Session 33: Reunion Report

Ballisar, Calista, Glavnibakar, and the Astorians arrived outside the walls of Amastris with their Vallisian escorts. The curtain walls and their sloping towers frowned upon them, and the narrow but steep portal of timber remained shut until the column drew close. The iochas allowed Ballisar, Calista, the strange gwazkerrag, and Baltheris into the city. The rest of the Astorians were left outside under guard and beneath the specter of arrow fire. 

They shortly thereafter arrived at the inner viod, which was a tall, imposing construction of Gondomon stone surrounded by a chain of smaller, scattered bastions along the hillside. The iochas, whose name remained undeclared, was apparently given the honor of introducing the small gathering himself. Afterall, he and his command had successfully captured the Tressar of the Dramana along with 650 enemy warriors. Ballisar, Calista, and company were led inside. The interior was an ornate yet strangely arranged space. The throne of the Vallisian Tressonar was no throne at all, but a circular bench of carven wood which sat atop a 10-foot risen dais. Stairs led up from all sides, allowing the Tressonar to see all and be reached by all. Ballisar, Calista, Baltheris, and the gwazkerrag approached and bow with varying degrees of deference and honesty. Tressonar Othyrus was a younger fellow, perhaps as old as Orin, but already possessed with an air of authority and sternness. He was clad in armor forged with ebonstone and decorated with fragments of Eshorite. He beckoned for Ballisar to come forward and kiss the knuckle of his right gauntlet. It was itself a decorative piece, crafted from a metal dyed black and boasting gold around the joints. Ballisar was compelled to accept. Othryus then leaned close and inquired if Ballisar knew the origin of that gauntlet. He did, and it cast a grim shadow. It was once the gauntlet of Emannar III Mitras, from whom Vallisia separated. It was a token of surrender and shame for the Astorians ever since and a beacon of pride for their western enemies.

After the unpleasantries were passed, the group began their negotiation. Ballisar explained that he and his men were here to broker peace because the threat of Syrgus was a detriment to all free Astorians. Othyrus was skeptical, but Ballisar and Calista explained to him all that they knew. The Tressonar was baffled by those revelations, but still a shrewd diplomat. He agreed to peace, but on the condition that he received the title to both Astorias in exchange for his assistance. Ballisar reluctantly agreed. However, Cesstecia would not be harmed and in exchange be given the province of Lyastra to rule as Tressa. The new capital would be in Amastris, after all. Othyrus agreed, but added the counter-condition that the Astorians warriors brought to him by Ballisar would be divided among Vallisian units and under Vallisian command. This would prevent any sudden back-stabbing. Ballisar agreed.

Tressonar Othyrus and the party traveled through the halls of the viod and reached the chamber where Cesstecia Mitras was held prisoner. They entered, and the party laid their eyes on their patron for the first time in long months. She wore a simple yet elegant blue dress, and appeared in good health beside a few bruises on her arms and collar. Ballisar threw himself down before her and thanked Euboa that she was safe and relatively unharmed. They spoke for a short time about what each and the other had seen, but Othyrus loomed just behind them. Ballisar then told her about the arrangement made with Othyrus, regarding the surrendering of the Astorian crown and reduction to Tressa status. She withheld her emotions and nodded in agreement. Ballisar then requested that Cesstecia be allowed to walk freely. Othyrus refused, but in alleged kindness and generosity allowed her one visitor. Cesstecia chose Calista, who was not herself Astoria but Cesstecia knew to be close and trusted. As the party departed, Cesstecia invited Calista to have dinner with her that very night.

In the meantime, Ballisar, Calista, and Baltheris descended the hill and exited the town toward their column to pass along the news. Ballisar and Baltheris shared some tense words along the way, but Ballisar successfully swayed his companion to his perspective. The meeting occurs, and is a heavy affair. The Pentants and iochas are horrified that they travelled all this distance only to surrender themselves to their ancient enemies. They argue back and forth, with some particularly vocal dissenters, but a proper mix of Ballisar’s bluntness and Calista’s nuanced diplomacy manages to win them over for the time. Bad feelings were still brooding, however, and the party knew they were on untenable ground.

Calista and Cesstecia shared a meal together, taking advantage of the Tressonar’s generosity for the purposes of plotting. The exiled Tressonara explained to Cesstecia that Othyrus’s wife, Ehel Dorelona of Eroyther was caught with a winter fever which rendered her bed-ridden. She proposed, rather solemnly, that if she were to perish during the time of her illness, then Othyrus would be opened to a new union. Cesstecia, young, powerful, and available could become the new Tressonara of Vallisia. This would slip her into a position of power where she could thereafter manipulate political affairs. She also noted that helping her in this venture would prove immensely beneficial to Ballisar and Calista if it succeeded. Calista reluctantly agreed to pass the message along to Ballisar and consider it herself.