The House of the Mountain Ram has one creed: never yield. Conceding ground or granting quarter warrants shame. This makes them terrible conversationalists, but fierce combatants. Kurgan was the paragon of this
ideology, earning himself many karls and a good marriage. But Kurgan’s companion Spiri envied Kurgan and challenged him to holmgang. Kurgan won the duel, but could not bring himself to end his best friend’s life. Instead, he said, “We saved each other’s life many a time, Spiri, but if I ever see you north of the mountains again, I’ll smite ye so hard it’ll add a ‘T’ to your name. Now, git!”

Spiri was as stubborn a dwarf as he was an envious one, though, and he did not leave immediately. He returned to their House and let it be known that Kurgan had granted Spiri mercy. Kurgan’s shame was great. His wife was taken from him. Thane-granted gifts were stripped from him and he was treated thereafter like a common ceorl. A fury was kindled in Kurgan then, and he swore that he would enact a vengeance on Spiri Rygstikker such as the North had never seen.

Spiri was as cowardly a dwarf as he was stubborn and envious, though, and he fled. Kurgan set off after him but it was many years before he caught up to him. By then, Spiri had been Consumed and transformed into a powerful Host, but Kurgan’s wrath had led to Taint of his own. He, too, drew on the Void to match his foe’s new strength. Still, alone, even empowered, he could not defeat Spiri, who could summon armies of Consumed. Kurgan could think of only one group who would fight beside one Tainted and shamed as he. He traveled south in search of Void Hunters.