Part 0: Personal Story Fluff
Nearly two decades years ago, Victus Baseborn waged war on those Prince Donrai Thrax had declared their enemies. The first over the wall of the Tyde rebel's fortress and slaying Duke Titus Tyde on the field of battle personally. He conquered an Isle under the blood red Serpent's banner as a brutal bastard. He came home a Thrax. That was then.

Today, High Lord Victus Thrax has been given the trust of his peers in rulership and the Crown itself to guide the Compact's Fleets to victory. The Serpent's banner does not fly alone as at least a hundred more have come to stand as equals among it. All in defense of their home against one fallen King who would seek to take it from them. He thinks it's an ironic sight, but he's stepping up to the challenge all the same and donning his mantle of Grand Admiral with pride.

Part 1: The Gathering
The amassed fleet will assemble and coordinate from the silken city of Setarco itself. Once all divisions have been gathered and accounted for, they will set out to meet the Gyre's forces a few miles off the shore. It is a hopeful tactic that moving their line of defense a fraction more forward will give Setarco's ground defense forces less headache, as there will be more opportunity to intercept any ships full of troops to land. However it should be noted that they are still employing defensive tactics over offensive ones, should anything of the 'magical bullshit' variety spawn from the Gyre's forces in battle. They want to be prepared. Victus himself will be bringing the Maelstrom's stock of Thrax Fire to be distributed to as much of the fleet as possible. Just in case.

Part 2: Movement and Tactics
It's expected that the Compact's fleet will come out to a numerical advantage against the Gyre's, potentially one that doubles the enemy. Once they are in the thick of things, the fleet will begin to converge around the enemy fleet to encircle and corner them - potentially cutting off any hope of escape and allowing the Compact to attack from all sides. Part of these flanking maneuvers will involve staggering the order of engagement early, with some of the fleet (let's say, 25%) sitting in the bay of Linosia that will circle around the enemy. Which would, if done effectively, bridge an attack from two fronts once the battle has kicked off. ((The bay of Linosia stuff may also be aided by a separate action from Skye as it was her idea!))

Part 3: Scary Monsters
Another significant ordering of the ships will be ensuring that there is as little clumping together as possible. This is to ensure that in the event of say, a Kraken showing up, that whole rows of boats are not at risk for being devoured and sunk by a pair of tentacles raising from the waves. In addition to Krakens it can likely be expected that other giant squid, sharks, swordfish, angry crabs and etc may join the fight on the Gyre's side. Measures that are being taken to defend against such creatures are ensuring that squadrons of ships are fitted with nets (as suggested by Estaban) for hindering their movement. Even more boldly, an order is going out to affix the underside of ships (that are willing to do so, AND won't damage the structural integrity) with jagged pieces of metal on the haul. Hopefully the combination of these two will keep crew and ships safe, by capturing or shredding the beasts that come.

Part 4: Food n' Booze
Supply chains will be set up ahead of time, mostly utilizing the coastline of the Lyceum that isn't under immediate threat to make the live's of the crew for this massive ordeal a bit easier. Materials for repairs, food, water, and most importantly alcohol will be a constant factor needed. For this, they ask of the merchant vessels and those who wish to volunteer without the skill or equipment for war to help transport. The most esteemed honor of organizing these vital volunteers has been passed to Magpie Grayhope. You get 'em, Magpie!

Part 5: Please Don't Die.
Victus has also put the call out to mercies that don't get seasick easily to be on board vessels to tend to their eventual wounded. They will be joined by members of the Faith willing to come who likewise, do not get seasick easily. The combination of prayer and medicine will hopefully keep them alive that much longer. Hopefully.

"We stand as one. One fleet, one army, one Compact. This is not for me or you. This is for Arvum. This is for our homes. They're playing your song, it's time to write your legend. Let's make it a damn good one."

((FOR EVERYONE CONTRIBUTING: Thank you! Feel free to include any of the written above in your actions if you would like to help out in any of the specific parts mentioned! If you would also like to take your own actions then feel free to consider this the IC battle-plan and coordinate or contribute as you will! These are Victus' orders for now, interpret them however you would!))

