Lore:Fort Redmane

Fort Redmane
Type	Imperial Ruin
Continent	Tamriel
Province	Cyrodiil
Region	Blackwood; (Niben Forest)
Appears in	Oblivion, ESO

Fort Redmane ca. 2E 582

Fort Redmane (also called Fort Redman^[1] and formerly Fort Niben)^[2] is an Imperial fort located on the banks of the Niben River, in the province of Cyrodiil. The fort was originally built to defend the Second Empire's settlers in the south from Anequine hunt-barons, but because the threat was much smaller than realized and the two kingdoms of Elsweyr were later under the Empire's control, Fort Redmane saw little use and it stands on the river waiting for a threat that may never come.^[2]

HistoryEdit

Early HistoryEdit

The fort was built in 1E 2707 shortly after Emperor Reman's victory in the First Akaviri Invasion and it was commissioned by General Nemenius Hestor, commander of the Tenth Legion. It was made to protect Nibenese settlers that pushed west toward the savannahs of Anequina and traditional hunting grounds. General Hestor envisioned a large and impressive compound called Fort Niben, but when money was placed on subduing larger threats to the Empire, construction on the fort halted. Hestor's solution was to fabricate a large threat that would bring some attention to his superiors and used the formerly obscure clan-chieftain, Hunzur-ri as the leader of a wild horde of "beast-men". He went so far as to call him "the Red Mane" and built him up as a fanatic leader that went on a holy crusade to wipe out the Imperials of the Trans-Niben.^[2]

The Empire went along with his story because of how foreign the Khajiit and their kingdoms were to them. The money came in waves for both Fort Niben's construction and the force to suppress the threat. All the while, Hunzur-ri had been badgered by other hunt-barons for "provoking" the Empire, so in retaliation, the hunt-baron assembled a small force of loyal warriors and sneaked across the Niben River to infiltrate the fort. General Nemenius Hestor was killed by the Khajiit while Hunzur-ri was struck down momentarily. The Legion decided that instead of revealing Hestor's plan to fearmonger for money to his fort, they instead described his death as a heroic stand and that he gave his own life to put an end to the Red Mane. The fort was renamed Fort Redmane in honor of the event but by the time the fort was completed, the raids had stopped.^[2] Since then, Fort Redmane remained a controversial structure and has changed hands countless times.^[3]

The Interregnum and onwardEdit

Fort Redmane during the Deadlands merger

Mehrunes Dagon in Fort Redmane

By the Interregnum in 2E 582, Fort Redmane was later taken over by the Black Fin Legion of Gideon, who saw fit to repair it. Sometime later, Keshu the Black Fin had to relocate three of the Four Ambitions to Fort Redmane for an impending invasion from the Order of the Waking Flame led by High Priest Ertus Vandacia. Keshu had also sent a mercenary to find allies that could help them. It is unknown if they went ahead and found more companions, but they reportedly enlisted help from the Ivory Brigade garrisoned in Leyawiin, Borderwatch, and the Hutan-Tzel area, as well as the Three Winds of Stonewastes. The Black Fin Legion guarded the anterior while the Ivory Brigade and the other allies guarded the interior of the fort.^[4]

The bulk of the Waking Flame's forces assaulted Fort Redmane from the outside while a small contingency invaded via Portal Magic. Soon enough, small gates of Oblivion opened through Fort Redmane and the fort was engulfed in destruction. With the sacrifice of one of the ambitions, Destron, Vandacia began the process to merge Fort Redmane with the Deadlands, and in that time, he successfully brought Mehrunes Dagon into the fray. But with the Mysterium Xarxes, the ambition, Sombren was able to weaken Vandacia's magic, and the mercenary slew the High Priest, just before the merger was complete.^[4] Dagon's plans were foiled in Blackwood, but the search for the final ambition continued.^[5]

By the Oblivion Crisis in 3E 433, Fort Redman was abandoned and it was taken over by a coven of vampire, however, it is unknown if they belonged to the Cyrodiil Vampyrum Order.^[1] The Dark Brotherhood used the ruins as a dead drop for one of their assassins.^[6]