Anvil Gate Plaque

Learn about the Anvil Gate Plaque in Gears of War 3. Discover its history, significance, and the battles that took place there during the Pendulum Wars and beyond.

Hey there! So, you're looking into the Anvil Gate Plaque? It's a pretty significant piece of lore in Gears of War, tied to a really important location. Let's break it down. Anvil Gate itself is a big COG Army garrison located in Anvegad, Kashkur. It's famous for being the site of a massive siege during the Pendulum Wars, where Colonel Victor Hoffman himself fought against UIR soldiers. Think of it as a legendary fortress that, for a long time, no one could get past. Interestingly, even though it was so well-defended, the soldiers stationed there often complained about the fort needing upgrades. The narrow passages were a pain when you were wearing the heavier Pendulum Wars-era armor. Its artillery was even compared to COG Battleship cannons! Towards the end of the Pendulum Wars, they actually fitted Anvil Gate with a Hammer of Dawn targeting system, controlled from the main command center. Pretty high-tech for its time! Fast forward to after Emergence Day (E-Day), about 16 years later. The fort was in rough shape, its once-great cannons were beyond repair. But when the COG returned during the Lambent Pandemic, they did their best to patch it up. You'll even hear about how Dizzy Wallin had to sacrifice his Assault Derrick, 'Betty,' just to fix a collapsed part of the wall. They had to build basic living quarters and even little vegetable plots right into the fort's defenses. The Plaque's Inscription: The plaque itself is dedicated to the memory of the Gears and civilians who defended Anvegad Garrison during a siege in 17 B.E. against the UIR. It lists some of the units that were there: * Prince Ozore's Artillery * 2nd Bn. Royal Ephyra Engineers * 26th Royal Tyran Infantry * Pesanga Brigade of Rifles The plaque also has a quote that really sums up the dedication of those soldiers: "I will forsake the life I had before so that I may perform my duty as long as I am needed." Historical Context: Anvil Gate was originally built way back during the Kashkur Empire's Silver Era to guard their silver mines and prevent invasions into the southern parts of the empire. The city of Anvegad grew right alongside it, and the fort never fell to an enemy back then. Later, during the Pendulum Wars, Kashkur was still important because it held a significant chunk of Sera's Imulsion supply. Anvil Gate was garrisoned with a mix of COG forces, including Prince Ozore's Artillery, the 26th Royal Tyran Infantry, and the 2nd Battalion Royal Ephyran Engineers, all under Captain Ranald F. Sander. They kept it well-stocked, just in case the UIR decided to attack, which they eventually did, invading Vasgar and then Kashkur. Later still, in 17 A.E. (After Emergence Day), Anvil Gate became the site of another huge battle, this time involving COG, Locust, and Lambent forces. So, as you can see, it's a place with a ton of history in the Gears universe!