The Malazan Civil War

A series of uprisings and military conflicts within the Malazan Empire, especially the continent of Quon Tali, involving numerous former city-states of Quon Tali and the return of some prominent Old Guard leading mutinous armies against the Empress Laseen. Coincided with the Return of the Crimson Guard.

Background:

After the plague of Poliel ravaged Seven Cities, the Malazan Empire was desperate to replace the lost agriculture from Seven Cities and prevent a deficit of food for its citizenry. By reversing the tales of the Chain of Dogs such that the Wickans were reviled as villains, the populous of the Empire turned their eye to the Wickan plains as the optimal location to replace their lost agriculture. 

Onearm's Host, already crippled in the Pannion War, disappeared entirely in Seven Cities. Meanwhile, the Korel campaign continued to be a shambles. The Malazan 14th Army returned from Seven Cities and subsequently fled the Empire, leaving only the already-much-reduced Malazan 4th Army as the only remaining Malazan army capable of defending the imperial lands on Quon Tali.

An alliance of Old Guard from the Empire's past, lead by Urko Crust, Toc the Elder, Amaron and Choss, seized upon the opportunity and gathered a military force of their own to invade the Empire. Their main military consisted of soldiers from the Quon Tali city-state, which proclaimed its independece at the beginning of their invasion. Also among their forces were the Seti and Gold Moranth from Genebackis.

Several other city-states from the pre-Imperial era followed suit by declaring their independence and raising their own armies, usually consisting of the men-at-arms of various noble families. Among these mutinous city-states were Bloor, Gris and Cawn.

Factions:

The Malazan Empire: The Empire's strength is suffering from diminished garrisons across Quon Tali, the infiltration of the Claw, the loss of many powerful figures and internal squabbles amongst the ruling class.

The Talian League: An alliance of numerous forces, lead by Urko, Choss, Amaron and Toc the Elder. Their forces include:

• Talian forces: Infantry and cavalry recruited in Quon Tali province. Lead by Commander Choss and loyal to Ghelel Rhik Tay'liin.
• Falaran forces: Infantry and cavalry recruited in Falar and transported by ship to Cawn. Lead by Commander Urko.
• Gold Moranth: Elite Moranth soldiers from Genebackis. Joined Urko in Falar and arrived by ship with the Falaran forces. Lead by Commander V'Thell. 
• Seti:  Tribal warriors of the Seti plains, united under the leadership of Toc the Elder. They allied themselves to the Talian League in exchange for the promised destruction of Li Heng.

The Wickan Nation: The denizens of the Wickan plains. Besieged by mobs of Malazan citizenry, they struck back in a bid for their own independence.

Malazan Peasant Militias: Citizens of the Malazan Empire invading the Wickan plains to eliminate the Wickans so the plains can be used for agriculture. Neither officially sanctioned or banned by the Empress. 

The Crimson Guard: A mercenary company defeated during the original Malazan conquest of Quon Tali, returned to destroy the Empire. Their Return hampers the Malazan Empire's efforts to supress the civil war. They are lead by Skinner and nearly a hundred Avowed, including numerous mages and assassins.

Mages of the Pit: A group of mages imprisoned in the Otataral mining camp The Pit. 

The Itko Kan Confederacy: The former confederacy of the cities around Itko Kan. Raised an army that was sent north but was blocked by the Crimson Guard at a bridge.

The Cawnese Legions: Armed forces from Cawn province lead by the nobles. Raised in the wake of Malazan forces passing through Cawn and sent west in their wake to support the Empress.

Events:

The invasion by the secessionist forces under Urko and Choss, as well as the uprising of the city-states was anticipated by Malazan high command. Expert engineers recalled from the Genebackan campaign were stationed in Li Heng to improve the defenses of the crucial city. A few days before the uprising in Quon Tali, the commanding Fist of the province, Kal'il, sent soldiers to abduct all the First Families - the former noble families of the Quon city-state - to be used and hostages and hamper the legitimacy of the uprising in Tali.

The Talian League began its invasion with uprisings across Quon Tali province and an attempted coup to take over Li Heng. In Quon Tali province, covert forces under Amaron were dispatched to secure the closest descendant of the original Talian rulers - Ghelek Rhy'somethingsomething - while the main forces under Choss assaulted Malazan garrisons across the province. In Li Heng, covert forces lead by Kepten O________ and supported by two twin mages, assassinated the local Fist, Rheena, and took control of the central palace. That same night, however, they were defeated by the squad of Storo Matash (whom they had tried to convince into joining them earlier that night), and Kepten was killed by Storo's squad mage, Silk. Storo then took command of the city and its garrison.

At Fort Saran, Toc the Elder had usurped the local Fist Darlat and the incoming new Fist Genist D'Irdrel. He took command of some of the Malazan garrison and then lead them and Seti forces south to encircle Li Heng. The Seti maintained the encirclement, while Choss' forces from Quon Tali sailed down the Idryn river to join Toc's forces at Li Heng.

Urko's Falaran forces and the Gold Moranth took ship from Falar and sailed to Cawn, then travelled west overland to join the siege at Li Heng.

At Li Heng, the Seti kept the city encircled, and when Choss' Talian forces arrived they began offenses to take the city. Storo's forces successfully defended the city longer than anticipated, stalling the Talian League's invasion of the continent. Once the Talian league conquered Heng's outer wall, Storo and his former squad (who were each now senior leaders among the defenders) released Ryllandaras from its internment below the city to destroy the Talians. Desperate to claim the shelter of the city, the Talians began a full-force assault upon the middle wall of Heng. Ryllandaras arrived and began slaughtering the Talian forces, but they then lured it inside the city's walls and barricaded the gates. Ryllandaras turned upon the city's defenders, but was beaten back by Rell and retreated, beginning Li Heng's near-worship of Rell.

During the siege of Li Heng, the Crimson Guard had assaulted Unta and demolished a large portion of the city by detonating the munitions in the Imperial Arsenal. As soon as the Crimson Guard were repelled from the city, Laseen gathered the Malazan 4th Army and a large force of militia skirmishers from Unta and set sail for Li Heng.

Urko's Falaran forces and the Gold Moranth made port in Cawn and then traveled by land to Li Heng. The Crimson Guard did the same a few days later and the Empress' force again after them. The Crimson Guard settled on a hill near Li Heng, while the Talian, Seti, Falaran and Moranth forces arrayed themselves to confront Laseen's forces.

Aftermath:

Quotes:

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