Open Chronicles My Kingdom is a Horse

[Ogedei]

Ogedei sat quietly on the small hill, his horse grazing noisily on the grass nearby as he looked out over the plains of his homeland. The usually empty grasslands were filled to the brim with cloth and leather gers, the rounded mobile homes of the Aldsan people. Each one was covered in a variety of colors and patterns, some faded and other vibrant and new. The gers of his own tribe, an array of grey and green surrounded the hill where he sat, outnumbered, and surrounded on all sides.

In the distance, Ogedei could see thousands of livestock grazing in prepared areas, under the watchful eyes of Aldsan warriors and shepherds. There were clear gaps between the different tribe's herds, and the occasional shout could be heard in the distance as animals drew too close to one another. There was not nearly enough room for all of them there, but the tribes would not be gathered here for long. In less than a week they would all disperse, heading in different directions while watching over their shoulders should anyone follow them. As was the way of his people. Ogedei could not hide his disgust at the thought.

Finally, Ogedei turned his attention to the city that lay in the center of all the gers and herds. Asolsa, the Home City of the Aldsan people, and the meeting ground of the tribes every five years for discussion on grazing rights, blood feuds, and a hundred other topics. It was the only place in the Steppes where the various tribes would not kill one another for the smallest of slights. As it was, there were likely to be a dozen bodies that would be found the following morning, especially as the competitions were getting underway. Horse races, long-distance running, archery, and even wrestling events were spread out around the looming city of Asolsa, though everyone was careful not to cross the unmarked boundaries that separated the Steppes from the city.

The gathering was also one of the few times outsiders were able to enter Aldsan territory with any reasonable certainty they would not be attacked. From his vantage point, Ogedei could see several dozen outsiders; merchants, and traders for the most part, though the occasional fellow nomad appeared in their midst. Ogedei even spotted a few orcs in the crowds, though they moved in large groups, carefully navigating the rows of gers and hostile glances shot their way.

With a groan, Ogedei pushed himself to his feet, feeling muscles that had fallen asleep slowly coming back to life. He paused there for a moment longer, resting his hand on the wolf head pommel of his family's ancestral sword. He traced the outline of the fanged maw as he looked out over the plains one more time, enjoying the view as an observer for one more moment before he would dive back into the role of Khan, leader of the People of the Wolves tribe.

It was going to be a long day.

Qulai
Ablen

 

[Qulai]

He was being reflective, whenever he got that distant look in his eyes she knew he was thinking about something bigger than himself or the tribes.
She came out of their ger and saw him up on the hill with his horse beside him. She walked up to join him, coming up beside him and looking out over the village.

She looped her arm around his elbow, resting her head on his shoulder.
"Today is a big day, Ogedei. You will speak to the other chieftains soon. Will you tell them of our plan? Is this the day we unite all the tribes?"
She had been hoping for this day, hoping for the time when the tribes stopped fighting amongst themselves and band together to build something real, something amazing.

She had shared this dream of his ever since he told her of it, and she's supported him to achieving this goal.
Bringing peace to the tribes and uniting them under one banner would be a formidable task. He had to somehow make everyone put aside their petty feuds and rivalries and once more join hands in brotherhood with one another.

 

[Ablen]

The Attilan had arrived.

A tribe of the Aldsan they held themselves apart from the others. They were almost a subspecies unto themselves. Often the Attilan were noted for their bloodthirsty appetites, raiding the caravans of outsiders that passed through the Steppe leaving carrion in their wake and taking those that lived as slaves. Many practiced a brutal form of swordplay alongside the archery that was commonplace amongst the Aldsan. Most were distinguished by their large physiques and predatory features.

***​

Ablen rode at the head of a hundred men, he was their Oru or Commander though he sometimes commanded more. Everyone under his command was a fierce raider, a killer. The Horselord himself was no different.

He sat atop a Black Mare, adorned in an armor of bronze. A wolfish pelt wrapped around his shoulders, hanging down his back. A sword of the tulwar variety was sheathed over his left hip though it was larger than the norm. Brown eyes scanned the area as it spread out ahead of him and the Warriors he traveled with.

Asolsa was one of the few places that the Attilan would not break the peace, it was sacred. Once the tribes met on the Steppe away from the city though then there was plenty of time to settle old feuds.

