The Great Ring of Arakko is the governing body of Arakko. There are nine main seats, evenly divided among Dawn, Day, and Dusk. In addition, there are three hidden Night Seats. Those who sit on the main nine seats are the most powerful and intelligent members of Arakkii society, each of whom is an Omega-level mutant.[2][3] The Night Seats are the independent Shadow Table, occupied by secret non-Omegas.[4]
History
The Great Ring was formed in Okkara and, following the island's separation, has been the ruling body of Arakko for thousands of years, with the exception of the period when Arakko was ruled by Annihilation. The Great Ring follows three basic rules; 1) Make more mutants; 2) Destroy all enemies; 3) Defend Arakko.
The Great Ring was shaped by their peoples' need for structure during times of unending war and battle. The Great Ring is composed exclusively of Omega-level mutants,[3] except the Night Seats.[4] To this day, they believe in power most of all, an ideology that shapes Arakkii society.[2] In order to gain a seat on the Ring, any Arakkii mutant may challenge a sitting council member in the Circle Perilous. If they succeed, the winner will receive the loser's seat.[3]
Different sections of the Great Ring are deferred to during different times. In times of crisis, a certain seat may assume supreme executive power. Which seat receives this power depends on the crisis at hand.[5]
From the Siege to the Fallow Years[]
During Arakko's first battles against Annihilation, the Great Ring's Night Seats functioned as spies bringing information to the organization. But due to the disdain of Genesis towards those she considered weak, the Night Seats were limited to being advisors.[4]
Six hundred years prior to the modern era, Arakko underwent a crippling wave of civil disorder. The Great Ring granted powers of deferdom to Uqesh the Bridge, holder of the Seat of Law. With supreme executive power of Arakko, Uqesh used his powers to summon a pantheon of gods who would lead the Arakkii armies. The results were disastrous, with Arakko suffering the greatest military defeat of its history. Riots erupted against Uqesh's rule, ending with him losing his seat and being forcibly kept alive as a severed head.[5]
When Idyll the Ancestor predicted the fall of Arakko, the Night Seats supported him, seeking to keep Genesis from taking the war to Amenth. Insulted, she had Ora Serrata erase the Seats from existence, leaving only the other 3 Tables.
X of Swords[]
Following Saturnyne's Tournament of Swords and the final battle in Otherworld, the Great Ring lost two of its members with Genesis staying in Amenth with her husband and Redroot imprisoned by Mad Jim Jaspers as payment for breaking a priceless Crystal Idol of Bombu.[6][7]
Planet Arakko[]
The Great Ring offered three of its members—Lactuca, Xilo, and Sobunar—to aid the mutants of Krakoa in terraforming Mars and moving Arakko there.[8]
The Krakoan mutant Storm challenged Nameless, the Shape-Shifter Queen for the Seat of All-Around-Us and regency of Arakko. Storm won the challenge, defeating Nameless and claiming her seat.[9]
During a meeting, Tarn expressed his interest in Krakoa, as a Krakoan mutant had stolen the genetic material of his Locus Vile and himself. The Great Ring forbade Tarn from attacking Krakoa, and Tarn agreed to abide by their decision, though he would break his promise shortly thereafter when the Locus Vile found the thieves.[10] Storm called another meeting and confronted Tarn for breaking his word. Tarn reiterated that he would not leave Krakoa alone until he was satisfied, prompting Storm to challenge him to a duel in the Circle Perilous. Tarn easily disarmed Storm, disabling her powers and mutating her grotesquely. Seemingly defeated, Storm managed to get close enough to pierce Tarn's chest with a dagger, threatening to kill him if he did not surrender. Tarn yielded, and restored Storm's abilities and appearance.[3]
The Great Ring debated whether or not to abandon Planet Arakko and return to Amenth to once again wage war on the daemons, or to continue walking the path of peace. Using her second vote as regent, Storm broke the tie, settling the matter for peace.[9] As part of a plot to secure an ally in the Great Ring, Abigail Brand urged Vulcan to challenge Tarn for his seat. The two dueled, each cancelling out the others' mutant power, but Tarn quickly gained the upper hand, and beat Vulcan to death.[11]
Magneto promptly arrived immediately after the previous duel, to challenge Tarn for his seat. Tarn gleefully accepted the challenge, unaware that his doom had already been sealed. Magneto's former student Sunspot had tricked Isca into betting against Tarn, meaning her power to never lose would ensure that Tarn was defeated. Magneto used his own helmet to inhibit Tarn's psionic powers, and crushed his skull, claiming his seat.[11]
Following Magneto's ascension to the Great Ring, another meeting was called to discuss whether it was appropriate for Krakoan mutants, who due to their Resurrection Protocols could never truly die, to sit on the Great Ring, as the Arakkii had rejected the concept of unending life and resurrection. Speaking on behalf of both himself and Storm, Magneto agreed with the Great Ring's objections, and destroyed the Cerebro back-ups of both himself and Storm, ensuring that when they died, they would not return.[12]
