stoneskulls, including professional dwarven soldiers.
Besides the normal towns guard of Moon Terrace, islenorians had troops from the army force, including several marines. Not all ships of the navy were docked in the city at the time.
Casualties
Thanks to nature of surprise attack, losses for forces of Aradace Tharur were relatively small, if still significant. Rebels of Island took most of the hit by giving dragonborn time to reach the docks. Fires and panic of locals added casualties.
Blow for islenorian forces was devastating, though good amount of troops managed to pull back. Loss of governor Nyvorlas Kevanar complicated further activity with loss of city and Silver Shore Academy of Magi.
Objectives
Securing Moon Terrace under Aradace Tharur and secure further movement deeper to the island.
Protect the city from invaders.
Maps
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Melyria (incomplete)
The world of Melyria is formed by several continents and island chains, with many places to explore and new people to meet!
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Moon Terrace
The busy coastal city of Moon Terrace works as the main hub of many of the Melyria adventures! Colourful, lively and strange, there is always something to see.
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Silver Shore Island
Largest island of Scar Coast and a lively trading hub, Silver Shore Island is the place to be. Who knows what adventures lie within?
Really quickly, I'd like to commend the colours of css you've used here. This warm-blue & orange mix is quite nice, though I'd suggest using a slightly different main font as I think whatever custom font you're using is breaking and leaving you with Times New Roman? Also - please change the colour of font in the comment box, I can barely read what I'm writing to you! Right off the bat, one of the critiques I have for you is the lack of inter-article linking. I cannot tell what Moon Terrace, Leuthil Tum and Naugla Tarn are. I have no context for the Church of Eilistraee - was it good that it was outlawed, was it bad? - or for the Empire in general. Linking to stubs or simply other written articles allows new readers of your work to hover over these things and see a brief excerpt of what they are. The colour of linked text is also a good way of breaking up the walls of words a little - which brings me to my next critique on formatting. Whilst you've used a few quotes, it's also a *lot* of text still! You could benefit from using columns and a css'd .aloud box to allow you to break up the information somewhat - and don't forget that you can move ome to the sidebar if necessary. Onto the actual writing. The initial paragraph is well-phrased and frames the conflict as a shocking but necessary occurrence for the war's outcome. It sets up the rest of the article well and encourages the reader to look further into why these Moonstalkers are now seen so formidably. ' They were also receiving troops from dwarves of the Stone Halls, as first openly hostile act from them during the past years, after several warnings from lords of Stoneskulls' I assume this is referring to an act of hostility towards the Stoneskulls, but I cannot be certain. Clarifying this sentence might be good ;) ' That said, out of spite, dragonborn exiled all high elves from their now held areas and established 15 year ban, where no high elf was allowed to enter Aradace Tharur soil or any area they occupied with penalty of death.' Okay, this bit interests me. Were there no exceptions to this? Did no high elves ever help the dragonborn in the war? What were the political ramifications for this - did anyone have friends among the high elves who they had to lose due to this rule? Honestly, though the outcome of this war was successful and positive for them, it seems like it's pushed them closer towards future conflict that they'll need to prepare for. What are their chances of winning a second war against a better-prepared Islenor?
