High Khatun Champion Lore
The Nomads of the Krokhan Desert are infamous for their ferocity in battle, as well as their independent, if cantankerous, nature. Only rarely can they come to agreement, and disagreements are often settled by battle. There are grudges between clans that stretch back centuries. Were it not for these enmities, the clans might have forged a realm to rival that of Aravia or Kaerok.
Yet on those rare occasions when grudges are put aside in favor of unity, a warlord known as a High Khatun is chosen to lead the unified tribes to war. This individual must exemplify those traits that the Nomads hold in high esteem: ferocity in battle, courageous in the face of opposition, wisdom to know when not to attack, charisma, and of indomitable will. While many Nomad Chieftains can claim some of these traits, few have them all. It is a rare warrior who can rise to the position of High Khatun, and an even rarer one who can hold it for any length of time before they are toppled by defeat, betrayal, or simple circumstance. Over the centuries, several have joined the Arbiter and entered a Shard before such an event can occur.
The rise of a High Khatun is never predictable. Some individuals have given themselves the title when they led their people in wars of conquest upon neighboring clans of Nomads. Others were sent on quests into the deepest quarters of the desert, to return with the heads of deadly beasts as proof of their right to be named High Khatun. Still others had the title bestowed upon them by their fellow Chieftains when the tribes were faced with an existential threat.
Perasha the Falcon, the High Khatun who led the Nomads when the corrupted academy city of lreth attempted one of its periodic expansions into their territory, was one such warrior. The armies of lreth had slain hundreds of Nomads and captured more in a matter of days. A conclave of chieftains was called, for every Nomad recognized that no clan could stand against the horrific might of the dark academy city alone.
The chieftains knew that they had to choose one from among their number to act as the leader of the horde. After some debate, they chose the youngest, Perasha. No fool, Perasha knew that she had not been chosen for her reputation or charm, but because her clan was among the least influential. The other chieftains had no wish to bow to her for longer than it took to defeat lreth, and intended that she be a figurehead only. Perasha, however, was determined to show that though her people lacked the power of some of the other clans, they were no less worthy of respect
To that end, Perasha led a series of daring raids on the lrethi encampments, drawing the enemy forces into the desert where the other clans picked them apart at their convenience. So successful was Perasha’s strategy that the chieftains who had elevated her grew nervous even as they cheered her victories, fearing that she might attempt to unify the clans under her banner for good. They resolved that once the war was done, so too would the High Khatun’s life end.
To this day, the circumstances of Perasha’s death are a matter of some debate among the clans. Some claim she was slain on the eve of lreth’s defeat by a sorcerous assassin who attacked from the shadows. Others insist she was felled by an arrow in the back. Whatever the reason given, all agree that it was for the best. A High Khatun is a fine thing to have, but only when absolutely necessary.