1. Gathering- Antonio will direct all vassal navys (as well as Lenosia's fleet) to gather at Setarco.

2. Tactics Antonio will command the combined Lycene fleet, and the admirals of Lycene vassals will report to him. He, in turn, will take his sailing orders from Victus. This way the chain of command is clear and reinforced. (This will be reflected in an additional @action.)

Despite the fact that Victus Baseborn won is nobility by destroying her own family, the Tyde and Tydelands navies show up in full force to defend Setarco, with the Duchess of Tyde in command herself. She makes it clear that she will not ask anything of her troops that she will not risk herself. The vassels of the Tydelandsare brought with the main host to follow Vuctus' command, for better or worse.

Blessed Roran, Archlector of Lagoma see's the ships off, offering a mass blessing to the ships leaving Arx to join the main fleet. The Higgh Lord's main vessel is blessed persoally, and flame from the eternal flame in the shrine of lagoma is passed over to be filtered off through the fleet to let Lagoma's light guide them through this change. The man is not heading out with the High Lord's fleet since medical care has finally been found, and instead, only his prayers go with them.

Who is she to cower behind stone walls when her Goddess is at stake? She will assist with Part 5: Please Don't Die
The Archlector Madeleine distributes the Disciples of Mangata each to a vessel to offer prayer and morale bolstering - blessing each crew and vessel with santified water and braziers of incense, she herself physically riding whatever ship Victus deems safe for her to be on. The Disciples are to assist as they can since many of them are seafarers anyhow, but to stay out of the way and defer all matters to the military crews of the vessel.

With prayer and faith as her greatest weapons, Madeleine will join the fight.

#1 Gathering - Wash will assess the readiness of every Thrax fleet and report those numbers and distributions to the Grand Admiral. He will disseminate a simple language of flags and horns to used for ship to ship communication between houses. This will incorporate modern merchantmen messaging alphabet, and will create a unified shorthand for common battlefleet tactics.

#3 Tactics - Wash will command the Thrax fleet, and the admirals of Thrax vassals will report to him. He, in turn, will take his sailing orders from Victus. This way the chain of command is clear and reinforced. (This will be reflected in an additional @action.)

With the Oathlands' naval forces under hers and Caelis' command, Katarina answers to the call of the Great Admiral of the Compact with the full force of their ships. They sail to dispatch from Setarco as the plans dictate, prepared to lend their support to the other admirals however they may.

Skye will be assisting with Movements and Tactics. She will dive into the archives to find any Bathymetry studies that will tell her of the ocean depth at the various locations. She will assist High Lord Victus with recommendation on the best places to keep the ships to lessen their vulnerability to large sea creatures that might be accompanying the enemy fleet. Her aim when studying the numbers and combined with her new knowledge of the area to devise a plan that will allow for the Fleet to take advantage of hidey holes like the bay of Linosia and the nooks around Caina and Bravvra so that they have the advantage of surrounding the ships when they converage on Setarco.

Captain Ariella will be leading the Igniseri fleets in our move against the Gyre

Eleanor, born and raised on a ship and thus comfortable on one, will be joining the Compact's fleet as a representative of the King's Own. She has been asked by Victus to serve as his right hand during the battle, and will therefore join him on his ship along with a few other knights under her command.

Turo will be commanding the Navegant fleet, and doing so with aplomb.
Regarding Part 1: He's been incessantly training his marines and sailors, almost to the point where most can fill in at any role on the ships without much drop-off in training.

Regarding Part 2: Turo will direct his fleet to focus on supply and troop ships, wherever possible. Those he wants sunk as quickly as can be, since an ounce of work now might save a pound of work later. However, he'll not needlessly abandon the orders he's given.

Victoria, a Master Healer with some sailing experience, is joining the fleet as a Healer, assisting with Part 5. See also action 1858 for more on her heading up the gang.

Lethe will be helping with part 5:please don't die. While she is a Harlequin and not a Mercy she is still a healer. She will do her best to assist with the injured.

The fleet in Setarco is the best example of what happens with the Compact comes together as one. The first battle was hard, but when the Pretender-King sent reinforcements it got even worse. And yet the fleet never wavered. Never trembled - they continued together to protect the Lyceum and the Compact as a whole, and it was their unity that won the day. Even old rivalries got a chance to be set to rest, as people who normally hate each other or find themselves on opposite sides of political rivalries set all of that aside to act as one. It made the difference and, in the face of a baffling and powerful enemy, it won the day.

