Korelri Campaign

The Korelri Campaign was the invasion of Korel (specifically the Fist subcontinent) by the Malazan 6th Army. The army was commanded by High Fist Greymane, a native of Geni, whose knowledge of the waters between Quon Tali and Korel was deemed an asset.Return of the Crimson Guard, Book 1, Chapter 2, UK PB p.88
It was not revealed whether the Malazans encountered the Marese fleet in the initial invasion. But once the main invasion fleet made landfall, a Marese blockade prevented all but token numbers of Malazan reinforcements from arriving. Lieutenant Rillish Jal Keth led the last fleet to attempt a crossing from Unta and lost four-fifths of his ships.Stonewielder, Chapter 4, US HC p.189
While successful at first, the invasion soon became a stalemate. Amongst the problems were delays caused by rains and other natural phenomena generated by the Lady, the subcontinent's patron goddess.Stonewielder, Chapter 7
Greymane's downfall came when he attempted to open communication with the alien Stormriders, mortal enemies of the Korelri. Meeting at the edge of the Ocean of Storms he learned that the Stormriders viewed themselves as the injured party, claiming the peoples of Korel were denying them access to their own territory and preventing them from their ancient obligation. As a gift for allowing them to speak, they presented Greymane with an ancient blade they had found at the bottom of the Cut.Stonewielder, Chapter 1, US HC p.69
When the Fist's actions were discovered, Malazan Governor Hemel 'Et Kelal, Enesh-jer, and several minor officers court-martialed him. The trial was largely a sham as the evidence had been slight, if not fabricated, and the military had been mainly interested in finding a scapegoat for the failing campaign.Stonewielder, Chapter 1, US HC p.69-70Stonewielder, Chapter 4, UK TPB p.189 After his conviction, Greymane escaped and was known as the Great Betrayer by the people of Korel.Stonewielder, Chapter 3, US HC p.167 A price was placed on his head by both the Malazans and the Korelri.Return of the Crimson Guard, Book 1, Chapter 1, UK PB p.11
Governor 'Et Kelal and the 6th Army ended up creating their own nation from the kingdom of Rool, in effect, mutinying from the Malazan Empire. By retaining the tax monies collected for the Empire they established themselves as the new noble class above the Roolian natives.Stonewielder, Chapter 3, UK TPB p.133Stonewielder, Chapter 8, US HC p.404
==In Forge of the High Mage==
The Malazan invasion of Korel was revealed to have begun and failed even before the Quon Tali continent had been completely pacified under Malazan rule. Emperor Kellanved made the decision that Korel was a lost cause and reassigned the army meant to serve as the Korelan relief force to instead join his planned invasion of Falar, while allowing the army already on Korel to withdraw.Forge of the High Mage, Chapter 1, UK HC p.7 Kellanved told Dancer they should have "known better than to meddle in that region", but did not consider it instructive for the planned campaign in Falar.Forge of the High Mage, Chapter 1, UK HC p.18 The Emperor seemed willing to allow the blame for the Korel disaster to fall upon Greymane's shoulders rather than his own via the Imperial Historians, much to Dancer's dismay.Forge of the High Mage, Chapter 5, UK HC p.75 By the time the Falari invasion was in full force, Admiral Nok and the southern fleet had evacuated most of the Malazan troops from Korel.Forge of the High Mage, Chapter 28, UK HC p.435
==Notes and references==
Category:Battles
Category:Events
de:Koreli Feldzug