Waste of Wraiths

A battle that took place during the Wars of Broken Gold and resulted in the death of Amarak Dovisa and his son and the creation of the Red Wraiths from the 19th Red Legion.

## Events

Cthol Tarak was cut off from the sea by the Hidden Fleet. Allowing the loyalist Imperial or 'Red' forces to pressure the city. A Blue Protectoran army under the Broken Emperor Amarak Dovisa and his son marched south to their relief.

The battle took place in Fallsal of 1314PE. The forces of the Empire broke away from the city walls of Cthol Tarak in order to engage the Blue army away from under the enemy battlements. Marshal of the Empire Jorlov Vadik marched his army north himself and engaged the army under Emperor Amarak and his son. The forces met in the field with absolutely no quarter given on either side. No negociation preceded the combat. The Blue army of the Broken Tower/Dovisa forces hammered into the Imperial army. The left wing of the Red imperial line broke under the pressure but the centre held despite heavy losses. A key moment in the battle was that before the centre broke as well, which would have allowed the Blue vanguard to potentially take the Imperial Standard and maybe the Marshal of the Empire himself, a massed charge of cavalry shattered the tip of the attack.

Still, it seemed the battle would go to Amarak and his westerners. Yet the Red Imperials revealed a willingness to use something they had not previously. Magic was a part of every major battle often countered or defended by wizards from the other side. Yet the imperial forces revealed something they had not expected, wielding their increased magical might without reservation. Not only were barbarian shamans alongside the sarrifs but there were also soulcrafters, clerics of Death. In particular three liches known as the Grim Feast. These revealed their true forms and that the legion they had been supporting had been encouraged to bond with shades. These dark packs turned the 19th Red Legion into the Wraiths, their stylised black shield clasps being used to signify these pacts. These creatures could not be fought effectively by the mortal fighters and resulted in a mass break in the Blue's lines. The so called "Broken Emperor's" bodyguard broke under the assault. Yet the wraiths had no interest or even understanding of the value of imprisoning such an important figure. He was slaughtered where he sat on his horse. The battle turned on this use of terrible soulcraft and divine death magic. Yet unsurprisingly the wraiths were not controllable by any save the Grim Feast themselves. So many loyalists fled from and were killed by the Wraith Legion.

The result of the battle was a decisive victory for the Red army over the Blue. Though the 19th split off from the main military of the Empire and became known as the Red Wraiths. Even the victorious army was traumatised by what had happened in the Waste of Wriaths and if they had not been so fearful of them it was discussed if the army would have moved to destory the 19th legion. However it became clear they may not have been able to do so.

Cthol Tarak surrendered immediately on the condition the Waste of Wraiths not be unleashed on them or be allowed anywhere near the city.

This battle allowed for two major changes the rules of war had forever changed with the use of the abysal pacts and the summoning of the wraiths. Secondly the death of the broken Emperor allowed Kolar an opportunity to offer amnesty to the west and bring an end to the war.

Yet though they were prepared it seemed to offer armistice and cease hostilities and even cease to make efforts to claim the title of Emperor of the Aurian Empire they did not capittulate as Emperor Kolar had hoped. Instead they suggested seccession from the Empire.

One of the negociators key points was that none of their populace could agree to being a part of a nation willing to use undead demons from the abyss. The Waste of Wtraiths had moved Kolar, and his military, past enemy and into the territory of the most vile of blasphemers. Reconcilliation was aparantly forever off the table.