In the tallest tower of Setarco, the Choir will be using their voices as a counterbalance to as much abyssal interference as possible.

Ian, at the head of his new special forces unit, will be keeping anything from getting to the Singers so that they can keep doing their thing for as long as possible. He'll have archers on the stairs that lead to the tower with compound bows and heavy broadhead arrows, with instructions to shoot steadily and fall back if anyone tries to get up the stairs, aiming for the head as much as possible. Once they get to the top of the stairs, there will be a heavy door that can be barred and barricaded. Pikemen will keep anything trying to climb the walls from getting in through the windows. If enemy forces do get into the room, the men will form a circle of interlocking tower shields around the Singers, with a row of men with halberds behind them, and we'll use that formation to hold out for as long as we have to. If what we face are "zealots" (zombies), the men have instructions to focus on bashing in or cutting off heads.

Ian will be enlisting the help of the Faith intercede with the Gods and try to protect the Choir from more direct magical interference. While not present, their contributions will be key to defending against assaults that can't be held back with a shield or beaten back with a blade.

Sorrel is very focused on fighting the abyss in particular using song. She will wear her rubicund armor and bring her rubicund sword with her, but being the Bladesong, she intends to use her voice as her blade. One of her primary focuses in singing will be to attack any cloud cover, particularly that which seems unnatural. Another primary focus of hers will be to improve morale among the troops, since that's, to her knowledge, her great talent. Furthermore, since it's supposedly abyssal magic that will be dampening and/or destroying morale, it's completely her aim to conteract that with a little help from her friends.

Sorrel will be bringing a variety of songbooks with her, and in particular, religious songs both that she's written and that others have written. Furthermore, she'll also focus on getting the battle hymn sung. Her musical selections will be as anti-abyss as they come!

Lucita, from past actions singing with Tikva and Sorrel, thinks she apparently linked the singers together somehow, and knows she strengthened their songs and extended the distance they reach. She has been studying at the Academy and praying in various shrines daily in the hopes she will be able to do this well and contribute to the songs they sing to prevent madness, sustain morale, and enable the compact ground forces and fleet to have an improved chance against what they face. Thus she will sing wholeheartedly with the choir when fleet and ground forces battle the foe.

Blessings, Sygils, prayers, and holy water- whatever she can do to provide both spiritual and psychological protection for Ian's mission is given. She bathed the tokens in the sacred pools and prays over them, anointing them in incense . She provides blessed bottles of rose water. Whatever might help because Beseeching is mysterious and vague.

Vayne blesses all the mirrors involved in this effort. Big and small, the whole lot of them. No one needs a mirrorborn sneaking through and replacing/murdering anyone.

Wylla has received songs to be blessed from Lucita and, presumably others. She offers the blessings of Jayus upon them, in hopes that the creativity from Jayus will help find the right wording to help hold the singers' focus and emotions on their goals. May their voices be strong and true for what must be sung and last through the length of the battle.

Victoria is carrying a flame from the Eternal Flame to the lighthouse of Setarco, as she is already making her way via the Setarco naval forces. (action 1858, 1841).

From Setarco the lull is interrupted by the approach by a huge monster, tentacled with blue-black, leathery skin. And so many eyes and so very many sharp teeth. They seemed to be seeking out the Choir of Sorrel, Tikva, and Luctia who sing from the Tower but, guarded by Lord Ian Kennex and watched over by Archlector Madeleine, the monsters could not find their prey. And as they struggled to defend the Choir the group tasked with monster hunting by Prince-Consort Talen arrived - Shard, Theron, Corban, Serafine, Adalyn, Leta, Elyse, and Regla - along with a man in a skull mask saved the day, sending the algae-covered monster, and then the tentacle monster it birthed, and then the monster vomited forth along with a stone tablet. The monsters seemed thoroughly interested in killing the Choir, but they were prevented and so the small team carried the day. For now, Setarco lapses into quiet once more - but an uneasy sort of peace, and the sneaking suspicion that there are more than just ships heading their way.