[center][img=http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i374/bensundeitestutho/bennipolisbanner_zps73a54274.png][/center]
[center][b] The City-State of Bennipolis [/b][/center]
[center][b]Bennipolis[/b][/center]
[center][i]The 14th Eponymous Year of Athenakles With Lysander as Interrex[/i][/center]
On the akropolis of Bennipolis, Ioannes examined the defenses of his fair city. The first defensive wall on their Northern flank had been breached during the past months of fighting. The majority of the defenders had crossed over the Ephydris because the second defensive wall not only was covered from soldiers behind that wall, but parts of it was also protected by the defenders on the main city walls that were perpendicular to it.

Since that wall was breached, Ioannes turned his attention toward Chelon. While the Long Wall provided safe passage from Chelon to Bennipolis from both sides, Ioannes was still anxious about the eastern side of the wall. Therefore, he sent out an order for a defensive wall to be built that would connect Bennipolis and Chelon near the Ephydris, just in case the Terheridonians would breach the Bennipolitans’ second defensive wall.

Suddenly, several messengers approached Ioannes, along with several Terheridonian nobles, who were shackled and unkempt.

“Greetings Ioannes. The counter-strike force has made progress in Terheridonian lands. While there, we stumbled across these Terheridonians nobles, who quickly surrendered when they saw that they were out-matched by our forces. What shall we do with them?”

“Excellent news, courier! What is a better bargaining chip than human hostages are! What a wonderful threat to the Terheridonians this is, as we could begin slitting their throats if the Terheridonians attempts to even step foot in this consecrated ground! Go, courier, take them away to the jail for safekeeping. Make sure that they are fairly treated and kept alive. Hostages are of no use if they are dead!”

The messengers did Ioannes’ command after they heard him speak. After they left his presence, Ioannes returned his attention to the battlefield. While the Terheridonians had received weapons for their infantry from foreign powers, they had neglected to purchase any modern siege craft, which definitely bogged down their attempts to assault the city. They were still using Medieval siege weapons, which were from a time where defensive fortifications held the upper hand against the besiegers. Since the Terheridonians had no way for starving the Bennipolitans out, as the Bennipolitans controlled the surrounding sea, the Terheridonians’ only option was to storm the city by force. However, if they did that, it would be at a heavy cost. Even if they would win this war, it would be a Pyrrhic victory.

“Commander,” Ioannes told one of his lesser officers, “make sure to post watches on the walls. We don’t want any sappers getting through to our walls.

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[center][b]Major Port in Terheridon[/b][/center]
The Bennipolitan navy has been waiting outside the Terheridonians’ major port city for the last month, with no opposition in sight, although the enemy ships could still be seen in the port. With the license of zero opposition, the Bennipolitan naval force had begun to throw chains and barriers across the mouth of the bay so that ships cold neither get into the harbor nor leave it. Finally, the Bennipolitan navy had finished this task and set their eyes towards the city. Now the Terheridonians had no choice but to fight, as all seaward supplies would now be all but blocked from their possession.

The Bennipolitan admirals gathered on the nearby shore and made a libation to Poseidon so that he might favor them in battle. Once this had been completed, the admirals boarded their respective ships and they drove the ships against the trapped Terheridonian navy.

[hider=GM]FYI, I have 24 ships with me: 2 Frigates, 7 Sloops and Schooners (each), and 8 Brigs[/hider]