Ashes of Empires

"Tell me, Arslan, when the Mgyrs formed a confederation, did we get on our knees and pay homage?"

"No, my Khan." 

"When the Armies of Garmiure 'the conquerer' demanded our submission did we submit?" 

"No, we did not."

"And when the Khan Khal Abaga declared himself IlKhan of a new Ilkhanate and declared all of the tribes must join him what did we do?"

"My Khan this does.."

"Silence!" bellowed the Khan as he rose from his throne. His large bulk chimed and jingled as the wealth of his chains and rings clacked together.

"We fought, we bled, we died, and we won! For three hundred years we won!" His voice seemed to echo within the open air of the Royal tent. "And yet, When another declares himself Ilkhan and orders us to kneel or die. You tell me to KNEEL!" The sound of Smashed bone and pulped brain reverberated across the gathering. Blood squirted across the steaming face of the Khan, in a second clean chop the head and neck came apart in two.

"This is my answer to Chagadai. I, Khan Tolon of Tribe Kızıl Kurtlar, demand a trial of refusal! If I win, Chagadai will be dead, and the spirits and gods will have proven he was not worthy. If I lose, the tribe of Kızıl Kurtlar will be absorbed into Tribe Chagadai and become no more." The great Khan Tolon, the Bloody as the spirits named him. d the severed head of his once great Noyan Arslan to the feet of the two emissaries. 

The emissaries were quick to leave, the severed head in their hands, and the Khans challenge in their heads. 

"Wisely," Thought Bakar. 

The Khan, sitting on the great wooden throne with horses carved throughout, Beckoned all in attendance to come forth and pay homage. One by one, starting with the nobles, then the richer families, the craftsmen, healers, or others of importance, and lastly, the few commoners in attendance.

Bakar was the last one to pay homage, kneeling before the throne of the horse lord, bowing his head, and kissing the outstretched palm of the Khans scared right hand. 

"Good! Now that the pleasantries are over, let's start." Tolon widened his arms in a mocking gesture. "An ill-bred Cur of a Khan called Chagadai has formed an Ilkhanate and declared we ought to join him." Murmurs rippled across the congregation. 

With one declaration, this 'Chagadai' has made history. "And most likely killed himself and his tribe." One does not declare himself Ilkhan lightly, For once you do every tribe must kneel or fight, and the Tribes of the Steppe guard their independence fiercely.

"Tomor and Badai I permit you to speak. Tell the assembly of what happened in the hills."

The two Tengi stepped onto the raised platform in front of the throne.

"When our Tengi scouted the eastern hills, we found an encampment of bandits six strong. Our young ones Maral, Drobei, Arik, and Bakar attacked and slew all six." Tomor's tone grew bitter at the mention of Bakar.

One-eyed Badai spoke this time. "We have learned that these were not simple bandits or raiders coming to steal our cattle." He looked to his Khan, who replied with a nod to continue, "Upon the arrival of these emissaries, we were informed that they were scouts, though they carried no colors." 

The Khan stood again and paced the platform the Nobles were furious, and the commoners were scared. Tomor and Badai left the stage, taking positions by the back wall. "Tribe Chagadai could be a week's ride away, maybe even days or hours. I have sent more scouts to find out, but we will not know for some time." Suddenly, the Khan grinned. It was a vicious smile that sent shivers down Bakars spine. "I order that every warrior be mobilized and equipped and that every Noyan prepares his household." 

"I have demanded a trail of refusal to avoid a war. However, there is no guarantee he shall accept such an offer. After all, none who have crossed blades with me have lived." A wicked laugh, more like a snarl, came out of his throat. The nervous tension in the air was palpable. "Now then, with that done." He clapped his hands together in an excited, flamboyant motion. Maa, the Khans first and primary wife, walked out from behind a silk curtain to the throne's right. In her hands, she held a masterfully engraved ivory box lined with gold and gems.

"Four of our tribe have earned the right of peerhood. Traditionally, we wait until the sixteenth name day to bestow such honors upon the next generation. With the news we have received, I will make an exception to our tradition." He Picked the First Arm ring from the box. A plainly adorned bronze ring, out of place among the richly decorated box. 

"Maral Qayag, Step forward and receive my blessing. You, who shares my blood, have proven yourself most capable. Take the band and receive your god's given name." Maral, for her part, seemed completely at home with the politics and attention now on her. She stepped forth, bent her knee, and held out her arm as the khan slipped the armband on and kissed the palm of her hand in the traditional symbolic gesture.

Next was Arik, Brimming with energy and enthusiasm, the khan had had to almost pin down his arm to get the band on properly. Bakar was already grimacing at future unceasing talks Arik would have with him about the ceremony.

Then came shy Drobei, eyes downcast where Ariks were bulging with pride. His ceremony was the quickest, he took the band and walked out of the tent with the others to go to the shaman Tartar. 

"Bakar! Come forth." His name was a surprise and not just to him. The room filled with gasps and groans as he moved forward. The displeasure of the Khan's announcement was evident on most of their faces. 

Keeping his head respectfully down, he took a knee and held out his arm palm up. Maa held the box out to the Khan. The arm ring he pulled out was the most ornate of them all. A crimson-red steel lined with intricate symbols and glyphs he had never seen. (Not that he had seen many) Glyphs and symbols were for the shamans and nobles, not a poor and hated commoner.

"Many of you do not see Bakar as one of us. But let his actions on the hills speak for itself. It was Bakar who led the tengri in a surprise assault, he slew two of 'Chagatai's' scouts without having lost any of his team. Tell me what more one must do to prove himself worth to be one of us." The Khans words worked their way through the crowd. Facing them, he could see a little less than half approved of him, more than before. The rest, mainly the old rich families, still held the same disapproving glares.

"Bakar, our great healer, found you by a creek bed with little more than a towel wrapped around your infant body. Ghoa and Tartar raised you as their own, even with the disapproval of others, even I did not believe it wise. Now I can see you are destined for great things. Go forth to the great shaman and receive your spirit name from the gods and return a true son of the tribe."