Southern Strait War (10th Era)

Once the backbone of Kabal’s mechanised army, the Obsidian Rovers stand as battered survivors of one of the bloodiest and most destructive conflicts in Anarkand’s history - The Southern Straigh War ( 10th era ) Once numbering 121 active units, only 47 remain in commission. The rest lie scattered across the battlefields of Marrakis, Murdu, and Dumatra - rusting relics buried in ash, twisted metal, and memory.


The Rovers were conceived in Era 9, at the height of Kabal’s technological expansion, as the first fully autonomous soldiers built from Obsidite Alloy, a precursor to the material later used in the creation of Obsidian and the Obsidian Predator. They were designed not as singular marvels of power, but as a disciplined mechanised force, the metallic ranks of the Union’s growing ambition.


Standing around 9 feet tall, each Rover was built for endurance and utility. They were deployed in groups, known as Companies, consisting of twelve units and a command drone. Unlike the colossal Obsidian or the solitary Predator, the Rovers were meant to operate in formation, responding to centralised commands through a shared AI relay, The Gridlink. This allowed them to function with near-human coordination on the battlefield, adapting tactics in real time and maintaining perfect communication across entire fronts.


Though smaller and less heavily armed than later Obsidian-class machines, the Rovers were nonetheless formidable. Their design favoured adaptability over brute strength — a soldier’s form in mechanical perfection.

Height: 9 feet
Weight: 2.3 tonnes
Composition: Mid-grade obsidite plating with layered kinetic shielding
Mobility: Bipedal locomotion with hydraulic stabilisers for rough terrain


Modular Arm Mounts: Each Rover carries a suite of interchangeable weapons, including:


Pulse Carbines (short-range plasma rifles)


Kinetic Blades (vibrating close-combat swords powered by sentinel charge)


Shock Cannons (medium-range concussive launchers)


Suppression Gauntlets for non-lethal containment


Eye Lasers: Each Rover possesses a pair of optical emitters that can be used for precision cutting or direct assault. These lasers, while weaker than the Obsidian Predator’s, were still capable of melting armour and searing through organic targets.


Adaptive Combat AI: Though not fully self-aware, Rovers could learn from combat conditions, refining their engagement protocols.


Field Repair Systems: Small maintenance drones could patch or re-arm a damaged Rover mid-battle.


Voice Protocols: Some Rovers were programmed with basic speech. This wasn't necessarily designed for communication, but to instil fear. Enemy survivors spoke of “the metal voices chanting in unison” before entire cities burned.



The Southern Straight War:

The War of wars, more commonly known as the Southern Straight War, was the conflict that both defined and nearly destroyed Kabal. Marrakis, allied with Murdu and Dumatra, launched a prolonged campaign against the Lesser Kaballan Nations. This war lasted 70 sol years. During the many phases of the war itself, Kabal's rovers were deployed.



Early Campaigns (Years 1–12):
The Rovers proved devastating in early engagements, especially in the Siege of Dalmaar, where 80 Rover units held the city’s outer wall for 19 days against 300,000 Murdu infantry. Their efficiency in urban warfare led to them being nicknamed “The Iron Beacon.”


Mid-War Attrition (Years 20–45):
As the alliance of Marrakis, Murdu, and Dumatra strengthened, Kabal’s supply lines faltered. The Rovers began to fall faster than they could be replaced. Their Gridlink relay stations were often targeted first, cutting entire squadrons off from command. Dozens of Rovers were reprogrammed or captured, and to a lesser extent, even turned against their own forces in devastating counterassaults.


Late War (Years 46–70):
By the end, only a fraction remained. The Battle of Korrath Plains marked their last great stand, where 60 surviving Rovers formed a defensive circle around retreating Union troops. The Rovers fought continuously for seven days and nights without recharge, their sentinel cores burning out one by one until only six remained operational.

When peace was declared, the once-unstoppable Rover divisions were reduced to scrap and legend and the death toll across all nations exceeded 100 million.


Today, only 47 Rovers remain, most of them heavily repaired or rebuilt from salvaged components. They are stronger than before and better developed, and are ready to be deployed again as front-line soldiers. There are rare occasions where the people of Kabal can catch glimpses of these incredible mechanical soldiers as some serve within the walls of the Union Citadel, guarding the throne of Kabal, whilst others patrol the desolate warzones of Dumatra, acting as silent sentinels where millions perished.