Lake Bethany
Lake Bethany is a lake situated in southern Rislandia, described as a beautiful place. It gained significant strategic importance during the 2nd Wyranth War as a rallying and fortification point for Rislandian forces, and was later referenced in diplomatic negotiations between the two powers.
Description
Lake Bethany is noted for its natural beauty. Its location in the southern reaches of Rislandia placed it in proximity to Pleasant Pass, making it a natural destination for both civilians and military forces moving through the region.
Role in The Fight for Rislandia
In The Fight for Rislandia, Lake Bethany appeared in Baron Theodore von Monocle's log as a landing place near Pleasant Pass, with the entry recorded on Day 10 of the Month of the Fool per the Rislandian Calendar.
As Wyranth forces threatened the region, citizens of Pleasant Pass were directed to Lake Bethany during an evacuation. King Malaky XV ordered the full might of the Grand Rislandian Army to march to Lake Bethany, and knights were dispatched to the area with orders to destroy Wyranth artillery. By Day 25 of the Month of Princesses, the army had arrived and fortified the area surrounding the lake, as recorded in the Baron's log: "The southern area around Lake Bethany is now fortified."
A blizzard subsequently prevented the Wyranth Empire from advancing further toward the lake. As the Baron noted, "the Wyranth won't be able to advance again toward Lake Bethany," and he expressed the hope that "the Wyranth never make it this far into our kingdom." King Malaky XV had committed to the defense of the location, with the declaration that "King Malaky is sending the full might of the Grand Rislandian Army to Lake Bethany."
Role in The Iron Wedding
In The Iron Wedding, Lake Bethany was named in a Wyranth Empire armistice proposal. The proposal called for the Wyranth Empire to extend its border northward to Lake Bethany, as stated in the proposal: "our proposal would be for the Wyranth Empire to extend northward to Lake Bethany." This would have placed the lake at the new boundary between the two nations, underscoring the lake's continued geopolitical significance following the military campaigns of the 2nd Wyranth War.
In A History of Rislandia
According to A History of Rislandia, Lake Bethany is one of the largest bodies of fresh water in Rislandia, situated in the south-central region of the kingdom — a more precise designation than the novel-based account on this page's description of it as simply in "southern Rislandia." The sourcebook notes that the lake is fed by rivers descending from the Wyranth Mountains and is surrounded by extremely fertile farmland producing abundant crops, details not mentioned in the novels.
The town of Lakeside sits on the southern shore of Lake Bethany, and Lake Avily Estate is located on the lake's shores in southern Rislandia.
Historical Significance
According to A History of Rislandia, Lake Bethany has been a site of major historical events across several centuries. The sourcebook records that the Treaty of Lake Bethany was signed here in Year 182, ending the Border River Conflict. A second treaty of the same name was concluded at the lake in Year 356, ending the First Wyranth War.
The lake was also the site of the Battle of Lake Bethany, which took place in the 25th Year of King Malaky XV's reign.
During the Wyranth invasion covered in the novels, A History of Rislandia records that King Malaky XVI evacuated to an estate on the lake.
Events of the 2nd Wyranth War
The sourcebook's account of the civilian evacuation from Pleasant Pass to Lake Bethany gives the date as Day 35 of the Month of Princes — differing from the novel-based account on this page, which does not specify a date for the evacuation itself. The sourcebook confirms that the Grand Rislandian Army arrived at Lake Bethany in force on Day 25 of the Month of Princesses, consistent with the novel-based account on this page, and that southern Rislandia was fortified at this location.