Zeran Azahrui

## Zeren Azahrui

Siege of Arc Mon'Fta
Siege of Krormu'Tes

> *"Hou much longer will you hide behind those walls, warlord? Come out and face me yourself; it is better to die by my blade than a coward inside your fortress. Come, let me show you the Great Glory."*
> —Zeran Azahrui to Hrrni Kol'sak
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**Zeran Azahrui** was a Shroom who served the Empire and Grand Virist Church during the period around the Third Crusade. They were a Seneschal of the Church Crusader Forces and attained the rank of Second Blood, reporting only to the Grand Seneschal Hian Arotan. Azahrui was dispatched, along with other Seneschals, to crush Salau opposition to the Crusades on numerous worlds within the Salau Mandates. They oversaw the defeat of numerous Salau warlords throughout the invasions until they were ultimately killed by Salau Warlord Sallkun Urh Mgcin.

## Biography

### Early Career

> *"The horned demons approach, m'lord."
> "I will stall them in the mountain pass. But you must run, I will not hold out for long."*
> —Meran Qai'Lok and Salau Chieftain Baw Hiin'tah, upon seeing Seneschal Azahrui approaching with their Noble Sacrians
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A descendant of the Azahrui clan renowned for their polearm arts, Zeran became proficient in the weapon from an early age. They joined the Crusaders through a recommendation by Precentor Aschor Naga, filling in the position of Seneschal Seventh Blood Suren Sakharin, who perished months earlier during the failed invasion of Kaheg.

### Invasion of Kaheg

> *"The stalemate over Kaheg is not worth breaking. Pin the enemy forces on the planet, so they may not help repel our main attack."*
> —High Fleet Admiral Yairah Suhdan, on the diversionary attack on Kaheg
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Azahrui, as a minor Seneschal, was deployed to Kaheg to lead the disorganised and neglected Church forces on the planet. Merely a minor diversionary attack to stop Salau forces in Kaheg —most notably hardened warlord M'sak Poltaq— from reinforcing their allies in the North while the Empire attacks, Azahrui was given high autonomy over command of his forces on the planet, with nearly no attention being paid by military superiors off-world. Seizing this opportunity, Azahrui waged unconventional hit-and-run tactics on the Kaheg defenders. Caught off guard, Poltaq's forces lost many of their crucial supply depots and were forced to retreat into mountain strongholds while Azahrui slowly encircled them.

The Seneschal's savage battle prowess showed when they opted for a direct attack on Poltaq's headquarters in the Qulstak Quarter Valley, personally slaying the warlord and essentially defeating Salau forces on the planet. This groundbreaking success on the previously stalemated battlefield drew the attention of Church and Imperial military leadership. Grand Seneschal Hian Arotan took notice of the new Seneschal and instantly promoted Azahrui to Second Blood, replacing the late Iahrana Maru.

### Height of the Third Crusade

Now Seneschal Second Blood, Azahrui led several more attacks on multiple Salau worlds, such as Toh'Dak Saru and Qao'Matat. Their deployments gradually progressed northward, as part of the eventual plan for Azahrui's deployment to Ianeko. During this period, Azahrui gained their reputation as an esteemed military commander and above all, a fearsome warrior who defeated numerous Salau warlords by their own hand.

#### Battle of Ianeko

Given command of the 402nd Crusader Legion in Sotuma, Azahrui took them into Ianeko where Church forces were clashing with the last defenders of the Sol'rag Empire's capital. Arriving on the planet, Azahrui learned of the Sol'rag Commander Chan'Salik and his relentless attacks on bogged down Church forces across the main continent. The Seneschal conducted a direct orbital insertion into the walled city, choosing to deploy at night when enemy anti-air defences will be least effective. With 80% of their forces still intact after landing, Azahrui sacked the capital from the inside and captured Chan'Salik as well as the last remaining Sol'rag leadership.

#### Destruction of the *Koahn Maisaren*

While returning to the Salau front after victory at Ianeko, the fleet Azahrui's legions boarded was attacked by Salau mercenaries in the stargate from Sotuma to Criea. The flagship Azahrui was on, the *Harbinger-*class *Koahn Maisaren*, was boarded by the pirate raiders, who sought to abduct Church Precentor Oarah Sanai. Azahrui and their Noble Sacrians overpowered the pirate boarders and returned the boarding craft to the pirate's main ship, filled with the corpses of the boarders. After receiving the craft, the pirates promptly fled, having failed their objective.

#### Battle Honours

At the end of the Third Crusade, Azahrui was awarded command of the Army of the Mandate of Chauluh and Thanran, alongside their own 402nd Crusaders.

