This installment takes place during the Naval Period, in 76 AC.

Three miles deep into coral, this is not a very nice place to be. Coral smarts, it’s pretty damn sharp. But by orders, here I am, and I understand that.

My name is Jonathan Fallon, and for three years I was a State Mage, stationed in Surport on Pericle Island. The weather there was calmer, and we didn’t have the seasonal storms that Arcania has, but there is so much more beauty here.

My first year here, everyone was still going crazy about the revolution, so I spent a lot of time on boats, that’s how I found this place

The water here is deep enough for the keels on Empire ships to slip by, but the coral makes visibility almost impossible from the surface. During the storms, it gets really murky down here, but not today. Today it’s clear as crystal, from my perspective. Things are just as good a few metres away with Alyssa.

First year, I got some time off from operations in the fleet. Arcanon figured if everyone just kept fighting for years on end we’d go a bit crazy. So I got some time for personal exploration and adventure, and decided to climb Mount Sinai.

It took me two days to climb the base alone, four in all to reach the peak. From there, you could see the whole basin, and right out to the ocean beyond the island. This is a nature untouched by intelligent life for generations, lead only by the forces of nature and magic.

Nature and magic are making their stand here it seems.

So, here I am, three miles deep into coral offshore, with Alyssa giving me some support, waiting. Just waiting, for an Empire ship to come by, like they always do. She says they’re not smart enough to realise the folly they keep making, but I know it’s because this is a chokepoint, the fleet near here drives them into the coral, so they either leave or come through here.

Something I learned during my enlistment in Surport, is that Imperial ships store the powder for their cannons in the hold, about three metres towards the bow and one to port. When a fireball spell goes off, there’s no pressure, it’s just a burst of fire in a given space. Underwater, there’s a bit of steam, but not usually enough to distinguish from just regular wash.

My name is Jonathan Fallon, I’m an Evoker for the Arcanian navy. My job is to hide underwater and plant explosives and fireballs where they’ll do the most harm to passing Empire ships.

And right now, there’s one right above me. Looks like a twelve-cannon, this should be a big bang.