Battle of Cape Whitcombe
| Battle of Cape Whitcombe | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Part of the Urguani-Orenian War | ||||||||||||||||||||
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The Battle of Cape Whitecombe was a major battle that occurred on the 15th of Malin's Welcome of the 56th Year of the Second Age on the Kahaen Sea. It is the largest naval battle to take place since the Battle of the Kahaen Sea which had taken place forty years prior. Whilst the engagement of forces occurred on the 15th of Malin's Welcome the Tripartite naval forces had begun preparations two days prior, setting sail from Tor'Sjorvath to Henry's Wharf in an attempt to destroy the Imperial Fleet. The Imperials, having intelligence of the coming force, sallied to the defense and prepared to engage the Tripartite forces at sea. The battle itself lead to the crippling of Dwarven naval prowess as the Imperials had nearly destroyed the whole of the Tripartite fleet. This lead to the Tripartite forces turning back and sailing back to Tor'Sjorvath.
Prelude
After winning the Battle of New Providence Bridge, the Tripartite Accord began planning another assault on the Holy Orenian Empire. It was decided, in an attempt to gain naval superiority over their foes, they would launch an assault on the Imperial port of Henry's Wharf, located adjacent to Providence. On the 13th of Malin's Welcome, 56 S.A., a 2,000 strong Tripartite host, comprised mostly of Dwarvern Legionaries and Ferrymen set sail out of Tor'Sjorvath on a large Ironclad battleship. However, this did not go unnoticed by the Imperials. A day later on the 14th, Orenian Scouts had spotted the Ironclad as it passed the Ruins of Ando Alur. Word was sent back to Providence and the Imperials began to rally. By eve later that day the Imperials had amassed a large force of 4,800, which included approximately 500 to 700 soldiers from the Sons of Nagg mercenary company.
Battle
At the first light of the 15th, the Orenian Capital Ship, the H.I.M.S Eagle Stride Headed by Admiral Nicole Teufel and Commanding Officer Jarad Munnel had departed from Henry's Wharf with full sails, heading into the Kahaen Sea. Two hours later Count Joseph d'Azor, aboard the Orenian Vessel, had located the Dwarven Capital Ship, the Dwedsmark, prompting the Orenian crew to change course to come up along the Dwarven ship's port side. The Dwarven Ship let lose the first volley, heavily damaging the Eagle Stride's starboard side. The Orenian Vessel returned fire however, it only made minor dents into the ironclad. The combatants continued exchanging cannon fire for approximately another hour until both sides had lost several cannons. Gangways and ropes were tossed across the gap between the ships, allowing infantry boarding parties to cross.
The Orenian boarding party led by Jack Daniels and Sir Muhammad Hassan were the first to cross over on the southernmost gangway, a melee ensued and several hundred soldiers from both sides found themselves plummeting down into the sea below. The majority of the melee took place on the center deck of the Dwarven Ironclad however due to hazardous flames from the prior canon fire, the fighting was soon pushed below deck or towards the bow of the ship. Although the melee aboard the vessel was short-lived, it continued down into the water below. Soldiers from both sides boarded rowboats and skirmished in the open sea. At one point, the fighting even found itself reaching the mainland near Providence before moving back to sea. The battle concluded after a small force of Dwarven Warriors were forced out from their position on a nearby anchored sloop belonging to the infamous pirate Tim 'The Rotund'. The Imperials had declared victory and returned aboard the H.I.M.S Eagle Stride to sail what remained of it back to Henry's Wharf.
Aftermath
Following the conclusion of the main melee, Grand King Ulfric Frostbeard ordered the withdrawal of the Dwedsmark back to Tor'Sjorvath. Similarly, the H.I.M.S Eagle's Stride returned to Henry's Wharf. Both ships returned badly damaged, missing many of their main cannons. Afterward, the two belligerents declared a temporary cease-fire during the Krugmas season.