Judgment Day[]
When Druig, the Prime Eternal, discovered that mutants and Deviants are genetically close,[13] he released the imprisoned Eternal Patriarch Uranos for an hour to devestate Arrako and prevent them from aiding Krakoa, who were also being attacked.[14] Sensing that Arakko was outmatched, Isca the Unbeaten betrayed the Great Ring and beheaded Idyll in order to not be on the losing side, and Nightcrawler teleported her away. The Great Ring, Legion, Cable, and Abigail Brand attempted to battle Uranos but lost; Magneto had his heart ripped out and Xilo lost 86.5% of its mass. Uranos left victorious but he did not check if he had actually killed the Great Ring, allowing them to secretly survive.[15]
The Great Ring regrouped to take on the death machines Uranos kept on the red planet. Storm returned from space with Nova to help. The Night Seats—Fisher King, Syzya, and Sunspot—revealed themselves. The Arakkii were forced to unite together in a way never before.[4] Later, Iron Man appeared and sent Storm and Magneto to deal with Uranos on Earth. By taking control of Uranos' own machines, they managed to defeat him, but Magneto succumbed to his injuries.[16] In the aftermath, the Great Ring confronted Isca and she resigned after the Fisher King challenged her to understand the meaning of loss. Storm gave her Seat of All-Around-Us to Lodus Logos and took Magneto's Seat of Loss.[17]
Genesis War[]
Having lost many members, the Great Ring quickly found replacements in the Circle Perilous.[18] Meanwhile, Genesis found out about Tarn's death and the Great Ring's defeat to Uranos.[19] Returning to Arakko with the support of Coven Akkaba and Orchis, she found the once-living island to be a desolate wasteland littered with the bones of the dead.[20] Genesis confronted the Great Ring and caused a schism between its members, including newcomers Lycaon Two Wolves and Kobak Never-Held. Genesis challenged Kobak for her old Seat of Victory back and Sobunar challenged Storm, but Lactuca teleported the rebel faction of Storm, Kobak, Lodus Logos, That-Which-Was-Xilo, and the outsider Jon Ironfire away. This incited the Genesis War.[21]
Genesis used her chlorokinesis to rejuvenate the living island Arakko and recruited Orrdon as her new Seat of Loss, though he was killed by Isca in the civil war that followed. On the other side, Storm and Sunspot learned of Orchis' involvement in Genesis' arrival and That-Which-Was-Xilo merged with the Fisher King. Genesis' side received reinforcements through an Okkara Gate, including the Four Horsemen. Meanwhile, the Night Seats retrieved the trigger to release Uranos; despite the fact that Uranos could annihilate Genesis' army and win the war, Storm refused to free him and destroyed the trigger. Storm dealt with the Horsemen and Death joined her side. When Apocalypse returned, he helped Storm fight against his wife by using mutant magic to raise Kaorak. Genesis responded by raising Arakko and dueled Storm, which ended in Storm's victory when she destroyed Genesis' Annihilation Staff. Xilo merged with Ora Serrata to become Xilora, resulting in the Fisher King's death, and used her power to destroy Lycaon when the latter refused to surrender. With the war ended, Genesis went into exile on Phobos, slaughtering the Orchis humans who used her, and Sobunar became a hermit.[22]
Council Structure[]
The Council itself is divided up into four sections of three seats along with an adjunct section:
- Dawn is deferred to in times of war, and consists of:
- Kobak Never-Held, who sits on the Seat of Victory is consulted when battle is won.
- During the Genesis War, this seat was disputed between Genesis and Kobak Never-Held. Kobak claimed the seat after Isca the Unbeaten left the council. Isca had replaced her sister Genesis on the council after she stayed in Amenth.[3][21]
- Seat of Stalemate is consulted when there is no clear winner.
- Currently vacant after Lycaon Two Wolves was killed in Genesis War. Lycaon claimed the seat in Circle Perilous after Idyll the Future Seer was killed by Isca. Idyll had replaced her father High Mutant Prophet Idyll on the council after his death.[2]
- Seat of Loss is consulted when battles are lost.
- Currently vacant as Storm left the council.[23] During the Genesis War, the seat was disputed between Orrdon, the Omega Rocket and Storm.[24] Storm had transferred to this seat after Magneto's death.[17] Magneto had claimed the seat from Tarn the Uncaring after killing him in Circle Perilous.[11]
- Kobak Never-Held, who sits on the Seat of Victory is consulted when battle is won.
- Day is deferred to in times of peace, and consists of:
- Lactuca the Knower, who sits on the Seat of Above-Us is consulted on matters of the heavens.
- Lodus Logos, who disputably sits on the Seat of All-Around-Us is consulted on matters of the land, the people, the weather, and the turn of the world. This seat has an additional vote as the Regent of Arakko.
