Galaxy 17: Steppes of Torghul

Herba is a plain of tall grass that covers the entire planet. The riders of Torghul have galloped across it for generations. They believe that anything that lands there belongs to them.

The grass ripples in the wind. Then under the hooves.

The camp of Yourta is bigger than a city. Thousands of tents, thousands of horses, thousands of blades. Command wanted to negotiate there. The negotiators never came back.

You enter the camp. The tents empty and the blades come up.

The mounted archers of Flécha shoot at a gallop without ever slowing down. They circle their prey until it falls. You have to catch them, or bring them down from afar.

A cloud of dust swirls around you. The arrows rain down.

On Ulula, the wolf shamans howl at the moon, and the wolves answer. They heal wounded riders in the middle of battle. As long as a shaman howls, the horde does not fall back.

A howl rises from the hill. The wounded riders sit back up.

Cavalcadia is the sacred battlefield of the horde. Each clan sends its best riders there for the charge of honour. They all charge at once.

The ground shakes. The whole horde charges across the plain.

The Thorgum is the great council of the clans of Torghul. You only enter by invitation, and guests are rare. All the clans' guards are gathered there around the Torghul.

You step under the great tent. All the chiefs rise.

Torghul-Prime is the home world of Torghul the Great, lord of the steppes. He united the clans by the blade and holds them by fear. His charge splits battle lines, and his cry shakes shields. He never fights alone: his guard and his shamans go with him. The horde has already conquered three neighbouring galaxies. Command wants to stop the conquest at Torghul. The Torghul has accepted the duel. He doesn't intend to lose it.

Torghul the Great dismounts, sabre in hand, before his silent horde.