The House of Geledoth: War, Exile, and Restoration
When the suicide of Udine II left the throne vacant, the young but powerful Baron of Onden, Balesir Geledoth, claimed the crown through descent from Gebral's younger sister, Mornesa. He was confirmed by the Council of Barons in 664. Balesir was under the say of his cunning and devious mother, Larane Horsaid. Detractors have called Larane the most maleficent and pitiless person ever to influence the councils of Chybisa. She had boundless ambition for Balesir and was posthumously accused of conspiracy in the deaths of the lesser branch of Clan Burzada and the poisoning of her son's barren first wife.
THE TREASURE WAR In 674, thieves broke into the treasury of King Torastra of Kaldor and stole a jewel-encrusted, allegedly enchanted sword that had belonged to Calsten, the first King of Serelind (142-162). The thieves smuggled the priceless sword to Burzyn and news soon reached Tashal that it had been sold, in open market, to a Chybisan nobleman. Torastra sent word to King Balesir of Chybisa demanding the return of the ancient heirloom. Balesir was unable or unwilling to recover the blade and may have doubted its very existence, since no news of its theft had reached him.
In response, Torastrat marshaled his army, and in early spring of 675, swept down the Genin Trail. Weakened by centuries of peace and corruption, the Chybisans were no match for Kaldor's knights, many of whom were hardened veterans of the Salt War. After a hard-fought but futile stand north of the Ulmerien River, Balesir retreated with his army across the bridge at Buyzyn, destroying it behind them. Torastra surprised Balesir by sending his army across the Ulmerien on both sides of the castle, ad audacious move. The Chybisan forces met the two-pronged attack, but after being routed in this "Battle of Buurzyn", Balesir and what forces he could muster withdrew within the walls of the castle and found themselves besieged.
Needing the bridge to supply his besiegers and to keep the Genin Trail open, Torastra had it speedlily repaired, conscripting labor from the Chybisan manors under his control. These northern manors were also an early source of supplies. Some were sacked and burned, with everything of value carted away and the people scattered or slaughtered. Such brutal acts intimidated the entire realm. Although the Chybisan lords resisted at first, they began to submit to the Kaldoric king to save their lands and families. Those who continued to defy Torastra were slain or driven off and replaced with loyal Kaldoric knights.
The siege of Burzyn continue for three years. Although the castle was supplied sporadically at night by small river boats, deprivation and disease took their toll. Among those lost was Balesir's young son Karis, who died of fever in early 678.
The siege ended that same spring after Balesir was betrayed by the Baron of Geda, Sliris Wasal, who arrived with troops to reinforce the besiegers. Wasal's open support of Torastra was a devastating blow to the morale of the Burzyn defenders. After surrendering and receiving the honors of war from Torastra, Balesir and a few score of followers departed Chybisa and went into exile in Melderyn. Chybisa became a Kaldoric earldom held directly by Torastra, who left rule of Chybisa to a council of lieutenants, including a few trusted Chybisans such as Baron Wasal. Kaldoric rule was oppressive. The land and its people were overworked as new taxes and fines were instituted. Any dissent was punished harshly. The manors in the north that had been looted and burned fell into ruin. The occasional uprisings were quickly crushed. The stolen sword that sparked the war was never recovered. THE EXILE IN MELDERYN After journeying to Thay, Balesir went on to Cherafir to petition King Etobron for aid. Although Etobron agreed to provide Balesir with shelter, he refused to help him regain his throne, even going so far as to forbid his vassals to assist the deposed monarch in doing so. Balesir and his followers endured their exile in Thay. Balesir's mother Larane, who had followed her son into exile, died in 681 in Thay, her hopes and ambitions for her son seemingly dashed.
Balesir had better luck with Etobron's successor, Chunel. In 686, after Balesir swore fealty to Chunel, the Melderyn king lifted Etobron's prohibition and decreed that any of his subjects who wished to aid Balesir could do so. Balesir assembled a modest army, borrowing heavily to finance it.
