The reason why the Hegemony is the initiator of most of the hostilities is because it’s the one with the giant theurgic wall powered by harrowed helots. Apparently every so often the Hegemony temporarily takes down the wall to start a war, but it doesn’t fight to win, no, it sends the free-born young folk, especially the noble youth of its conquered provinces to die. The Halassurq War is a killing ground meant to sap the occupied provinces of their strength so they don’t rebel against Karagond. As soon as enough Shayardene, Nereish and Whendish young people have been slaughtered, Karagond puts the wall back up. It makes me wonder if the Hegemony is even capable of beating Halassur on the field any more without the crutch that is its dependence on massive amounts of blood, a luxury that we very likely will no longer have once harrowings are ended.
