Unity Square, Boralus, last Wednesday evening. The Admiralty has given its support to the planned expedition to Fortuna, Baron Adolphus Jaggerhawk told the fourth Assembly of Houses and Captains on Wednesday, as an open discussion over the mission became a pointed debate about what its forces owe to any civilians found alive on the island.
Jaggerhawk, who said he will command the venture, announced that a closed briefing will be held on Sunday at eight bells. He declined to discuss battle plans before the Assembly, arguing that the public nature of the gathering made it unsuitable for operational details. More volunteers may join those already committed to the expedition.
The mission was proposed at the previous Assembly following reports that a k’thir and a Void-aligned group known as the Tidefated Cabal may be operating from Fortuna, also called Tol Galu. At that meeting, Jaggerhawk acknowledged that no direct evidence of a k’thir presence was available to those assembled. No new charts, reports or physical evidence were presented publicly on Wednesday, although Jaggerhawk described the island as a staging ground for the cabal and said Admiralty support had since been secured.
Fortuna was formerly under Kul Tiran protection and exported silver until the Cataclysm altered the surrounding currents and submerged its mines. Some inhabitants fled, while those who remained reportedly came to regard the displaced population as traitors. The approach is treacherous enough to limit the vessels that can reach the island, and the expedition is intended to reclaim it without destroying land to which refugees hope to return.
No guarantee of evacuation
Lady Gredya Wayland Northwind asked the expedition to prepare for the possibility that the cabal might corrupt the island or cause a wider disaster. She urged the organisers to consider how innocent residents could be evacuated if conditions deteriorated.
Jaggerhawk’s first answer was stark. “The reality is, we can’t. Not without endangering everyone else,” he said, citing the unknown number and loyalties of those on the island, the limited shipping available and the danger of navigating unfamiliar waters. When challenged by another attendee, he added that failing to have a plan for such circumstances was not the same as refusing to save people, but maintained that no evacuation could be guaranteed.
The exchange drew objections from several members of the gathering. Winston Moonheart argued that the expedition should attempt to rescue those it finds and suggested that survivors could be held separately until experts had checked them for corruption. Jaggerhawk added that a k’thir might conceal itself among refugees and attack during the journey, referring to an earlier incident aboard the Daring Spirit.
Jaggerhawk eventually set out a narrower commitment.
“If we can confirm the presence of friendlies, hostages or the like, we’ll seek to secure them.”
An attending admiral summarised the position as an attempt to evacuate civilians where viable, while warning that detailed planning without reliable information about their location, condition or number would be of little use. Lady Northwind said that assurance was what she had sought, particularly in the event of a sudden disaster.
Questions also arose over the elemental spirits believed to remain on Fortuna. Jaggerhawk said communication with them should be possible, though nothing could be certain until the force arrived. He suggested that the Earthen Ring might be approached after the cabal is defeated if the spirits require further assistance.
Lantle, an attendee familiar with similar cults, urged the Assembly to consider why such movements take root. She suggested that relief for a population isolated since the Cataclysm could help prevent another cabal from emerging. Jaggerhawk agreed that relief would probably follow once the Tidefated Cabal had been dealt with, while cautioning that the enemy is believed to include mentally compromised pirates who leave the island to recruit others.
The Order of Embers gave no public commitment to the force. Lady Heather Dempsey said the Order would not discuss its intentions before those without rank and declined to answer when Jaggerhawk asked directly whether it would participate. Jaggerhawk said a Tidesage has agreed to join, but that no member of the Order of Embers had volunteered at the time of the meeting.
Posters linked to Defias-aligned group
Earlier, Commander Connor Pickens warned that posters encouraging revolutionary action against the Admiralty had been distributed across Boralus. He said investigators do not believe the material came from the Tirasian Nationalist Army, whose known members were reported in custody following the group’s earlier campaign, but instead suspect a Defias-aligned organisation.
According to Pickens, people wearing red bandanas, scarves or wristbands have attempted to establish ties with the Scrimshaw gang. He described two separate movements using, or until recently using, Defias imagery. One is said to be aligned with the Obsidian Eye, a Westfall cult believed by investigators to employ Void, blood and Drust magic. The other has allegedly stalked and attacked Stormwind officials, delivered anonymous parcels to the Groggery and announced that it is abandoning Defias branding.
Investigators have not determined which of the two is approaching the Scrimshaws. The Lion’s Roar has not independently confirmed the alleged alliance, the magical practices attributed to the Obsidian Eye or the provenance of the posters.
Pickens also displayed a wanted notice for an unidentified man accused of attacking and abducting a Kul Tiran citizen in order to use the victim’s armour as a disguise. He asked anyone with relevant information to contact him and said the Admiralty will safely open unexpected letters or parcels for concerned residents.
The commander also referred to a separate warning concerning what he called a “Void-fuelled coffee-themed pyramid scheme”. The Admiralty’s offer regarding suspicious parcels apparently covers that matter as well. Tea received a brief endorsement from the chair.
Faces required at future meetings
The discussion of red-clad suspects later produced an awkward moment when an attendee entered wearing a red bandana. Others vouched for her and no accusation was made, but the incident prompted calls for tighter control at future Assemblies.
Captain Reynard Brineburn of the Boralus Guard proposed barring face coverings inside both the Guard barracks and the Assembly. Jaggerhawk accepted the restriction and extended it to hoods, with an exception for Tidesages wearing religious attire. He said the Tidesages will be responsible for confirming that hooded attendees claiming that exception belong to their order.
Brother Oswold Clearbrine cautioned that the forum should remain open to all and argued that its organisers ought to respond to misconduct rather than presume foul intent. Jaggerhawk called that a valid argument, while observing that the gathering was hardly defenceless.
The next Assembly of Houses and Captains is scheduled for 16 September.