Lake Norton Expedition

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The Lake Norton Expedition of 1723 AN is an ongoing two-thousand kilometre trip across north-eastern Corum. The expedition will leave from Southman, capital of East Zimia and the Wallis Islands, in IV.1723 AN and aims to travel to the city of Ossyo on the shore of Lake Norton. Sponsored by the East Zimian and Wallisian government, the expedition will include personnel from the Regional Inspectorate of Corum and various friendly countries.

Planned outward route of the Lake Norton Expedition. 1: Southman; 2: Dodona/Dodan; 3: Tumi; 4: Anzo; 5: Komi; 6: Ossyo

Background

Ever since the establishment of East Zimia and the Wallis Islands, expansionist elements within the kingdom had pushed for the acquisition of the distant lakeside city of Ossyo, capital of the former Realm of Bayen. The successful conquest of Corum Electric in 1721 AN helped to sway public opinion behind the expansionists, resulting in the first plans for an ambitious expedition to reach Ossyo by traversing the two-thousand kilometres of ungoverned territory between the kingdom and the shores of Lake Norton.

These plans were given further impetus by foreign expansion elswhere in Corum, while the highly-publicised ascent of Bear G. Rill to Mount Lacara helped to raise interest in an adventurous expedition through the wilds of the continent.

Planned route

Departing from the city of Southman in IV.1723 AN, it was planned to travel south to Dodona (Thraci: Dodan), before turning west towards Tumi, former capital of the Hhoti Autonomous Territory. From Tumi, the expedition would head in a south-westerly direction towards Anzo, and then west to the city of Komi, where it was hoped to win the support of the local Imab-Adred-Nas population. Leaving Komi, the expedition would then continue westward until it reached Ossyo, where the historic amphibious gunboat, Iron Duck, would take to the waters of Lake Norton.

It was estimated that the expedition would arrive at Dodona within a Norton month, Tumi by the end of the second month, and Anzo by the end of the third. A further one-and-a-half to two Norton months would be required to reach Komi, while it was judged that the final leg to Ossyo might take four months.

The Surenid contingent arrives

Following the Norasht campaign, the Lady of the Suren had written to Mondo early on in the planning stages of the expedition with the offer of material assistance. Whether Mondo intended to decline this generous offer is unknown but either way events were set in motion and, in the first month of 1723 AN a bulk container ship chartered from the Honourable Company had departed from the port of Kara and arrived off Naya Island, an isolated possession of Natopia off the northwestern coast of Corum, twenty-days later. Aboard were four singular vehicles, along with their designers. These four individuals, the agha sahibs Fuller, Hart, Hobart, and Stern, had previously been kept under conditions of purdah at the palaces of Surenshahr, excepting only strictly supervised visits to the Suren Central Manufacturing Organisation manufacturing facilities. This state of affairs persisted for three years until they had been unceremoniously bundled out of the palace and driven to Kara. During the voyage the four gentleman had received letters addressed to them in vermilion envelopes bearing the seal of the Surenshahs. Upon stepping ashore at Naya Island, the four were bade by their keeper, a fearsome Kumaranchi eunuch by the name of Abbas, to unseal the letters and read their contents. To their consternation they learned that they had been graciously accepted into the service of the House of Suren as kuls and were to be honoured in turn with commissions to the "Surenid Expeditionary Force in Corum". This expeditionary force would comprise of themselves, the four steel beasts stored within the belly of the ship, their keeper Abbas, and his own retinue of kuls. Abbas had received his own set of instructions, in an envelope of vermilion and gold leaf, which he had read during the voyage. In his possession had been placed a bankers draft and a generously filled treasure chest. With these he was to constitute the Surenid Expeditionary Force in Corum to the extent that he deemed fitting. He was further charged to maintain a proper account of his expenditure, to be notified to Surenshahr by monthly returns, including invoices, or to anticipate an appointment with the headsman upon his return.

Logistics

On 14.II.1723 AN, Sarhang Alexios Tzakhas, of the Regional Inspectorate of Corum, wrote to Mondo:

Majesty,

I have seen the Iron Duck and the Surenid armoured behemoths that have recently been landed. That they are able to make good distance cross country is all very well, but to go the course they must have fuel, which will require fuel trucks to follow in their wake, and doubtless shall require additional depots to be established along the proposed line of march, so that the fuel trucks may themselves be replenished. Furthermore, as the expedition shall be crossing territory that has fallen into disorder it must be envisaged that a workforce shall be required. As far as I am able to judge, without making any special calculation, I consider that 1,200 labourers and a similar number of porters would be the smallest number that would suffice, and a well-armed guard of at least 500 volunteers, supplemented by a similar contingent of native askaris would be necessary.

Miss Merrick, whom I had consulted as to the force necessary for the safety of the Expedition, is of opinion that I have formed far too low an estimate, but after weighing the testimony of many experienced persons acquainted with Corum, I must adhere to my opinion that a thousand troops armed with modern rifles and machine guns, and under the command of experienced persons, would, if supplemented by the irregular force, fully suffice.

Tzakhas' recommendations prompted the formation of Norforce, short for "Lake Norton Force", a weak brigade-sized command comprising a battalion of regular soldiers from the East Zimian and Wallisian War League, a second battalion of Imab-Adred-Nas auxiliaries, and a mixed support regiment of logistical personnel, labourers and porters.

Bear G. Rill Invitation and Role

On 23.II.1723 AN, Bear G. Rill and his team have been invited by Mondo to participate in the exploration. played a significant role in the renowned expedition across the lands of Corum. Positioned at the heart of an untamed continent teeming with indigenous flora and fauna, Lake Norton had long captivated the imagination of explorers and scientists alike. Bear G. Rill's expertise in natural sciences, and his unwavering spirit of survival and exploration made him an invaluable asset to the expedition. His profound understanding of ecological systems, coupled with his ability to adapt to the challenges posed by the rugged terrain and unpredictable wildlife, enabled the team to navigate through the uncharted wilderness surrounding the lake. Rill's meticulous observations of the native flora and fauna during the expedition could be significantly rilevant to the advancement of ecological knowledge in the region.

Establishment

List of notable participants, contingents, and equipment

• Regional Inspectorate of Corum
• Norforce
  • 1st Expeditionary Battalion (c.600)
  • 1st Imab Battalion (c.600 Imab-Adred-Nas)
  • Support Regiment (c.1200)
• Iron Duck
• Surenid Expeditionary Force in Corum
  • The esteemed palace kul, Abbas Pasha, keeper of kuls
    • A retinue of forty kuls
  • The honoured palace kuls Fuller, Hart, Hobart, and Stern, technical experts
  • 4x self-propelled assault gun / tank destroyers of no standard type ("The Four Funnies")
  • 1x command vehicle (tracked)
• Bear G. Rill and party

Expedition

The fun starts here!