Lossefion/Erdinghast
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Operation BREAKER
SDRR Force HELIOTROPE Orders
Classified – Most Secret
Office of Kazei Maheka Zinair, Directorate of Internal Security
Abstract:
On the 15th day of Descending Fire, Year of the Dragon, Quicksilver Era, 10th Epoch of the Shogunate, the General Staff received an urgent communication from the Kazei Senior at Nasaru Redoubt. Kazei Kirigasu has been tasked with surveillance of the Greyfalls city environs (Realm: “River Province Administrative District”). He has recently reported expeditions probing to the south and west of Greyfalls into the Hundred Kingdoms region. Elements of these displayed no Realm insignia or open affiliation to other groups. Experienced rangers and strategic analysts have however tracked these raids and have concluded that these actions are the result of Realm legion-trained individuals.
Kazei Kirigasu's most recent report has been of urgency as one notable element, dubbed “Force Third South” has made a foray in force to capture a strategically-valuable strongpoint named “The Mount”. It is located at a critical point near the confluence of the Rock and Yellow River. This is a major trade route for the Confederation. A principal supply lines for Nasaru Redoubt is also based from Ridingfell principality. As a clear and present threat to the continuing operational security of Nasaru Redoubt, we are ordered to proceed immediately to neutralise this threat.
FIG 1: North East Confederation (including Greyfalls)
Operational Objectives:
- End the occupation of stronghold Mount Erdinghast by forces hostile to Lookshy.
- End the organised operations of rogue guerilla elements in the environs of Mount Erdinghast.
- Establish secure communication and supply line from allied principality of Ridingfell to Nasaru Redoubt.
Due to the nature of this mission, collateral damage and civilian casualties will not be tolerated. Be aware that revelation of Project HELIOTROPE assets must be kept to a minimum. In this one instance, you are authorised to use extreme sanction to maintain secrecy in case of a breach of security.
Force Third South is known to consist of:
- Two wings light infantry (Realm Standard)
- Two wings heavy infantry (Realm standard)
- One wing archers (non-standard)
- Three scales support staff (non-standard; appear to include siege engineers)
- 13 dragon-blooded command staff and combatants, plus auxiliaries.
Local militias have engaged only a part of Force Third South's strength to date. At the very best they have forced their opponent to withdraw. Force Third South has been only lightly engaged since they were acknowledged on their path south into the Ridingfell area. The commanding officer has been tentatively identified as one Nellens Kaviri, a Fire Aspect former legionnaire who mustered out with several commendations to his name from the Realm Fourth Legion. He is known to be an extremely competent commander, and competent in broken-terrain tactics. His commanding officers are thought to be former comrades, but have proven difficult to conclusively identify.
Geography: (Please see accompanying maps for relative positions – RIDINGFELL et al.)
The “Mount Fortress” is more properly named Erdinghast. It is a partially ruinous fortress based on the location of a former manse. The target is located centrally in the eponymous principality Erdinghast. The manse caps a demesne rated 4.358 on the Zhang-Heng Archeotectonic Scale. With the manse in disrepair, it is forecast that the demesne is only partially capped. Any approach should take this information into account, and reconnoitre appropriately.
Shogunate records for the flood plains surrounding the juncture of the Rock River and Yellow River describe it as a “substantial volcanic-type plug, nestled at the head of a valley overlooking a natural harbour. The old central magma chamber remains hollow through unknown agency, and four lava-tubes give connectivity to similar systems to the north and west. Two are large enough for pack horse, the third is large enough for two men to walk abreast in armour, and the fourth is large enough only for a single man crawling.”
“The fortress's walls are over 20 feet thick in the foundation and reaching up to 50 feet in height. Three separate fortified yards exist that are connected with each other through gates. The fortress has a total area of 110 000 square feet.” (See Figure 2; plan supplied courtesy of Metagalapan Hawkrider patrols.)
FIG 2: Aerial plan of “The Mount”, accurate to 10 weeks.
“The surrounding town of Porres has grown out of the need to supply the Mount (sic. Local colloquialism). It is also due to the fact that it is a defensible location with a natural harbour. It is located conveniently a scant few miles from the confluence of the Greater Rock and Yellow Rivers.”
