I gather that some people still take CHDP as being definitive and therefore assume that Kallyr's reign
ended at Old Top in 1626. For their benefit, then: Greg has confirmed that the dates given by Minaryth
Blue are the correct ones. Kallyr ruled until 1630, when she was killed by Harrek. CHDP certainly does
its best to shorten her apparent reign: the reasons why and how it does this give some of the best clues
to what was really happening.
Why does it lie?
CHDP was written as a present for Argrath at his wedding in 1640. Its author, Denseros the Scribe,
wanted to survive the occasion. He therefore biases his account in Argrath's favour as much as he
possibly can. But does he lie? Joerg has pointed out to me that the reading of such a saga would have
had Lawspeakers (with Truth spells) in attendance. Therefore, each statement, taken in isolation,
must be literally true. Since the overall effect differs wildly from the dates given by
Minaryth Blue, it is clear that some of those statements are deliberately misleading.
Detailed examination of each event will be found in the separate documents. I intend here only to
compare CHDP with the Minaryth account (or others, where appropriate), and and point out irreconcilable
differences.
1613
The Brown Dragon
The Stationary LBQ
The Battle of the Queens (Old Top)
Sword Hill and lighting the Flame
Marriage
Harrek at Boldhome
1613
Minaryth tells us very little about this. "Battle of Orlanth the Loser. Kallai Rockbuster flees in
fear". The tone of CHDP is markedly pro-Lunar (or pro-Fazzur?), making the Sartarite leaders seems
as incompetent as possible: "as the Orlanthi kings gawked like children....". By the time of
writing, Fazzur was one of Argrath's allies. Denseros may have been working from a Lunar source, and it
was certainly in his favour to make Fazzur look good and play down Kallyr's achievements.
The other source for this period is the "High Council" scenario in "Wyrm's Footprints". This seems
to contradict itself in several places, and certainly contradicts CHDP in a few. The problem may be one
of multiple view-points.
The Brown Dragon
Another place where Denseros should be doing his best to make Argrath look good, but in fact does not
mention him at all. There are no contradictions with Minaryth, but again, Minaryth says very little.
The viewpoint given is that of someone who attended the ceremony and survived it. Perhaps Denseros
himself was there?
The Stationary LBQ
No mention of this anywhere else, unfortunately. There is some strange phraseology in places, though.
"Kallyr was encouraged to attempt...": since when did she need
encouragement?
"...usually brought new life and health to everyone participating.": in fact the LBQ,
shorter or otherwise, is famous for bringing a single target back to life, while possibly having
disastrous effects on the health of participants.
"No one had tried this since 1602,...": in which case it is not the standard
Sacred Time ritual, which might be regarded as bringing new life and health.
"the effects of the spell were spoiled": to refer to any version of the LBQ as a "spell"
is understating it considerably.
Old Top
A detailed description, which agrees with Minaryth's description of the battle and with the version
given in the Tarsh section of CHDP (well, it would!). Only one quibble, and it's a major one. Denseros
states unequivocally that Kallyr died at Old Top, and continues the story without her. Minaryth makes
it clear that she ruled for several years thereafter. Since, as mentioned above, any single statement
here must be taken as true, I think we can assume that Kallyr did die, but that Denseros is missing
the story of her ressurrection. This is a definite attempt to mislead about a major historical event,
where all present would have known the true story.
Thereafter he presents the situation as if Argrath ruled, but..
"Argrath was at first only one of many contestants who wished to rule Sartar. Indeed, it appeared
that the land would once again disintegrate into its tribes and become another easy conquest for the
Empire, which would surely muster its tremendous resources again."
A veiled reference perhaps to the fact that Argrath did not rule Sartar at this point, nor for some
time to come. In fact, the disintegration may well have been due to his attempt to take over from Kallyr.
Sword Hill and the Flame
Minaryth: 1627 -- Queen Kallyr lights Flame of Sartar, Fire/water/stasis. We defeat Lunars at Sword
Hill.
CHDP by this time has written Kallyr out of history. Argrath is shown as first winning at Sword Hill
(with details that could well be correct), and then lighting the Flame (again, eye-witness level
details are given). Quite how Denseros has phrased this to disguise what really happened is a question
for debate elsewhere, but the language in places is very strained. The interjection "This was on Day 88
of 1627" may tie down one event to that date, with the rest occuring at some other time, for instance.
Or he may be describing Argrath's (minor) part in the ceremony, missing out Kallyr's actions, then
jumping to the conclusion of a lit Flame.
Marriage
Minaryth: 1629 -- We kill Dinacoli. Queen Kallyr marries at last. Telmori promise revenge, quarrel
with Argrath of Pavis. Naturally, CHDP does not mention Kallyr's marriage. It does give a royal wedding this
year: of Argrath to the Feathered Horse Queen. There is considerable confusion over just what happened
here, best discussed elsewhere. Just to add to it, it is worth pointing out that over the next few years
Argrath is described as marying the Feathered Horse Queen twice, and getting betrothed to the infant
Queen of Holay in between. Also, there was more than one person called "Argrath" present: "Argrath of
Pavis" is a separate person, and "Argrath White Bull, of Prax" may have been yet another.
Harrek
Minaryth makes it clear that clashes with Harrek's wolf-pirates had been occuring for some time. In
1628 one of Argrath's followers had led the Colymar against them, but there had been no combat. In 1630
they sacked Wilmskirk, then Boldhome, killing Kallyr in the process. No mention is given of why they
left, but: "1631 -- Argrath Maniskisson elected Prince of Sartar."
This would seem to be a series of events in whch Argrath could be made to look good: yet CHDP
mentions none of them. Why? Clearly he (or one of his followers, whose glory he could borrow) was
present, and it seems that he was responsible for Harrek's leaving Boldhome: quite an achievement. The
only reason I can think of for this gap is that Argrath's actions were simply too embarrassing to be
mentioned: even more so than the later battle described as "a total disaster for Argrath".
Quite what they consisted of is, again, a question for debate elsewhere, but
note that the final result was Kallyr dead at the hands of Harrek (one of Argrath's allies in the past
and future) and Argrath on the throne of Sartar.