Shame of Wahaareh, The
"Intoxicated by his shining splendor,The Shame of Wahaareh, also known as the Second Assault on Andaen, was the greatest challenge to the sovereignty of the City-State of Andaen since its founding. This was also the only major offensive launched against Andaen from outside the Haifatneh region, with few states elsewhere possessing the prerequisite combination of naval power and geographic proximity to Andaen to motivate an invasion of what was known to be a formidable city. From Zamayiir the Lion's perspective, however, the Marshal-Regent of Andaen was merely another warlord that stood in the way his ambitions, same as many Takheti warlords before him. Marshal-Regent Fusahin and his coalition made several difficult decisions in conducting the defense of Andaen, ultimately bringing ruin upon the Fleet of Wahaareh and its lead commander Zamayiir, yet the defense in total proved so costly that it impoverished Andaen and eroded the legitimacy of Fusahin's rule in the eyes of his people. Thus, although the Shame of Wahaareh ended in a truce with minimal negotiations and did not lead to a single acre of land changing hands from one polity to another, it proved to be one of the single most politically tumultuous events of the Grim Era, driving both the dissolution of Great Wahaareh and sweeping political reforms in Andaen.
the reclining Lion thought he could soar.
In his pursuit of unattainable prey,
the gluttonous Lion stumbled into the sea."- Excerpt from a speech given at a
military parade in Andaen, 3690 HE
The Conflict
Prelude
While Andaen's double walls and the presence of the University of Esoteric Arts and Lore within its limits had long dissuaded potential invaders, even amidst the numerous power struggles of the early Grim Era, its location on the Strait of Andaen and its growing status as a trade hub still made it a valuable prize for those with significant political ambitions either in the Haifatneh Sea or the ocean to the north. Throughout the decade of 3680 HE, a power with exactly that sort of political ambition arose in coastal Takhet, namely Great Wahaareh, a rapidly expanding warlord state under the rule of Zamayiir the Lion. As one lesser Takheti warlord after another fell or swore fealty to The Lion, the prospect of expanding his nascent empire into the Haifatneh Sea was evidently more appealing than continuing to annex land in high-altitude Tahket Alay or the unforgiving deserts of Far Takhet.
It is possible that the battle that ensued could have been avoided entirely, if not for the common arrogance of men. Zamayiir, for his part, was that he was destined to continue expanding his empire unabated; after all, he had enjoyed an extensive string of successes in coastal Takhet, and soon after he first set his eyes on expanding Wahaareh's borders to the Haifatneh Basin, he successfully cowed the coastal city-state of Kailrana into allowing his galleys to harbor there. Meanwhile, Fusahin, the Martial-Regent of Andaen, was at least equally headstrong in his understanding that Andaen could not fall to ordinary attackers. (Fusahin apparently disregarded the fact that his city had been built upon the ashes of a citadel of the same name not two hundred years prior.) Based on accounts of the initial correspondence between emissaries from Wahaareh and representatives of Fusahin, Fusahin's confidence in the city's double walls, its advantageous geography, and the presence of the University of the Esoteric Arts was such that he all but goaded Zamayiir into following through with his offensive.
Deployment
Conditions
The Engagement
Outcome
Aftermath
Historical Significance
Legacy
Belligerents
Strength
42,500 infantry
1,500 archers
9,000 camel cavalry
6,000 camel cavalry archers
Naval forces:
est. 900 galleys
(700 triremes, 160 quadriremes, 40 quinqueremes)
est. 15,000 marines
8,000 infantry
500 archers
800 slingers
200 heavy cavalry
4,000 mercenary infantry
1,200 mercenary cavalry
Naval forces:
182 triremes
2,600 marines
Casualties
est. 185 galleys (20 to inclement weather; 4 to subsequent engagements with mutineers)
est. 3,400 marines (including 60 executed mutineers, according to official accounts)
est. 2,200 mercenaries
79 triremes
est. 1,600 marines
civilian casualties: est. 2,000 - 8,000 (mostly outside city limits)
Objectives
(failure) secure access to the Strait of Andaen for future campaigns in the Haifatneh Sea
(failure) prevent pillaging of the countryside under Andaen's jurisdiction
(short-term success) uphold the legitimacy of the Marshal-Regent's rule
This is so beautifully done - really, it reads like a history textbook in the best of ways. The visuals and sidebar just really add to that experience, bravo!
It was a real pleasure writing this one (once I got over being daunted by the scale of the project, anyway). Also, having been raised on history books as a kid, this might be my favorite comment I've received on a WA article to this date. Thank you so much!