### Siege of Arc Mon'Fta

> *"This one has been clinging on since the end of the Crusade."
> "Let's put an end to this struggle."
> —Azahrui and Aikorra, seeing Br'un Sey'var's fortifications from afar.*
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Still holding out since the end of the Third Crusade two years ago, Salau warlord Br'un Sey'var still retained control of several of the large peninsulas on the planet. With an atmosphere just slightly too thick for effective orbital bombardment, Imperial forces laid siege. Commanding the Army of the Mandate, Azahrui arrived together with Seneschal Third Blood Airah Aikorra to dispatch the warlord's forces.

##### The first skirmish

Upon learning of the arrival of two Seneschals on the planet, Warlord Sey'var launched his largest attack in months in an attempt to break out of the siege. Partially successful, Sey'var managed to seize control of the Seneschals' planned landing site and rout their approach. In response, Azahrui and Aikorra landed on a nearby mountain with a small force of Noble Sacrians and Obedientaries. Once the sun set, they ambushed the Salau forces at the landing site and forced them to retreat. Aikorra attempted to kill Sey'var and nearly succeeded, however the warlord fled back towards his encampments in the peninsula.

##### Encounter at Ta'rok Pass

Marching their legions down the peninsula, the Seneschals entered the rugged Ta'rok Mountain Pass. Splitting ways with Aikorra, Azahrui led the Obedientaries around the secondary valleys while Aikorra continued moving down the main valley with the army. As expected, Sey'var ambushed Aikorra a few kilometres further down the valley. While the Third Seneschal fended off the attack, Azahrui cut off Sey'var's vanguard from the rear flanks. In the fighting, Sey'var's most senior lieutenant M'suk Nagul confronted Azahrui, condemning them and the Virist Church for their cruel and violent invasions of the native Salau homelands. Azahrui simply responded with "Vondah Versat Versuu.", the Virist chant meaning "Praise the Great Glory", before cleanly slicing Nagul through the torso.

##### Battle at Por'r Yulve

> *"You have nowhere to run, Shroom."
> "I do not intend to run; not until I have your head."*
> —Sey'var and Azahrui
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After successfully repelling Sey'var's ambush and destroying his most elite warriors, the Seneschals lined up their army outside the gates of the warlord's fortress in the Yulve delta. Emerging from the tall walls of the fort, Sey'var and his army lined up to face the Shrooms with their backs to the delta. Aikorra wasted no time in beginning the attack, ordering the ranks of crusaders to open fire on the masses of Salau warriors, who mostly used melee weapons and only possessed a few firearms among them. Taking heavy losses, Sey'var and his ranged troops, as well as what remained of the warlord's elite forces, charged into the Crusader ranks. Splitting the Shroom army into two and separating Azahrui and Aikorra, Sey'var and his men pushed Azahrui toward the banks of the delta. Overwhelming and killing many of the Crusaders' foot soldiers, Sey'var and his elites closed in on Azahrui and their Noble Sacrians, trapping them against the river. Sey'var brandished his weapon, the traditional Salau *Qaret* sword, and duelled Azahrui. During their fight, both fell into the river. Troops from both sides halted their fighting and looked into the rapid currents of the river, trying to find their respective commanders. Eventually, Azahrui emerged on the opposite bank, holding Sey'var's broken sword up in the air. Sey'var's elites fought to the death and were massacred by Crusaders, while the rest of the Salau army promptly surrendered.

##### Aftermath

> *"When the time comes, will your loyalty be to the Emperor, or the Great Glory?"
> "I will always serve the best interests of the Shroom race."
> "Answer me, Seneschal."*
> —Grand Seneschal Hian Arotan speaking with Azahrui
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Following the battle, the rest of Arc Mon'Fta was quickly annexed by the Imperial-Church armadas in orbit. Aikorra remained on the planet to subdue remaining pockets of native resistance while Azahrui went up into orbit to meet the Grand Seneschal Arotan. Speaking to them in the newly constructed ''Sherom-''class Magnate Star Dreadnought *Vegadai Musohn*, Arotan confided in Azahrui their feelings about the growing conflict between the Imperial Court and Church leadership. When asked about their greater loyalties, Azahrui deflected the question until finally admitting they serve the Great Glory first and foremost. Satisfied with this answer, Arotan sent Azahrui off to the Imperial Prison Complex on Tora to hunt down an escaped Salau warlord.

