Batar Throatslasher

Batar Throatslasher
[[File:{{#setmainimage:Bloodsoaked Champion.jpg}}|250px]]
Details
Race	Human
Birthplace	Mardu territory, Tarkir
Lifetime	Original timeline of Tarkir
Colors
Sources

Batar Throatslasher was a Mardu warrior in Tarkir's original timeline, one of three wing leaders of Zurgo's warband. It is unknown if he exists in Tarkir's new timeline.

Description

Batar had black eyebrows and a mustache and wielded a shield in each hand, with three great dragon claws lashed to each shield - impressive weapons, but heavy and slow.

History

Batar Throatslasher was part of Zurgo's warband, beating back attacking Temur warriors. They discovered that the reason the Temur was attacking them was that one of their numbers, Sarkhan Vol, had been spotted invading their territory.

When Zurgo announced that the Mardu would follow and enter Temur territory to hunt down Surrak, Batar joined Varuk and Rufaz in objecting to this course of action. The Temur fare best in their mountains, the Mardu did not know the Temur lands and would be blind in comparison to their enemies, and the Temur khan Surrak had already been punished enough by killing his warriors. Batar sneered with disdain at Zurgo's plans, and when Zurgo was steadfast in his resolve, Batar was the last to nod his acceptance.

Mere hours after their climb into the Temur mountains had started, an unnatural, insistent blizzard cloaked the Mardu in stinging snow and biting cold. Batar rode up next to Zurgo and told him to turn back from this absurd venture. It was clear they were riding into a trap. Zurgo claimed that the threat to the unity of this clan hid in the mountains, and should be stamped out, but Batar retorted that the snow threatened their unity more than the deserter did. Zurgo then scoffed at Batar, saying a little snow should not threaten a Mardu warrior. Batar huffed and rode away.

Then, the first attack came. Temur struck from the snow, killing a hundred Mardu and losing only twenty of their numbers. The Mardu gathered, and the murmurs of dissent were apparent, but Zurgo used the moment to hand out battle names to newly blooded warriors - Headtaker, Heartpiecer, and Neckwringer all received their names. As morale seemed on the rise, Batar stepped forth anew, shouting an angry challenge to Zurgo.

Batar said loudly that Zurgo could not punish Surrak as they did not know where he was. The land around them was bad ground, the snow was unnatural, and many of them had died for a lie. Batar then challenged Zurgo for the right to lead the Mardu. Zurgo accepted the challenge and drew his sword. The duel was direct from the beginning, Batar swiping and blocking with his shields, and Zurgo spinning and cutting with his sword. The instant Batar let his guard drop, Zurgo's fist slammed into his chin, and he slumped to the ground, groaning.

Zurgo grasped Batar by the neck and lifted him off the ground. Batar struggled as he gasped for air, but Zurgo ran his sword straight through Batar's chest, threw the limp form to the ground, and stomped his great foot on the man's head, ending the challenger's life.

Story appearances

Title	Author	Publishing date	Set	Setting (plane)	Featuring
Victory	Tom LaPille	2014-11-26	Khans of Tarkir	Tarkir	Zurgo, Varuk, Surrak, Sarkhan Vol, Rufaz, Batar Throatslasher, Headtaker, Heartpiercer, Neckwringer

In-game references

Represented in:

• Bloodsoaked Champion