Second Battle of the Border River
The Second Battle of the Border River was a significant military engagement fought at the Border River during the 17th Year of King Malaky XVI's reign. The battle resulted in heavy casualties on both sides and is most widely remembered for the disappearance of Baron Theodore von Monocle during or in the immediate aftermath of the fighting.
Overview
The Second Battle of the Border River took place along the Border River, the site of at least one prior major engagement (see 1st Battle at Border River). The battle saw losses on both sides, and its outcome was overshadowed by the fate of Baron Theodore von Monocle, who went missing during or after the engagement. Nine days following the battle, Commander Talyen von Cravat led a counter assault, suggesting the conflict in the region continued beyond the battle itself.
Role in The Blood of Giants
In The Blood of Giants, the Second Battle of the Border River is referenced rather than depicted directly. Harkerpal recalled it as "the time when he disappeared after the Second Battle of the Border River," invoking the battle as the occasion on which Baron von Monocle was lost. The battle is also referred to in the text as "The 2nd Battle of the Border River."
Nine days after the battle, Commander Talyen von Cravat led a counter assault, the details of which are recorded in The Blood of Giants.
Aftermath
The disappearance of Baron Theodore von Monocle following the battle had lasting consequences. The counter assault led by Commander Talyen von Cravat nine days later indicated that military operations in the region continued in the Baron's absence.
In A History of Rislandia
According to A History of Rislandia, the Second Battle of the Border River was not a defensive engagement along the frontier but rather a deep strike into Wyranth Empire territory. The sourcebook frames the battle as an offensive operation with a specific strategic objective: to cripple the Wyranth ability to produce serum-enhanced soldiers by attacking a major Wyranth stronghold.
The Role of the Liliana
A central element of the battle, according to A History of Rislandia, was the participation of The Liliana, which provided air support while ground forces conducted the assault on the stronghold. The sourcebook records that Wyranth anti-airship artillery proved far more advanced than Rislandian intelligence had indicated, and the Liliana was struck multiple times, sustaining severe damage. Nearly half of the airship's fifty-person crew was killed in the initial bombardment. Following the battle, the Liliana was grounded at Loveridge.
Capture of Baron von Monocle
A History of Rislandia states that the battle led to the capture of Baron Theodore von Monocle. At the time, Rislandia had no account of his fate, and he was eventually declared legally dead (For Steam and Country). The sourcebook attributes a quote to the Baron on the eve of the engagement: "This will be my final reckoning. I face the full might of the Wyranth Empire today."