Locations

Desert Watch

Desert Watch (also rendered as Desert's Watch in some log entries) was a city that served as a major site of conflict during The Fight for Rislandia, enduring three days of bloody fighting before falling to the Wyranth Empire; it was later named in an armistice proposal in The Iron Wedding as a territory Rislandia would cede to the Wyranth Empire.

Desert Watch

Desert Watch

Desert Watch was a city that featured prominently in the military campaigns recorded in The Fight For Rislandia. It appeared in the log of Baron Theodore von Monocle and was the site of sustained and costly fighting between Rislandian and Wyranth forces. The city was later referenced in The Iron Wedding (novel) in the context of post-war territorial negotiations.

Note on spelling: The location is referred to as both Desert Watch and Desert's Watch within Baron von Monocle's log entries. It is not yet confirmed whether these represent two distinct places or alternate renderings of the same name.

Overview

Desert Watch was a city of sufficient strategic importance that Baron von Monocle was ordered to fly to it aboard his airship. The city's urban nature proved a significant tactical constraint: airship support was limited during the battle, as cannonballs could not be dropped on the city without risking destruction of Rislandian property and lives. The Wyranth Empire inflicted damage on parts of the city during the fighting.

Role in The Fight for Rislandia

The Battle for Desert Watch

In The Fight For Rislandia, Baron von Monocle recorded in his log that he had been ordered to fly to Desert Watch. The battle that followed lasted three days of bloody fighting before the area was finally secured. Despite the presence of Baron von Monocle's airship, aerial bombardment was not a viable option, as cannonballs could not be dropped on their own city. The Wyranth destroyed parts of Desert Watch during the engagement.

"I've been ordered to fly to Desert Watch." — Baron von Monocle's log

"The battle for Desert Watch lasted three days." — Baron von Monocle's log

The Fall of Desert's Watch

A later log entry — recorded on Day 31 of the Month of Princes — noted that Desert's Watch was lost to Rislandian forces. Prior to or during the loss, an evacuation and retreat to Pleasant Pass was managed from the location. Following an explosion in the sky, the Wyranth panicked and retreated back to Desert's Watch, as recorded in the chapter 15 log excerpt of The Fight For Rislandia.

"Desert's Watch is lost." — Baron von Monocle's log, Day 31 of the Month of Princes

"the Wyranth panicked from the explosion in the sky all the same and retreated back to Desert's Watch." — The Fight for Rislandia, chapter 15 log excerpt

Role in The Iron Wedding

In The Iron Wedding (novel), Desert's Watch was named in the Wyranth armistice proposal as a territory that Rislandia would cede to the Wyranth Empire. This reference confirmed that the city's loss during The Fight for Rislandia had lasting geopolitical consequences, with the Wyranth seeking to formalize their occupation through diplomatic terms.

Related Locations

  • Pleasant Pass — the destination of the Rislandian evacuation and retreat from Desert's Watch.
  • Rislandia — the kingdom whose forces fought for and ultimately lost control of the city.
  • Wyranth Empire — the opposing force that destroyed parts of the city, eventually occupied it, and later sought to formalize possession through an armistice proposal.

In A History of Rislandia

According to A History of Rislandia, Desert's Watch is a fortified outpost situated on the edge of the Red Desert, positioned to guard the southern approach to Rislandia. The sourcebook describes it in its own words as "a fortified outpost on the edge of the Red Desert, guarding the southern approach to Rislandia."

Physical Description and Garrison

According to A History of Rislandia, Desert's Watch is built as a stone fortress with high walls. It maintains a garrison of more than 200 soldiers and draws its water supply from underground wells. The surrounding desert terrain makes the outpost difficult to besiege. The Mountain Road connects to Desert's Watch, providing a land route to the wider kingdom.

Origins

According to A History of Rislandia, Desert's Watch was established by Zarma traders, suggesting the site predates its incorporation into Rislandian military infrastructure.

Historical Role

According to A History of Rislandia, Desert's Watch has been the site of multiple battles during Wyranth invasions across its history. Notably, it was lost and then recaptured during the Second Wyranth War in Year 16. Baron Theodore von Monocle is recorded as having fought at Desert's Watch on multiple occasions.

Events of the Current Conflict

According to A History of Rislandia, Baron Theodore von Monocle received orders to fly the Liliana to Desert's Watch on Day 22 of the Month of Princes. The sourcebook records that the Liliana evacuated civilians from the outpost during the fighting. Desert's Watch fell on Day 31 of the Month of Princes — consistent with the novels. The sourcebook also records that Wyranth forces retreated to Desert's Watch after an explosive detonated in the sky on Day 13 of the Month of Princesses, a date that postdates the fall recorded on Day 31 of the Month of Princes.

Current Status

Desert's Watch fell to the Wyranth Empire and was named in an armistice proposal as a Wyranth territorial claim.