Pleasant Pass
Pleasant Pass was a location that figured prominently as a military fallback point and civilian evacuation site during the events of The Fight For Rislandia, and later appeared as a subject of territorial negotiation in The Iron Wedding.
Overview
Pleasant Pass served as a designated retreat destination for Rislandian forces and as a staging ground for the evacuation of civilians. Reinforcements, including the airship The Kerli, arrived at Pleasant Pass during the conflict depicted in The Fight For Rislandia. The location is referenced in Baron Theodore von Monocle's log entries for Day 37 and Day 40 of the Month of Princes. In a later period, Pleasant Pass was named in the Wyranth armistice proposal as a territory Rislandia would cede to the Wyranth Empire.
Role in The Fight for Rislandia
In The Fight For Rislandia, Pleasant Pass became a critical point of operations after the loss of Desert Watch. Rislandian forces conducted a managed retreat to Pleasant Pass, as recorded in Baron von Monocle's log: "We're managing an evacuation and retreat to Pleasant Pass."
Reinforcements, including the airship The Kerli, arrived at Pleasant Pass to bolster the Rislandian position. However, the pass itself subsequently came under threat, necessitating a further evacuation of civilians. Baron von Monocle's log noted: "We're having to evacuate civilians again, this time from Pleasant Pass." These events were recorded across his Day 37 and Day 40 entries of the Month of Princes.
Role in The Iron Wedding
In The Iron Wedding, Pleasant Pass was named in the Wyranth armistice proposal as a territory Rislandia would cede to the Wyranth Empire. The relevant passage states: "The Rislandians agree to cede Pleasant Pass."
In A History of Rislandia
According to A History of Rislandia, Pleasant Pass is also known as The Southern Route. The sourcebook provides extensive geographical, historical, and military context for the pass that goes well beyond its role in the novels.
Geography
According to A History of Rislandia, Pleasant Pass is the only true mountain pass through the Westerly Spine, described as a narrow, winding road connecting the western coast to the interior of Rislandia. It is barely wide enough for two wagons in most places and reaches over 8,000 feet at its highest point. The pass is completely impassable for four to five months per year due to snow, and is subject to rockslides and avalanches. The sourcebook characterises it as easily defended but difficult to attack, and notes that control of Pleasant Pass effectively means control of the western coast.
The Mountain Road connects to Pleasant Pass. The pass is heavily fortified, with Traveler's Fort at the western entrance and Pleasant Pass Fort at its highest point. The Wyranth Empire controls the southern entrance to the pass and maintains fortifications on the southern side mirroring those of Rislandia; control of the southern side is described as vital for Wyranth access to their western territories.
Western Rislandians resent what the sourcebook calls the "mountain tax"—tolls levied on Pleasant Pass.
History
First Wyranth War (Year 337–341)
According to A History of Rislandia, Wyranth forces attacked Pleasant Pass in Year 337, an act that started the First Wyranth War. Wyranth pushed through the pass that same year. A Rislandian counteroffensive led to a stalemate at Pleasant Pass in Year 338, and Rislandian forces retook the pass in Year 340. Following the conflict, a demilitarised zone at Pleasant Pass was expanded under the Treaty of Year 341.
Fortification Under Malaky XI
According to A History of Rislandia, Pleasant Pass became impregnable following a fortification program undertaken during the reign of King Malaky XI.
Wyranth War of Years 437–442 and the Battle of Pleasant Pass (Year 439)
According to A History of Rislandia, Pleasant Pass was the site of the Battle of Pleasant Pass in Year 439, during the Wyranth War of Years 437–442. Frederick von Monocle fought in this battle.
Events of The Fight for Rislandia — Bible Account
According to A History of Rislandia, The Liliana evacuated civilians and retreated to Pleasant Pass after Desert's Watch fell on Day 31. Reinforcements, including The Kerli, arrived on Day 33. Civilians were subsequently evacuated from Pleasant Pass to Lake Bethany on Day 35.