The Old Wolf Lies Still [Soft PK]

[Wasteland_Shaman 97]

The Old Wolf Lies Still

 

Liberation.

 

Emancipation.

 

Truth.

 

These were the values that carried Gutlug'Lurkhan, formerly Gutlug'Lurgoth, to committing his actions since the fall of the Horde...The Lur Elder had put his full trust and faith in the Horde under Rex Torosh'Mak, yet once he abdicated the Akaal had swiftly taken up the void left by the Mak Chieftain, the very same Rex that Gutlug'Lurkhan had voiced his support for before their exodus from Aevos. The thought of  Ghoraza'Akaal and his servant Maukûrz'Akaal, who would declare himself Motsham with the blessing of Rex Ghoraza Akaal was anathema to the values of their Clan's ancestors. But the Lur owed no loyalty to this Akaal Rexdom, not after the horned and demonic-like Akaal and their heretical philosophies stood in contrast to the Lur values of respecting nature, respecting the Spirits, and keeping to the Nomadic paths of their Ancestors as Lur himself had done.

"Urukhim are better than the Spirits."

 

"Lur blood will always be behind Akaal."

 

"Freygoth is a Liar, you worship the Spirits as a Canonist does."

Lies.

 

Yet the day came when the Immortal Spirits of Votar and Freygoth would call Gutlug'Lurgoth, who relinquished the title to his successor Veiz'Lurgoth, into a period of Occultation below the city of Ghorazad in the Lur Clan's vaults...Little did he know that, once the silence had been broken that Ghoraza'Akaal had betrayed Krug by submitting to the Bûrz Rex, Hadrian and his forces, destroying an institution that had lasted since Krug himself had established the first Rexdom thousands of years ago. To the Elder and Chieftain, this has rendered Ghoraza and his Motsham's decrees as illegitimate and heretical, bolstered with the knowledge given to him by the Twin Spirits, Gutlug chose to declare the Clan as separate from the hidden Rexdom, the same institution that Ghoraza swore to dismantle as not needing the Lur Clan. In front of Ghoraza's Dominus, the Elder criticized the desire for the Akaal to keep the Clans together under their Banner. Yet the Elder knew the Truth, for the Akaal would enslave the Urukhim under their dark banner as they had attempted to do multiple times, as the Akaal had attempted to manipulate him when he tried in vain to make peace with their Clan. 

 

Submission.

 

The Akaal would accept nothing less than the total servitude of the Grishob Lur to their ideals, and so it was that Azhug challenged Gutlug'Lurgoth to a Klomp...One that was abruptly stopped by the Command of Veiz'Lurgoth. The Yasaq, the Code taken by Lur to Votar, was absolute with the dissolution of the Horde and so Gutlug submitted to the Will of his Lurgoth. The Akaal claimed victory and demanded the Lur cease speaking Truth and History, wishing to rewrite it to fit their Clan's vision of what had come to pass centuries before, molding the next generation of orcs into accepting the Ixlian beliefs of Dark Shamanism and Bûrzmojo. For a Lur, the Yasaq was the Higher Law, the duel would remain inconclusive even with the greater numbers of the Akaal in Wynlomere demanding victory such was not viewed as such by the Lurkhan. The Akaal claimed to speak for Krug, deified him even, yet they did not wish to believe in his commandment to worship the Ilzgûlz, the Immortal Spirits rather worship themselves. For continuing to preach Truth, and for teaching what had transpired between their Clans to a cub the Akaal had manipulated against the Clan, Maukuurz had gotten what he wished for most. To stomp out the Truth, to quash Criticism, and bring the Lur Banner in chains under Akaal power.

Death.

The only way to save his Clan, to keep the Akaal from claiming them, was to die. With heavy heart and conscience lightened, the Old Wolf stepped forward and tried in vain to pay the Akaal the Grish Money to leave his Clan alone and accept it as payment for whatever slight he had wrought deserved or not, upon them. It was a vain hope, for Maukûrz had the sole desire to bring both Uruk and Ker under the Akaal heel, and Gutlug stood in his path and told him 'No'. A blow of pride to the Motsham, a petty attempt to wrest the future of the Righteous of Lur the Hunter into the cold and bloodied embrace of the Akaal. Even a Klomp which the slaying of the Lur would be the sole outcome decreed by the Akaal, was unacceptable to one who had fought so hard to free his Clan from the shackles of Akaal Snagahood, and so the uruk submitted himself to the authority of his Clan rather than those of the heretics, Three Days he was allotted...In spite of this, the Old Wolf knew that he must do what he must to save his Clan, even if it meant sacrificing himself, as for a Lur one must always put themselves before the needs of the Clan. The Akaal would not stop until all Lurs were slain in recompense for the supposed 'sins' of their Chieftain, the Elder had made his choice, to leave the Clan and submit to the mercy of his people rather than that of Heretics.

