Azure's Tide (434 - 464 CY)

The conflict between the Kingdom of Keoland and the Sea Princes is widely referred to as "Azure's Tide." This protracted struggle spanned approximately three decades, with the final ten years characterized by intense naval battles, coastal skirmishes, and intricate political maneuvering. The conflict began when Keoland made a decisive move to confront the Sea Princes, asserting its authority in the southern seas. It concluded in a relative stalemate, as neither side emerged as a clear victor. The ramifications of this war left a lasting imprint on the region, significantly impacting the dynamics between Keoland, the Sea Princes, and the coastal communities and ultimately formed a new rogue nation, known as the Hold of the Sea Princes, once the southern province of the Kingdom of Keoland.

The initial spark occurred in 433, when pirates unleashed a wave of raids in Jeklea Bay. King Tavish III's brother had embarked on an expedition and vanished near the pirates' operating area, in the Amedio Jungle (Hook Peninsula). The king, convinced of the pirates' involvement, dispatched a small flotilla to address the menace. However, the ill-prepared fleet fell victim to the pirates, who maintain their innocence to this day regarding the disappearance of the king's brother.

By 434, the pirate raids extended across the straits of Monmurg, into the Javan Bay, and grew bolder in their assaults on the Azure Sea. With Keoland's focus fixed on military expansion in the north, the pirates enjoyed nearly unrestricted freedom in the region for over a decade.

In 444, a coalition of pirates united to form the Sea Princes, named after a renowned pirate vessel known as the Sea Prince. Emboldened by their growing power, the Sea Princes expanded their operations in 446, launching raids on the mainland coast and capturing strategic locations over the next couple of years, including Port Toli, Westkeep and eventually Port Monmurg . These conquests dealt a significant blow to Keoland's control over the southern lands and spurring a lucrative smuggling trade in Saltmarsh.

In response, King Tavish III led a campaign to reclaim the lost territories, leading his forces through the treacherous Hool Marsh and besieging the fortification at Westkeep in 453. However, the Keoish army faced numerous challenges and suffered a devastating defeat. King Tavish III himself perished in the battle, further solidifying the Sea Princes' grip on the region.

The turning point of the conflict came with the Battle of Jetsom Island in 464, which saw the infamous sailing vessel, the Sea Prince sink with all hands. Although not a decisive military victory, the battle compelled many of the older pirate captains to retire from piracy and settle on the mainland and formed the Hold of the Sea Princes in the lands south of the Hool Marsh. The younger captains shifted their focus to other ventures, such as exploration along the Amedio (Hook Peninsula) coast and the lucrative slave trade, capturing slaves from the southern jungles and profiting from their sale.

A century has passed and the current relationship between the Kingdom of Keoland and the Sea Princes remains strained. Duke Marik Feldren, the governor of the southern province of Keoland, has strengthened its navy and established a formidable naval base in Seaton. The enigmatic Scarlet Brotherhood, ever opportunistic, seeks to exploit these tensions, potentially igniting civil unrest and enticing the Sea Princes to make incursions into the region.

Saltmarsh Village, positioned between these formidable powers, assumes the role of a cautious observer, delicately navigating the fragile balance between Keoland and the Sea Princes. The town strives to chart its own course, avoiding entanglements in conflicts, and prioritizing the preservation of its own interests and livelihood. Yet, the echoes of the past war continue to reverberate, shaping the aspirations of Saltmarsh's inhabitants and emphasizing the need for prudent diplomacy and self-preservation in an ever-evolving and politically charged landscape.