Awl Campaign

The Awl Campaign was Factor Letur Anict of Drene's attempt to finally exterminate the Awl after Redmask returned to lead his people against their Letherii oppressors. The Factor had engaged in a years long effort to seize Awl lands and herds in the Awl'dan for his own benefit and to expand the reach of the Letherii Empire. Those few Awl that remained had gathered under the banner of Hadralt, who the Factor had co-opted with coin and poor quality arms and armour, as well as promises of a personal estate and slaves.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 6, US HC p.146/150-151 
When Redmask returned from exile to lead the Awl against the invaders, Factor Anict's plans were thwarted and he authorised Atri-Preda Bivatt to lead the Eastern Army into the Awl'dan to eliminate the Awl once and for all. Brohl Handar, the Factor's ostensible Tiste Edur overlord, demanded that the campaign be targeted only against Awl who had slain Letherii settlers and that the Awl be given a chance to concede rather than face indiscriminate slaughter. But the Letherii would accept no less than the Awl's complete surrender and enslavement.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 6, US HC p.148-149Reaper's Gale, Chapter 8, US HC p.204
==Battle of Bast Fulmar==
The first battle of the Awl Campaign took place at the valley of Bast Fulmar. The incautious Letherii marched on Redmask's position confident that their overwhelming numbers and unmatched sorcery would easily carry the day. But the Awl warleader had chosen the battle site for its unusual anti-magic properties that eliminated the Letherii mages and the Edur K'risnan as a threat. This surprise, as well as innovative tactics and the unexpected terror caused by Redmask's personal K'Chain Che'Malle guardians, led to a rout of the Letherii forces.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 12, US HC p.325-337 
==Battle of Pradegar==
After Redmask's initial success, the Awl disappeared into the grasslands as the Letherii desperately sought to bring them to battle. The Awl kept the Letherii blind, ambushing their scouts and taking their weapons and horses. Bivatt refused to increase the scale of her losses by sending out patrols in greater force insisting that Redmask would grow impatient and launch an attack on her still superior forces. The Atri-Preda's strategy appeared to bear fruit on the plains of Pradegar. Rather than immediately attacking, Redmask telegraphed his intentions allowing the Letherii column to draw into defensive positions. When the Awl finally attacked in the dark, they saw large numbers of casualties due to the unleashed Letherii sorcery.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 16, US HC p.448-454/472-479
==Battle of Q'uson Tapi==
Both Redmask and Bivatt sought a final battle to end the war. Bivatt's situation was complicated by the disruption of her supply line back to Drene, although she was unaware of the civil disorder taking place there. Her soldiers were starving and needed the campaign to end.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 19, US SFBC p.579-580 Meanwhile, Redmask was sure that he was undefeatable, a chosen one of the K'Chain Che'Malle.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 19, US SFBC p.583 The battle took place on the Q'uson Tapi salt plain where Redmask forced the Letherii troops to slog through the mud to his readied positions. Superior Letherii arms, armour, and numbers eventually turned the tide and the Awl were crushed. Redmask himself was slain by his K'Chain Che'Malle guardians for failing them.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 22, US SFBC p.696-700 
But Bivatt could not exult in her victory as one-third of her own army was slain as well. And even as the fighting was winding down, a third force appeared on the scene eager to slay both the Awl and the Letherii. Onos T'oolan and his seventy thousand White Face Barghast sought to avenge the Grey Swords, who had been betrayed by the Awl and killed by the Letherii.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 22, US SFBC p.703/706-708 In the end, the Awl people were effectively annihilated and the Eastern Army destroyed. Only a handful of Awl children survived as Onos T'oolan's favour to his friend, Toc Anaster, who had died saving them from the Letherii.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 22, US SFBC p.706 And the war's instigator, Factor Letur Anict, was assassinated in Drene by the Liberty Consign of Merchants, who thought he had gone too far.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 22, US SFBC p.708-709
==Notes and references==
Category:Battles