Might Makes Right

[Samoblivion 532]

Spoiler

 

 

 

War and division had come again to the Uzg. Misery and heartache flowed in its wake, for now again had come the days when Orcs would shed the blood of their kin. All shared the blood and legacy of Krug, all were beyond reproach in their devotion to the path of the honour. None knew the shame and disgust of being whitewash, yet none could legitimately claim to be Rex under law. The defeat of Kulgarok and his abdication flew in the face of Orcish jurisprudence and there was uproar from many corners. The shamanic order under Nurena'Yar and the not insignificant influence of Shaggarath'Yar had declared the new Rex illegitimate and retreated from the lands of Asul to Ceru, to continue their controversial transformation into an organisation that would accept all comers regardless of whether they were Orc or honourary. From the depths of obscurity had come the young warrior Ram, first of his name and first of his clan, and his declaration of Rexship. Many disgruntled warriors he drew to his side in a new Ram clan, and the camp of Sarn would stand across the Serpent River in defiance of the new order.

 

And that new order was the dominion of the Rex Malgunuz'Raguk, wargoth of old who had stood shoulder to shoulder with the might Kahn'Braduk and served in the past with valour and distinction. But his days of glory were decades past. None had seen him in all that time and so doubtful was his right to suddenly return and claim the Rexdom by defeating the beleagured Kulgarok'Lak. But it was Kulgarok who had declared the contest legitimate, and so had begun this new time of strife. Many were Malgunuz' enemies - even the clan of the former Rex had risen up in anger and dissent. The warriors of Laklul now serve the young Rex of Sarn, and so the two greatest sides in the conflict are evenly matched.

 

Division is anathema to the Braduks. In the first historical age of Orckind, in the centuries following that time of hallowed myth when Krug walked the earth in Aegis, the greenskins fought viciously amongst themselves. The Clash of Clans war was a genocidal conflict, a time of pure anarchy without cause and without end, when clan would fight clan and clanless would be slaughtered for their neutrality. In the darkness a light emerged. Braduk, progenitor of his clan, established the city of Kenuk as a refuge against the wars and so stability was established. Out of chaos was order, and so a portion of the Orcish race was saved from the fires of endless bloodlust until unity returned to Krugmar. Such is legend to the Braduks, and such is their charge. Order must be maintained, lest Orckind be consumed by their own fury and the predations of the lesser peoples. A Braduk's loyalty is foremost to the clan, and second to order - loyalty to the greater nation or any individual leader was the decision of the individual clan leader, a decision to be undertaken with great care in times of strife. Such a dilemma was foremost in the mind of Lukra'Braduk, she who was Braduk but not born of the clan, mate to the mighty Kahn, mother of his last children, and now caretaker of the Braduk legacy, Warlord and Wargoth of the clan.

 

None held a totally legitimate claim but by default she had fought on the side of Malgunuz, despite her reservations. But there came a time when all the newly restored Wargoths who remained loyal had pledged themselves and their clans in sacred oath to the new Rex, and her doubts became obvious. And so she was summoned to the throne of the Rex to explain herself. Lukra spoke candidly to the Rex as she had done to all his predecessors, as was her way. Lukra spoke of all that was in her mind, of order and unity, of claims and legitimacy, and of her desire to see the Braduks retain neutrality until the spirits determined who would be victorious. Might would make right. Until that time, the Braduks would fight for Malgunuz's right to the title of Rex, but would not swear themselves to him.

 

The Rex listened and then spoke of the great ties between Raguk and Braduk, in the times when Lukra was clanless, when Kahn and Malgunuz had stood as brothers and fought all comers. Dwarf, elf and human had fallen to their blades and none could doubt their unity of spirit. But Lukra spoke then and rightly so that the bond that was there was strained when Kharak'Raguk, honoured but controversial successor to Malgunuz' wargothship of Raguk and later Rex, had grievously injured and disgraced Mok'han'Braduk, Warlord and Wargoth of that clan and firstborn son to Lukra, for challenging Kharak's campaign to gain the favour of Orgon - a sentiment that would later ring all too true, as all Orcs and other races know.

 

Malgunuz nodded and understood but then stood and spoke his own piece - an ultimatum. He would not brook discord and disunity, and those not totally committed to the cause would not be welcome in his goi and would be cowards if not traitors. It was then that Lukra, in her rage at that offense, struck him across the face and sent him staggering back onto his throne. Lukra countered the ultimatum, a test to her philosophy of might making right - the two would face each other in a bare-knuckle klomp. If the Rex was victorious then the Braduks would end their deliberation and their full weight thrown behind the cause of Malgunuz for Rex against the Sarnites of Ram. If Lukra won, then the status quo would remain and Malgunuz could not force the hand of the Mistress of the Rhinos.

 

In the Serpent River Arena the two fought, to a modest crowd. Both invoked the will of Leyd, spirit of domination, patron of honourable combat, to aid them and guide events to their proper course. And so the klomp began. Lukra fought with spirit and bravery but was no match for Malgunuz, a warrior of legend and renown beyond her own. Lacking blades and size Lukra was outmaneuvered if not outpaced and despite her spirit was broken. In a final desperate swing her throat was caught and she was thrown into the side of the arena. Victory belonged to Malgunuz. Stating his claims to the loyalty of the Braduk clan he dragged Lukra from the debris and held her by her neck. In his fury, the ascendant Rex slammed the fe-orc Wargoth to the dirt. His will was iron, and his anger and rage radiated to all present. No further splitting would be tolerated. Malgunuz had met the Braduks' terms and won, and his humiliation of Lukra and lack of regard for the protocol of fighting as equals demonstrated his resolve to those present. Submit or fall.

 

While Lukra healed a missive was sent, with posters and all fanfare to all concerned. To all loyal territories, to the retreat of the shamans and thrown across the river with a ballista was sent the message:

 

Quote

THE BRADUK CLAN SUBMITS TO THE WILL OF THE TRUE REX. ALL HAIL THE MIGHTY MALGUNUZ, HE WHO THE SPIRITS HAVE DEEMED WORTHY OF DOMINANCE. THE BRADUK CLAN IS SWORN TO KRUGMAR.

 

[HedgeHug 2049]

48 minutes ago, Samoblivion said:

HE WHO THE SPIRITS HAVE DEEMED WORTHY OF DOMINANCE.

 

A shaman cackles in his tent, safely away from all of the fighting. "Wi zhall peep wub dah zpiridz gruk abaut 'iem"

[Shalashask 1112]

Mok'han'Braduk roars in the ancestral plane, knowing that his father would rather have died than submit to this psuedo-Rex.

[LatzMomo 2088]

32 minutes ago, Shalashask said:

Mok'han'Braduk roars in the ancestral plane, knowing that his father would rather have died than submit to this psuedo-Rex.

Alibaba smiles in the ancestral plain. "Hozh, Kahn wub a nub'hozh kuhnt."

[MangoArt 399]

2 hours ago, Shalashask said:

Mok'han'Braduk roars in the ancestral plane, knowing that his father would rather have died than submit to this psuedo-Rex.

Yug turns to Mok'han in the ancestral plane. "Ahd leazt wi cahn agrii ahn azh ting." He smiled.