It seems obvious that Sartar introduced a kingship ritual that is quite different from the "elective" kingship rituals of Heort. Instead of kingship based on assembling a sanctified ring, Sartar's kingship magic is based on his bloodline - symbolized by the sacred flame of his immolation. This type of kingship is not unknown to the Orlanthi - it is quite likely based on the kingship rites of Vingkot. Only a member of Vingkot's bloodline could rule the Vingkotlings - and similar to Sartar, Vingkot himself was immolated atop a sacred fire. Just check out Enclosure.
To light the Sacred Flame, Kallyr Starbrow must have "proven" her association with the bloodline of Sartar - but just the same, Argrath must also have later "proven" his association with the bloodline. In that sense, both were legitimate rulers of the House of Sartar. They both proved their affinity with the sacred bloodline and both were warlords with armed followers.
Some might argue that Kallyr was more ideologically "legitimate" given her involvement in the 1613 rebellion and her senior status amongst the Sartarite warlords. On the other hand, others might observe that Kallyr was seen as an ambitious opportunist following the fiasco of the 1613 rebellion. Many leaders from powerful tribes disliked and distrusted her intensely. So much for the greater legitimacy.
As for the Telmori, it seems that Argrath's political intuition was superior to Kallyr's. I personally suspect that Kallyr wooed the Telmori to her cause because the Telmori were the traditional bodyguards of the Sartar kings. Symbolically, Kallyr sought to show that she was the one true legitimate heir to the House of Sartar because she was supported by the Telmori. Argrath dispensed with that symbol since the Flame of Sartar was the all-important symbol. Furthermore, everyone else HATED the Telmori. And with good reason. By attacking the Telmori, Argrath gained the enthusiastic support of those tribes who hated and feared the Wolfrunners. Once he became Prince, the support of those tribes was probably far more useful than the Telmori ever could have been.
I suspect that Sartar in the years following Kallyr's Lighting of the Flame was filled with intrigue as rival warlords ran amok through the country-side, settling scores and unified only in their hatred of their former occupiers. As Kallyr struggled (possibly in vain) to assert her new-found authority as Prince, Argrath began laying the foundation for his much more dramatic rise to power by picking fights with the Telmori.
Hail Argrath!
Jeff
End of The Glorantha Digest V5 #534
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