Way of Overlord
Chapter 68: The History of the Utgard Tribe [Invasion of the North]

Chapter 68: The History of the Utgard Tribe [Invasion of the North]

As Fareon continued to navigate the treacherous landscape of the Central Steppe, he remained vigilant, ever mindful of the complex web of alliances, rivalries, and unspoken rules that governed the tribes.

With each triumph, he grew more resolute in his mission to carve a lasting legacy for the tribe of Utgard, etching their name into the annals of Steppe history.

From the heart of the Central Steppe, the Utgard tribe influence spread like wildfire, reaching even the vast expanse of the Northern Great Steppe.

The tribe of Utgard had grown into a formidable force, boasting numerous subordinate tribes and powerful alliances scattered throughout the land.

Their dominion stretched from the very core of the Central Steppe to the lower reaches of the North, marking their presence across the territories they traversed.

Those who resisted subjugation found solace in forging alliances and friendships with the tribe of Utgard.

And what facilitated Fareon ability to forge such bonds?

It was the multitude of concubines he took into his fold.

Many of these women were the daughters of chieftains and warlords, their union with Fareon solidifying the ties between Utgard and the ruling powers of the Central Steppe.

In the later years of Fareon life, even though not all of the Central Steppe fell under his direct rule, the influence of the Utgard tribe was palpable throughout the region.

Every tribe in the Central Steppe felt the weight of Utgard’s presence, acknowledging the power and influence they held.

As Fareon power reached its zenith, he began plotting an ambitious expedition to the North.

The grandeur of the Utgard tribe was unparalleled, with hundreds of thousands of men hailing from numerous small tribes and a handful of larger tribes that had pledged their allegiance.

They set forth, raiding and conquering, leaving a trail of victory in their wake.

Battle after battle, they emerged triumphant, toppling rival tribes and solidifying their dominion over the lands they encountered.

The North trembled in the face of Utgard’s relentless advance.

In response, a man named Beowulf rallied the tribes of the North, summoning a mighty Qurultai of the North—a gathering of leaders—at the sacred Standing Stone.

There, amidst solemn oaths they swore an oath of blood.

The North united

An army of a hundred thousand men rode forth, determined to repel the encroaching forces from the Central Steppe.

A cataclysmic clash ensued, staining the fields with the blood of hundreds of thousands of fallen warriors.

So vast was the scale of the battle that the crimson tide of spilled blood threatened to dam the flowing waters of the Empatarah River, an indelible testament to the brutality and ferocity that unfolded on that day.

The clash between Utgard and the tribes of the North would be remembered as one of the bloodiest encounters in Steppe history, forever etching the names of Fareon, Beowulf, and their respective tribes in the annals of time.

The consequences of this tumultuous conflict would reshape the power dynamics of the Northern Great Steppe and the Central Great Steppe

The North prevailed and the Utgard tribe had to retreat back to the Central Steppe.

With his dreams of conquering the North shattered, Fareon returned to the Central Steppe, carrying the weight of defeat upon his shoulders.

The fire of ambition that once burned within him now flickered with disappointment and resignation.

The Central Steppe had become his domain, and he focused his efforts on solidifying his rule within those boundaries.

The Northern lands, once within his reach, remained a distant and unattainable dream.

Six years after that fateful battle, Fareon life came to a close on a bitterly cold winter day.

His passing marked the end of an era, leaving behind a legacy that would be spoken of for generations to come.

Fareon achievements stood as a testament to the life of a remarkable man—one who had defied the odds and transformed the Utgard tribe from a struggling entity into a formidable force that commanded respect and loyalty from tens of thousands of warriors.

While the unification of the North and Central Steppe eluded him, Fareon audacious expedition had instilled fear in the hearts of the northern tribes.

They dared not venture southward during his lifetime, a testament to the indomitable presence and reputation he had established.

Had Fareon succeeded in his conquest of the North, he may have been able to forge an empire that rivalled the great empires and kingdoms of old.

The unification of the North and Central Steppe would have forever altered the course of history, ushering in a new era of dominance under the banner of Utgard.

