Unified Gograzhi Invasion - Ishui

Date: July - October, 724 GY
Location: Ishui
Outcome: Gograzhi fleet destroyed, but enemies escape to continually raid the Ishui Isles

In July of 724 GY, Gograzh launched a unified attack on Razir, Ishui, Kyr, and Vonor. The scale and ferocity of these attacks had not been seen since the beginning of the age when the nation of Ora was overwhelmed.

The nations scrambled to rally against these invasions, but each were taxed at their own borders and so were unable to assist their neighbors. The Gograzhi employed different tactics at each nation to suit the terrain, their preferred styles, and their opponents.

The Gograzhi unleashed a massive armada of ships, barrelling down on the outer islands of Ishui. The Honukai islands, the easternmost archipelago of the nation, serve as the shell of Ishui, shielding the inner islands from assault. The Gograzhi sent their entire fleet straight into the heart of the serpent. Even though they knew they would incur heavy losses, they hoped to breach the shell, sending the bulk of their fleet through a narrow passageway. Once through, they would be free to assault the less protected inner islands of Ishui.

As the Gograzhi fleet approached, calls of alarms were raised by the Ishui naval force. Immediately recognizing the Gograzhi tactic, [a character with Naval combat experience] shouted, “We aren’t their targets, they’re gonna try to break straight through. Send our fastest ships to warn the rest of the Isles. We need to hold out as long as we can. Every minute we can buy them could save hundreds.”

The entire navy became a flurry of motions. Signals were sent, sails were raised, and the Ishui response came alive. Serpent runners, Ishui’s sleek agile ships, that are usually used in hit and run tactics, went straight to the running. They sailed away from the bulk of the Ishui navy, while Leviathan Dreadnaughts, the massive warships of the Ishui fleet, set to blockade the small passage. [The individual noted above] once again shouted out orders, “Focus fire their scout ships. If we can take those out, there’s no way they’ll catch our runners.”

As the Gograzhi fleet pressed toward the passage, the defenders sprang into action - literally. The Ishui used Springboard Launchers to send sailors hurdling onto the decks of the Gograzhi ships. [An individual with a bladed weapon or claws] used a launcher to send themselves high into the air, slicing a huge gash in the sail as they fell aboard. Meanwhile, [a Gunner] laid down cover fire as the Ishui flooded aboard another ship. One precise shot took down the main halyard on the vessel. The boarding crew [five people] found themselves surrounded by Scutters. [Someone with a hand-and-a-half or two handed weapon] led the charge, carving a path to the helm of the ship. [An Alchemist] used the opportunity to unleash a chemical concoction on the steering wheel, shattering it to pieces.

Each boarding crew had one objective, disable the ship and get out. They set sails ablaze, took out the steering, anything to slow down the Gograzhi. With their jobs complete, they would head for the rails, and throw themselves into the sea. The Ishui had swimmers stationed near the assaulted vessels. They would counter the Gograzhi forces in the sea, and escort the boarding crews back to the Ishui fleet. [Two people with a way to breath water] and Shilon b'Eyal'Sirel led an assault on a consortium of Tidal Lurkers. These humanoid tentacled abominations are known for entangling their victims and dragging them still conscious into the depths below. [The first of the three] slashed a tentacle that had wrapped around the ankle of a retreating Ishui, completely severing it, freeing the captive. [The second of the three] fought off two lurkers at once, slipping free from the lurkers every time that the lurkers tried to bind them. While these lurkers were being disposed of, more emerged from below, attacking the distracted duo. This time using their tentacles to poison their victims [the two mentioned above] were paralyzed by the lurkers. Shilon had been holding back because they were the healer of the group, used the opportunity to take out one lurker from behind, then dispel the poison of their companions. The three then took a formation watching above, below, and every other direction, to constantly have each other’s backs. Together they formed a defensive shell for any returning swimmers.

Meanwhile, the Ishui tactic of targeting the Gograzhi’s faster ships proved a bloody decision. The Gograzhi warships had been largely unscathed. Before reinforcements could arrive from southern Hanukai, Ishui ships began to go down. Eventually the blockade had to give way to the Gograzhi, having to circle away and wait for the more ships to arrive, before they could re-engage. The Gograzhi armada poured through the passageway, putting distance between themselves and the Honukai islands. Eventually the Gograzhi fleet diverged, making their way north towards both Arahi and Uta’Kani.

Although costly, Ishui’s tactic had been largely successful. The majority of Gograzhi’s faster vessels had been disabled. Ishui’s Serpent runners had put distance between themselves and their pursors. Among the ships was the Forbidden Orchid. It was helmed by Rikama, an Ishui privateer returning from a raid on Gograzhi port along the Desert coast. Amongst her crew that day were [Any number of individuals]. She made straight for Maekami Point, a gigantic lighthouse in the Uta’Kani islands. Working as a team, they outpaced every other ship in the sea. Their effort bought them at least 12 hours before the bulk of the Gograzhi armada would arrive. As they approached the shore, [An individual] raised a flag with the symbol of a silhouette of a scythe on top of a full moon. It just meant one thing, Ishui is under attack. The lighthouse keeper that day, Naia b’Ilaida’Hiram, had such sharp eyes they saw the signal from the ship when it was still just a dot on the horizon. They changed the oil so the lighthouse shone a bright sea green flame, a warning to all who could see it.

