Varuk

Varuk
[[File:{{#setmainimage:Mardu Warshrieker.jpg}}|250px]] A Mardu orc
Details
Race	Orc
Birthplace	Mardu territory, Tarkir
Lifetime	Original timeline of Tarkir
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Varuk was an old, clever Mardu orc and Zurgo's closest advisor. He was one of his three top wing leaders in Tarkir's original timeline. If the timeline had continued beyond its endpoint of Sarkhan traveling into the past, Varuk would likely have been the new Mardu Khan after Zurgo abandoned them. It is unknown if he exists in Tarkir's new timeline.

History

As one of his three top wing leaders, Varuk was part of Zurgo's warband, beating back attacking Temur warriors encroaching on Mardu territory. Zuurgo had climbed a rock and was making a speech to his clan when a piece of the rock broke apart from underneath him. Zurgo stepped back, and the rock crumbled to the ground. An enraged goblin was brought forth, shouting that his sister had died claiming that rock, which was now for nothing. Zurgo, enraged, responded by killing the goblin. Varuk told the Khan that this had been a bad way of handling it, causing resentment among his ranks.

Zurgo and Varuk learned afterward that the reason the Temur was attacking them was that one of their numbers, Sarkhan Vol, had been spotting invading their territory. Varuk knew of Zurgo's history with Sarkhan and advised against hunting for him in Temur territory. But Zurgo was too incensed with Sarkhan and refused to listen, bidding Varuk to spread the message among the horde that they would hunt for Surrak the next day.

When Zurgo announced that the Mardu would follow and enter Temur territory to hunt down Surrak, Varuk, this time joined by Rufaz and Batar Throatslasher, again objected against this course of action. The Temur fared 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. But when Zurgo was steadfast in his resolve, Varuk and the others eventually acquiesced.

Mere hours after their climb into the Temur mountains had started, an unnatural, insistent blizzard cloaked the Mardu in stinging snow and biting cold. 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 after at the end of the duel, Batar lay dead in the snow.

Despite his victory, Varuk rode up to Zurgo and said that the clan no longer followed him. Varuk's eyes were hard and cold, and he stood straighter than ever before - in defiance, not submission. Zurgo asked if Varuk challenged him, but Varuk said there was nothing to challenge. He was Khan no longer, and the horde would follow Varuk back to Wingthrone. When the horde cheered its assent, Zurgo could only stare at them with wide eyes and a gaping jaw.

Varuk turned to look at Zurgo once again. There was a moment of what might have been remorse, but then there was nothing. Varuk climbed back onto his mount and rode back down the valley through the center of the army. Zurgo stood and watched as his army turned away from him and slowly followed behind Varuk, vanishing into the mist.

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