Darkness fell upon the Kianian court when tidings reached King Kay Khosrow that Piran Visseh had emerged victorious in battle, forcing General Tus and the surviving Iranian host to flee to the rugged slopes of Mount Hamavan. The ancient halls of Gudarz, son of Kashvad, stood emptied of their valiant champions, while the stars themselves seemed to weep over the fallen warriors whose blood soaked the dust. Seeing the fortune of Tus overturned and his realm endangered, the righteous King summoned the mighty Rostam, alongside the wisest mobads and counselors of the realm.
Before the assembled council, Kay Khosrow spoke with a heavy heart of the fickle nature of Fate and his fear that the empire's luck was slipping into darkness. Turning his gaze to Rostam, the King hailed him as the pillar of the crown, the radiant soul of Iran, whose spear-tip commands the heavens and whose hands ripped the heart from the White Demon. He recounted how Tus, Giv, and Gudarz were trapped on Mount Hamavan, praying to Yazdan for Rostam’s arrival. The King confessed that for three days he had wept in secret, calling upon the Creator, and now laid all the realm's gold, steeds, armor, and legions at Rostam's feet.
Rostam touched his forehead to the throne and swore eternal allegiance. He recounted his lifelong devotion since the reign of Kay Qobad—how he had traversed bleak deserts, conquered dragons, demons, and sorcerers, and faced the terrible iron maces of Mazandaran and Turan without a single day of unburdened joy. Grieved by the slaughter of the house of Gudarz, Rostam vowed to avenge the fallen and drive back the Turanians. Kay Khosrow wept tears of gratitude, placing the royal treasury and thirty thousand elite swordsmen under Rostam’s command. With Fariburz leading the advance guard to rally Tus, Rostam prepared to sweep toward Mount Hamavan like a roaring gale.