League of Three Cities

The **League of Three Cities**, sometimes the **League of Three** or the **Abecean Triad**, was an alliance formed between the Kingdoms of Hamitas, Rihad, and Taneth.

Negotiations for creating the League concluded in 3E 293. Each member city was formally equal but the League was widely considered to be a euphemism for Hamitasi hegemony in the region.

## **Creation of the League**

### **Background**

Tensions around Imperial control in the city of Hamitas erupted in 3E 269 when Afdal al-Qamaris, previously a proponent of Imperial rule, murdered governor Marcus Tarius. A citywide massacre of Imperial officials and soldiers took place, leading to the extermination of an entire Imperial legion. The Kingdom of Hamitas was now guilty of numerous crimes against its Imperial overlords and held to be in open rebellion against the Empire.

The first period of this conflict was especially vicious. Both by land and sea, Imperial troops attempted to lay siege or assault the city of Hamitas; these attempts proved fruitless. The Camoran Usurper had recently brought significant destruction to the cities of Rihad and Taneth, leaving both poor waystations for Imperial troops. The Hamitasi coast was protected by naval fleets and privateers. The war quickly slowed and, following a failed landing on the southern tip of the Hamitasi peninsula by Imperial forces, the fighting became dominated by occasional skirmishes at sea.

Emperor Uriel V's preparations to invade Akavir sapped local Imperial forces of resources, forcing what remained to be consolidated and concentrated. Imperial ships began a blockade of Hamitas. This was eventually broken in 3E 283 by the young admiral Hasan at-Zahir.

### **Negotiations**

In the years that followed, Hamitas emerged clearly victorious. Imperial forces could not subjugate the city and Hamitasi ships won battles time and again at sea. It was now that King Temur II, encouraged by these victories and the advice of his Grand Vizier Ferhan at-Cemal, opened negotiations with the cites of Rihad and Taneth. He desired lordship or influence over these neighbouring states, both boasting significant strategic value and economic potential. It is also possible that Temur, a deeply pious man, had some genuine desire to restore the reduced Kingdoms of Rihad and Taneth.

Ferhan at-Cemal was the first to propose a league: an alliance whose members were nominally equal, but whose de facto leaderhip was undeniably Hamitasi. The King approved, favouring this peaceful method to the conquest urged by a war faction popular among some of his Forebear advisors.

The rulers of Rihad and Taneth were at first hesitant to form any alliance with a rebellious principality. Both cities could be reached much more easily than Hamitas, neither having the necessary defences to prevent the advance of an Imperial legion. As Hamitasi victories grew in number, however, fears of Imperial reprisal subsided. The rulers of both cities were invited to Hamitas in 3E 293, ten years after the Imperial blockade of the city was scattered, to negotiate and form the League.

Ferhan's successor, the Grand Vizier Hakim at-Selim, organised the event. Grand welcome parties ushered the foreign rulers and dignitaries into the city, where crowds were gathered to cheer their arrival. The arms of Rihad and Taneth were displayed alongside those of Hamitas, importantly kept at equal height, on every corner along the road to the central ring of the city.

King Temur met his guests at the northern entrance to the central ring. He was dressed in simple white robes, wearing wooden sandals, and stood unprotected from the sun. The {Rulers} at first believed he was a servant sent to guide them into the meeting hall but quickly realised he was in fact their host. The two were somewhat embarrassed. It was a peculiar sight: the ruler of a wealthy kingdom was dressed so humbly, while the rulers of destitute kingdoms came resplendent.

Hakim at-Selim opened by expressing his King's sincere thanks for the aid rendered by Rihad and Taneth during the worst of the conflict. This perplexed many in the hall. Hakim continued, praising the courage and good friendship of these kingdoms for their refusal to host passing Imperial soldiers or dock Imperial ships. It became clear then that the Grand Vizier intended to wrap the two kingdoms into the fold of rebellion alongside Hamitas, deftly creating intention where there was none: neither Rihad nor Taneth *refused* to host Imperial soldiers and ships, but neither were capable of doing so and were simply passed by.

King Temur then prayed aloud for the security of Hammerfell, perhaps hinting at ambitions even greater than this League, before a number of poets improvised ad hoc verses praising the peoples of Rihad and Taneth. Once the poets withdrew from the hall, serious discussion finally began.

The Grand Vizier spoke on behalf of his King. To assuage fears among the attendees concerning the security of their kingdoms, the Hakim promised significant support form of subsidies, labourers, and soldiers. He furthermore stressed that this league would bind together the fates of the three cities: Hamitas would expend whatever it could in defending its allies.