The importance of the Crimson Bat for the expansion of the Lunar Empire cannot be understated. We all know it is awesomely powerful in its own right, able to devour an entire regiment, spirits, and more – but it is also a Glowspot. Within about 10 miles of the Crimson Bat, Lunar magicians suffer no penalties even on crescent and dark Lunar phases.
The pinkish glow of the Crimson Bat can be seen for many miles, and its presence in the borderlands of the Lunar Empire strikes terror into the hearts of outsiders. One can assume if the Crimson Bat is heading your way it is accompanied by soldiers, magicians, and more.
During The Strong Making Peace wane, the Lunars used the Crimson Bat and Yara Aranis to strike fear into those nomads not led by Sheng Seleris – even those two demons were insufficient to strike against Sheng Seleris directly. But against tribal uprisings or confederations, they are normally more than sufficient.
The Bat moves about as fast as a horse, yet is hundreds of times bigger. The thing slowly flaps its wings, like a slowed down video of a bat in flight, and it is impossible for it to be able to stay aloft, let it does
Combine that with a monster covered in many eyes, accompanied by madness inducing screams, with several impossibly long tongues darting out, and occasionally sprays of blood from its eyes, and you have something that is a D10/D100 SAN loss every time!
I can think of only three times the Bat was defeated:
1. The Nights of Horrors. Everyone on both sides died. But it was worse for the Pentans and they lost.
2. Boldhome. A (dream) dragon big enough to defeat the Bat manifested to protect the city. Both were destroyed. Boldhome still fell.
3. Whitewall. King Broyan and his followers managed to defeat the Bat and send it off to the Sea. This was probably the only real defeat the Bat ever had because the Lunars failed to achieve their goal despite sending in the Bat.
Here’s another great slow motion video of a bat in flight:
When we think of the Crimson Bat and the Lunar Empire, remember that this terror is rarely if ever seen in the Lunar Heartlands – generations might go by before the average citizen of Glamour or Raibanth actually SEES the Crimson Bat.But in the Provinces and the Redlands, the Crimson Bat is a constant reminder to Lunar subjects and outsiders of the real might of the Lunar Empire.
The Lunar Empire is big, but not Roman Empire big. Think Assyrian Empire big or Hittite Empire big. So the Crimson Bat can’t just be dumped in some Area 51 and kept hidden. It is constantly there, in the Provinces, the Redlands, and among the Allies. Sometimes it is accompanied just by the members of its cult, but other times it is a rally point for the Lunar Army.