| Battle of Scorpion Ridge |
| Date |
Descending Air, RY768 |
| Location |
Southern Threshold |
| Result |
Victory for the Realm |
|
| Belligerents |
| 16th Imperial Legion & 18th Imperial Legion (Scarlet Empire) |
17th Legion of Saloy Hin |
| Commanders |
Ledaal Oriden
Cathak Mazyena |
Dao Xi |
| Strength |
500 Realm Legionnaires
150 Realm Legion auxiliaries
25 local auxiliaries
6 Dragonblooded |
500 rebel Legionnaires
125 rebel Legion auxiliaries
5 Dragonblooded |
| Casualties and losses |
150 Realm Legionnaires
85 Realm Legion auxiliaries
20 local auxiliaries
1 Dragonblooded |
450 rebel Legionnaires
75+ rebel Legion auxiliaries
3 Dragonblooded |
|
Overview
The Battle of Scorpion Ridge was an engagement in the continuing conflict between the Legions of House Ledaal (the 16th Imperial Legion & 18th Imperial Legion) and the traitor 17th Legion of Saloy Hin. It resulted in a victory for Realm forces, and has been widely celebrated on the Blessed Isle as both a military triumph and proof of the effectiveness of joint Cathak-Ledaal undertakings.
Preparations
In the lead-up to the battle, raiders from the 17th were becoming an increasingly difficult problem along the trade caravan routes of the Southern desert’s north reaches. Operating from bases along the caravan routes and fading away before being brought to battle, the 17th was threatening Imperial power across the area.
As part of its campaign to bring the 17th Legion to heel, the 6th Dragon of the 18th Imperial Legion under dragonlord Ledaal Oriden was given the task of establishing a Legion fortress at Scorpion Ridge, a water hole on a rocky outcrop with commanding views of the surrounding caravan routes. From such a base, Legion forces could quickly deploy against 17th raids in future.
The 17th Legion learned of this deployment and moved a dragon of troops plus a talon of auxiliaries to drive off the Legionnaires of the 18th, under command of the outcaste traitor Dao Xi (formerly dragonlord of the 17th Imperial Legion 8th Dragon).
Such a force might have been sufficient had the 18th not been reinforced unexpectedly by a Lion Talon of the 12th Legion, operating piecemeal escorting local caravans until it was recalled by House Cathak, who volunteered the unit to join the operation at Scorpion Ridge, under command of talonlord Cathak Mazyena.
Battle
The battle was not particularly lengthy, both dragons of Legion Infantry arrayed for battle. The 18th maneuvered quickly to take the Ridge itself, forcing 17th Legion troops and auxiliaries to charge up the difficult slope to reach them. As they ascended, the presence of the 12th Legion lion talon was revealed, raining fire down upon the attackers and moving skirmishers to flank enemy missile scales. When the 18th Legion 6th Dragon launched a final charge, much of the opposing force was captured or put to the sword, and those captured did not survive long due to being guilty of treason.
Aftermath
In the aftermath of the battle, the area cleared of 17th Legion raiders and Fort Scorpion was constructed on the Ridge.
