Hagus' Revolt
"It becomes difficult to conceive the differences between the dragon occupying the root of the world and the so-proclaimed Ras Gafhi on his throne in Harhoun. For the minions of both are content to rob us and wholly indifferent if we and ours starve."A Gafhi revolt in the northern Baratre valley precipitated by the winter famine of 503 and longterm dissatisfaction with Yaner's rule and with the Gafhi Serafi, Hagus' revolt (named for the most prominent chief instigating it) was fought as a low-intensity guerrilla campaign in the northern Baratre for the latter half of the 503rd Year of the Prophet. The conflict was frozen and a partial accord was reached when a sudden offensive by the dragonthralls of Inkrimane forced both Hagus and Yaner to the negotiating table.
The Conflict
Prelude
"In hard times you will know your brother. Ras Gafhi Yaner is not my brother."
Since Agbith was reduced to a rump state under the rule of the Ras Gafhi, the province of Agbithan Gafhi has been ruled with the goal of ultimately reclaiming Agbith, and directing all available resources to that goal. The relationship between the Gafhi tribes of the northwest and Agbith had long been one of tributary and overlord, but the demands of war brought this into sharper relief. The Howudra tribe of the northeastern part of the valley was not considered an essential territory, and largely left to defend itself against dragonthrall attacks. Nevertheless, Yaner sought to tax them to feed his army.
Early 503 was lean for everyone, as a poor harvest dug into the stores of Gafhi and Thaner alike. Yaner, as the Ras of the province and supreme commander of the Gafhi Serafi made the choice that at least his army would eat. The demands put on the countryside were not lowered, and famine began to spread through Howudra lands. As Stew Hogg sightings increased, so did the anger of the Gafhi.
In May of 503, the Howudra had made their decision. Chief Hagus sent a missive to Ras Gafhi Yaner, declaring that no longer would the Howudra pay any tax to the Agbithans, and that if the Gafhi Serafi were seen in lands of the Howudra, they would be killed. Yaner did not take this kindly, and appointed a Degiac to take a battalion of the Gafhi Serafi into Howudra, capture Hagus, and restore order.
The Engagement
"This army is what keeps us free of the dragon. If the Howudra must face it to understand that, so be it."
Fought in the summer of 503 in the tribal lands of the Howudra, the Gafhi Serafi struggled to force Hagus' forces into a decisive engagement. Harried by tribal warriors on their home turf, the Gafhi Serafi proved their skill at arms when the Howudra gave battle, but the Howudra almost never gave battle. Melting into the hills and the woods when the Gafhi Serafi approached, Yaner was preparing for a long and arduous campaign to bring the Howudra to heel when Inkrimane forced his hand.
Someone trying to tax people, while providing no benefit to them, that just has to lead to disaster further down the road. I really like how you thought about the lead-up to the war. Also seems like tensions never really went away, didn't they? I think I have a rather good idea what will happen once those 10 years are over :D I have to admit, I'm a bit confused about that first quote. Who is this dragon, and why are they so important to this conflict? You mention the army is keeping them free of that dragon, so did anything happen once the army was used in this conflict? They are no longer at their full presence against the dragon, so did they take advantage of that? Overall a very nice article! Good job!
Hmmm, maybe I ought to be a bit more liberal with linking my other articles, even within the same category. Most of my articles aren't particularly self-contained, and rather rely on all the other articles in the category for context. The dragon-queen is what turned Agbith into a rump-state. The entire region exists in the shadow of this dragon, and every one in a while the dragon's minions try to expand her territory. I've written that out in other articles, but didn't link those here. Thanks for the comment!