On the day of the invasion, the grand admiral gave me the order to separate my fleet of thirty-five ships and sail to the city of Pirgos, the capital of Pontus, to conquer it and secure its port, which is of strategic importance for this invasion.
The information given to me at that time was that the strategy to send assassins to thin the lines and take high-value officers was successful, and we should expect little to no resistance. That information was incorrect or incomplete. When the fleet entered the bay of Pirgos, my soldiers spotted six black ships with black sails bearing a white trident sailing towards us. The wind direction was in their favor, but between our forces was an island we could use to flank their fleet and crush them. I observed that the enemy had chained banshees to the bows of their ships, and the screams of the creatures could be heard loudly. I figured they used them as a psychological attack to induce terror and fear in the brave Tenebrian footmen and sailors, but to no avail.
I gave the order to engage and start the flanking maneuver when the water surrounding the island started to foam and a swarm of syrens attacked my line ships as it were a tidal wave. I lost (redacted) ships, (redacted) officers, (redacted) sailors, and (redacted) footmen. By the time I gave the order to displace all remaining ships and engage the enemy, but with the advantage of the wind, the enemy ships closed the distance and rammed into my left flank, with one enemy ship managing to cut straight through an imperial galleon. I lost (redacted) ships, (redacted) officers, (redacted) sailors, and (redacted) footmen in this engagement. All the enemy‘s fleet was destroyed, but one, a ship called „The Relentless,“ the one that cut through the galleon, was captured with no survivors due to the lack of crew on the ship upon capture.
If there is a lesson to be learned here, it is that we were wrong to underestimate this nation, and the admiral that led them deserves the utmost respect.
Overall, the invasion was successful; no resistance was met on land, and most of the populace had escaped the capital. In my opinion, the enemy we met at sea had the task of keeping us away until the civilians were fleeing. I have failed to capture the Lord of Pontus Yars al‘Nassir, and my investigation is still ongoing.
Long live Tenebria!