Wotthol Letters (woθ'.ol)

I wish we knew more of these women, but what we have will need to be enough. The portrait it paints of the Battle of Wotthol and how it affected those in Ngáxom is valuable. These are important documents of our history.

— Shehejo Shehenyiffál

The Wotthol Letters are a series of messages between Sergeant Rixnáshim ses Wotthol and her wife, Imáshep ses Esesáhi. Rather than being named for Rixnáshim, they are named for the Battle of Wotthol, in which Rixnáshim fought for the Independent Army of Ngáxom against the forces of Ettioril . Though only a portion of their correspondence survived the battle and the long years since, what remains mentions many details of the event that were never mentioned by official reports, as well as painting a picture of the lives of ordinary citizens during the war.

History

Ngáxom had long been Ettioril's western province, occupying large swaths of the Kixunyájel Desert and attracting little attention or care from their coastal lords. In 43 Growth, the locals revolted under the banner of Duke Thurijo, sparking a 5 year long war for independent rule. While initially Ettioril's army found success, the increased involvement of Thurimppánye'i warriors in the Ngáxom cause tipped the scales over time.
The town of Wotthol was an otherwise insignificant town in the desert, but as the war progressed it aided in connecting Ngáxom to its foreign allies, especially those found in Muhepásin . As the war progressed, this made it a valuable military target, and in 48 Growth Ettioril made a last-ditch effort to destroy Ngáxom's supply lines and force a surrender.
Official reports of the Battle of Wotthol tell of an initial stalemate that was broken by reinforcements from Duke Thurijo, which led to an overwhelming victory of the Ngáxom forces. Ettioril, roundly defeated, fled back to its territory to regroup, but the damage left it weakened in all subsequent encounters with Ngáxom's army, and led to independence being granted later that year.
The Wotthol Letters contradict this description of the battle, with Rixnáshim stating that the Ettioriles line was broken not by sudden reinforcement, but by a change in tactic implemented by her immediate superior, Lieutenant Nyeri. Nyeri's tactic was quite simple - fake a partial retreat to encourage an overextension by the exhausted opponent, then encircle their advance. When they fell for the predictable trap, Rixnáshim and her fellows were able to slip behind the enemy line and force the devastating rout. Duke Thurijo's forces only arrived a few hours later.
She also disputed the low casualties of the Ngáxom report, describing the desert full of bodies from both sides, as the Ettioriles forces refused to surrender without a fight. Rixnáshim herself was gravely wounded, and Lieutenant Nyeri was killed during the encirclement, and many of her fellows received worse injuries attempting to defend their friends.

Authors

Rixnáshim ses Wotthol

22 Growth - 35 Famine (76 Years Old)

A sergeant in the Independent Army of Ngáxom, Rixnáshim was a native of the town of Wotthol. Prior to her military service, she was a huntress and scavenger, though she lamented that she never completed a dragon hunt. Her injuries during the Battle of Wotthol left her out of commission for the remainder of the war for independence.
How she occupied her veterancy isn't known, but she survived well into the Era of Famine that followed the Era of Growth, dying in 35 Famine.

Imáshep ses Esesáhi

23 Growth - 32 Famine (72 Years Old)

A weaver by trade, Imáshep hailed from the colder mountains in the west. For reasons unknown she was not conscripted into the Independent Army of Ngáxom, and was evacuated from her and Rixnáshim's home prior to the Battle of Wotthol to ensure her safety. Like other Wotthol residents, she would have been able to return to the town a few months after the battle.
Like her wife, she survived long into the Era of Famine, though she did predecease her by a few years. Their graves lie side by side in a veteran's graveyard.

Read the Document

Wotthol Letters

Excerpts from the Letters

2nd of Experience

My dearest shuáshim
It has only been days since you were evacuated, and yet it feels like a month already. Such a cruel fate, that we were finally together after many moons of fighting, only to be separated again.
Rest assured, my love, that I'll ensure our home still stands for you to return to. Nyeri even allowed me a brief leave to go there and secure what belongings remained. Much of it is in plain crates in the kitchen cellar, but I have taken earrings with me. I'll endeavour not to lose them.
Stay well, my love. When the Ettioriles arrive, they'll be swiftly defeated, and we will be reunited again.

Rixnáshim

6th of Experience

Dearest Rixnáshim
I am delighted to hear of the security of our belongings. With times being as they are, I had so little time to gather what I could, and you well know I could never have carried it all. The earrings! I had never noticed their absence, but now my heart is at ease to know they are accounted for and in your capable hands. May they grant you good luck in the coming battle - consider them a sign of my favour!
We have stayed as well as we can without our homes. In this late summer the heat can be quite unbearable, certainly unaided by a lack of water. Many of us remain in the caves during the day, but it is rather crowded. And with tensions such as they are, it's near impossible to weave - the amount of threads I have snapped or misplaced in the last day alone would give you great cause for concern in any other circumstance!
Please return to me safe, my dear. The safety of our home is nothing if you are not there to delight in it.

Imáshep ses Esesáhi

16th of Experience

My beloved Imáshep
Pray forgive me the delay. Before I had time to respond, the horns of war had begun, and all was dedicated to the readying.
I should hope this finds you alongside that most great of news - the Ettioriles have been denied! They scarper across the crags like cowardly lizards, and we have kept the town safe. I would attribute this to Lieutenant Nyeri. Under his command, we tricked part of the enemy line into a foolish advance, whereupon we encircled them and cut through into the back of the line. When their commanders realised what we had done, it was far too late for them.
No such victory comes without cost, least of which our own. Nyeri, who led us through so much of this war - and who you would know best as the man who sent flowers for our wedding last year - was struck in the chest by the enemy's spears during the fake retreat, and didn't even see the battle's victory.
And, well, my dearest. I do wager I may no longer find employment with the army after what has happened today, nor get the chance to hunt a dragon, not with the wounds of a dozen swords across my legs and back. But I have survived to see this victory, and to see the arrival of the Duke during our celebrations. His own battle was a success, and that puts me at ease. Our cause still thrives.
If I die, my love, know that I did not go willingly. Know that I fought until there was naught more to give, and fought further still. Know that I fought for you, and for all of us.
I will see you again, my shuáshim.

Rixnáshim ses Wotthol

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Type

Text, Letter

Medium

Paper

Authoring Date

Month of Experience, 48th Year of Growth 160 Years Ago

Authors

Rixnáshim ses Wotthol and Imáshep ses Esesáhi

Provenance

Due to the nature of the Wotthol Letters, that they have even found their way to historians is curious. As best anyone can tell, both writers kept a hold of all correspondence they received, and brought it home with them when the war ended.
After their deaths, these letters likely came into the possession of the pair's adopted daughter and from there passed down as prized family possessions. It was only in 3 Return that one of their descendants took a closer look at the letters and identified them as being potentially historically important.
They were initially met with some skepticism, especially due to the relatively unknown nature of the authors and their contradictions to official reports. It was only with a vast effort in checking various military records that Rixnáshim's role in the Battle of Wotthol was verified, and other notes and messages found that seemed to back up her account of the battle. A handful of historians gave them a tentative seal of approval.
Investigations are still ongoing to see if more information can be found regarding the Battle of Wotthol, especially from Rixnáshim's part of the Independent Army of Ngáxom. For sparking this historical deep dive the Wotthol Letters have sealed their place in Ngáxom's history, whether they contain the truth or not.

Old Books by Gellinger