Although fate had dealt Fareon a cruel hand, his impact on the Central Steppe and the fear he instilled in the hearts of the northern tribes ensured that his name would be etched into the annals of Steppe lore.

The memory of his grand ambitions, his triumphs, and his ultimate defeat would serve as a reminder of the complexities and treacherous nature of power in the Great Steppe.

This fear of him extend to the other parts of the Great Steppe.

Even the Eastern Great Steppe who use to attack the border of the Central Great Steppe shift their attention to Yindu, their neighbour to the East.

As for the Western Steppe, they no longer wanted to attack the Central Steppe fearing that they would be retaliation by the Utgard tribe.

The Utgard tribe at that time is allied with many other tribes because of the marriage alliance.

And most of the tribes he is allied with is the tribes that lives in the borders of the Central Steppe.

The Western Steppe did not want to drag Utgard tribe into the battle after seeing how Fareon call and a hundred thousand men answered his call.

So, the Western steppe change their gaze toward the Western Zhou.

As for the Southern Steppe, even though many of the tribes like Vihur tribe, Nurzgerom, Estyin and Askazan do attack the central steppe, most of the South has many other problems.

To the West they border Western Zhou.,

To the south, they border the Yan dynasty. And to the East they bordered Yindu.

So, the threat from the Southern Great Steppe is the lowest for the central steppe. Fareon has achieved what most warlord in the Central Steppe had not achieved.

There were one of the nine great tribes of the Central Steppe. But just like the ebb and flow of the Empatarah River, there is ebb and flow in the destiny of men.

Utgard founded his tribe from the remnants of the Yildigan tribe. He founded it from the ashes of a great power

And Fareon raise his tribe to heights never thought possible. But he also seems coming toward the same end of Yildigan

Fareon had many concubines. But he had nine wives. Out of the nine wives, three of them died young. Two died of disease.

And four of them bore him sons and daughters. And Fareon has nine sons.

the relationships within the family were marked by competition, ambition, and disharmony.

From the early years, each of the nine sons are highly competitive against each other

They admire their father and wanted to emulate him. And all of them wanted to sit in his seat.

Unlike the relationship between Fareon and his father Utgard, the nine sons of Fareon are less filial

Power and ambition clouded even the most enlightened mind, what more the sons of his who live a life of privilege and power and never know anything than that?

There is the machinations and the intrigues of the concubines, with each wife all living in disharmony.

Fareon decision to marry many women from different tribes, intending to create alliances, inadvertently created a problem for the succession of power.

Each wife acted as an agent of interest for her own tribe, leading to conflicts of loyalty and tribal feuds.

While Fareon prestige and charisma managed to deter his wives during his lifetime, as he grew older, the issue of choosing a successor became more pressing.

Unlike other tribes, the Utgard tribe began to resemble a feudal-like structure with subordinate tribes acting as vassals.

The succession between Fareon sons and the distribution of wealth to his daughters became significant issues.

Each wife desired her own son to become the chief, further intensifying the competition among the sons.

While he married them, the woman was loyal to him. But they clearly did not extend that same kind of affection toward the other woman he was married to

It is not that because he married many that the woman is dissatisfied. It is the fact that the woman that Fareon marries sometimes came from feuding tribes.

And this hatred is passed down from one generation to the other. While Fareon united many tribes, he united their physical effort but not their hearts.

Fareon, observing the ongoing tribal feuds in the Steppe, recognized that the problem extended beyond his own family.

Although Fareon had managed to unite many tribes physically, their hearts remained divided due to deep-rooted tribal mentalities and historical animosities.

The Great Steppe was difficult to unite because of this tribal mentality prevalent among its people.

Fareon realized that even if he succeeded in his expedition to the North, he would be unable to recreate the old empire of the Steppe.

The land might be united under his rule, but upon his death, it would fracture again due to the disunity and lack of shared purpose among the tribes.

It is nearing the end of his life that he recognizes this and he recognise that the time for the Great Steppe to unite did not yet come.

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