Adjacent to the realm of Rum lay the unruly marches of Khazar, whose looming shadow had long darkened the peace of Caesar. There ruled Elyas, the formidable son of Mehras, a chieftain arrogant in his strength. Emboldened by the presence of Farrokhzad—who was in truth Prince Goshtasp of Iran in disguise—Caesar penned a fiery war ultimatum to Elyas. The ink upon his parchment dripped like warm blood, warning the ruler of Khazar that his days of ease were at an end; he must either submit with rich tribute, gold, and noble hostages, or face Farrokhzad, who would sweep through his lands like a mad elephant.
Upon reading the royal parchment, Elyas dipped his quill in venom and dispatched a stinging reply. He mocked the martial skill of the Romans, warning Caesar that relying upon a lone foreign champion—who might well be a snare of Ahriman or a mountain of iron—was sheer madness. When the envious nobles Mirin and Ahran relayed these intimidation tactics to Caesar, the monarch's heart faltered. Caesar summoned Farrokhzad, warning him that Elyas was a beast in combat, capable of overthrowing armored elephants, and suggested offering treasures to turn him back.
Yet Goshtasp's royal spirit ignited. He assured Caesar that he feared no soldier of Khazar, though he bade the king guard against the potential treachery of Mirin and Ahran during the fight. Goshtasp asked only that Caesar and his son guard his rear, swearing by the Almighty Divine that he would pluck Elyas from his saddle and hurl him into the dust.
As dawn crested the horizon like a golden shield reflected upon the waters, the bronze warhorns of Khazar echoed across the plain. Goshtasp rode forth like a towering cypress, wielding his ox-headed mace and kicking up dust storms. Beholding Goshtasp's terrifying stature and heavy mace, Elyas sent a crafty messenger to tempt the Iranian hero with riches and lands if he would abandon Caesar's cause. But Goshtasp scorned the envoy's hollow words, declaring that the time for speech had passed and the hour of battle had arrived.