Stillness.

It was there, hidden away in the earth that the Old Wolf had entered to embrace the final judgement of the Spirits, of Lur and of Krug. With this final step towards the stone plate, smelling of herbs and blood, the Lur lay upon the table and drank the waters granted to him. The shaman crossed his arms and dreamt of what was to come as the knife worked into his flesh peeling away his skin, feeling nothing but serenity and bliss, his mind taken by the powerful alchemical forces that enraptured his mind. Yet prior to embracing Kor's grasp and losing consciousness with the waking world he spoke two words that defined the Legacy of Lur...

"Glozag...Votar..."
 

Gutlug'Lurkhan, had died upon that table that day, the Spirits had decreed he be stripped of his green skin of Krug and of Lur as penance for endangering his Clan with the loss of his face and name erased as such was their decree. Kor had spoken, the Lurkhan was no more, his racing thoughts piercing through his mind in tandem with the scalpel gracing his green hide. He thought of his friends, his Clan and Kindred, how he had come so far from a lowly snaga to becoming Goth of his Clan...The time spent with Yarrow'Lur under the Great Tree, of chaffing under Borok'Akaal and his reign, of riding to torment Atemu-Ta and making peace with the Elf he thought was an enemy of the Spirits, to learning the wisdom of the Immortal Ilzgûlz under the tutelage of the wise Gharak'Yar. He lived a great life on Aevos, almost complete, one where he donned the mantle of Lurkhan, Chieftain, of Lurs. Friend of the Qalasheen, even as they crossed blades for their lieges during the final war of the Horde, to forging bonds with dwarves of Urguan and Beasts of Meztli in blood and battle against the Buurz Rex Hadrian and his Ibleesian Legions...The Spirits had decided the outcome of the War long before he was called into Occulatation, his time as Lurgoth had ended leaving a Youth to take his place, they debated, argued yet it was Gutlug's fervent insistence on the demands of the Spirits that led him upon this path, and to it's terminal stage.

Peace.

And so it was that the Old Wolf paid the ultimate price, his skin rendered, his Lurwolf Asena too brought under the knife stripped of what make them Lur, what made them Uruk. With his last breath as Gutlug'Lurkhan, he knew that his Clan and those that he still loved remained safe from the Akaal and their wrath. They claimed they were only after him, a lie, knowing his demise would forestall what the Spirits had already decreed what was to come he did so anyways as the Clan always came first no matter how High he stood amongst the Clan's hierarchs. Wolf and Orc bled together, transfigured from death, the Spirits had made their Will known and were pleased...The Old Wolf lie still, rendered and torn, his duty complete, the Clan saved, his honour intact.

 

A friend once told the Old Orc, as the green in his flesh seeped away...

"To Rise You Must Fall"

As was the custom, letters were sent out upon the death of the Orc Khan to those that knew him in life both friend and foe alike.

To Zubayr @ibraheemc2000

Spoiler

"I fault you not for fighting alongside your Emperor, yet it is a shame that I have fallen before my own people for staying true to my values. I know not your Allah, though I pray that my Ancestors take me to Stargûsh'Stroh and that Kor accept me at his gate for my sacrifice even at the behest of the Heretical Akaal. I will always remember you as a friend and offer my death as a warning for what is to come. Tell Khaled and his children that I will miss them dearly." 

 

To Gharak'Yar @Gomoore
 

Spoiler

"My Mentor and former Master, I have failed you. My life cut short and my body surrendered to the Will of the Spirits. Krug and Kor await me at the other side. Heed my death not with sadness but pride, Stargûsh awaits."

To Rodrigo Leomonte @MonteGiant
 

Spoiler

"We met for only a brief moment and in a rare moment extended your hand to me, yet your rage and hatred for my kind burned brightly as much as an orc's own bloodlust yet you always fought honourably. You deserve my respect and admiration, pity that my own kin turned upon me when the Truth presented itself  rather than being felled by your mace like so many of my kin. Funny how that went."

To Bon'Ox and Kretz'Ox @MrMojoMordor &@ShyDisaster
 

Spoiler

"Know that I have always respected your Clan's lineage and duty to the Spirits even if we remain shattered. It seems that our meeting was never to be, for it was by their will I die for the wishes of the Heretic Motsham. With Kor and Votar by my side, I go willingly to this fate. May we meet again in the Stargûsh'Stroh. Do not succumb to the Akaal and their Lies as they seek to corral the Clans in a new Horde."

