Message for Qian I

In this wilderness south of Anzeruta, along the border with Barta, most of the undulating ridges were covered in nothing but this pitch-black rock. Vegetation was sparse, and the higher elevations were covered in bright white snow all year round. Below, only scattered heather and similar shrubs formed tundra grasslands, sparsely dotted across the ground as if a thin layer of volcanic ash had been spread over it. A magnificent fortress stood between two somber, black mountains. Its walls, more than sixty feet high, were built from square-cut stone blocks. The Empire's flags fluttered atop four watchtowers, from which every valley within ten miles could easily be monitored. The observation chambers were also equipped with rotating ballistae and wizards, as well as more than a squadron of crossbowmen, who could fire on airborne enemies through the arrow slits in the towers.

The fortress was equipped with an Air Force as well. The border legion stationed here possessed griffins and wyverns, along with elite Pegasus Knights. Once they confirmed enemy activity, they would take to the skies at once to guard the airspace above the fortress.

Brando withdrew his gaze from the enormous iron cages on the walls. Those were griffin cages, and the griffins locked inside formed the aerial early-warning force stationed on the walls. They could be used for reconnaissance as well as interception. Not far from the cages stood a towering gateway. It was more than fifty feet high from the ground to the top, opened in two halves from the center, and was entirely cast from iron. To forge it, Cruzian craftsmen had assembled prefabricated iron components, then had wizards fuse them together with spells. The purpose of the iron gate was to fully unleash the impact force of the fortress's Earth Dragon cavalry. Black Sword Bastion