Uprising in Basistar

Uprising in Basistar was a revolt against the pro-Dardian government of Basistar, led by Molag Uusea in 1598-1599 SR. Started in the city of Mustief, the movement was able to take control of the city and forced Basistar to begin negotiations. The rebels, however, got sidetracked by indecision, choosing between a military operation against Basistar or a march towards Uuxea. Eventually deciding to march on Uuxea, they left Mustief, which was quickly reclaimed by Basistar. The rebel army never reached Uuxea and instead collapsed halfway, due in part to poor leadership and in part due to the hardships of the journey.

Background

Basistar was the first polity to join Wewen, which was seen as Wewen's play against Kasar-Areia, which initially opposed the idea of a confederation under Wewen's leadership. Basistar's participation immediately made the confederation real, and Loullar joined Wewen and Basistar a month later. Kasar-Areia's Prince Durondo, who had been in power for just under two years and obsessed with Kasar-Areia's independence, rejected the idea of joining and sent messengers to declare war on Wewen, but was then swiftly removed from power. The new government quickly followed Loullar and joined Darda.

This made Basistar the smallest state in the young confederation, with a rapidly decreasing influence. Basistar attempted to use its status as the first joiner to elevate its standing, but when The Great Unity of Pesty began negotiations to join, the focus shifted heavily to Wewen and Kasar-Areia who were the more important players in defending New Dawn from Leykarya.

This created a rift in the population, with the idea of seceding gaining traction. The city of Wasil then seceded and formed its own state. Uuxea directed Basistar to lay siege to the city, offering them independence from Basistar, provided they join Darda as an independent state.

The uprising

It is at this point Molag Uusea, a carpenter from Mustief, started a movement to secede from Basistar, in order to exit Darda, which he believed levied an unjust tax on the working people, as well as undermined Mustief's own interests. His main claim was that Leykarya is not a threat to Mustief and that instead they should be focusing on defending their lands from the Great Turtle.

Although the movement quickly gained traction, Basistar did not pay much attention to it, until after the rebels upended the governor's office, forcing him to flee the city. With the majority of forces being thrown at the siege of Wasil, Basistar opted to begin negotiations with Molag, in order to buy time.

These negotiations lasted for several months, while the movement's leadership became gripped with indecision. There were calls to abandon the negotiations and march on Basistar, taking advantage of its defenseless status. Others believed that occupying Basistar would put them between the two armies - the Basistar forces to the south, laying siege to Wasil, and the forces of Wewen in the north, which might be sent to defend Basistar. Thus, the march should be on Wewen, with the intent of destroying Darda altogether.

March on Wewen

The rebels left Mustief in the spring of 1599 SR. A Basistar regiment, led by the ousted governor, quickly reclaimed Mustief.

Uuxea and Mustief were separated by a tropical forest that made the trip difficult. Additionally, one of Molag's deputies, a person calling herself General Leesar, made a point that they should return to Mustief and instead march on Basistar, since now it is clear that Wewen's army is unlikely to quickly reach them through the jungle. Molag repeatedly declined to make a decision and meanwhile continued leading his troops on Uuxea.

At some point General Leesar defied Molag's orders and led part of his rebel army back, but got disoriented and actually led them further to the west, while Molag continued north. Due to the swift spread of malas, Molag eventually turned back and rejoined Leesar's camp.