To Madoc'Lur @Sewer_Rat

Spoiler

"Disappointment. This can only describe your opinion of me as a pupil, should I have acted differently to the Akaal and their Heresy? Indeed it was my own drive as a Lur that led to my death by your hands. Nevertheless a true son of Lur I accept my fate to be judged by Kor as you are his Herald. Glozag'Votar."

To Atemu-Ta @Boknice275

Spoiler

"It is finished, Atemu. The Akaal have claimed my life as they had your sister, my Clan now enslaved as they wished to do with her. My regret being that I could not bridge the gap between our people and yours, when you read this understand that I see what happened to you and your people as a warning that would befall upon all of Krug's children. Even if your views were heretical, the Akaal have proven themselves to be the greater Heretics. Forgive my failure, may I meet Meret-Pa and beg her of my forgiveness as I have with you."

To Sa'Maku or Marcus @GoldenBoy

Spoiler

"I am dead. Celebrate, Laugh, I care not. I once considered you a friend but it seemed that you only harboured spite towards my kin. We will meet again beyond the pale."

To Veiz'Lurgoth @Boujee Keia

Spoiler

"My pupil, your shrewdness is unmatched as was your wit. A slow old wolf like me couldn't match it, if  I the master hadn't kept so true to my ways would we be in this situation. And now I have submitted myself totally to your will and have paid the price with my life, the Akaal are never to be trusted, may my death buy you the time needed to collect your allies and weigh your options. A Lur must always put themself before the needs of the Pack, the Yasaq demands it. I and my Wolf have left the land of the living, it is now up to you to continue Lur's Will upon the world. My sacrifice, remember it, Freedom from the Akaal one day shall be achieved and our Clan returned to it's full glory. Either you, or someone like you, can bring Votar's Divine Commandment back to our Clan and restore us to Righteousness. Forgive me for acting too rashly, though I acted with the Clan's best interests, the Akaal and their many twisted words and twisted eyes they bring to our Clan. The one known as 'Nubbie' I branded for she sold me out to the Akaal and chose them over our Blood, for what reason I know not...Know that my demise shall further you as Lurgoth, remember that one day you will be called to pay the greatest price for the Clan as I have. My final lesson to you, Veiz, my Possum."

Below lay an encrypted letter for the Lurgoth's eyes only.

"To you, I leave the Village under the administration of a wandering trader. He is Jahangir, your contact in Viru. Trust his wisdom, keep him from the same mistakes I have made and always remind him you are Lurgoth. When all is safe and well with the Akaal visit him. Glozag'Votar."

To Dorin @Riot
 

Spoiler

"Farewell, Dorin Grishbruddah, I considered you as near of kin and it shames me greatly I did not die fighting the Empire at Kal'Baraz. An end that surely would have carried me to Starguush'Stroh and the Forests of my Ancestors. May Dungrimm take you with High Honour when you fall."

To Lady Sloane Pachakutiq @Eliseth
 

Spoiler

"I greet you with ill tidings, the Akaal have demanded I die for expressing my Clan's desire to be free openly. To spare Viru, and to spare my Clan, I have willingly offered myself to my Clan's executioners. My death shall free you of the present danger that the Akaal present to Viru and my Clan. I implore you to heed my warning, this is the beginning, even with my death the Akaal will become emboldened to unite the Orc Clans. Who is to say that they would not attempt to besmirch the Oxes of Petra if they were to attempt to defy their will? The Ker of Viru are not safe either, for Maukuurz claims dominion over them as well, Arvel agreed with me that this problem would spread if it were not brought to you and the Tar. I desired only my people's emancipation from Akaal shackles and the Arch-Heretic has declared me a Heretic to the Spirits for standing against him, I fear that this is just the beginning. Do not mourn me, I thank you for what you have done for my people always and forever. Know that Votar smiles upon you."

There lay a message sealed with Blue Wax for the Paramount.

"I, Gutlug'Lurkhan, bestow my earthly possessions to Jahangir Ben Krug, my Pupil. As my final act as Chieftain of Clan Lur, management of Camp Votar shall be his with the consent of Lurgoth Veiz and Elridh who has taken residence as a Cub of Lur. The one known as 'Nubbie' is hereby banished from Camp Votar, with the discretion of the Paramount to uphold the change of caretaking of the village and it's affairs to Jahangir ben Krug and the subsequent banishment of it's denizens to Clan affairs."