THE RESTORATION In 687, after nine years in exile, Balesir led a small army of Chybisan expatriates, Melderyni adventurers, and a motley collection of mercenaries up the Genin Trail, proudly displaying the Geledoth banner. The Chybisan people welcomed them.
Balesir faced his traitorous former vassal, Baron Sliris Wasal, in the Battle of Geda. It was a disaster for the disorganized and ill-led Kaldoric forces. Wasal was slain in battle, fighting with ferocious courage while his troops routed all around him.
Balesir lost no time and marched his army to Burzyn. At their approach, Torastra's lieutenants panicked and the castle's undermanned garrison promptly surrendered. As Balesir proclaimed the restoration of the Kingdom of Chybisa, Kaldoric sympathizers and their families fled north. Despite the resistance of a few hold-outs, Balesir soon established his undisputed rule.
Once Balesir re-took the throne, he renounced his fealty to Chunel. The Melderyni king is reputed to have received the news with a total lack of surprise; some say he actually laughed. Both Chunel and Torastra denounced Balesir's trachery. Successive rulers of Melderyn and Kaldor have refused to relinquish their claims on Chybisa.
Balesir's subjects widely saw him as a hero and rejoiced at being freed from the Kaldoric yoke. Some devout Laranians were aghast that Balesir would break his sworn word to Chunel, but as many Chybisan lords had forsworn their own oaths to Balesir by submitting to Torastra, few dared to complain too loudly about the king's honor.
Although Balesir returned some lands to old clans, he also made grants to some of his new supporters. A large number of common-born warriors received land as yeomen farmers.
The years of stress took a toll on Balesir. Nearly a decade had been spent in exile facing an uncertain future. His kingdom and its people were ravaged by war, and would not soon recover. Both Kaldor and Melderyn retain claims on Chybisa's sovereignty. Vast sums of money borrowed from the usurers of Thay remained unpaid. Talk of a lack of royal honor persisted. After only a few short years back on the throne, Balesir died in 691 of stomach cramps. He was succeeded by his young son, Verlid VII, Chybisa's current king.
Balesir 664-691 (Torastra of Kaldor ruled 678-687) Verlid VII 691-Present
THE TREASURE WAR In 674, thieves broke into the treasury of King Torastra of Kaldor and stole a jewel-encrusted, allegedly enchanted sword that had belonged to Calsten, the first King of Serelind (142-162). The thieves smuggled the priceless sword to Burzyn and news soon reached Tashal that it had been sold, in open market, to a Chybisan nobleman. Torastra sent word to King Balesir of Chybisa demanding the return of the ancient heirloom. Balesir was unable or unwilling to recover the blade and may have doubted its very existence, since no news of its theft had reached him.
In response, Torastrat marshaled his army, and in early spring of 675, swept down the Genin Trail. Weakened by centuries of peace and corruption, the Chybisans were no match for Kaldor's knights, many of whom were hardened veterans of the Salt War. After a hard-fought but futile stand north of the Ulmerien River, Balesir retreated with his army across the bridge at Buyzyn, destroying it behind them. Torastra surprised Balesir by sending his army across the Ulmerien on both sides of the castle, ad audacious move. The Chybisan forces met the two-pronged attack, but after being routed in this "Battle of Buurzyn", Balesir and what forces he could muster withdrew within the walls of the castle and found themselves besieged.
Needing the bridge to supply his besiegers and to keep the Genin Trail open, Torastra had it speedlily repaired, conscripting labor from the Chybisan manors under his control. These northern manors were also an early source of supplies. Some were sacked and burned, with everything of value carted away and the people scattered or slaughtered. Such brutal acts intimidated the entire realm. Although the Chybisan lords resisted at first, they began to submit to the Kaldoric king to save their lands and families. Those who continued to defy Torastra were slain or driven off and replaced with loyal Kaldoric knights.
