faderiftooc | MOD POST ↠ News From Thedas

MOD UPDATE: NEWS FROM THEDAS

THE WAKING SEA

News arrives from the west today that Tevinter has launched several warships from Val Chevin. This development is said to be a surprise to most (to the chagrin of the Orlesian navy, who surely must have been aware that their shipyards at Val Chevin were in use). The ships--reports vary, but they most likely number 3-5--have remained in the western end of the Waking Sea, harassing traffic to and from Val Royeaux and the Orlesian heartlands.

There are too many wild rumors for details to be clear yet but they're said to have burned and sunk several merchant vessels trying to reach the Orlesian capital and captured others, overpowering ships with magical attacks and literal fire power. The Orlesian navy has sent ships out to try to protect trade traffic and confront the Tevinter threat, but, concerned at the possibility of a trap or attack on the capital, has been slow to reassign many of its ships away from coastal patrols or protection of Val Royeaux itself.

Elsewhere in the Waking Sea, the pirate attacks have continued, hassling traffic around Hercinia and Ostwick in particular, and occasionally making landfall to sack and torch coastal settlements. The navies of Hercinia and Ostwick have been fully mobilized to patrol the shipping lanes and several clashes with pirates have resulted, with two ships out of Estwatch reportedly sunk in the last week, but the situation remains more perilous than usual.

TRADE IMPACTS

With both ends of the Waking Sea plagued by attacks and the Minanter under Tevinter control from Starkhaven to Nevarra, trade in central Thedas has become substantially more dangerous, which means more expensive. With the news of further escalation in the Waking Sea prices are rising rapidly on all sorts of goods, and naturally Orlesian products--particularly manufactured and luxury goods, ceramics, glass, and of course wine--are exponentially more expensive than they were last week, and much harder to get even if you do have the coin.

Traders are hustling to figure out alternatives, with more goods being shipped only as far as the less-affected ports of Wycome, Ansburg, Kirkwall or Cumberland and then carried into the Marches or into Orlais overland instead. In Kirkwall, the port is in chaos, packed with ships that had planned to go further west but now need to make other arrangements. Good news for the city's customs tax collectors and caravan drivers, but unclear how long Kirkwall will remain safe harbor.

THE EXALTED MARCH

Prince Sebastien and the Starkhaven and Tevinter portion of the Exalted March continue to nibble at the edges of the Tevinter force laying siege to Starkhaven, protecting the Starkhaven countryside against the frequent Tevinter raids, and trying to draw pieces of the invading force into skirmishes and ambushes. But they remain reluctant to engage the enemy directly, given their numbers. Word is that the prince is currently using all his pull with the Chantry to try to convince them to turn the Exalted March to Starkhaven with haste.

But for now, the bulk of the forces amassed for the Exalted March remain in Orlais. The Orlesian army in particular has seen an uptick in desertions, as many of the war-weary soldiers who were there to defend their country rather than to fight an invigorating holy war decide the job is largely complete and balk at the possibility they might be sent abroad for who knows how many more years of combat. The series of smaller coordinated attacks in Orlais and Ferelden during the invasion of the Free Marches has also contributed to the sense among soldiers and leaders both that they're still needed at home, and has left both countries particularly aware of their vulnerabilities should they stretch themselves thinner trying to defend outside their borders as well.