- Storm transferred this seat to Lodus Logos.[17] Storm had claimed the seat from Nameless, the Shape-Shifter Queen after defeating her in Circle Perilous.[9]
- Seat of Below-Us is consulted on matters of the ocean/deep.[2][8][3]
- Currently vacant as Sobunar of the Depths left the council after Genesis War.
- Dusk is never deferred to, but is still consulted on the nation's more conceptual matters. The Table consists of:
- Ora Serrata the Witness, who sits on the Seat of Law is consulted on all legal matters.
- Ora Serrata claimed the seat from Uqesh the Bridge after defeating him in Circle Perilous.[5]
- Xilo the First Defender, who disputably sits on the Seat of History is consulted on matters of lore, recording Arakko's history.
- Seat of Dreams is consulted on matters of art, poetry, and song.[2][3]
- Currently vacant after Lodus Logos transferred to the Seat of All-Around-Us.
- Ora Serrata the Witness, who sits on the Seat of Law is consulted on all legal matters.
- Night consists non-Omegas, unbound by the Ring's customs who exist to check the other seats if need be.[2]
- Syzya of the Smoke, who sits on the Seat of Nowhere.[4]
- Seat of Nothing.[4]
- Currently vacant after the death of Fisher King.[25]
- Weaponless Zsen, who sits on the Seat of Nobody.[26]
- Sunspot bequeathed the seat to Zsen. Sunspot claimed the seat left vacant by Zsora of the Spirit Flame's death after discovering the Night Table.[4]
- Lastly, an adjunct to the council consists Arakko and the voice of Arakko, representing the interests and needs of the island itself.[2]
- Redroot the Forest acts as the voice of Arakko[2]
Trivia
- The Great Ring of Arakko mirrors the Quiet Council of Krakoa, including similar laws, seating and table placement, and having a voice of their island.
- Stulgid was originally shown to be the third member of the Table of Dusk, but this ended up being changed to Xilo's former name.[3]
- The only way for a mutant to gain a seat on the Great Ring is through fighting in the Circle Perilous, with them winning the fight by their opponent either yielding, or dying (by their hand or even an act of suicide).[3][27][28]
- Every member that has ever served and currently serves on The Great Ring of Arakko (except the Night section) has been an Omega-level mutant.[3] While it is possible for anyone to challenge any seat at any time, it is recommended for those challengers to be Omega-level.[11] Conversely, no member in the Night section of the council is an Omega-level mutant.[4]
- Storm is the only known individual to have a seat on both the Quiet Council and the Great Ring along with the Galactic Council simultaneously, while Magneto previously served on the Quiet Council. Both of them along with Sunspot are the only Krakoans on the Great Ring.
- While it has been stated that the Dusk seats are never deferred to, Uqesh the Bridge acquired powers of Deferdom as holder of the Seat of Law during a wave of civil unrest. It is possible that the rule of never deferring to the Dusk seats was instituted after Uqesh's Deferdom resulted in disaster for Arakko.[5]
See Also
- 26 appearance(s) of Great Ring of Arakko (Earth-616)
- 1 minor appearance(s) of Great Ring of Arakko (Earth-616)
- 9 mention(s) of Great Ring of Arakko (Earth-616)
- 9 image(s) of Great Ring of Arakko (Earth-616)
- 24 member(s) of Great Ring of Arakko (Earth-616)
Links and References
References
- ↑ X-Men (Vol. 5) #12
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 X-Men (Vol. 5) #16
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 S.W.O.R.D. (Vol. 2) #8
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 X-Men: Red (Vol. 2) #6
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Legion of X #1
- ↑ X of Swords: Destruction #1
- ↑ X-Force (Vol. 6) #14
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Planet-Size X-Men #1
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 X-Men: Red (Vol. 2) #2
- ↑ Hellions #14
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 X-Men: Red (Vol. 2) #3
- ↑ X-Men: Red (Vol. 2) #4
- ↑ Eternals (Vol. 5) #12
- ↑ A.X.E.: Judgment Day #1
- ↑ X-Men: Red (Vol. 2) #5
- ↑ A.X.E.: Judgment Day #4
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 X-Men: Red (Vol. 2) #7
- ↑ X-Men: Red (Vol. 2) #11
- ↑ X-Men: Before The Fall - Heralds of Apocalypse #1
- ↑ X-Men: Red (Vol. 2) #12
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 X-Men: Red (Vol. 2) #13
- ↑ X-Men: Red (Vol. 2) #14–18
- ↑ Storm (Vol. 5) #1
- ↑ X-Men: Red (Vol. 2) #14
- ↑ X-Men: Red (Vol. 2) #18
- ↑ X-Men Unlimited Infinity Comic #120
- ↑ S.W.O.R.D. (Vol. 2) #9
- ↑ X-Men: Red (Vol. 2) #1