Kallyr Starbrow: reign (1625-1630)

The sources here are all from KoS, with Minaryth Blue and CHDP being by far the most important. The Saga also gives some details of this period, but takes its dates from the apparent story told by CHDP, with some additional description.

Dangerford

"Kallyr Starbrow also acted quickly. Her followers dispersed to their various tribes to raise their own support for her. Most were moderately successful, and so an outnumbered rag-tag army marched north to meet the Tarshites. They clashed at Dangerford, and Starbrow took the day through sheer inspiration of her men. General Fazzur withdrew."

For Denseros this is really quite complimentary, despite the comments about the army (later he describes Argarth's army as being unusually well organised, so perhaps this is intended as contrast).

Note that there is no mention of Argrath being present for this engagement, or of him gathering troops.

"Kallyr called for a convocation of all leaders at the city of Boldhome. Many came, and they were glad t o have a ruler of their own. Those who did not come were mostly afraid of the Lunar retaliation which was yet to fall." "They met in the old manner, and they forged a new ring of Sartar." "Kallyr Starbrow was named queen and warlord."

Allies

"She gained the loyalty of the Telmori, of the Thunder Brothers, and of Argrath White Bull, of Prax."

The Stationary Light-Bringer's Quest.

Source "Not tried since 1602": presumably by Salinarg? Is this the standard Sacred Time rituals, or not? The timing would fit. What had they done in between, a cut-down version? I can see that Lunar occupiers would not like to celebrate Orlanth's victory.

A detailed description of this ritual is given later (in KoS165).

"which usually brought new life and health to everyone participating." What the LBQ is famous for is bringing someone back to life. The new life and health is a side-effect. And it was only after this that she was able to light the Flame. Was this perhaps a rather deeper version of the ritual, intended to return the spirit of Sartar to his country? The earlier attempt to reforge the Ring had suggested that "the spirit of Sartar still lived, someplace". Trapped, perhaps: the Lunars seem to have been good at this.

So what went wrong? Another case for reading Denseros's words very carefully, I think.

"In the Conflict Phase, when normally a polluted icon is destroyed," (this phase is not described in the later document, unfortunately, but may correspond to the destruction of the Devil in the full LBQ). It implies that this time they did more than destroy a polluted icon: the ceremony went deeper than "normally".

"a blindingly armed Lunar warrior appeared, half-way through her own sword-dance." "Her" own sword-dance. A female Lunar warrior, then ambushing on the Hero-Plane. Jareel is famous for doing this, removing the Pharoah in a similar manner, and is also known for her "sword-dance", a technique that goes beyond normal fighting. Was this Jareel herself, or some lesser warrior copying her methods?

"The enemy was eventually killed,..." "The enemy": is this the warrior mentioned, or someone else? If it was Jareel in person, I don't believe she was killed. Driven off, perhaps. But if she was brought in by the actions of a traitor in the group, that could have been the "enemy" who was destroyed.

"and the ceremony was finally finished, but the damage was done: many of Kallyr's household were killed,.." For one lone warrior, that's a lot of damage. But if there was a traitor present as well, that's one member of the household who would have been killed, and it helps explain why so much damage was done.

"she was wounded,.." A minor point, but why is Denseros mentioning this?

"and the effects of the spell were spoiled." Calling the LBQ, even a lesser version of it, a "spell", is understating it considerably. Denseros may be referring to something else here and trying to give the impression that the entire ceremony failed. Maybe someone tried to cast a Heal 1?

Old Top

He says Kallyr died at Old Top. This is clearly stated, and must be true. But was she resurrected?

Civil war?

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."

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