Tilting his head Ablen noted a figure, mounted atop a hill that overlooked the sprawl. He thought he might know who that was, the various figures of every tribe being known to one another.

 

[Ogedei]

Ogedei let a rare smile cross his face as his wife approached. Qulai had always supported him, even when he had been too young to even remember their first encounter. They had fought together, bled together, and still stood united against the world that was filled with all those who would push them down.

"I shall bring my thoughts to the other Khans. It has been too long since the last gor-Khan, a Great Khan wife. They will not accept what I must say. They will resist the inevitable, as they always do. They shall fall back on tradition and petty ambition, while our people are ground to dust. It will only end in bloodshed..."

His voices trailed off as he looked in the distance, seeing the arrival of the Attilan tribe. Outsiders among a nation of outsiders, the Attilans were usually the last of the Aldsan people to arrive at the great gatherings. Among the Aldsan, only the Attilan had a more fearsome reputation in battle than his own Wolves. Their Khan was a warrior without equal, or so the rumors said. Time would tell, Ogedei was sure. Turning, Ogedei looked Qulai in the eye as he clicked his tongue, his well trained Steppe mare walking over to his outstretched hand.

"Warrior of the Wolf Tribe, I ask you to serve as Bondsmen and oath taker as I go to the gathering." Ogedei hid the smile from his face as he spoke, though not the smile in his eyes. Every Khan had the right to take a single warrior with them to serve as a bodyguard during the gathering of Khans in the city. There were no specifics, though it usually fell to the strongest, largest warrior in each tribe. Ogedei had such a man, but he would still bet on his wife every time.

Qulai
Ablen

 

[Qulai]

She bowed her head low, a smile dancing on her lips. She's always been by his side at these meetings, except for when they were younger and she was far from being one of the best warriors of the wolf tribe.
Her skill with the sword matched his skill with a bow and they complimented each other nicely.
She still smiled when she looked up but her voice was grave.
"I foresee an incident tonight. One of the Khan's will be enraged when you speak."
Her visions were often inexact or very general, but one way or another she was usually right in some way, shape, or form.

She looked down the hill and noticed the latecomers. Besides the orcs the Attilans were probably the most hated among the other tribes. Though they seemed to have a little more respect for the wolf tribe. Combat was one thing both of their tribes respected and excelled at.
She smiled at the sight of the Attilan tribe.
"I see the representative from the Attilan tribe standing by your side. Our call for unity will not go unanswered."
She let out a sharp whistle, calling her own horse to her side. She pay its flanks down before mounting up.

 

[Ablen]

The Attilan briefly spied the figure of the Khan of the Wolves atop the hill, seated upon his horse with the smaller figure of his woman close to his side. There was a recognition even at this distance, Ablen narrowed his eyes briefly then carried on without so much as a word.

Leading the others through Asolsa was like riding through the Steppe, the Attilans did not care whose territory they rode through.

Eventually they would came to a space claimed by others of the Attilan tribe. Their was no Khan of the Attilans there were only Oru's, the Commanders of Men. Ablen was the Oru of a Hundred, it was not uncommon for an Oru to command this many though some of the greatest Warlords had risen to be Oru of a Thousand or more.

Dismounting his horse Ablen landed on his feet, rolling his shoulders as his warriors did likewise while other men came to meet him. Forearms were clutched in shows of brotherhood and fidelity, even if men of the tribe disliked one another; they were all of the Attilan tribe after all...

"Stoke a fire. Bring food and slaves."

...he barked before several of the least experienced amongst them dispersed to do as commanded. To these killers food was important as was drink, business wasn't done without it around a fire. As for the slaves, if they were being brought out it was likely to fight to the death as a form of entertainment.

There were women among the Attilan too, Warriors all of them. Several Oru were women, these horsed demons howled like banshees as they road into battle, half mad with bloodlust they were treated no different then the men of the tribe.

There would be a meeting among Chieftains and Khans soon, it was commonplace for the Attilan to send one of the Oru as a representative with another as his second. When the time came Ablen would be the Oru to represent the tribe during this conclave, his second a veteran of the tribe who had slain many enemies and raided a hundred times named Sengei.

