Getting support for an attempted Lightbringers Quest is pretty much everything Kallyr does from being acclaimed Prince until Sacred Time. She pushes hard to have the entire Orlanth cult and its associates prepare for the quest.
The bulk of her support is from the tribes around the Killard Vale – the Kheldon, Culbrea, Aranwyth, Cinsina, and Sambari tribes. She uses Umath’s Camp as the basis for her Ring, rather than the Traditional Lightbringers ring, because that’s what works for her. Her companions are all people personally loyal and connected to her, and are not independent tribal leaders.
Some of the tribes use this as an opportunity to test her (which is part of the LBQ), and present her with poison-pill gifts (which she rejects for one reason or another).
Her LBQ hit several snags during the tests, and I’ve even heard some accounts that she was ambushed and robbed as her group traveled through the Thunder Hills. But in the end, she made it to Boldhome for the culmination of the quest, and then disaster hit.
A key thing after the disaster of her failed LBQ is that Kallyr really has failed. IMG the Colymar did not support her quest after her failure to prove herself, so did not suffer the full negative impacts, but the tribes that were most enthusiastic about Kallyr suffered the most.
And Kallyr herself is a wreck afterwards. Her key companions dead and gone, and her fear of the Lunar Empire greatened. When she falls at the Battle of the Queens, she is gone. And the tribes fear what the Lunars will bring against them.
But in the desert there is the half-mad would be Prince, with his nomads, his shamans, his strange dragon supporters, and his adventurers.
See also:
- Kallyr’s Short Lightbringers Quest 1625 – II
- Kallyr’s Short Lightbringers Quest 1625 – III
- Kallyr’s Short Lightbringers Quest 1625 – IV
- Kallyr’s Short Lightbringers Quest 1625 – V
Where was Agrath? Argrath is a long way away. And nearly everyone in Sartar knows that what Kallyr is planning. You can’t coordinate that many tribes and that many temples without it being public knowledge.
One thing we have learned in 30 years in gaming is not to underestimate how much the Colymar blame Kallyr for the failure of Starbrow’s Rebellion. Leika dislikes and distrusts her, Erenava Chan and her kin hate her (and blame her for the exile and death of their father Kallai Rockbuster).
Following the disaster of the LBQ, Kallyr is likely shocked, deflated, and terrified. The tribes who supported her are also shocked, deflated, and terrified – and many blame her.
King Pharandros is aware how weakened Sartar is, takes command of the remaining imperial troops in the Lunar Provinces, and leads them all to conquer Sartar. That’s also a gutsy move given that by now Fazzur is open revolt against the king, and the king probably doesn’t actually have much authority over those imperial troops (I kind of imagine that Pharandros went to Glamour, got a “you can use whatever I do not need in the Provinces” response from the Red Emperor who is locked in an existential war with the Pentan nomads). A good gamble assuming it is a short campaign – but disastrous if not.
So when the Sartarites muster near Runegate, the king needs to throw everything at them to break them quickly.
I see Kallyr as a tribal leader who hates the Lunar Empire, is loyal to her tribe, and is convinced that she is the “woman of destiny” who has been chosen to lead a free Sartar. She views the role of Prince as told by poets and scribes, but lacks the resources and the support to make that a reality. She knows that Sartar is weak and disorganized against a Lunar counter-attack, and because of that she throws the dice on pulling off a dangerous LBQ with little time for preparation (maybe two seasons of preparation, while the tribes are in disorder and disarray).
Also her personality definitely screws with her. Since the SHC she’s been described as someone who yells and screams at those who disagree with her, viewing them as traitors to Sartar. Her own tribe loves her, but the other tribal leaders range from dislike to disdain.
And the most important family of Earth priestesses HATES her.
Personally, until 1625, I am not even sure she thinks she will liberate Sartar. More likely, she will support Broyan‘s effort to liberate “the Orlanthi” (which is a different goal) and maybe receive Sartar through that. Heck, maybe she’s already been promised that.
But Broyan is killed, Argrath and his Praxians are defeated by the full force of the Lunar Collage of Magic (and that defeat was probably as instrumental in his later rise as the victory at Pennel Ford).
I am sure that if there is going to be a prince, she will be it. But even at the start of 1625, that looks a long shot and really something that Broyan has the key say.