Warmaster Earstealer

Warmaster Earstealer (originally Telokan) was a Warmaster who led a Kuahi Warpath at an indeterminate point around the year 140 AD, during the reign of Empress Rixa I. His Warpath set out from southern Kuateoha into Chalparna to acquire a Golden Conduit by the name of the Blade of Balagore before heading to Epsilucia through Roulonne. It is almost certain that his intent was to emulate the achievement of Warmaster Bonebreaker and launch an invasion of Sevaliara, but his Warpath was destroyed in Epsilucia by the forces of Grand Mutator Groknit after being weakened by an army under Empress Rixa I.

Earstealer was the only survivor of the battle against the mutants of Groknit. Though the reason why is unknown, it is speculated by most historians that he fled from the battle - a grave sin for any Kuahi Orc, let alone a Warmaster. This would explain his later behaviour, in that he never returned to Kuateoha and spent the rest of his days accompanying the entourage of his old enemy Empress Rixa, likely in an attempt to win back his honour by making war against the enemies of this world.

Earstealer's fame as a Warmaster led to his son Sauka becoming the next chief of his tribe, but several generations later his reputation soured when it was suspected that he fled from battle. The opinion of the Kuahis was forever split on whether Earstealer should be cursed as a coward, or whether he regained his honour through his later actions.

## Early Life

Earstealer is one of the few Warmasters whose name and life story prior to becoming a Warmaster is well-attested in the historical sources. His original name was Telokan, son of Ikson, hailing from the tribe of Hakinaki. He was said to have quickly proved himself as strong, fast and intelligent from a young age, and was therefore considered as a worthy potential marriage candidate for the beautiful Noani, daughter of the ruling chief Kiwan, whom Telokan had been enamoured with ever since he first saw her. As was the ancient tradition, Kiwan asked Telokan to prove himself by completing a quest; he sent Telokan to slay a "great beast" named Dagaron, which had been killing livestock and was proving to be a general nuisance to the tribe of Hakinaki. What kind of creature Dagaron was is completely unknown, but Telokan succeeded in slaying it - receiving a large scar across his face and almost losing an eye in the process - and he took its ears as proof of his success. Telokan then married Noani, and it is said that although she was unsure of him at first, she quickly began to love him and bore him a son named Sauka. As has already been mentioned, Sauka succeeded chief Kiwan when he died of old age, due to his blood relation and the fame which Telokan would later gain.

When Telokan heard news of a Warpath being assembled, he asked chief Kiwan to nominate him as a candidate, which he did so. When the other chiefs learnt of Telokan's deeds, they universally agreed to endorse him. In order to become a Warmaster, Telokan needed to pick a Warname, and he immediately knew what to pick - for he had gained the nickname "earstealer" for taking the ears of Dagaron, and he thought it funny. Though it appears in no written sources, Hakinaki oral tradition holds that Telokan had strengthened his reputation for taking ears by killing a bandit - whose name is lost to history - and taking his ears to present to chief Kiwan as proof of the bandit's death, with both parties finding the repetition amusing.