 

[Ogedei]

The smile left Ogedei's face at Qulai's words. She was a Shaman of the People of the Wolves, one of the most powerful as he understood such things. Her prophecies and predictions were rarely wrong on subjects, though the room for interpretation on them made it difficult to prepare for such outcomes. Mentioning the Attilan as well brought a darker frown to his face.

Their tribe had a reputation for a reason.

With a bark of an order, Ogedei set off down the hill, the bow and sword resting on his saddle hitting the side of the horse with every other step. As they got down to the Wolf camp, Ogedei nodded his head to the few warriors who emerged from their gers, some obviously drunk. Women and children were the dominant parties around the camp at the moment, carrying out the hundreds of tasks that had to be done for such a camp to survive. It took them several minutes to navigate through the gers, placed in specific locations. When a camp was set up, careful planning was taken to ensure there were no straight paths through it. Any raiders that attacked the camp would have to navigate the tight corners and natural alleys the gers created in their seemingly random placement.

Finally, they emerged from the camp, crossing into an open area between the majority of the other tribe's camps and Asolsa. In the distance, Ogedei could see several other figures approaching the city as well. The arrival of the Attilan's had been noted by all, and the gathering of Khan's was to begin soon.

The outer edges of Asolsa were guarded by the Broken, warriors of the Aldsan people who were outcasts among the tribes. Each had committed crimes grievous enough to face death at the hands of their people, but instead of facing their deaths with honor, they had chosen to travel to Asolsa to serve as the permanent guardians and stewards of the city. They were without honor, without a name, and were seen as less than dirt among the tribes for their actions and choices. But they were necessary for the way of things. They held spears in their hands, with a bow across their back. Ogedei did not even look down at them as he passed through the open gateway of the city.

Several minutes of riding through the empty streets of the brought Ogedei and Qulai to a large structure towards the center of Asolsa. Outside, a dozen Broken stood with the reigns of horses of those who had arrived before Ogedei and Qulai. Dismounting, Ogedei held out the reigns of his mount as a Broken walked forward, grabbing them without making eye contact with either Ogedei or Qulai. Turning, Ogedei waited for his wife to come to his side before walking towards the darkened entrance before them.

Ablen

 

[Ablen]

The Attilans would enjoy the brief revelries of food, drink and the entertainment of watching one slave kill another in a match promoted by the various warriors of the tribe. Ablen had watched, indifferently as one of the slaves had used his hands to strangle the life out of the other. The two might have been friends once, now one was dead.

When the time came Ablen and Sengei would mount their horses again and rise to the edge of Asolsa where the meeting of the Khans was to take place. True to form the Attilans did not respect the boundaries of the other encampments, riding through them with some impunity as they traveled towards their destination.

On route they would see the silhouettes of other riders and the two men would have laughed, loudly from their bellies though what Ablen and his second had to say would have been beyond anyone's guess at the point.

***​

Asolsa was a city in in name only to many of the Attilans, the buildings and structures looked to be in ill repair and it was no wonder the Aldsan people took to roaming the Steppe rather than remain in their ancestral home. It did beg the question as to what kind of people they had been in the past though.

When Ablen reached the destination they'd been riding for, a large building where several horses and the Broken which guarded this place awaited he would dismounting. Taking the reins of his mount he essentially tossed them towards the Broken with no regard grunting only a...

"Hold that."

...Sengei did likewise and the two proceeded forward.

They would not have arrived long after Ogedei and Qulai prompting the Horselord to look at the representatives of the Wolf clan. There was something in the way that Ablen looked at the two of them that made him seem almost feral, as though he were on edge and preparing for some attack or considering one of his own. Instead he'd have remark...

"Ahhhh, the Wolf Queen is fine is she not Sengei?"

...an obvious and blatant poke at the duo....

"When you get tired of Ogedei seek me out; I'm sure we can find something for you to do down on all fours."

...there was a bit of laughter between the two Attilans then, as mentioned prior most representatives or influential tribesmen knew who one another were. Unless either was obstructed the Attilans would carry on to find the chamber where the meeting of Khans was to take place.

 

[Ogedei]

Ogedei came to halt at the words of Ablen as they entered the gathering building. Anger flashed through him as he took a step towards the Attilan Oru, but a quick glance from Qulai halted him. His anger was something he had always been close with, simmering just beneath the surface. This one time, Ogedei could not allow it to succeed.

