Skirmish of Centroppen [Minor Halfling Victory]

The sudden jerk from the one-eighty turn caused a member of the crew to be lost overboard. The steady tat-tat of the drums along with the soothing rhythm of the oars drowning out his call for help until the ship was too far away. "Get the quarter-sail tacked! I want those ships lost in the dark before we get halfling!" Nire ordered as sailors rapidly ascended the riggings. The island was beginning to recede behind them but two distinct shapes were in obvious pursuit of the small halfling vessel. The Trireme Colossus slow start allowed the Dark Wave to further their lead but the larger ship flying an unknown flag was clearly no longer losing ground but fortunately it seemed that it could to Nire, at best, match the speed of his smaller Bireme.

In-between the Colossus and the Dark Wave the Shurmanda was gaining on the halflings vessel steadily. If Nire didn't act quick the vessel would be on them before the Dark Wave could make good their escape.

Casualties

Empire of Ezria
None

Union Of Shidrus
1 Sailor aboard the Dark Wave thrown overboard

Forces

Empire of Ezria
1 Bireme (Shurmanda - 120 Sailors)
1 Trireme (Colossus - 200 Sailors)

Union of Shidrus
1 Bireme (Dark Wave - 119 Sailors)

Notes
-- This is Moderation Mark 1
-- Shurmanda will engage Dark Wave at Moderation Mark 3
-- Sundown occurs at Moderation Mark 4
-- Reinforcements from the Sessauan-Ezria Navy won't make it unless Dark Wave turns around or is disabled
-- No reinforcements possible for the Union of Shidrus
-- Empire of Ezria (Attacker) posts first followed by Union of Shidrus (Defender)

The thump of drums continued, no doubt the Halfling's could hear the vessel as it slashed through the water. The Elve's aboard the ship were skilled (ships fight as advanced) and obviously knew what they were doing.

'' Faster! '' The rowers increased their speed, the Shurmanda was nearly there. It all depended on what the Halfling vessel did, if she turned and fight she would more than likely be rammed by the ship. If the Shurmanda could pull along side her, grappling hooks would be thrown across and the Ezrian's would commit to a boarding action. The Colossus was behind the Shurmanda but steadily gaining. Perhaps the Halfling's would surrender?

Nire glanced up at the rigging quickly. Although any good captain could sense windspeed and direction by instinct, the weather vane and other tools mounted in the rigging were useful tools to double-check. The wind hadn't changed: a fair, steady wind from the south. Perfect. The Dark Wave was south of the enemy vessel. The wind would mess up their shots, but his men's would go further and stronger. A steady wind would make for reliable marksmanship as well - nice, tight volleys.

"Archers! Prepare volley!" He ordered. Immediately the fourty-nine sea-shields of the ship formed up into perfect lines, pulling their compound bows back and arching them into the air in absolute unison. The enemy sailors were good, but the soldiers of Shidrus were hardened professionals (ship fights as veteran). Every bowman had calculated for the wind.

"Fire!" The cacophony of fifty bow releases at once heralded a mass volley of arrows, which streamed into the sky with murderous intent. Few needed to hit their mark.

"Reload!" Again, the rip of bowstrings and the united rise of primed bows.

"Fire!" A second volley lunged overhead. The archers had the drill now, and were unleashing volley after volley at the enemy ship, a proverbial hail of arrows. Even a few injured or killed rowers would momentarily ruin the vessel's coordination and give the Dark Wave a small advantage. With luck they would strike out a commanding officer or, crown of crowns, kill the drummer and disrupt the the rowers.

Captain Nire of the Dark Wave had excellent goals but two were unattainable. The drummer and rowers were safe below deck and no arrows, no matter how many fire would reach those key sailors. Luckily there were a number of officers above deck ripe for the picking.

Captain Tyrion was near the front of the ship looking through a telescope. The Halflings aboard the Dark Wave were at the rear, a large number of that ships crew. Seeing the motion he was momentarily confused before he shouted, "Incoming -" interrupted be the first volley of deadly arrows and the screams of wounded and dying sailors, "- arrows! Take cover!" hearing a gurgling noise Captain Tyrion looked to the Avian beside him, Battle Captain Jubei, who was gripping his throat where an enemy arrow was lodged. Jubei stumbled forward falling overboard the ship barely registering his body as the Shurmanda raced over his dead corpse. The Elven captain smiled as the dead Avian fell overboard, at least he no longer had to take orders from that arrogant bird again.

