The fragile Republic of
Gwalan is bleeding. In the hills, forests, and villages of the Western countryside, neighbor has turned against neighbor. The already paranoid culture of the region has transformed into nightmarish spectacle, as populist rebels, accused heretics, and government soldiers wage relentless informal war.
In the West, one might find the closest thing to traditional field battles. The formal rebels of the Akinu faction seek to control territory and win victory on the field. They frequently avoid engagement and often prioritize raiding, but they are recognizable as a coherent fighting force.
In the center of Gwalan, the Konuro faction of the rebellion wages a far more gruesome war. They are often villagers whose villages are cinders, turned into raiders and guerrillas that travel the countryside sowing dissent. But the government response always pushes more recruits into their arms: burning villages, whipping towns into self-destructive cycles of heretical purging, razing the countryside where rebels might hide.
Despite their innovative tactics, numbers, effective propaganda, and support from a foreign power, the rebels seem unlikely to prevail. Their support outside of Ezeluri is dwindling, and they have been forced out of their bases of power to recruit. Furthermore, the rebels are deeply divided between their two leaders, whose alliance often resembles something closer to a non aggression pact. And while the government's tactics may alienate many, they have systematically been cutting off the rebels from their supplies and support. Without full-blown intervention by Akatlan... or someone else... hope seems slim for the rebels.
The Conflict
Prelude
For almost 9 years, the New Mahnekan movement has stirred dissent in the region of Ezeluri. They destroyed property, dodged taxes, and were generally low-level nuisances. In 2015, the movement crossed a line: they began hoarding weapons. The government of Gwalan was furious and issued a warrant for the leader - Pitlin Konuro- to be arrested. Not only did the Governor of Ezeluri ignore this warrant, but they actively began harboring Pitlin from the authorities of the Central Government.
In 2017, the tension finally burst into open conflict when the Central Government sent in troops against the wishes of Ezeluri after they were informed of Pitlin's location. The operation to arrest Pitlin was a miserable failure and led to the Governor of Ezeluri entering open rebellion.
Comments