Fiction:The Mendel Schism/Worshippers of the Void

"The Void God has promised us victory! Rise my warriors, and see to it that none, heretic or alien, survives this day. Today, the Tul'Kaarin will rise!"

- Mavarla Altrass rallying his troops.

Following the trail
'''Renarch leads the Reclaimers into the abandoned asteroid belts and realms used by the Tul'kaarin, a grave yard of dying stars and floating derelicts. There, they begin to see if they can find any info on the Tul'Kaarin, and work their way towards them without starting an all out war with them, as Tul'kaarin scouts watch them closely.'''

Altraak's arrival
'''Altraak, meanwhile, is informed of the Reclaimer's arrival, and brings her fleet with her, believing them useful to her plans. There, she brings her fleet to the edge of the system that Kirta is in, and teleports aboard with a number of her guards. After disabling some of Kirta's troops, she convinces them to hear her out, and help her gain control of the Tul'kaarin in exchange for helping Kirta deal with the Hand. Kirta agrees, and Altraak tells them of a dangerous cultist named Nyun who needs to be taken out.'''

Fall of Nyun
'''Kirta and Renarch head towards the derelict that Nyun has taken as a capital, and fight their way aboard. There, they meet Ghkess Vhardi, and, after befriending him, assists them in finding a way to Nyun and deploy their troops to take his followers out. After a long battle, Ghkess, Kirta and Renarch are able to disable Nyun and flee, leaving his followers to death as the ship falls into the nearby sun as it self-destructs.'''

Death of Mavalra's Chosen
'''Altraak applauds Kirta's brutality, and concludes that the next step must be the destruction of some members of Mavarla's supports, a number of Warmasters and generals that would get in her way during the Honor Duel and needs them removed right away. Kirta questions being used as a political tool, and almost draws her sword on Altraak, though is kept from doing anything rash when the Tul'kaarin are such important allies. Perturbed, but calmer, Kirta and her forces go down and remove the Warmasters and cult leaders loyal to Mavarla, including Ghelik, who Altraak personally executes before he can warn Mavarla.'''

Issuing the challenge
'''After having her forces scourer the area for survivors, Altraak gathers her forces into a completely different location, removing all evidence she was in the area, and contacts Mavarla, challenging him. The Claw of Ada accepts, believing her weak and overstepping her bounds. Altraak meets up with Kirta one last time aboard her flag ship, still hidden within Altraak's holdings, and the two discuss the next stage in the plan, Altraak winning the duel. Although cautious after hearing tales of Mavarla's brutality, Altraak laughs it off, believing him an arrogant fool.''

Sinew and Steel
On one of the largest ships in the Tul'kaarin fleet, currently following Kirta Clett's, the most powerful members of the Ascetic Order had gathered for a meeting before their holy shrine deep in the twisted bowels of the ship. The Ascetics were made entirely out of Ugandals from a plains tribe who worshiped different gods, had different customs, and even spoke a different language from the rest of the Ugandal population. They joined the Tul'kaarin because their way of life fit their own culture. But that was all in flux and turmoil now.


 * Ascetic 1 - It would seem that all of the Ascendants have bent the knee to Kirta Clett.
 * Ascetic 2 - What does that mean for us? Are we to follow the she-bitch into battle?
 * Ascetic 3 - That is not our way.
 * Ascetic 2 - Besides, we only followed this Mavarla fellow because he promised us freedom to practice our culture as we saw fit. We pledged ourselves to his empty god so we could keep ours. The she-bitch will take that all away.
 * Ascetic 3 - We may all be executed after our use runs out. Our whole tribe could be wiped away.
 * Ascetic 1 - No! That must not happen, will not happen!
 * Ascetic 4 - You have a solution to our dilemma?
 * Ascetic 1 - The men the she-bitch takes us to fight hate her and the other "righteous leaders" of the Mendel just as much as we do! We should join them.
 * Ascetic 2 - You speak of the Hand of Retribution and Fenric Vermillion?
 * Ascetic 4 - Fenric Vermillion has flooded Ugandalore with Lagothenes! How can we trust that he will mind our traditions when he has clearly thrown away his!
 * Ascetic 1 - The Lagorthenes are a tribal people like us, who the Mendel persecuted, like us! Fenric sees our common cause, as should all of you! He has united the mountain clans, the feral clans, and the entire Lagorthene race! He has his own private army of foreign men from the Veil, and at least two companies of mercenaries. The Hand has the entire Pact, besides these bastards our "divine leader" bent the knee to. What side seems more likely to win?
 * Ascetic 3 - I agree. Either we fight for the Hand and Fenric, and have a chance at preserving our culture, or we fight for the she-bitch, and watch our people be trampled into the dirt in the aftermath. We either stand fast now, or accept our fate and fight a cause we do not believe in. If this is the final hour of the Ash'iyyar, then so be it. But I for one will die atop my turakh, with my spear in hand and ashes on my skin. If the rest of you want to die fighting for the she-bitch and her kneeling bastards, fine. But I want the name Ash'iyyar to strike fear into the hearts of men, one last time.

The other Ascetics jumped to their feet, roaring in support. After that, there were no more arguments. The Ascetics gathered all of their men, their turakh mounts, and as many weapons and food items as they could carry, onto the ship. That particular ship was mostly for the Ascetics, so they had little trouble taking control of it. They left the pilots alive, and directed them to set an immediate course for Ugandalore. With spears and curveblades held to their throats, the terrified pilots quickly complied.

