Rulke

Rulke is a fictional character in Ian Irvine's "The View from the Mirror" quartet.

Characteristics

Rulke was a huge, massively built man. People who saw him, immediately realised he was the tallest man they had ever met and knew he was not a man to disobey. Rulke exerted power in his every movement, every flex of his muscles. He had a mane of long wavy black hair and a full, proud beard. His skin was dark and his eyes indigo, marking him to be a Charon. He was very handsome.

Held by most people to be the most powerful mancer of all, Rulke was also portrayed to be a man consumed by evil, uttery without honour. This was the furthest thing from the truth. Rulke was a man of honour, though he would do dishonourable things to further the survival of his beloved people. However he did this with regret. An incredibly intelligent man, Rulke was able to grasp some of the most powerful and mentally taxing forms of the Secret Art.

Rulke's History

Taking of Aachan

The Mariem were gone, transformed instead to Charon. It seemed that entire race was destined to die alone in The Void, being only two hundred. However a chance came. The way to Aachan was opened by one of its people, searching the Void for sentient life. The Charon voted, deciding to take this chance, rather than to be slowly picked off in the Void. They went through that gate to Aachan.

Using their Art's to direct their gate near the capital city of Aachan, the Charon had intended to arrive together in the one spot. However, Rulke became separated and was released onto Aachan at a different point than the rest of his people. Delirious and not himself, Rulke came across the home of a family of Aachim. Rulke quickly dispatches them, relishing in the brutish violence. However, he failed to notice a single Aachim. She was smaller than the rest, pale and had red hair; Elienor.

Elienor bravely rushes Rulke, stabbing him in the side; a seemingly mortal wound. She successfully warns her people of the Charon's invasion, using a device not unlike, though far lesser, than the Mirror of Aachan, before fleeing.

Rulke lays there in a pool of his own blood, believing himself to be as good as dead. But knowing the fate of the Charon without him, Rulke strikes up the courage to sew his wound shut and survive, something beyond any but he. Rulke watches as the Charon are easily rounded up by the native Aachim, half the Charon having been slain, only one hundred remained.

Rulke alone remains free. He watches as his beloved people are sentenced to death by the Aachim. Noticing the Aachim's revere for an old couple, their leaders, Rulke hatches a plan. He jumps from the top of the roof down into the room and captured the elders. He demands the surrender of the Aachim, in exchange for the lives of their leaders.

The Aachim oblige and the Hundred, as the remaining Charon became known, captured their world.