War of Sails
The War of Sails was a war that took place between the Roz Empire and the nation of Hofting over control of the waterway that separates their two countries, known as the Andus Inlet. The war was mostly naval in nature, with some events occurring on land. The involvement of pirates was also a contributing factor to the length of the war, as they attacked both navies often and in ways that tricked the navies into believing the attacks had come from the other nation, not pirates. Eventually, the war ended with a treaty giving both nations equal control over shipping in the waterway and equal responsibility for dealing with the pirates in the area.
The Conflict
Battlefield
As the war's name might suggest, nearly all battles and skirmishes during the conflict took place on the waters of the Andus Inlet itself. While there were some attacks on settlements on the coasts of both Hofting and the Roz Empire, these events were not common.
Aftermath
In the end, the Treaty of the Andus Inlet was signed by Hofting and the Roz Empire, giving both countries equal control over the Andus Inlet. This addressed the threat of pirates and allowed both countries to oversee who and what entered the Inlet equally.
Historical Significance
The inciting event of the War of Sails was the attempt by two ships of the Roz Empire's navy to stop a merchant ship out of Hofting, called the Venture, and force it to pay a toll to proceed any further into the Andus Inlet. The ship frequently sailed into the Inlet and was planning to stop in port for the duration of a coming Realm Conjunction, which was only two days away and would bring dangerous storms. Not expecting such a demand from another nation, and eager to seek port for the Conjunction, the crew of the Venture assumed the Rozian ships were pirates flying a false flag and posing as ships from the Roz Empire. They then employed their defenses against pirates. A short fight ensued, during which sailors were killed on both sides, but the Venture managed to escape and make port in the first place it could along the coast of Hofting.
The government in Hofting also believed that the ships had been pirates and did not immediately act against the Roz Empire, though the crew of the Venture did report that the ships had been unusually well-armed and uniform in appearance for pirates. It wasn't until the Roz Empire demanded an explanation for the violence several days later that it became obvious the ships had not been pirates at all.
During the Realm Conjunction that followed, the nations attempted a diplomatic solution, but that could not be reached as the Roz Empire continually demanded control of the Andus Inlet to protect its own trade along the coast of the Inlet. Hofting, citing its own coastal trade network, refused to relent. The war that followed lasted nine years and only ended when both sides realized they needed to come together to deal with the threat of actual pirates in the Inlet.
Legacy
The crew of the Venture, and the ship itself, became well-known, especially in Hofting. At the end of the Realm Conjunction that the ship had been seeking shelter from, it once again escaped the Rozian navy by slipping quickly out of the Andus Inlet before the conflict between the nations truly began. While it avoided trying to make port within the Inlet again during the war, it continued to serve as a trading vessel for several more years. After it reached the end of its useful life, it was dismantled and pieces were sold to anyone who wanted a souvenir.
Additionally, many towns in Hofting and the Roz Empire have memorials to those town residents lost during the war. Ships from these nations sailing within the Andus Inlet continue to fly a black pennant while within the Inlet to pay homage to those who died there.
In Literature
Seafaring stories are a common type of literature, and within that category are many stories centering the tales of sailors, captains, and pirates during the War of Sails. From children's adventure tales to gritty war stories and erotic romance, the time period is well-represented across genres and audiences.
Important Figures
Admiral Goran Ivys - Commander of the Rozian forces
Sea-General Cedonia Faraxe - Commander of the Hofting forces
Mikheil Muri - Captain of the Venture
The War in Stories
Howling Waves - A book about a young elf who mastered their magic by serving as a mage on a ship in the Hofting navy
A Robust Stern - A very explicit book about sailors finding love aboard a Rozian warship during the conflict (considered historically inaccurate concerning details of the war and daily life in the navy)
I'll be Your Boy - A collection of love poems written by a love-struck cabin boy (the nationality and identity of the writer, as well as the identity of the subject of the poems has been open to speculation since the collection was put into print)
"Full Sail About" - A shanty said to originate during the war that tells about pursuing and capturing an enemy ship (the nationality is changed based on who is singing)
"Name of the Waves" - A play about a sailor who washes up on shore with no memory after one of the battles sinks his ship
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