Battle of Cape Whitcombe
| Battle of Cape Whitcombe | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Part of the Urguani-Orenian War | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Named for its geographical location near the coastal estate of Whitcombe, the Battle of Cape Whitcombe occurring on the 15th of the Malin's Welcome, 56 S.A. was the largest naval battle to take place since the Battle of the Kahaen Sea which had taken place forty years prior. While the combatants engaged on the 15th of Malin's Welcome, the campaign began two days prior on the 13th when the Grand Kingdom of Urguan and the Ferrymen under the Tripartite Accord set sail from Tor'Sjorvath to Henry's Wharf in an attempt to destroy the Imperial Fleet. The Imperials, however, had intercepted the Tripartite fleet and destroyed the majority of the enemy host, halting them from continuing their naval campaign. The Battle saw some of the harshest fighting of the war as both sides sustained substantial casualties and nearly lost their capital ships. Fortunately for the combatants, both ships were able to able to return to their respective ports for repairs by the end of the battle.
Prelude
After winning the Battle of New Providence Bridge, the Tripartite Accord began planning another assault on the 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 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 (previously the H.I.M.S Ambition) had departed from Henry's Wharf with full sails, heading into the Kahaen Sea. Near 7:00, Count Joseph d'Azor, aboard the Orenian Vessel had located the Dwarven Battleship, 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.