Other ships delivered warnings to the other islands. Port by port, the word was spread. That night the green flame shone in every major port in Ishui. The Arahi took to their ships, mostly sleek fast vessels, great for raiding, not so good for defending ports. The Uta’Kani were at an even larger disadvantage, mostly housing small personal fishing vessels, with no battle capability at all. They gathered on their beaches, determined to stop the invaders there. They didn’t need to win; the defenders just needed to survive long enough for the Leviathan Dreadnaughts to arrive.

Along the Uta’Kani islands is a massive sandbar, acting as a natural barrier from invaders. As the Gograzhi fleet approached, Naia, still working the lighthouse at Maekami point, gave the signal and doused the flame of the great lighthouse. Suddenly every light in the port, nay every light on the island was suddenly extinguished. Suddenly plunged into darkness, the Gograzhi ships lost sight of the dangers beneath the surface. The first wave of ships ran straight into the great sandbar, grinding them to a halt and throwing the Gograzhi aboard off balance. The captain of one of these vessels began shouting orders, trying to reorganize their confused crew. [A crossbow user] took aim at the captain, permanently silencing his orders and leaving his crew in disarray. Meanwhile [an individual proficient with a staff] charged the ship, and used their staff to pole vault themselves onto the deck. They quickly knocked two Gograzhi overboard into the hands of the approaching Ishui.

Meanwhile, along the Arahi isles, a sea battle raged. The Arahi ships, designed for hit and run tactics, were faring poorly in this style of combat. Several had already been sunk. Praying to the Mother, [five Water Channelers] used springboards to launch themselves onto a Gograzhi ship. When the Gograzhi ran to meet them, jets of water held them in place. Rushing past the stuck Gograzhi, they went to the helm. As one, they struck the pirate at the helm and [a sailor among the five] took hold of the wheel, turning the ship to ram into another Gograzhi vessel. Before the vessels collided, they used the Gograzhi’s own springboards to launch themselves onto the deck of another Gograzhi ship. Then they began the process anew.

Both battles dragged on for hours. The initial success of the Uta’Kani proved fleeting, as more enemy vessels joined the fray. At Arahi, three Gograzhi ships sunk for every one Ishui, but the sheer number of Gograzhi began to overwhelm the defenders. Yet, despite the odds, [1 Ishui or Ishu-Orani] sought to inspire their fellow companions. “The Gograzhi sailed here thinking to find easy prey, what they will find is their ruin. We are the Storm. We are the Tide. They think to attack us at sea!? No one has ever made a more foolish decision. We will survive this night.”

When the last star faded, and dawn broke, the bulk of the Ishui Navy arrived and joined the defenders at both Arahi and Uta’Kani. As one, the hunted became the hunters. With their renewed vigor, the Gograzhi were no match for the Ishui. Ship after ship of the Gograzhi sank into the Moonlit Sea. Hopeless, the Gograzhi abandoned their vessels, diving overboard, and descending down into the deepest trenches of the sea. But lurking in the depths is where the Gograzhi are most dangerous. Slowly they creep along the floor of the sea, occasionally surfacing to make surprise raids on the isles.

The Race to Hanash'ima Island

[This specific encounter took place during a 2024 playtest event. Any player who attended that event may choose this as their War Day role (which does not require expending one of your three Historic Event choices).]

The Gograzhi Armada breached the outer defenses of Ishui and pushed straight towards some of the most populated islands of Ishui. While many of the Gograzhi’s ships became besieged by the rallying forces, a lone Death Hulk, a massive Gograzhi beast of a ship, set sights upon Hanash’ima Island, the largest port in Ishui. If they could wipe the port off the map , the Ishui’s ability to reinforce their warriors would be severely crippled.

A war band composed of people from every nation [any number of characters] boarded the Sea Witch under Captain Valu in a last ditch effort to take down the Gograzhi warship before it could reach its destination. When the war band caught sight of the Death Hulk, its deck was littered with Scutters and traitorous human pirates.

The war band launched grappling hooks across the bow of the great ship. They then took the fight to the Gograzhi. Gunners and casters laid down cover fire, while others used springboards to launch themselves through the air onto the deck of the ship. Even more crossed to the enemy vessel by walking across the ropes that bound the ships together.

With the Death Hulk slowed, a team of specialists dove deep into the water below with a large explosive device. They fought off groups of Tidal Lurkers, drilled into the hull of the Death Hulk, and planted their explosive device on the interior of the hull. The resulting explosions blew chunks out of the large ship. In short order, it sank to the bottom of the sea. The heroic effort of the warband saved the port city, allowing the Ishui to reinforce their numbers, and stabilize the naval battle.

Some of the heroes who participated in the Race to Hanash’ima Island include:

  • Pearl

  • Tusinami

PC Roles

  • Naia b’Ilaida’Hiram: Katherine K.

  • Shilon b’Eyal’Sirel: John N.

  • Pearl: Shadow W.

  • Tusinami: Laura M.