The coalition of forces opposing the Malazan Empire's expansion across Genabackis, commanded by Caladan Brood and including the Tiste Andii forces of Anomander Rake, the Crimson Guard mercenary company, and various city-states and peoples resisting imperial annexation. The alliance is held together by shared opposition to the Empire rather than by any common positive vision, and the management of its internal tensions is a significant part of Brood's command challenge. The alliance has held the Malazan advance to a stalemate across years of war, an achievement that reflects the quality of its leadership as much as the scale of the forces involved.