Tuskbreakers

The Tuskbreakers are a Kroot Kindred that is currently active in the Koronus Expanse and engaged in a vendetta against the Orks of the Undred-Undred Teef.^[1]

The ancestors of the Tuskbreakers arrived in the Accursed Demesne aboard the Warsphere Shek near the planet Lathimon's Death. They were attacked by the Orks of the Undred-Undred Teef and, although the Greenskins were driven off, the Warsphere was left crippled and many of its warriors perished, leaving the Kroot to fend for themselves in the hostile environment of the Demesne. The Kindred refers to this period as the Darkening.^[1]

After the battle, the Kroot approached their Shaper, Kangak, for guidance. Kangak sought to maintain a sense of purpose among his followers to preserve their morale, and envisioned a spiritual journey called the Great Ordeal, to foster a spirit of survival and revenge against the Orks. Warriors were chosen to head to remote worlds and, although many never returned, those that did retrieved experience and artifacts, and the Ordeal instilled a sense of purpose that saw the Kroot through the worst of the Darkening.^[1]

The Ordeal was ended after generations of this exploration, following a ritual where the most accomplished were given the Brand of the Tried, a set of burnt markings signifying membership in the Tuskbreakers. The newly-formed Tuskbreakers then vowed the leave the Shek to continue to hone their skills and battle the Orks.^[1]

Tuskbreaker parties are sometimes contracted as mercenaries, although their are difficult to seek out purposefully. They prefer to bargain case-by-case over charging a standard fee, and tend to ask for higher prices if a mission is not viewed as relevant to their vendetta against the Undred-Undred Teef. By contrast, they will eagerly accept work that involves fighting against Orks. They never accept contracts that require them to collaborate with Orks or fight against other Kroot. Tuskbreaker mercenary parties often count a few hundred warriors, and have access to beasts such as Kroot Hounds, Krootox, and Knarlocs.^[1]

Shek

Shek is still capable of housing the Kindred, but is primarily home to a small, transient population. It is primarily left anchored among its debris field, and when the Warsphere moves it only travels for short distances and always returns to its starting location. The Tuskbreakers believe that this is a holy place that shields them from their enemies. Following the Orks' original attack, Shek has not been attacked and has proved difficult for void travelers to find.^[1]

Sources

• 1: Rogue Trader: Edge of the Abyss: pgs. 68-69 — Chapter III: Foes and Rivals: The Kroot