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First, thank you for css comments, text should be using Open Sans I believe, it's pretty alarming it it isn't doing so! I got to look in to that. Also good point, we want all font be visible, I got to check what is causing that, thank you for the heads up! As for linking, yes, I have a bit of a problem, there is more links there but most of them are to private articles/stubs atm, I came a board quite recently, and I got too many things hidden at the moment including the article for the war this battle is part of. I got to see in the future I get enough info for these articles I'm showing that things would be more clear, I understand the some info here is probably being really hard to follow without context. D: My bad, I'll be more mindful about that... That's a very good point! I need to finish/make some of those stubs public! I got to see if I get on to that after I finish few more prompts! And I totally need to figure out the formatting too, I've noticed the same thing. I actually didn't even remember there was aloud box, I need to remember that in the future! As for Stone Halls sentence... I see. xD It seems thing has been so clear in my head that I actually forgot to read the actual sentence on outsiders perspective. Originally what I was meant to convey, was that so far in the conflicts between Silver Shore and Islenor, dwarfs of Stone Halls had been passive aggressive and warned the Islenorians several times that they weren't happy about what was going on, but they had never done any public actions to oppose them. Dwarven cultures in my setting are militaristic, yes, but in defensive manner, so they avoid attacking anything if it's not something they can view as self-defence. So lord Stoneskull, who had been on the fence for years and kept relations with both Islenor and the Moonstalkers civil so far, went alright, this is enough, and officially joined the rebels at this point. It's very badly explained in the article, I need to fix that asap. XD Extremely good point! As for did any high elves help the dragonborn and did dragonborn ban them all... answer to both of those is yes. And that sucked, big time. But once I get the full war article made, this part hopefully clarifies, but in case someone is interested, I try to open up this full conflict a bit here, feel free to tune out if not interested. First this world here is used by me in a roleplay campaign(s) I'm running, where my few players have several characters in different parts of the world, mostly in Silver Shore with someone in Islenor and couple other characters scattered around the known world. One of my players actually plays a high elf, who moved to Silver Shore in his young days, and was cast out from the island thanks to dragonborn, never was part of rebels but never liked Islenorian rule either and now he gets back to Silver Shore in first time in over 20 years. So this conflict and ramifications of it are one of the things we explore in the game, sometimes in background, sometimes more hands on. I'm pointing this out to give context, there is method to this madness. So to conflict and it sides, to clear this up. Empire of Islenor is a massive place. How massive? Take a world map. Find Europe, and northern edge of Sweden, right under Norway border. That would be about comparable in the northern most point of Islenor by latitude. Now, let's go little away from Europe and find Israel, more specifically, find me Jerusalem. That is equivalent to the most southern most point of Islenor by latitude. For those whom come from America, it might be easier to thing that southern point is in southern Florida, and northern point is somewhere in middle of Alaska. Wide of it is little tricky, because spheres, but hopefully you get the picture. Islenor isn't as big as Russia, for example as far as wide is concerned, but it is still BIG. It's wide crosses about 45-50 longitude points, but since most of those happen at north, it's really tricky to count what that actually means in our map. So heavily simplified explanation as otherwise this is going to be waaay too long: originally, this area was bunch of smaller kingdoms and lots of forest in between where wood elves lived, and under the area there was a huuge network of caverns where the drow (the dark elves) lived. Drow mostly worship the evil spider goddess Lloth and sacrificed other elves to her, so naturally, other elves were not too happy about that. About 4000 years ago, there was devastating earthquake that shook the whole world. it sunk land in one place and raised it up on another, and no one really knows why. It also sunk part of this continent his all happens, and what once was land was now area with bunch of tiny islands called Scar Coast. The most northern most high elven kingdoms, Islenor, had a king who's family had Shevarash, elven god of vengeance, as their family protector. Shevarash hates Lloth so his worshippers are big on killing drow. King considered that since this earthquake was so terrible, drows underground might have something to do with it, or if they don't, atleast you wouldn't want them to use advantage of this situation, so he called for great campaign to slay the drow and take away th evil of the world. And that caused a chain reaction that since unified the lands (some by force, some in peaceful means) of elves above and started to drive drows further to west and bam, eventually we got Empire of Islenor. Thing is, these warrior kings with deep hatred of drow and evil stayed in power. And during this time their battle against evil (now when there is less drow to take care off) has... gone out of proportion. Because Islenor is so big, it's actually pretty independent as much as getting resources are concerned, they don't NEED to trade with outside world. But need means their people don't starve and they can get most what they need to function inside of their borders. But that doesn't mean there isn't some stuff outside they would want. This means they can pretty much call the shots in diplomatic situations as they tend to be the side that has plenty. Which means they don't need to deal with people they find morally incompatible in same way than other countries do. This ends up Islenor having very strict moral codes and having heavy censorship in certain types of topics as well as no tolerance policy on certain grey areas. Some bans are easy understand; no summoning devils and demons, no necromancy etc. But others are more complicated, like their relationship to drows and tieflings, both of which are many in Silver Shore Island. As both of these races have, thanks to several factors, had a long history with