The main fleet noticed one large ship suddenly disappear into hyperspace, but paid it little mind. Their quest lay ahead as well.

Fenric Vermillion stood in his command center, surrounded by mountain clansmen and Lagorthene Honor Guards. Supreme Overlord of the Suicide Watch, Javik Vort, stood in front of him.


 * Javik - All is going to plan, captain. Kirta Clett believes the Suicide Watch to be on her side.
 * Fenric - What of the others?
 * Javik - Unfortunately, all of her other supporters, the Tul'kaarin, Ruins Hand, seem to be firmly on her side.
 * Fenric - Perhaps you should not be here, then. If some loyalist realizes you are gone...
 * Javik - No worries. I have a decoy masquerading in my armor until I return. I figured I should bring this report to you in person. better that than risk a transmission intercept.
 * Fenric - You are smart, that is good.
 * Javik - Just remember our deal. I want all my clan's lands and titles restored. If you gave these furry fucks half of Ugandalore, you can give me what is rightfully mine.

The Lagorthenes bared their teeth and snarled. Fenric waved his hand.


 * Fenric - I gave you my word. My word is my word.
 * Javik - Good. Because if I get betrayed, I may be inclined to switch loyalties.
 * Fenric - You try to play the long game, Javik, but it is not in you. Were I to not keep my promise, that would mean we would have beaten Kirta already. Even if we had not, she would never accept a twice-turncoat. This may be why you lost your lands in the first place.

Javik roared in anger, and his hand instinctively went for his sword, but the Lagorthenes had their vibro-axes pointed at him in the blink of an eye. A Bellfield crossbowman took aim at his head. At this range, the clansman's quarrel would punch right through his helmet. Javik raised his hands up in surrender.


 * Fenric - You would be wise to control that temper of yours as well.

Before Javik could speak, a Ferquievy man burst through the door.


 * Ferquievy - My lord! A Tul'kaarin ship has come out of hyperspace!
 * Fenric - Is it hostile?
 * Ferquievy - No, my lord. It has not attacked.
 * Fenric - Send it a transmission. I want to know what they want.
 * Ferquievy - Aye, sir.

A short while later, the Tul'kaarin ship made it clear that they wanted to meet with Fenric. He allowed it, and moments later the four Ascetic captains beamed down to Fenric's command center. They rode through the doors riding their turakhs, who shat large piles of dung onto the floor. When they reached Fenric's command room, they dismounted and approached him.


 * Fenric - Was that entrance supposed to frighten me? You ride great ugly beasts who shit too much. Bravo.
 * Ascetic 4 - Do not insult our turakhs! They are our sacred mounts!
 * Javik - Maybe if your people had mounted your women as much as your...mounts, the Mendel kings would not have exiled you.
 * Ascetic 2 - Silence, Grox-thrall! Your kind are as hated as ours!
 * Javik - My kind no longer serves the Grox. We serve Fenric, and will have our rightful seats restored when we win. But I want to know, why are YOU here? I thought you were Mavarla's bootlicks.
 * Ascetic 1 - Altraak has bent the knee to the she-bitch!
 * Fenric - She-bitch?
 * Javik - Kirta Clett. These misogynistic butt-scratchers would never dream of following a woman.
 * Ascetic 3 - Do not presume to make a joke of us, steelbinder.
 * Javik - You are doing a pretty good job of that yourselves. I mean, come on! Killing your own female children so they will not breed with your enemies? Really?
 * Ascetic 2 - We have not indulged in that custom for years!
 * Javik - Yeah, ever since the Cletts booted your asses off the planet. Are those sinew braids of yours made from the muscle of men you kill, or just your own children?
 * Fenric - ENOUGH!!! If these men have something to say, I will hear them out as I did you. But I have heard all I care to hear from you, Javik. Crawl back to Clett's fleet before the bitch find out you are gone. Now, or our deal is null!

Javik grumbled and walked out. One of the turakhs snapped at him as he left. He jumped out of its way and skirted out the door, muttering something about "grassfuckers" and "plains savages".


 * Fenric - The White Warriors of the Ash'iyyar are famed warriors. This is known.
 * Ascetic 4 - You know our true name?
 * fenric - I have studied much Mendel history. Were it not for the technological and numerical disadvantage, your people would have surely prevailed against the Cletts. Your hatred of the she-bitch is understandable. I assume you have come to join me in defeating them. I ask what you wish in return.
 * Ascetic 1 - We only wish to recolonize the plains and have our customs left undisturbed.
 * Fenric - Your customs are of no concern to me. You may do as you please. Your lands may have been colonized, by Ugandal or Lagorthene I do not know, but you have my permission to root them out.
 * Ascetic 3 - Thank you, we-
 * Fenric - If...you serve me well in destroying Kirta's armies. If you can kill Mavarla or the bitch who replaced him, bring me their heads and you will be greatly rewarded.
 * Ascetic 2 - We rode our turakhs across those plains for hundreds of years. We lost our homes because some bastards wanted to "civilize" us. We had to declare for the empty god, and for Mavarla with his empty head, in hopes to regain our land. But that was yet another farce. We want those lands. We will bleed and die for anyone if it gets us back there. Keep your rewards. You have nothing we want but our land. We will bring you the heads of the kneelers because it has to be done, not for promises of riches. We are not sellswords. Our honor is all that we have left.
 * Fenric - *Respectfully* Hmmm...