After the death of Caribdis, the Dragon Turtle, and the destruction of the Undersea Base (along with the Unseeing Champion of Feng), the Triad largely abandoned or were driven out of the Western areas of the Corsair Seas. After the failed attempt to destroy much of the Corsair Fleet in the channel and bound by infernal contract, Lord Karumantha and the Champion of Icengrim, Scylla, withdrew to the western seas. The Ship and Crew of the The Emerald Wake (but not the The Revenant Tide) were celebrated as legends through; gold rewards and lavish contracts were thrust upon them upon their return to Corsairs Landing.
Several weeks after the death of Caribdis, merchants, pirates and others began to report sightings of a moving island, the size of of a small city, in the western seas and moving north. This floating fortress would known as 'the Black Ark' which served as a mobile port and castle for the the Triad. Among other typical defenses, the Ark was equipped with a massive Arcane Cannon from ages past, The Hammer of Vigilance, which could destroy any sea-bound vessel in a single volley. The Githyanki attempted to overrun the fortress, but were thrown back with heavy losses as they approached.
With the Black Ark able to move largely unopposed, its course brought it to the Elven City of Laz'klennar. Arriving outside the harbor they began a bombardment and assault that lasted five days. However, rather than storming the beaches with troops and war engines, the leaders of the Triad unleashed a creature that would become known as the Abomination, an unstoppable force of nature and destruction. Eventually, the most powerful champions of the city managed to slay the beast, only to see it return again the next day to the horror of the defenders; a cycle which would be repeated four times. On the 5th day of the siege, waves of Triad soldiers and mercenaries attacked along side the creature - overrunning the few remaining defenders. Lord Karumantha, Champion of Feng, and Scylla, Champion of Icengrim, moved in to claim the city for the Triad; with many survivors fleeing into the surrounding woods rather than live in the occupied city.
“The harbor was always our pride, its silver docks and mirrored waters, but during the siege it became a burning graveyard. The Triad’s war galleys swept in first, hurling fire that clung to the waves like oil. Then came the Abomination, dragged toward us by chains of frost and shadow. I saw it fall on the second day, collapsing onto the shattered quay with a sound like mountains splitting. We celebrated too soon. In the early light of the third dawn, the corpse inhaled, and its eyes glowed as if something inside it refused to let go. Each rebirth brought more terror, more screams, more broken timbers. By the fifth day even the bravest had stopped cheering when we struck it down, for what is victory when the foe you kill will rise tomorrow? Laz’klennar’s ships burned, and with them the spirit of our people.” - Testimony of Captain Merelion Starwake, Harbor Guard
The immediate reaction from Corsairs Landing and the other Chartist Cities ranged from muted to non-existent. The Triad did not outwardly move against them, and the panic caused by the fall of a major city caused a massive increase in protection payments and privateer contracts. Exiled Elven nobles and powers from other coastal cities eagerly signed lucrative privateer contracts to any captain bold enough attack the Triad. Gun running smoke powder from the Goblin settlements into the south, past Triad interdiction efforts, also became very profitable to skilled smugglers and pirates. In less than a year, the Corsair Seas had become a much more dangerous place, but where gold and glory could be claimed by the bold.
In contrast, the fall of Laz'klennar and destruction of The'rune less than a month apart sent shockwaves through the other coastal cities. Freeport, under newly minted Admiral Alice Summerville, rapidly expanded and modernized its navy. Freeport, Wintershield and other naval powers sought to put new arcane warships to sea that could match any Corsair, Gith or Triad vessel on the water. The Githyanki Navy attacked and worked against the Triad wherever possible.