### Hunt in Tora

##### Begin the search

On orders from the Grand Seneschal, Azahrui arrived in Tora at the Han Shahi Martial Complex, where imprisoned Salau warlord Hrrni Kol'sak had escaped three days prior. After being briefed by the prison authority, Azahrui and their Noble Sacrians entered the system's adjacent old mining worlds to pursure Kol'sak. Near the world TRA16-1, Azahrui's ship detected a small satellite station in orbit, missing from Imperial records. They boarded the station and found two Jove Shand'ul inside the main pod. After interrogating and killing them, Azahrui confirmed that Kol'sak had spoken to them two days prior, before passing through to the next system in his stolen ship. Azahrui also learned of Kol'sak's plan to rally Salau tribes on the supposedly uninhabited Tora mining worlds to attack the Han Shahi Complex and free many more Salau prisoners. After informing the Grand Seneschal, who agreed that Kol'sak must be stopped at all costs, Azahrui proceeded to the TRA23 system.

##### On TRA23-6

Intercepting a radio ping from the ice moon TRA23-6, Azahrui moved to the moon to find Kol'sak. Just as they touched down on the planet near the source of the ping, Kol'sak's stolen prison ship burst out of the hollow ice where it was landed, escaping Azahrui's clutches. The Seneschal gave chase, leaving two Noble Sacrians on the world to investigate further. After chasing the ship to the edge of the system, the Sacrians reported back to Azahrui, stating that Kol'sak had not left the moon on the ship, which was a decoy. Instead, the warlord had holed up in a small fortress with several dozen Jove Shand'ul natives. The Sacrians had captured one of the Salau, and they revealed that Kol'sak was sending radio signals to several other sleeper Salau armies in the nearby systems, calling them to his aide. Azahrui quickly returned to the moon and regrouped, aiming to infiltrate the fortress once the moon's night cycle began.

##### Night attack

> *"You cannot hide forever!"*
> —Azahrui to Kol'sak
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In near total darkness, Azahrui and their Sacrians scaled the rear cliffwall of the fort. Before they could enter, however, a they were spotted by one of Kol'sak's Jove Shand'ul sentries. Retreating back down to ground level, Azahrui took two Sacrians to the front gate of the fortress and announced their intent to Kol'sak, hoping to distract the sentries while the other Sacrians scaled the wall again. Standing atop the tall front wall, Kol'sak warned Azahrui to stay away, and that he had them severely outnumbered. In response, Azahrui grabbed one of the Noble Sacrian's daggers and threw it straight towards the warlord. One of the warlord's guards swiftly jumped in front of Kol'sak, pushing him away and catching the dagger inside themselves instead. As the guard fell off the wall back into the fort, Azahrui's Noble Sacrians jumped onto the walls from the rear and fighting ensued. With Sacrians closing in from behind, Kol'sak leapt off the parapet and charged at Azahrui, screaming an ancient Salau war cry. After a short duel, Kol'sak was overpowered by Azahrui and the two Noble Sacrians, who had ensnared both of the mighty warlord's arms with their chainwhips. Defeated, Kol'sak ceded to Azahrui and said he would obediently go back to prison now. However, Azahrui simply drove their polearm through the warlord, killing him.

##### Cleanup

After confirming Kol'sak's death, Church Navy flotillas proceeded to sweep the Tora mining systems, eradicating any Salau tribes they found. Azahrui personally led many of these missions.

### The Seneschal's Last Battle: Siege of Krormu'Tes

> *"I know naught of peace in my world; but you know naught of heart or compassion."*
> —Sallkun Urh Mgcin, to Azahrui
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##### Arrival on the planet

Advancing from the previously captured Arc Mon'Fta, Church forces launched their invasion of Krormu'Tes. Azahrui was called upon once again to lead the assault. Commanding the Army of the Mandate as well as the now-elite 402nd Crusaders, Azahrui deployed onto the planet's mountainous northern hemisphere to attack the main Salau resistor: Warlord Sallkun Uch Mgcin. Wanting a swift victory, Azahrui deployed their legions in the plains around the mountain range Mgcin's capital city was located in, before forming 15-kilometre long ranks to move in and sweep the mountain pass.

##### Slow progress

Encountering frequent guerilla-style ambush attacks and hindered by treacherous terrain, the ranks of the Crusaders slogged towards the enemy capital slowly. At several points their formations would fracture as the terrain obstructed large chunks of the ranks from proceeding. Azahrui's scouts managed to locate an enemy supply depot cum village, which Azahrui decided to raid. Riding into the village, the Seneschal and their Noble Sacrians trapped Salau villagers in their houses which they then set on fire. To cut supplies for the guerilla raiders, Azahrui burned the fields and warehouses in the depot. Marching on, the army captured a small group of native villagers, who were hiking in the mountains for herbs and berries before stumbling upon the Crusaders. Azahrui ordered for them to be brought along.

