The island of Harmway loomed on the horizon, a rugged bastion rising defiantly from the waves. It was the crown jewel of the Romelian Sea, the keystone that kept the waters free from the scourge of sea-rats and ensured trade flowed uninterrupted, or at least it was.
Ahead of the Imperial armada, its silhouette stood as if calling the Romelians closer.
Sixty-seven ships cut through the waves, their sails billowing with purpose. The fleet, though formidable, paled in comparison to the ninety-five mighty vessels that had claimed Harmway for the Empire two decades prior. Back then, the Empire's strength had been undivided, a singular force untainted by the rot of civil war. That fleet had carried the full weight of Imperial might, its banners flying high in unchallenged supremacy.