The second wave of unseen deadly shafts mostly hit the water behind the ship as well as the rear of the vessel luckily for the crew and the Halflings aboard the Dark Wave were only rewarded with a few screams of the dead and dying. As the Shurmanda was finally within rage of the enemy vessel with the wind against them they loosed their own shafts into the air, though not all were shoot by experienced bowmen. They were reward with sounds of dying and wounded Halflings though it was clear that the crew of the Dark Wave had won that exchange.

Casualties

Empire of Ezria
47 Sailors

Union Of Shidrus
23 Sailors

Forces

Empire of Ezria
1 Bireme (Shurmanda - 73 Sailors)
1 Trireme (Colossus - 200 Sailors)

Union of Shidrus
1 Bireme (Dark Wave - 96 Sailors)

Avian Notes:
-- Reinforcements from the Sessauan-Ezria Navy won't make it unless Dark Wave turns around or is disabled
-- 33 Sailors ready for the initial boarding (40 below deck rowing)

Halfling Notes:
-- No reinforcements possible for the Union of Shidrus
-- 36 Sailors ready for the initial counter-boarding (60 below deck rowing)

Notes
-- This is Moderation Mark 2
-- Shurmanda will engage Dark Wave next Moderation Mark
-- Sundown occurs at Moderation Mark 4
-- Empire of Ezria (Attacker) posts first followed by Union of Shidrus (Defender)

A flurry of arrow fire continued to greet the Halfling's as the Ezrian archers hammered back to force the Halfling's to keep their damned head's dow. The deck was strewn with casualties, some wounded, many dead. The Halfling's might be better archers, but the Ezrian's were better sailors.

'' RAM 'EM! ROW FOR YOUR DAMNED LIVES! '' The drumming tempo picked up, the speed of the oars increased as men wounded were shoved back onto their stations.

'' ROW! '' The Ezrian's had scrapped the idea for a boarding action. They were going to ram the Halfling ship.

Captain Nire emerged from below-deck, a huge coil of rope hung around one shoulder and carrying empty crates in his hands. "Commander! Continuous Volley, fire arrows." He ordered.

"Archers, prepare fire!" The archers drew their specialized arrows - shafts coated with a wad of wax and tallow to allow for burning. They were more inaccurate and slower than normal arrows, but when the situation called for it, they could be devastating to enemy vessels.

"Light!" Dozens of sparks flashed as arrows were ignited and lifted hire. Captain Nire marched to the back of the ship as the archers lifted their bows high, followed by three halflings carrying loads similar to his. The last one carried a burning torch as well - an action usually prohibited aboard Shidaran ships.

"Fire!" A volley of burning orange arrows streaked overhead, falling among the rigging and deck of the enemy vessel. "Reload!" The routine began again.

Captain Nire had reached the rear of the vessel with his attendants. Looking up at the enemy vessel, he smiled darkly. "Light it and dump it." He ordered. One of the halflings applied the torch to the various crates, ropes, and flotsam the others were carrying as they threw the junk overboard - right into the path of the enemy vessel. Now in addition to the arrows, the enemy would have to go straight through the burning flotsam. If a single sign of smoke got below deck, panic was assured. No one liked being caught below deck on a burning ship.

Aboard the Shurmanda

The Shurmanda under Captain Tyrion had approached the rear of the Dark Wave. But instead of coming up alongside the halfling vessel and turn to ram the middle of the fast approaching ship the oarmen below simply kept rowing. The ram that would have disable the ship if Tyrion had issued proper orders did some damage to the rear of the Halfling's vessel but was more akin to a bump or a love tap then a genuine ram. One of the enemies Arrows found the Captain and began burning his clothes. Half dead already he didn't bother putting the flames out instead shouted, "Abandon ship!" as the other three arrows with wisps of smoke trailing them caught the sails on fire. Even with the rowers the hopes of putting out the fire before it consumed the ship were impossible.

Tyrion's last emotion racing through his body was hope. Purhaps there was hope still that his family back home could be free if these halflings won. They'd be a far happier lot then they were when he left downtroddened and oppressed as they were. The sailors rowing the Shurmanda hearing the captain's failing voice dropped their oars, killing the Avian drummer below as he tried to maintain order and discipline to acheive the Kingdom's objective and went willingly over board.

Aboard the Dark Wave

As two sailors lost their footing from the rear ram Captain Nire noticed with satisfaction as the enemy sailors went overboard. The floatsome although causing the ship to slow before hitting the Dark Wave, didn't have the desired effect as the flames went out almost immediately entering the water and those that lived didn't catch. The enemy sailors would use those crushed and damaged crates, or what remained as life boats of sort till the Colossus picked them up or left them to die.

