It is odd that they didn't just rise against them, or band together with other citadels and present a proper front to stomp out the threat so everyone stood a chance of resuming their lives as best they could.

[ They didn't know much about the surrounding places beyond Sa-Hareth, but certainly, something better could have been done. ]

Why did they choose such a precarious position to take? Surely they had to know it was a risk to try and stand alone as they did, bargains aside.