“The surrounding principality is rich in minerals and metal ores. The Daimyo no Hulufu has graciously given direction to found metallurgical foundries at Osna and Porre. Huferd remains the area's principal landward trading point.”
Current intelligence indicates that Porre and Osna have since fallen to internecine conflict, and Huferd to inundation. The remains of these towns are of note for investigation following the pacification of the area.
Ridingfell Principality Notes:
Formerly Vidin, the principality was renamed following the Tamu Emancipation of the RY300s. Ridingfell is a walled city occupying a volcanic crag that overlooks a central point on the flood plain of the River Riding. The local economy is based on arable crops and grain, primarily supplying neighbouring petty kingdoms. Erdinghast was formerly the most eastern part of Ridingfell, located on the Rock River confluence. It was heavily occupied by the Iselsi forces, and thus saw heavy fighting. It was mostly abandoned following the conflict. Ridingfell/Vidin remains occupied and in good repair.
FIG: Ridingfell, from an oil painting by Aldemar Gasque.
Ridingport: Established following the Tamu Emancipation, Ridingport fell during the Fair Folk invasion. This is the primary docks for the Nasaru supply line. There is a rebuilding project being sponsored by the Adjutant General's Office, but the provision is being hampered by local concerns and raids from Erdinghast.
Plainskeep: A fortified village based around a local market. The keep in question is a stone watchtower.
Wall: The simply-named village is the local frontline against bandits and slavers. It is a motte and bailey style fort, and holds a critical pass to Erdinghast. The troops are local militiamen. Tamu patrols into Erdinghast start from this point.
Erdinghast Principality Notes:
Ill Fortune Ford:
Ill Fortune Ford remains the only town of any size along the Indensward River. It is primarily a home to miners, and a frontier trading post to supply them. Of late, many outlying camps have been subjected to raids by more organised banditry. The frontiersmen are almost at point of riot.
Origins:
FIG 3: The Mount Fortress (Central Keep)
The initial fortress was constructed during the Pre-Shogunate era. True age is virtually impossible to identify as a result, although it is not less than five millennia old. The rock formations in the area served as a natural protection, as fortified walls were only built from northwest and southeast, with the primary yard being surrounded by rocks up to 230 feet high from the other sides.
Strategic analysis suggests that the Mount initially served for surveillance and not strictly defense, although the local demense strengthened the stone. Nonetheless, architectural surveys tentatively concluded that the plug partially collapsed in a prehistorical era due to a prolonged struggle inside the caverns.
A Tanu tribal warchief of Vidin, Stratisimiar extended the old fortress in RY200, building fortified garrisons before the existing rock massifs. During Stratsimiar's rule, the Mount Fortress became one of the most important strongholds in the region, second only to the chief's capital fortress of Vidin. Vidin is now the eponymous capital of Ridingfell.
During the Realm pacification of Vidin, the fortress was captured by forces raised by Great House Iselsi in 300. They were forced to further expand the stronghold due to the intensified Tanu insurrectionist activity in the region.
The stronghold had an important role in the Western Tanu emancipation and the subsequent Arczehcki Wars. Guerilla warfare resulted in many of the towns in Erdinghast raided and subsequently abandoned during the RY300s. These were to culminate in the siege of the Mount Fortress that lasted barely three days. Local legend quotes “the ground rose up and repelled the invaders.” The recapture of the Mount fortress by local militia caused a considerable thorn in the side of the retreating Realm invaders. Several commanding officers were captured and imprisoned within before being ransomed.
The Mount fortress was further used as a staging ground for tribal forces heading south and refugees going north during the invasion of the Arczhecki Horde in RY 364.
Considerable changes to the fortress were made in the early RY500s. These changes were typical for castle architecture of the period, a full reorganization being carried out, as well as additional expansion. Typical Confederation elements were added to the Mount Fortress owing to the Nexan and Lookshyan engineers that were contracted in the expansion. They were decisive in local defense during the subsequent Fair Folk invasion of the Confederation. It was last reported used in a local dispute in RY736.
FIG 4: The Mount Fortress (North Facing)
Strategic Session Notes to be supplied in additional documents.
Good fortune, Kazei Maheka Zinair, Directorate of Internal Security.
Given on the 16th day of Ascending Air, Year of the Phoenix, Quicksilver Era, 10th Epoch.
