The Ionian Conquest - A Conquest Narrative Campaign

 As part of my drive to encourage more narrative-based play in our local area, I'm running a new narrative campaign over the course of 2025 - The Ionian Conquest.  

In the ever-evolving world of Conquest: The Last Argument of Kings, the delicate balance of power has once again been disrupted. The City States, long the guardians of stability in the region, now find themselves embroiled in a conflict of epic proportions.

As the name suggests, the campaign will take place in the Ionian Archipelago, an inner sea that spans from the western coast of the City States Peninsula to the eastern coast of the Windlands.  Far to the west of Pallas, there is a small island that is separated by a channel that is narrow enough that a man could walk the distance in the time it takes a Rhapsode to recite 150 lines of poetry.  On this island sits the City State of Maritimoria a seafaring people, whose way of life was unreasonably disrupted by a cabal of Sorcerer Kings, led by Xerxes the Radiant, a Maharajah of considerable power and political will.  Where other colonists from the Sorcerer Kings negotiated settlement rights with the nearby City States, Xerxes and his cabal chose a more radical approach. Working together to enact a ritual of unfathomable power and complexity, they pulled living rock from the sea floor, fashioning it into a sizable island a short distance from Maritimoria and established a settlement in the span of a single winter.  This brazen act placed immense pressure on the Concordant League, the alliance of three City States tasked with maintaining order in this region. Determined to resolve the situation through diplomacy, the League sent two of its most respected heralds to negotiate with Xerxes.

Tragically, the heralds' pleas for reason fell on deaf ears. Xerxes, consumed by his thirst for power, ordered his elementals to brutally attack and kill the emissaries. This heinous act of aggression has shocked the allies to their core, leaving them with no choice but to declare war on Xerxes and his cabal.

"Xerxes and his ilk have crossed a line that cannot be uncrossed," declared Hector, Polemarch of Maritimoria. "The Triumvirate League will not rest until he answers for his crimes against the Gods and the people of our great cities."

Over the course of the next 12 months, the conflict between the Concordant League and the Sorcerer Kings will unfold in a sweeping narrative campaign. Readers of Tales of the Vanguard will have a front-row seat to the unfolding events, as I document the battles, strategies, and ultimately, the fate of these warring factions.

Key storylines to look forward to:

• The mobilization of the Concordant League's forces, including the elite units of Maritimoria, Harmonia, and Ariston. 
• Xerxes' attempts to bolster his defences and reinforce his position on his newly-raised island.
• The introduction of new units and heroes on both sides, each bringing unique abilities to the battlefield.
• Pivotal battles that could shift the course of the war, with high stakes and dramatic consequences.
• Potential alliances or betrayals that could reshape the balance of power in unexpected ways.

As the campaign progresses, I'll be sharing detailed battle reports, army compositions, and tactical analysis to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the unfolding conflict. Additionally, I'll be exploring the rich lore and background of the Conquest world, delving into the motivations and histories of the factions involved.

Join me on this epic journey as the Concordant League rises to the challenge and confronts the Sorcerer Kings' tyranny. The fate of the City States hangs in the balance, and the outcome of this war will echo through the region.