Kaysarev by Yar Tarvadan

It is almost 1000 years before the events of Flames of War album. On the western shores of the Ifar continent lies the principality of Ashervan. This rugged land of expansive steppes, flanked by towering mountains to the north and south, was the birthplace of Yar Tarvadan, a man that will fill the pages of history books.

Born as a second son to a minor noble, he gravitated toward intellectual and spiritual pursuits, preferring to immerse himself in books, embark on pilgrimages, and attend sermons at the temple of Paralas, the god of sun and harvest. At the age of 12, he began experiencing unsettling dreams and visions. In these visions, an unknown entity revealed that Paralas and the entire pantheon were not true gods but mere servants of an actual god, the creator of universe, the Highfather.

When he was 15, he attended a convocation of clerics from across the land, where he boldly spoke of the Highfather. His words were met with outrage. “Heresy!” cried one cleric. “Our gods will strike you down for this blasphemy!” To which Yar calmly responded, “No, it is you who will be struck down for your threats.” At that very moment, the cleric collapsed, dead.
A legend was born, the seed of a new faith was sown.

Yar’s efforts to spread this emerging faith were soon interrupted by war. The neighboring kingdom of Tuvalar invaded Ashervan, forcing Yar to leave behind the life of philosophy and religion. As a noble trained in horseback combat, he was appointed captain of a light cavalry unit tasked with patrolling the mountain passes. His leadership led to several victories in skirmishes and ultimately played a decisive role in turning the tide of a major battle. His valor brought him fame and secured his marriage to the daughter of a prominent noble.
Suddenly the world laid open to him.


Kaysarev, “the sun emperor”, tells stories about some of the most important events in the life of Yar Tarvadan — a man who started as a minor noble in a poor principality and ended up laying foundations to a formidable empire.

The bonus track, Armistar, is a tribute to Disciples 2, one of the best turn-based strategies. It had a huge impact on my worldbuilding, especially the continent of Ifar – its nations and lore. Some twenty years ago, I played with a clean slate hero with no character and a default name, now I sing about his fabulous spoils that powered my imagination.

While drawing inspiration from classic folk and atmospheric black metal bands, Yar Tarvadan brings a unique, dynamic approach to music full of melodies that will get under your skin.

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