The siege of Burzyn continue for three years. Although the castle was supplied sporadically at night by small river boats, deprivation and disease took their toll. Among those lost was Balesir's young son Karis, who died of fever in early 678.
The siege ended that same spring after Balesir was betrayed by the Baron of Geda, Sliris Wasal, who arrived with troops to reinforce the besiegers. Wasal's open support of Torastra was a devastating blow to the morale of the Burzyn defenders. After surrendering and receiving the honors of war from Torastra, Balesir and a few score of followers departed Chybisa and went into exile in Melderyn. Chybisa became a Kaldoric earldom held directly by Torastra, who left rule of Chybisa to a council of lieutenants, including a few trusted Chybisans such as Baron Wasal. Kaldoric rule was oppressive. The land and its people were overworked as new taxes and fines were instituted. Any dissent was punished harshly. The manors in the north that had been looted and burned fell into ruin. The occasional uprisings were quickly crushed. The stolen sword that sparked the war was never recovered. THE EXILE IN MELDERYN After journeying to Thay, Balesir went on to Cherafir to petition King Etobron for aid. Although Etobron agreed to provide Balesir with shelter, he refused to help him regain his throne, even going so far as to forbid his vassals to assist the deposed monarch in doing so. Balesir and his followers endured their exile in Thay. Balesir's mother Larane, who had followed her son into exile, died in 681 in Thay, her hopes and ambitions for her son seemingly dashed.
Balesir had better luck with Etobron's successor, Chunel. In 686, after Balesir swore fealty to Chunel, the Melderyn king lifted Etobron's prohibition and decreed that any of his subjects who wished to aid Balesir could do so. Balesir assembled a modest army, borrowing heavily to finance it.
THE RESTORATION In 687, after nine years in exile, Balesir led a small army of Chybisan expatriates, Melderyni adventurers, and a motley collection of mercenaries up the Genin Trail, proudly displaying the Geledoth banner. The Chybisan people welcomed them.
Balesir faced his traitorous former vassal, Baron Sliris Wasal, in the Battle of Geda. It was a disaster for the disorganized and ill-led Kaldoric forces. Wasal was slain in battle, fighting with ferocious courage while his troops routed all around him.
Balesir lost no time and marched his army to Burzyn. At their approach, Torastra's lieutenants panicked and the castle's undermanned garrison promptly surrendered. As Balesir proclaimed the restoration of the Kingdom of Chybisa, Kaldoric sympathizers and their families fled north. Despite the resistance of a few hold-outs, Balesir soon established his undisputed rule.
Once Balesir re-took the throne, he renounced his fealty to Chunel. The Melderyni king is reputed to have received the news with a total lack of surprise; some say he actually laughed. Both Chunel and Torastra denounced Balesir's trachery. Successive rulers of Melderyn and Kaldor have refused to relinquish their claims on Chybisa.
Balesir's subjects widely saw him as a hero and rejoiced at being freed from the Kaldoric yoke. Some devout Laranians were aghast that Balesir would break his sworn word to Chunel, but as many Chybisan lords had forsworn their own oaths to Balesir by submitting to Torastra, few dared to complain too loudly about the king's honor.
Although Balesir returned some lands to old clans, he also made grants to some of his new supporters. A large number of common-born warriors received land as yeomen farmers.
The years of stress took a toll on Balesir. Nearly a decade had been spent in exile facing an uncertain future. His kingdom and its people were ravaged by war, and would not soon recover. Both Kaldor and Melderyn retain claims on Chybisa's sovereignty. Vast sums of money borrowed from the usurers of Thay remained unpaid. Talk of a lack of royal honor persisted. After only a few short years back on the throne, Balesir died in 691 of stomach cramps. He was succeeded by his young son, Verlid VII, Chybisa's current king.
Balesir 664-691 (Torastra of Kaldor ruled 678-687) Verlid VII 691-Present
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