NEWS FROM THE FRONT - 24/6/178
THE GRAND BALLENA IS SUNK AT SLAVER'S BAY
Breaking news from Arelithian waters; the Amnian Armada under command of Admiral Ramón Talazar and the Lords' Alliance Expeditionary Fleet under Admiral Helkar Hornwynd has recently clashed just south of the isle, in what is described as the Battle of Slaver's Bay.
While fresh and conflicting reports are still coming in what we know for certain is that Talazar's flagship, the behemoth called the Grand Ballena was struck multiple times and endured heavy damages before it eventually capsized, breaking apart by mid-deck. We do not know of any other losses from either fleet, but the Waterdhavians are proclaiming this a resounding victory.
The Grand Ballena was no stranger to Arelithian waters, having before been under command of Admiral Hernán, who with this very ship committed to the total destruction of Wharftown - a fishing village that had been in a state of war with Amn's longstanding ally the Kingdom of Cordor.
It seems now that with the flagship commited to the sea, an era is truly over. How this will change the battlefield upon Arelithian shores and waters, however, remains to be seen.
THE MONTHS' LONG SIEGE OF BALDUR'S GATE CONTINUES
Amnian forces, having first achieved an unprecedented advance north from their territory, subjugating Bergenost within days are now bogged in a prolonged siege of the ducal city of Baldur's Gate, one of the key city states of the Lords' Alliance.
Latest reports does not bode well for the local defenders, however, as the entirety of the outer city is either razed or occupied while the Amnian forces have concentrated themselves upon Dusthawk hill. Sources report that the Amnian fleet with the help of Calimshan's Nallojal have managed to fully blockade the river Chionthar and have recently succeeded in fully isolating the city from any outside reinforcement.
The heaviest fightings are currently within the Lower City were small breaches almost daily are made and the local Flaming Fist defenders with the aid of Waterdhavian and Neverwintan forces are focusing on repelling the Amnian army.
Many speculate it is now only a question of time days or weeks at most until the Lower City will fall unless any outside aid come to relieve them. Losses in both civilian and military lives are told to be in staggering, yet impossible to verify, numbers.
CALIMSHAN DECLARES WAR ON TETHYR, THE SYL-PASHA ANNOUNCES SOLIDARITY WITH AMN
Just days ago the Syl-Pasha of Calimshan publically announced that they will stand with Amn in this the Lords' War, citing the destruction of their plantations with New Amn and longstanding territorial claims being ignored by what Syl-Pasha Ralan el Pesarkhal described as an "arrogant assembly of lords in petty kingdoms, carelessly throwing away lives and pushing for war in order to upturn the balance of things."
This also followed a public declaration of war against Tethyr which Amn was quick to follow up on, which the Syl-Pasha justified by having undeniable proof of having aided the Lords' Alliance against Amn as well as invoking old territorial claims that Calimshan has over southern Tethyr which they cite are critical to manage the order of stability in the region.
Day 24, Month 6 (Kythorn), 178 AR
Trackless Sea Independent News