Umbar IntervenesCopyright Eric Dubourg 2001

Edited by Joe Mandala for The Guild Companion

UMBAR INTERVENES(TA 1555-1559)

After his defeat at the Felayjan Hill Battle, rkhr returned to Hazaj Tollin beaten butunbowed. He was not yet ready to accept defeat. A reorganization of his realm was inorder, and real military support (instead of just supplies and a small support fleet)needed to be cajoled out of Umbar. His spies in Southern Bellakar soon reported thathis enemies had a powerful new ally Gondor, in the person of Prince Anardil. On 22Ishat 1555, rkhr sent his son Nlzagar (with Balakkhd's replacement,Pharuztamar) to negotiate with the Umbareans.The council of Captains learned very soon of Gondor's intervention in the rzyansiege and the Felayjan Hill Battle, and upon Nlzagar's request, they re-establishedfirm control of the sea-lanes from Umbar to Felayja in order to prevent furtherGondorian intervention. When it became apparent that this was an expedition ofopportunism, and had no official backing, the Council decided to leave Gondor alonefor a time, and further their plans in Bellakar. With the renewed blockade of thenorthbound sea-lanes to Gondor, Anardil had no way to return home, and no way to lethis father know how the campaign had gone. He consequently remained in Bellakarwith his ships and men (and with Blkali), continuing to fight.

rkhr was to pay a high price for Umbarean support. In exchange for active seapatrols and the involvement of the Umbarean Battle Fleet in Mardruak, the Council ofCaptains demanded both that the new asapthubth of Nark-zadan (since Balakkhd wasslain) be appointed by Umbar, and that Umbareans should have the freedom to settle inwhatever numbers they wished in Mardruak. If the conditions were not met, not onlywould rkhr not receive substantial military assistance, Umbar would withdrawcompletely from the conflict.

Nlzagar reported the conditions to his father, who reluctantly accepted them. On 12Tamun 1555, Abrzagar of Umbar (a relative of Castamat's family) became the newasapthubth of Nark-zadan, and with him came many Umbarean settlers.

Three months later, the Corsairs began a campaign against Southern Felayja andBellazen. They were supported by the full Northern Bellakarian Fleet (which now had

Umbarean officers distributed throughout its ships). The campaign was a great success,resulting in the pillage and razing of several coastal cities including Saraj, Tarkhesh,and Sulaj Dar.To confront this new danger, King Imruzr II requested that Prince Anardil commandthe garrison of rzyan, and to stop at any price the Corsairs' raids. This was the firsttime that a Gondorian had ever been asked to take command of a Bellakarni city, andhe was well received due to his reputation for saving the city in the previous year.

This Corsairs' campaign lasted two years (with occasional land war in the villages ofFelayja between Hazaj Tollin and Saraj), and was indecisive, because of the skill andthe energy of Prince Anardil who was able to secure the Felayjan coasts. He was aidedin part by the orders of King rkhr, whose real goal was the taking of Nllond many resources that could have been poured into this campaign were withheld inanticipation of this larger campaign. But the raids drastically weakened the manpowerand resources of the Southern realm, in spite of the courage of Prince Anardil's men.All the while, rkhr gathered his strength in secret in Hazaj Tollin, preparing for themasterstroke against Nllond. And soon King rkhr saw his opportunity to attack.By maintaining strong raids in Felayja and Bellazen, he could led a strong army toNllond and take the city before the eventual counter-attack of Prince Anardil's host.Beginning with small probing raids, rkhr gauged the strength of his enemies. WhenSouthern Bellakar became unable to respond to these raids, the Pretender judged thetime to be right.The offensive against Nllond began on 12 Kuralid 1558. The raids on the coast andthe interior became more intense, in order to drain more and more resources from thedefenses of the capitol, while a powerful army, commanded by King rkhr himself,set out for Nllond to "liberate" the city from his brother. Imruzr's scouts, however,marked the movement of this large army immediately, and sent word to the King of theperil at hand. Preparations for a siege were immediately began, and messages were sentto Prince Anardil and to the Lords of the Katredala. The rulers of Bozisha-darimmediately assembled an army of 2000 picked Visi to strengthen Nllond, and 200Gusar clansmen to support Anardil in Bellazen

rkhr met little resistance in his march through the heart of Bellakar, and the siege ofNllond began on 27 Kuralid 1558. A herald for the Pretender announced that, "IfImruzr II will abdicate his false claim to the throne of Bellakar, and give himself overas an abased prisoner to his brother the rightful heir, and if the citizens of Nllondrecognize rkhr as your rightful King, the war will end." The demand was, of course,promptly refused, and rkhr swore to tear the city to the ground.As the first battle began, Imruzr addressed his captains: "Remember the courage ofEruzagar the Warmaker and of Arphazan! Our upcoming victory is dedicated to theirmemories. Recall the words of King Arphazan 'never will Nllond fall again,' - andmost especially not to a Usurper!" he added vehemently. Strengthened by his words, thedefenders fought bravely, and slew many Northern Bellakarni while suffering fewlosses themselves. Two months passed, and the defenders held while rkhr's armyrepeatedly threw itself against the walls. Anardil was kept informed of the situation inNllond, but could do nothing the Umbareans has reopened their coastwardcampaign with furious abandon. Finally, on 12 Sumat 1558, the reinforcements from

the Katredala arrived.Another two months passed before the siege could be broken. With the help of theGusar, Anardil was able to drive the Umbareans from the coasts. His small squadron ofwarships harried the remains of the Umbarean expedition northward, then turned backnear Hazaj Tollin. Meanwhile, the joined forces of the defenders of Nllond within,and the Katredala's Visi without, eventually destroyed rkhr's hopes of taking thecity. The invaders were forced to retreat back toward Mardruak again.

Unknown to rkhr, however, Anardil's small army composed of his remainingGondorian marines, The garrison of rzyan, and the Gusar clansmen made a forcedmarch to the north of Urd an-Abar, while the defenders of Nllond and the Visichased the fugitive invaders. By the time rkhr arrived near Ayal Coyren, Anardilwas already entrenched. All three armies met on the field of battle on 29 Dahlat 1559 inwhat came to be known as the Ayal Coyren Massacre. It took only four days for theinvaders to be destroyed, and Imruzr himself slew his brother rkhr on the field ofbattle as Anardil stood by his side. Indeed, it is said that Anardil saved the life of theBellakarian King, who was wounded badly in the final fight.

The King was then conducted in safety to Nllond, while the army under thecommand of Anardil secured the Felayja Plain. On 12 Ishat 1559, Anardil came toNllond, and asked to see the King privately. In that meeting he asked Imruzr for thehand of Blkali in marriage."You have my blessing, Prince of Gondor," said the King. "I cannot imagine a moresuitable match for my daughter." Prince Anardil married Blkali that very day in secret,and renounced any claim to the throne of Gondor, planning never to return to hishomeland. He pledged to remain loyal to King Imruzr II, and returned to rzyan torule in the name of the King.

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