To Ulfar @Papa Rock
 

Spoiler

"Alas, I have slain. Know that my death was in vain and not beside your kin, Urguan and his cubs shall always hold a place in my heart even as I lay dying. Goodbye, Ulfar."

To Elridh @Beordan
 

Spoiler

"Kor has come for me, keep to your training and remember what I have taught you. My death should serve as a lesson of both the indomitable will of the Spirits and one's actions in applying them, in this case I failed. You may choose to remain in Camp Votar to complete your trials, but know that I have gone away to meet Kor. Another not yet of our Blood shall keep the village while my last affairs are meted. Glozag'Votar."

To Shamizir  @Kardika
 

Spoiler

"I know not if you live or if this reaches you, but Ghoraza and Maukuurz his mouthpiece have beaten me. No more will I spin tales in your Saloons, the Blood of Lur now goes a different path. Whether our Blood crosses as friend or foe, know that I have always respected you, Sanguine One."

To Sir Maxwell @Nathaniel Maxwell
 

Spoiler

"Farewell, Armoured Owl, for I am no more. Gutlug'Lurkhan sends you this last message with sorrow. The Akaal have decreed my death, I write this as my mentor with the knowledge that I am do be slain by my own Clan as a plea for mercy rather than submit to the blades of the Akaal. I did not wrong Krug, nor his Law, rather the Akaal have twisted their lies. 'Tonguedancer' they call me? No. It is they who have Tonguedanced their own Codes into those of Krug's and so I am now dust. Another shall take up the mantle of the Pouncing Lion, he will make himself known to you when the Hour is Right. Kor now comes to claim me, should Meztli bid, we shall meet again in Khalenwyr."

To Azhug and the Akaal @Pancakehz@StokedOff
 

Spoiler

The message is entirely written in the Old Tongue, presented along with Gutlug's key belongings in life.

"Azhugû, grishob Gorkilir mugshlat. Ash kranklûkizub bugdizguga, rad kulAkaal snagalat. Gaakh matumizub narmoklab, Lurgrish Akaalû narûk kulsnagaz! Bûrzlaam Maukûrz!"
[To Azhug, you spat upon the Blood of Gorkil. My brother I once called you, now you are an Akaal slave. May my death please you, Lur-Blood shall never be slaves to Akaal! Dartktongue Maukûrz!]

TLDR
 

Spoiler

Gutlug faked his & his Lurwolf's deaths, don't metagame please, gonna chill for a bit love <3 
P.S. Trust everyone here not to metagame stuff. Have fun with the letters sent you your characters, you meant a lot to Gutlug while he was still kicking.
P.S.S. I'm likely never playing as Gutlug proper again, so he'll be referred to in the past tense regardless.

 

[Vikenz 1162]

 

Kroku had persisted long enough to see many rexs rise and more fall. That alone had been an ill fated omen.

Now the Horde had many fractured, broken into clans like the days of yore, each clawing for dominance. When the Rex of the Horde had called, when the men of the Empire had attacked, the young Uruk of Lur blood had not stood amongst them. 

The Spirits had not forgiven it. They had grown restless in Kroku’s silence, haunting the Northern range of Aevos where he had grown idle and exiled. He felt them always now deep within the marrow of his bones, carrying in the cold wind that bit at his skin, festering his mind like unseen insects feeding upon his doubt.

Krug had painted him weak for remaining idle. And though Kroku had turned his back on the horde, he would not bear that shame again. The Blood of Rexs did not forget.

Without word, Kroku’s large green hand tightened around the shaft of his spear, a back turned from the cave, and stepped into the wilds, bound south once more. Behind him, a companion sprang from its ledge, silent but with a heavy rhythm of deep breaths.

[Nathaniel Maxwell 66]

A large, Armored Stranger looked upon the message he was given. His face Obscured by his helmet, it was impossible to tell his reaction. . .

[Pancakehz 2279]

Azhug took a breath as the news of this passing reached him. After Gutlug kneeled and yielded during their duel, rendering it complete and declaring Azhug the victor according to tradition, he feared that this might happen. He shook his head "Azhug offered you peace, offered to speak with you. Yet you continued to claim my kin were heretics and claimed to speak for Krug." he sighed, for it was always a burden on him when one of Krug's children passed on.

 

Azhug took hold of the letter that was addressed to him and read it. As his eyes moved back and forth, he spoke to himself "I have been the only descendent of Gorkil for some time, strange to read such claims from one who knows so little of my grizh." he snorted momentarily before continuing on "Even in death, he cannot see that the Lur clan was never the issue. Only his wild tongue and disrespectful nature." he shook his head, folding the letter once more and discarding it. "Rest well, Brother Gutlug."