worshiping demonic entitys and as such they ended up both heavily monitored and often killed out of pure paranoia under islenor's rule, even if individual drows or tiefling did nothing. Also, not all effects of necromancy are bad, but even good spells were banned. Books that include topics that may cause dangerous thoughts? Burned. That said, it is not like they were monsters; if islenorian guard has someone captured because they stole bread, and they observe them to be hungry and doing what they do to help their family, they might make them pay with work and poke them in direction to find stable income to feed their family, for example. It depends on moral implications what they ban or approve and to what measure. They got themselves area of Silver Shore which originally was free area in scar coast, by diplomatic maneuvering, were we don't dip now, but it gave them good position to sea, as scar coast is hard to navigate. Silver shore is little like trade-hub and cultural melting pot in this setting. Dragonborn on another hand... Dragonborn tell stories that once they were slave race to evil dragons, and this really colors their whole culture. They are ridiculously individualistic and collectivist at the same time, often confusing outsiders. Basic premise is this: Dragonborn believe doing your 100% on anything, and becoming good and efficient in things, but no one can be good at anything. So, for person to be truly strong they must not only try to be better themselves, but learn from others and form collective with those who are good at things they themselves lack in. Best individuals form best units, and unit is hindered by the individuals in weakest position. In practice this means, that dragonborn do everything themselves if they can, but are not afraid of asking help, nor find that humiliating. They chanllege themselves and others around them constantly so everyone can get better, which one hand makes them helpful in some things, and bricks in others. They are big on individual's responsibility, honor codes and practicality. On one hand they are eager to learn. But they also can be little thick and shortsighted. Dragonborn would agree on high elves that people should probably not summon devils and demons. Necromancy? It has practical good uses so it's fine. Oh some things about it are bad? well, is it easy to tell which parts and can those things have good usses? This is too complicated, necromancy is fine. Drows and tieflings? Dragonborn will first be suspicious because things they have heard, but in the end, they will start to judge them as individuals, because it is more important what you do and than what you are. Burning books? Sounds like waste of paper. If you read something forbiden and things get fucked up, that is your responsibility. Oh person stole bread? punished and sent on its way, don't steal stuff. Oh you stole again? Just cut their hands off. At this point hopefully you have figured out the problem between these two people. xD Elves of Islenor and Dragonborn of Aradace Tharur had been bumping head for a loooooong time but stayed peaceful, when couple of the dragonborn clans that were raiding dragonborn settlements got idea that they are going to raid islenorians as well. They did like they did with other dragonborn, made a warning call with their horns, came and raided and went off. They did this many times and Islenorians got piiiiiiiiissed. Emperor Alathar of Islenor asked for compensations and told Overlord (ruler of dragonborn) to get his men off his lawn. Overlord Vorqull explains, hey, I owe you nothing, it's not my business what these clans do, I try to stop them, you guys should probably take better care of you villages dude. This goes on for some time, until Alathar decides that alright, have it your way and runs his troops over the border without no further warning and war commences. Now, see how I said no warning? Dragonborn always warn (even if there would be very little time to react) their opponents before they come. They blow the horn or something else that makes it clear they are coming. obviously, dragonborn had noticed army massing to their borders before elves came and replied by bringing own troops there, but thats not warning, at least for dragonborn. Dragonborn took extreme offense on this, elves came without warning and they attacked all dragonborn, not just those responsible. Elven perspective? They were defending their borders and people, trying to do things themselves when person who should take responsibility isn't doing so. Dragonborn perspective? Elves were destroying all of them for actions of few. So when war had been going on for 7 long years, Islenor realized that their nation, which already thanks to their policies has it's own rebellions and such every so often, could maybe win this fight, but with cost not worth to pay. So they make peace with dragonborn, whom take some of their bordering lands and the Island of Silver Shore. But dragonborn are now in a pickle. there is lots of High elves in their area, and they aren't sure which ones to trust, specially since on their perspective, Islenorians had slighted them. So they figured that 15 years is short time for an elf. They send all high elves away, as they seemed to be the ones most responsible of their blight, so in 15 years they would time to figure out how to deal with possible traitors that could come to their area, and then nice ones could come back. Clean simple. In their point of view. That did break families and caused lot of pain. In campaign we play, war ended 20 years ago. Emperor Alathar I mentioned earlier? He is dying. And he has no clear heir. Currently, all his relatives try to win Alathar's favor, because only way to solve succession peacefully, is that Alathar names his heir among them. Some of those relatives are trying to win old emperor over with peaceful manner. And some of them, very much so, are trying to win him over by finding ways to rain revenge on dragonborn and Silver Shore. And players, if they wish so, have chance to do something about it. Or then they don't and this powder keg explodes on their face, we'll see. xD Eilistraee... that's complication discussed in another time. I have already rambled too much. xD
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... Immediately after I posted this I remembered that I'm writing English... while speaking about dragon born there is word anything mentioned couple times? I meant everything. xD In finnish, which I speak natively, anything and everything are the same words, so I keep sometimes forgetting that they have different connotations in English. sorry about that.
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