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"My father was fond of saying that he would never trust a man who was afraid to lose his temper. As a result, his boyarin were an insufferable band of brutes, always brawling, always arguing and always fighting. But they were loyal, honest and true, and never did a greater band of warriors ever fight shoulder to shoulder. That saying stood my father in good stead, so I see no reason not to trust it also, ambassador."
—Tzarina Katarin to Ambassador Kaspar von Velten

Boris Bokha, also known as Radii Bokha (meaning the "Red Bokha" or "Bokha the Red" in Kislevarin), Boris Ursus and the "Red Tzar," was a great tzar of Kislev in the late 25th century IC, and the father of the current reigning Tzarina Katarin.

In a move resented by the old guard of the Kislev court, Radii Bokha nearly emptied the treasuries to hire mercenaries to re-train the Kislevite army, rebuilding bridges, roads, and towns and importing black powder and engineers from the Empire. Though it almost bankrupted his family (and several other noble families in the bargain), Tzar Boris' reign will be forever remembered for his driving spirit and eagerness to reclaim the lands that had become infested with Goblins, Trolls, Beastmen, and other vile creatures.

Tzar Boris was also instrumental in a revival of the Cult of Ursun, which had slowly been overtaken by worship of Ulric, Taal, and other foreign gods. To do so, he undertook the trial of initiation that priests of Ursun must overcome and went into the forests to tame a bear. He was not seen or heard of for eighteen days, and many feared he had met a gruesome fate in the depths of the icy forests. Preparations began for the coronation of his infant daughter Katarin (who was only four years old at the time) when the search parties came across his unconscious form on the nineteenth day.

His still body was guarded by a bear of gigantic proportions that would not allow anyone near. The Tzar was surrounded by the corpses of over two dozen wolves, and the snow was red with their blood. Nothing the searchers could do would entice the bear away from their ruler or convince it that they meant no harm. Finally, after another day had passed, Boris awoke, and the bear allowed the searchers to approach and tend to their ruler's wounds. Upon his return, he was named High Priest of the Cult of Ursun, taking on the new name of "Boris Ursus."

The bear returned to Kislev with the tzar, and from then on, whenever Boris took to the field of battle, it was atop the back of Urskin (which means "bear-brother"), both a symbol of Ursun's power and affection for Boris and an implacable enemy in battle.
Tzar Boris met his end in battle in 2517 IC whilst leading a pulk north of the River Lynsk into the Troll Country. At an unnamed river crossing, the tzar charged deep into the Kurgan army of Hetzar Feydaj but was soon surrounded and cut off from the rest of his army. He and Urskin fought with all the might and fury of the Bear God, but even Red Boris could not triumph against such odds.
Urskin was able to fight his way clear of the Kurgans and carry the Red Tzar back to the rest of the army, but it was already too late; the tzar had taken a score of wounds, each enough to be mortal. Only when the battle was won did the tzar slide from the back of Urskin and die. His faithful mount roared in mourning for a full night before vanishing into the bleak northlands, and legend has it that to this day Urskin continues to hunt down the creatures of Chaos that slew his master.

Description

"My father was fond of saying that he would never trust a man who was afraid to lose his temper. As a result, his boyarin were an insufferable band of brutes, always brawling, always arguing and always fighting. But they were loyal, honest and true, and never did a greater band of warriors ever fight shoulder to shoulder. That saying stood my father in good stead, so I see no reason not to trust it also, ambassador."
—Tzarina Katarin to Ambassador Kaspar von Velten

Boris Bokha, also known as Radii Bokha (meaning the "Red Bokha" or "Bokha the Red" in Kislevarin), Boris Ursus and the "Red Tzar," was a great tzar of Kislev in the late 25th century IC, and the father of the current reigning Tzarina Katarin.

In a move resented by the old guard of the Kislev court, Radii Bokha nearly emptied the treasuries to hire mercenaries to re-train the Kislevite army, rebuilding bridges, roads, and towns and importing black powder and engineers from the Empire. Though it almost bankrupted his family (and several other noble families in the bargain), Tzar Boris' reign will be forever remembered for his driving spirit and eagerness to reclaim the lands that had become infested with Goblins, Trolls, Beastmen, and other vile creatures.

Tzar Boris was also instrumental in a revival of the Cult of Ursun, which had slowly been overtaken by worship of Ulric, Taal, and other foreign gods. To do so, he undertook the trial of initiation that priests of Ursun must overcome and went into the forests to tame a bear. He was not seen or heard of for eighteen days, and many feared he had met a gruesome fate in the depths of the icy forests. Preparations began for the coronation of his infant daughter Katarin (who was only four years old at the time) when the search parties came across his unconscious form on the nineteenth day.

His still body was guarded by a bear of gigantic proportions that would not allow anyone near. The Tzar was surrounded by the corpses of over two dozen wolves, and the snow was red with their blood. Nothing the searchers could do would entice the bear away from their ruler or convince it that they meant no harm. Finally, after another day had passed, Boris awoke, and the bear allowed the searchers to approach and tend to their ruler's wounds. Upon his return, he was named High Priest of the Cult of Ursun, taking on the new name of "Boris Ursus."

The bear returned to Kislev with the tzar, and from then on, whenever Boris took to the field of battle, it was atop the back of Urskin (which means "bear-brother"), both a symbol of Ursun's power and affection for Boris and an implacable enemy in battle.
Tzar Boris met his end in battle in 2517 IC whilst leading a pulk north of the River Lynsk into the Troll Country. At an unnamed river crossing, the tzar charged deep into the Kurgan army of Hetzar Feydaj but was soon surrounded and cut off from the rest of his army. He and Urskin fought with all the might and fury of the Bear God, but even Red Boris could not triumph against such odds.
Urskin was able to fight his way clear of the Kurgans and carry the Red Tzar back to the rest of the army, but it was already too late; the tzar had taken a score of wounds, each enough to be mortal. Only when the battle was won did the tzar slide from the back of Urskin and die. His faithful mount roared in mourning for a full night before vanishing into the bleak northlands, and legend has it that to this day Urskin continues to hunt down the creatures of Chaos that slew his master.