The Fall of WIldbay
"Not by trade, nor by treaty, but by steel." – An anonymous survivor of Wildbay’s fall
THE RISE OF HOLLOW LAKE (2350 BGW – 2200 BGW)
By the mid-2300s BGW, Hollow Lake had cemented itself as the dominant force within Nunca. Having risen from the ashes of Greendale, the city flourished under the rule of the Ashwood Dynasty, its economy built on trade, agriculture, and the exploitation of the fertile lands that surrounded it. But for all its wealth and power, Hollow Lake remained dependent on external resources, particularly timber, minerals, and fish—commodities controlled by the independent coastal settlement of Wildbay.
For centuries, Wildbay had resisted Hollow Lake’s growing influence, choosing to remain self-sufficient and fiercely independent. Its people, hardened by life on the coast, saw themselves as a free people who owed nothing to the rising power of Hollow Lake. Their isolationist stance frustrated the rulers of Hollow Lake, who saw the untapped potential of Wildbay’s natural resources as an obstacle to their city’s complete dominance over Nunca.
FAILED DIPLOMACY & THE SHADOW OF CONQUEST (2200 BGW – 2100 BGW)
King Ramarvis Ashwood, known for his political cunning, first sought to bring Wildbay under Hollow Lake’s rule through diplomacy. He sent envoys, merchants, and negotiators to offer trade agreements, alliances, and economic incentives—all of which were firmly rejected. The Council of Wildbay, a group of local leaders who governed the town, knew that Hollow Lake’s promises would ultimately lead to the loss of their autonomy.
By 2100 BGW, diplomacy had run its course. The Ashwood rulers, now under King Edric Ashwood, determined that Wildbay would submit—or be taken by force. However, they knew that outright conquest would be costly and risk rebellion, so they instead employed economic warfare, restricting trade, controlling supply routes, and using spies to undermine the unity of Wildbay’s leadership. Over the next century, Wildbay’s prosperity slowly crumbled.
While Hollow Lake grew in wealth and population, Wildbay found itself isolated, weakened, and divided. Thousands of Wildbay’s people, seeing the writing on the wall, abandoned their home and relocated to Hollow Lake, seeking better opportunities. As the town’s population dwindled, its ability to resist military action faded as well.
THE FINAL BLOW: THE INVASION OF WILDBAY (2000 BGW – 1980 BGW)
With Wildbay’s resources strained and its population nearly halved, King Valdrin Ashwood declared that the time for patience had ended. In 2000 BGW, Hollow Lake launched a full-scale invasion of Wildbay, sending its well-trained military to occupy the settlement by force. The last remnants of Wildbay’s resistance—fishermen, merchants, and a handful of warriors—attempted to fight back, but they were no match for Hollow Lake’s superior numbers and tactics.
The battle lasted less than a month. Hollow Lake’s forces seized control of Wildbay’s docks, its storehouses, and its leadership, executing or exiling those who refused to bow to the Ashwood dynasty. The Council of Wildbay was officially dissolved, and Hollow Lake installed a governor, ensuring that Wildbay would never again govern itself.
THE YEARS OF OCCUPATION (1980 BGW)
By 1980 BGW, Wildbay was fully absorbed into Hollow Lake’s growing dominion. A permanent military presence was stationed in the town, enforcing the will of Hollow Lake and ensuring that all resources flowed directly to the capital. No one was permitted to leave without express permission, turning Wildbay into a prison for those who remained.
Wildbay’s once-thriving culture—its independence, its coastal traditions, its spirit of resistance—was systematically erased. The town’s name became a bitter reminder of what had been lost, spoken only in hushed tones by those who still remembered. Hollow Lake had won, and Wildbay was no more.
With the Council of the Three Seeds dissolved, there was no hope for those who wished to see Wildbay free again. It had been swallowed whole, its identity buried beneath the weight of Hollow Lake’s growing empire.
LEGACY OF THE FALL
For Hollow Lake, the conquest of Wildbay marked the moment when it became the unquestioned ruler of Nunca. With unrestricted access to timber, fish, and mineral wealth, the city grew even stronger, securing its place as the beating heart of the region. But for the people of Wildbay, the annexation was not just a loss of independence—it was a death sentence for their way of life.
Even centuries later, the descendants of Wildbay’s people carry the memory of their homeland’s fall, whispering tales of a time when Wildbay stood free. But in the eyes of Hollow Lake’s rulers, Wildbay’s fate had been sealed the moment it refused to bow.
