Freeport-Marg War

Military action

A war over slavery between Freeport and the city of Marg to the southwest.

During the reign of Miles Caxton, Freeport’s merchants began exploring farther across the sea and trying to set up new trade routes. Several convoys disappeared in the southwest; at first, it was thought they were simply lost at sea. Then a surviving ship made it back and reported that the convoys had been to the city of Marg, a major port in the continent of Amuan and a center of the slave trade. The Freeport ships were set upon and seized there, and their crews sold into slavery.   Sea Lord Caxton would not abide this treatment of his citizens, for nothing is more anathema to the people of Freeport than slavery. He first sent an armed expedition to deliver a message to the Margian slavers: return the Freeporters or face the consequences. He was told if he wanted his people, he should come and buy them from the slave markets.   Infuriated, Caxton built up the Admiralty and waged war on Marg for nearly ten years. It was a difficult war to fight, with Marg being a considerable distance from Freeport, but the Sea Lord would not be dissuaded. Finally, his fleet was able to lure out that of Marg and defeat the slavers in a huge clash, which became known as Battle of the Burning Torches—named for the burning masts of the Margian ships against the night sky. While the city was too distant to conquer outright, it was made to pay Freeport reparations and to return those citizens that survived.   Since the end of the Freeport-Marg War, the two cities have had little contact. Margian slavers have become mythical ogres to frighten the young children of Freeport.