The Red Fort (that some named the Citadel) was the name given to a D'Avore family fastness in the Fenn Mountains of northern Quon Tali.[1][2] At the time of the Malazan Empire's formation, it was the "last redoubt and refuge" of the Crimson Guard.[3] The remote fortress was located deep in the Great Fenn Range overlooking Eagle Summit Pass, which led into the Ice Wastes.[3][4]
This "hidden Red Fort" was known about widely, as it was often included in minstrel tales and songs - although most people thought that the fort did not actually exist. The Red Fort was surrounded by ravens, which apparently were attracted to its crenellations. The fortress, which was quite large for its location, was surrounded by tall walls of stone - which gave the impression of blending into the natural rocky cliffs on which it stood. Most of the enclosed space within the walls was taken up by a square inner tower, also made of stone. Men and women of the Crimson Guard patrolled the walls.[3]
Members of the Guard were stationed at the Red Fort for relatively long tours of duty there. Periodically, a mule train out of New Seti made its circuitous way into the Fenn Range to resupply the fort and to bring fresh Guard members to relieve the existing group at the fort. These relieved Crimson Guard members would then travel with the mule train back to the lowlands.[3]
In Return of the Crimson Guard[]
According to Traveller, this fastness was the last one held by the D'Avore family in their war against the Malazan Empire. This final refuge was held by the Crimson Guard for decades during the Malazan conquest of the continent of Quon Tali. Traveller went on to say that Kellanved was responsible for bringing down the Citadel in an earthquake, killing thousands of his own men in the process.[5]
In Kellanved's Reach[]
Ullara of Li Heng, having travelled northward across the Seti Plains and deep into the Great Fenn Range,[6] inadvertently came upon the Red Fort, which was, at the time, commanded by Seth of the Crimson Guard. Seth convinced Ullara that she should stop at the fortress for some respite from her long, freezing trek through the steep mountains. Ullara ended up spending far more time at the fort than she had intended, but eventually left it and continued her interrupted journey[7][8] through the Fenn Range and into the Ice Fields north of the Fenn mountains.[9]
In Forge of the High Mage[]
Gwynn, Blues, Black the Lesser, Jacinth, Smoky, and Lean were among the Guard stationed at the Red Fort when the Malazan Empire sent an army under Dujek Onearm through Eagle Summit to invade Falar. The Guard eyed their enemy warily, but the Malazans made no move against the fort other than to post a detachment of 700 led by Imperial Historian Karsden to monitor the fort.[10] A series of earthquakes (likely caused by the reawakening of The Mountain of Gold weakened the foundations of the fort to Blues' concern. He recommended evacuating but was overruled by Gwynn.[11][12] By the time Gwynn agreed to pull out, it was too late. Another violent tremor sent the entire fort crashing down into the pass. Blues and the others survived through their magic.[13] Imperial Historian Karsden used the opportunity of the fort's destruction to pen a treatise entitled "The Fall of the Crimson Guard", which fawningly credited it to the might of Emperor Kellanved's magic.[14] The true record remained clouded even decades later.
Notes and references[]
- ↑ Return of the Crimson Guard, Book 1 Chapter 2, US TPB p.45
- ↑ Forge of the High Mage, Chapter 2, UK HC p.28
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Kellanved's Reach, Chapter 16, US TPB p.248-252
- ↑ Forge of the High Mage, Chapter 1, UK HC p.15
- ↑ Return of the Crimson Guard, Book 1 Chapter 2, US TPB p.44-45
- ↑ Kellanved's Reach, Chapter 12, US TPB p.192-197
- ↑ Kellanved's Reach, Chapter 16, US TPB p.248-252
- ↑ Kellanved's Reach, Chapter 19, US TPB p.289-292
- ↑ Kellanved's Reach, Chapter 21, US TPB p.327-328
- ↑ Forge of the High Mage, Chapter 4, UK HC p.62
- ↑ Forge of the High Mage, Chapter 2, UK HC p.27-31
- ↑ Forge of the High Mage, Chapter 5, UK HC p.68-70
- ↑ Forge of the High Mage, Chapter 7, UK HC p.107-110
- ↑ Forge of the High Mage, Chapter 7, UK HC p.111-112