After a moment's pause, Ogedei shook his head, a smile coming to his face. "I am sure you know all about being on all four's, Attilan. Everyone knows how you Attilan's 'tame' your beasts." The small smile that crossed Ogedei's face was small as he turned away from Ablen and walked towards the meeting area. A rumor had been started by one of the tribes the Attilan's had raided years before. It was unfounded, but for the Aldsan people who had come to fear the Attilan warriors, they found what they could.

The other Khan's had gathered around a large central fire, set into a lowered section of the floor. There were no chairs in the building, instead, various pillows and cloth had been laid out haphazardly in different areas. A bondsman stood before each of these locations, while their Khan reclined comfortably on the pillows, waiting for the meeting to begin.

As Ogedei took his place, he glanced around the room at all the other assembled Khan's and Aldsan. Each tribe had their preferred attire, with various shades and arrangments of clothing giving the room an almost rainbow appearance. Flexing his fingers slowly, Ogedei turned his attention as the great doors of the gathering building were slammed shit, not to be opened again until the gathering had come to an end. Such things could last several hours or even days, should agreements not be found and arguments devolve into bickering. The pillows for comfort were needed for such times.

 

[Ablen]

Laughter, loud and unrestrained passed between Ablen and Sengei after Ogedei's retort had set in. The rumor was not unknown to the Attilans though it was refreshing to hear someone say it to their faces than behind their backs. Many members of the other tribes would never had dared say as much to an Oru of the Attilan for fear he would turn his warriors on them. Indeed, it was not unheard of for the Attilans to do so.

On this occasion there seemed to be only laughter attached to Ogedei's remark as Ablen and his second moved into the chamber where the Khans gathered. Ogedei would be remembered though whether this was to his benefit or his deterrement was yet to be seen.

Inside the chamber Ablen would take his place around the fire on a set of cushions after slowly circling back around behind many of the Khans, some of whom would tense fearing he would strike despite the sanctity of this place. An Attilan did not wear fine silks or other attire, Ablen came in his armor with his sword sheathed at his side.

When he settled on the set of cushions which were reserved for the Attilan Sengei would take a place, standing to one side of the Horselord. As the doors shut there seemed a silence that washed over the gathered Khans which went unbroken for a time.

"As usual the Attilans claim the land north of the Sayve River."

...he began, it was not unusually for the representative of the Attilans to make such a claim. They did not care for grazing rights but the river bordered the Aliir Reach ensuring many caravans passed through and were ripe for plunder. Of course other tribes would also covet this land as it was more fertile than that which was found deeper in the Steppe....

"You can all bicker for the rest."

...the last statement was made to cause a response and it did stir several of the Khans who would bristle then the shouting would begin but Ablen proved unresponsive at that moment. The Oru likely meant to incite conflict into the meeting early on, dividing some of the Khans who would likely turn to arguing with one another rather than focusing on him.

 

[Qulai]

Qulai ignored the jeers and simply focused on Ogedei. She's given herself to him whenever he wanted or needed and never been left wanting, and whenever they made love she always made sure he felt the same. They've been married for most of their lives by mutual bond, even though she maintained the right to divorce she's never felt the slightest desire to exercise that right even in the hardest of times. She didn't even glance up at the Attilan and simply smiled at her husband confidently. She bowed her head to him and went into the tent by his side.
She stood by his side throughout the entire proceeding, always a hand on her sword and magic at her command should the need arise.
The arguing kicked off with it's usual swiftness, this was not a crucial moment and order would return soon, the Khan's will bring forward their grievances and shout for a while, but after a few hours of allies holding allies back from striking their enemies, blood would cool and matters of true significance would come forward.

Qulai had already picked out the major dissenters in her vision, an older Khan who's been trying to expand his tribe for years now, and his closest allies. She watched them closest among the others who sat in the circle.
Many of the more warlike Khan's kept airs of superiority over the others, but they also shouted the loudest over land claims.

Qulai kept a hand on her husband's shoulder. It was essential that they float above it all and be the center of calm to counteract the hot headedness and silent arrogance that surrounded them and swirled about the tent.