##### Mgcin's Capital

Finally arriving within a kilometre of Mgcin's capital, Azahrui ordered the army to flank the walled city in a bowl formation, following the curvature of the mountains. To demoralise the city defenders, the Crusaders marched their Salau prisoners out to the plain a few hundred metres before the city gates and beheaded them, leaving the bodies behind for the city guards in the ramparts to see. In response, Mgcin's army left the city gates and formed up on the plain. As was their style to kill the commander first, Azahrui tried to spot Mgcin, but the warlord was nowhere to be found. Thinking Mgcin a coward, Azahrui ordered the Crusader troops to maintain distance and open fire, hoping to lure Mgcin out. The Salau forces activated energy shields and also held physical shields, then began moving forward in defensive formation. Seeing their mainly-melee enemy draw dangerously close, Azahrui ordered their Crusader Lancers to charge forward and repel the enemy. Managing to break their ranks and inflict heavy losses on the Salau, the Seneschal gave the order to charge and enter the city.

##### Ambush outside the capital

> *"Clever. But this is where you meet your end."*
> —Azahrui to Mgcin
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As the Crusader ranks broke out and crushed the disorganised and fleeing Salau troops, Mgcin emerged from the mountains behind Azahrui, who was at the rear of the army. As Mgcin and his elite cavalry faced Azahrui and the Sacrians, the Seneschal ordered the army to continue forwards towards the city, much to Mgcin's horror. Azahrui and the Sacrians held back Mgcin's men as the Crusaders closed in on the now-defenceless city, even as the cavalry desperately tried to attack the Crusader ranks from behind. Jumping with their polearm, Azahrui skewered several of the cavalry warriors, knocking them off their mounts. Azahrui asked Mgcin how he managed to slip through the Crusader lines, to which Mgcin refused to reveal anything, saying that he may need to use that trick again in a future invasion. Mgcin did say he had hoped Azahrui would halt the army to attack Mgcin instead, sparing the city time for the civilians to evacuate, but that he had "underestimated the depths of cruelty of my enemy [the Crusaders]". In response, Azahrui said that he did what needs to be done for the Great Glory.

##### Fight with Mgcin

> *"Glory? There is no glory in this. There is only cruelty and barbarism. Your Empire slaughters helpless people and calls it glory."*
> —Mgcin to Azahrui, on the Great Glory.
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Azahrui and the Sacrians duelled Mgcin, slowly pushing the warlord back toward the rocky base of the mountains. Giving a strong thrust, Mgcin managed to push back Azahrui and the two Sacrians as he turned around and jumped into the rocks behind him. The three Shrooms gave pursuit, chasing a fleeing Mgcin through the rugged terrain. Mgcin abruptly turned around a rock, putting him momentarily out of sight of the Shrooms. Once they followed around the corner, however, they found Mgcin waiting for them, flanked by four other Salau warriors in front of a shifted boulder that revealed a hidden cave opening. Mgcin smiled, finally telling Azahrui the caves were where they hid as the Crusader army passed them. Azahrui lunged for the warlord, their blade sweeping just an inch away from his face, but the other Salau warriors jumped forwards and hacked at the Seneschal. Deflecting one of the warriors' blades and catching the other in their armor crack, Azahrui leapt back and pulled the ensnared blade with them, together with its owner. The Sacrians moved forwards on either side to battle the other two warriors on the rocks, as Azahrui stabbed the warrior he pulled with a short dagger. Barely a second after killing the first warrior, the other had leapt into the air and was coming down on Azahrui, who dodged in the nick of time, before standing up and slashing the second warrior with their polearm. Mgcin came at the Senechal next, managing to disarm Azahrui of their polearm. Pulling out two daggers, Azahrui closed in on Mgcin and continued fighting. A few metres away, one of the Sacrians had been killed and the other was now fighting two Salau warriors. Blades locked, Mgcin asked Azahrui if they had any humanity, before kicking the mountain wall and sending a large boulder crashing onto the Seneschal. Mgcin then returned to his men and helped them take down the last Sacrian. A few moments later, Azahrui rolled the boulder off them and stood back up, with their armor cracked to reveal the Shroom's real face. Picking up their polearm, they ran at Mgcin, who quickly bent down and picked up a rifle from the dead Sacrian, shooting the Seneschal thrice in the chest. Falling to the ground, the Seneschal warned Mgcin that the Church would send another Seneschal to hunt him down, and that his city was already burning and its inhabitants dead. Mgcin simply grimaced, telling Azahrui that he was used to the horrors of war and knew nothing of peace, but that Azahrui and the Church Crusaders knew nothing of kindness and humanity. The warlord then shot the downed Seneschal once more, ending their life.