Session 31: To Amastris Report

Calista and Ballisar departed from Viod Amerus with their 650 followers in tow. They traveled west toward the bridge connecting Astoria and Demrazand, and remained in Anomyr for a night. The soldiers were quartered in the public lodging areas and small tent covens in open squares, while Calista and Ballisar spoke with the Hesed of that place. He was an older fellow with robes of green, sunken eyes, weary features, and a magnificent crown of bronze vines decorated with pearls. They explained that they were with the people who arrived days prior, brokering a deal. The Hesed believed that and adhered to the arrangement of offering rations and money in exchange for barring Syrgisian passage into Demrazand. Calista attended to person business with Barchan that night. 

 

The following morning, the company departed for further days of travel. It was easier travel than previous, since the worst of winter was past. 

 

They encountered a strange beast wrought from stone of extraordinary size battling against a dozen Vallisian scouts. The thing had slain one another them, but was badly assailed by the others. Perceiving some opportunity from this strange encounter, Calista rode forward with two Astorian cavalrymen to break up the fight. This could have gone poorly were it not for her inherent charisma and talent for negotiation. Whilst the beast flailed a massive axe to keep the Vallisians away, Calista bid they cease attacking. The Vallisian iochas withheld himself and spoke. Suddenly, Ballisar arrived on the scene with a dozen cavalrymen of his own, nearly creating another rout. Once more, Calista was able to stabilize the two sides. The pair explain to the Vallisian that they wish to speak with Tressonar Othyrus Vallis regarding the third son, and desired some guidance thereafter. Baffles, the iochas agreed. He was further baffled when Ballisar explained he had 600 men, and was willing to ‘surrender’ them and their weapon for the trip to Amastris. Perhaps hoping for a promotion, the iochas agreed duly.  

 

Ballisar, Calista, and the gwazkerrag speak during the remaining journey westward. He introduced himself as bakar or glavnibakar in some broken Everosi, of which Ballisar knew scraps from his time with Orin. He explained that he was pursing some ‘Quaidh’ enemies from Everos, which were much the same as himself. Other details were shared regarding the gwazkerrag, but nothing profound because the language barrier was steep between them. 

 

Under the guardianship of the Vallisian warriors, the Astorians and their gwazkerrag ally travelled onward to Amastris. After around four days of additional travel without incident, the walls of Amastris rose upon the horizon and into sight.