Mautark - The Knight of Umbar

## Mautark - The Knight of Umbar

Name: Mautark

Title: Dulug-Goth, The Knight of Umbar

Origin: Numenór

Domains: Weaponry, Loyalty, Duty, Discipline,
Strategy and Tactics, Sea

Typical spells: not known

 As with all Nazgûlu, the origin of the Knight of Umbar is mysterious.
If the rumors are true, he was once a High King of Númenór who ruled the
southern lands before the days of the Last Alliance. Today, the Mautark is
considered one of the most loyal vassals of the Shakh`bûrz.
Yet, there isn`t much written about the devotees of Mautark.
The believers have simply no time to write, because of their martial
business.

## Bos'Mautark - the Cult of The Knight of Umbar

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### Structure of the cult

The
still most important sanctuary and former center of the cult are located
on the coast of Umbar on a huge rock on one of the many reefs, which may be
entered only by the cultists themselves. Many centuries ago, according to
rumors, on the opposite side of the coast, Dot-Boskala, the "Order of the
Sea", was hewn out of this rock, whose widely branched passages and stories
are said to extend far below the surface of the sea. Behind closed doors, it
is said that the high master would pay homage here to the hideous Dâgalûr
of the deepest depths, which Mautark was said to have pacified and forced
into his service in days long forgotten. In Umbar, there is a belief that
the cultists keep this creature of the city so that it cannot be
dangerous to them in its obscene, all-consuming anger. Since the Mautark
has left Umbar, his cult has continued to spread. It began when many
distinguished warriors began to emulate him as a traveling traveler who
spreads the word with sword and word. Over time, they built many smaller
castles for their orders throughout the empire. Most of them are located
near important sanctuaries that are networked with each other through
pilgrimage paths. The protection of these places of worship and their
faithful inhabitants and visitors who travel them is now the main task of
the Bos ‘Mautark. Often, the cult's warriors are also used as escorts for
high religious leaders. Today, the center of the cult is the Bos-Maufulug
(Order Barracks), a kind of religious school in Minas Morgul. There the new
Fauthugalu will be trained with all possible arms, get physical exercises
all in the observance of the strict rules of the order, also many Îstugalu
of the cult return here as often as possible, in order to refine their
martial arts for the Fitgnau and strengthen their faith in prayer. Every
Hîsht Dûmp a selection of new Fauthugalu takes place in the so-called
Fil-Lammau (Cave Pitfight), a days-long match-like spectacle. A huge
facility was erected directly at the Morgul Pass, where the aspirants
compete against each other in uninterrupted pit fights. Only those who have
enough fighting skills not to succumb to one of their many competitors, as
well as the stamina of not falling victim to complete exhaustion, are
considered worthy to join the Order. At the end of the excretions, the
bottom of the pits is ankle-high covered with blood. Often the fighters
are veterans, ashûrz nadaku, junior officers or other deserving soldiers
who overtake the reputation of the Mautark and who report to Fil-Lammau.
Many tribal chiefs and officers find it very ambiguous to let their best
warriors participate in these competitions. On the one hand, the risk of
losing an important warrior in either these battles or losing them to the
Order is enormous, but on the other hand, there could not be anything more
glorious than having one of the cultists in their ranks.
That's why many high-ranking people like to travel to the competition to
observe the performance of their own protégé and make high bets on him. The
training of the Fauthugalu aims for strengthening the candidates to lone
fighters and strengthening their bodies as well as possible. For that
torture methods are also on the agenda. Some of them discover a gift given
to them by the Shakh´bûrz during their apprenticeship and are then trained
to become a Thrak. Like the other Îstugal of the Order, who are called
after the completion of their training “Bos-Nadak”, they travel as lonely
wandering preachers from that time on through the realms for the ideal of
their lord, or they return to their old positions at the Gund Piztor or get
there a new task. They are very popular as instructors because of their
diverse skills, their high level of discipline and their inner peace.
Rarely does it happen that the Order goes to battle in unison. This only
happens when the Mautark himself or the head of the order call to a Tum
Mazauk (religious war). The religious rules of the Bos ‘Mautark oblige the
cultists to self-control, humility, contentment, and reason. They also say
that each member of the Order must be aware that the Shakh`bûrz has chosen
it as one of its deadliest weapons. Therefore, a cultist may only draw his
own weapon to kill in the spirit of the Dur Hont. Often the members of the
Order, by strictly following the rules of the Mautark, radiate enormous
self-assurance, natural serenity, and almost tangible authority, which is
partly feared by their officers. Their special training makes them the most
capable combatants and key advisers to their superiors, as well as their
closest rivals for power and influence within a unit.