Simply ordering, "Conserve your arrows." the Captain coughed up blood and fell to the deck. His worried crew rushed to his aide noticing the wound received in the last flight of arrows by the Shurmanda's crew. He was wounded and out of commision but at least he still lived.

Casualties

Empire of Ezria
1 Bireme (Shurmanda)
25 Sailors

Union Of Shidrus
16 Sailors (2 lost over board from the 'Ram')

Forces

Empire of Ezria
48 Sailors in the water
1 Trireme (Colossus - 200 Sailors)

Union of Shidrus
1 Bireme (Dark Wave - 82 Sailors)

Avian Notes:
-- Reinforcements from the Sessauan-Ezria Navy won't make it unless Dark Wave turns around or is disabled
-- 48 Sailors in the water rear of the drifting Shurmanda
-- No Avian survived from the Shurmanda to report back to those on the Colossus

Halfling Notes:
-- No reinforcements possible for the Union of Shidrus
-- 20 Sailors on deck (60 below deck rowing)
-- Rear of the Dark Wave is damaged; without the wood resource from Hrothar Lumber Colony full repairs to the ship are not possible

Notes
-- This is Moderation Mark 3
-- Sundown occurs at Moderation Mark 4
-- Empire of Ezria (Attacker) posts first followed by Union of Shidrus (Defender)

The trireme Colossus was not so far off that it couldn't see its sister ship flounder and beginning to burn like tinder.

'' Call off the pursuit. '' Battle Captain Jurgen growled. '' We'll repay the Halfling's in kind when they come back.. '' and they would, the Halfling's would pay in blood for this. The trireme coasted towards the sailors that were floating in the water, tossing them line's to recover them from the drink as they watched the Halfling vessel struggle in the distance.

Summary:
Trireme Colossus calls off the pursuit of the Halfling ship and rescues the surviving crew from the wrecked Shurmanda.

As captain Nire was being treated for his wounds, it fell to his commander to issue the orders. The enemy Trireme was calling off the pursuit, but they still had to reach Lashid as soon as possible.

"Tiers one through three, relieve the rowers." He ordered, sending such men as he could to replace tired oarsmen. The rest of the men went about their duties as best they could: treating the wounded, doing what simple repairs of the ship they could, and scanning the horizon for any possible pursuers. As night was coming on the commander also ordered a lights-out, hoping that the darkness would help obscure the ship from further pursuit.

Battle Captain Jurgen ordered the Elven Captain of the Colossus to call off the pursuit. He had already done so knowing his duty when the Halfling vessel extinguished their lights and are began steering their ship using the stars. Pursuing a enemy at you can't see at night was useless, rescuing the crew of the downed Shurmanda was something that the sailors of the Colossus could execute. The medium class Trireme spent a good two hours fishing the sailors of the Shurmanda out of the Centroppen Sea. Not a single survivor resembled the Avian's on board the Colossus, and many elves were silently overjoyed that the cruel oppressors were dead but kept those thoughts to themselves as they mourned for their dead kin in a war they didn't believe in.

When they arrived back at the colony the Colossus rejoined her sisters. In the morning the absence of the Shurmanda and the return of the Trireme Colossus was noticed by all. It didn't take a genius to surmise the result of the initial conflict with the Halflings. The elves that morning were an unhappy lot more so than before they left their home waters on this mission for the Kingdom of Ezria. Tensions between the Avian taskmasters and the Elven crews rose to an all new high.

Forces

Empire of Ezria
1 Trireme (Colossus - 200 Sailors + 48 Rescued Sailors)

Union of Shidrus
1 Bireme (Dark Wave - 82 Sailors)

Avian Notes:
-- 48 Sailors in the water rear of the drifting Shurmanda are rescued by the crew of the Colossus
-- No Avian survived from the Shurmanda to report back to those on the Colossus
-- Colossus returns to Hrothar Lumber Colony

Halfling Notes:
-- The Bireme Dark Wave has managed to escape into the night
-- Captain Nire is wounded and won't be available for the next battle
-- 20 Sailors on deck (60 below deck rowing)
-- Rear of the Dark Wave is damaged; without the wood resource from Hrothar Lumber Colony full repairs to the ship are not possible

Notes
-- Skirmish of Centroppen is over. Minor Victory for Halflings