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The Pentans have recently been raiding heavily in the Redlands, taking a heavy toll on the people and farms of the region. The Emperor was happy to ignore this situation until he became aware that his taxes were beginning to suffer as a result, so he instructed a Dara Happan General called Barzini Hawkrider to raise a small army and to put down the Pentans.
Barzini was a general of some repute, being victorious in many campaigns in the north and west of the Empire. He quickly raised a small army of some 5000 soldiers taken from all parts of the empire and prepared to head east.
Barzini led the Lunar Expeditionary Force (LEF) across the empire and into the Redlands. Initially progress was reasonably quick and sometimes the LEF was able to cover up to 15km a day but as supplies dwindled and the troops had to forage for food the army could barely make 5km a day. Eventually though the Redlands was reached and Barzini began making recces to find the horse nomads and suitable ground where he could bring them to battle.
Barzini learned that the main part of the Pentans raiding force was camped at a place called Yelm's Plain, a large wide open space with hills along its western side. A valley some 400m wide breached these hills and opened out onto the plain, the valley was called Delver Dale and was home to a small mining community of 20 or 30 houses. Barzin made his way along the valley and on the night of Fireday, Harmony week made camp at Delver Dale village. Pickets were set and he preparedhis plans for a battle the following day. Unfortunately he was betrayed and the Pentans knew what he was about and launched an offensive of their own during the night. The rode into the hills and attacked the encamped soldiers from down the sides of the valley. The fight was brief and brutal, the force of 2000 riders made short work of LEF and by the time they rode away 30 minutes later only 800 Lunars remained alive, General Barzini's head was carried away as a souvenir on the end of a Pentan lance.
Panic filled the remaining soldiers and gathering what they could they scrambled back westward, running for the safety of the empire. For the rest of the season they fled all the time being harried by horsemen and when they eventually reached safety their number was halved. As they approached the boundary of Empire lands they were met by a large Lunar Army. The officer leading them did not speak a word, he simply handed a scroll to the first officer he saw before retreating to join his own army. The officer a young sub-altern called Wenders Highlar read out the contents to the gathered LEF.
Freezeday, Disorder, Fire season, 1619
To the Officers and men of the Redlands Lunar Expeditionary Force
It was with great sadness that I heard of the defeat at Delver Dale but it was with great anger also. The name and honour of the Empire went with you into the Redlands and you brought shame and ignominy onto it by allowing a rabble of barbarians less than half your number to defeat you. I find that the only way to expunge these deeds is to expunge the regiments from my armies and henceforth all regiments who were associated with the expeditionary force are disbanded and the soldiers emancipated. As many of the troops have served long and distinguished careers prior to this I am persuaded to give the survivors a land grant in the Uplands of Sartar to do with as you will. The grant is 600 acres and can be found at the location on the map shown. From this day forth and until the next wane the homelands of the empire are shut to you all.
Argenteus, Emperor, Moonson
Wenders led the remainder of the force south until they reached the foreign land of Sartar with its uncouth barbarian inhabitants.
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