Bruuk

Bruuk(ブルーク, Burūku)
Race	Human
Lifespan	NRC c. 433 - 473
Nationality	Skardian
Allegiance	Skard
Highlights	Liberated the demons
Novel
Novel appearances	Eternal Returner

Bruuk (ブルーク, Burūku) was the Duke of Skard and father of Nasher, the protagonist of the Legend of Lodoss light novel series. When Bruuk feared for the future of his duchy, as well as learning of an opportunity to see his secret ambition come to fruition, he unleashed the demon army from the Deepest Labyrinth, causing the Demon War to commence.

Bruuk was married to duchess Eliza, the mother of Nasher. He also married Natasia, a woman of low background, who gave birth to Princess Reena.

Bruuk is the protagonist of "Bonds of Blood", the second story of Legend of Lodoss: Eternal Returner, which explains his reasoning for liberating the demons.

History

　Bruuk was born circa NRC 433, and eventually became Duke of Skard. In NRC 457 Bruuk became father of a son, Nasher, via his wife duchess Eliza. One year later he became father of a daughter, Reena, via another wife, duchess Natasia. Bruuk was fond of both his children, but especially in Nasher he saw a great future.

　In circa NRC 472 Bruuk discovered something lethal and incurable in his throat. Upon hearing this, Bruuk's main concern was whether he would have enough time to raise Nasher enough to fulfill his potential. Also that year, Bruuk received a marriage proposal for his daughter Reena from Alondo, a prince of the neighbouring duchy of Venon. Bruuk was suspicious of the proposal. He believed that if Alondo would marry Reena, he would have Bruuk and Nasher killed and take Skard. If he didn't agree with the marriage proposal, Venon would go to war against Skard. Bruuk believed Skard wouldn't stand a chance against Venon, because Venon would only need to block one road to isolate Skard.

　From his court mage Wort, Bruuk had learned of a demon army that was imprisoned in the Deepest Labyrinth in the south of Moss. According to Wort, Bruuk could easily conquer Lodoss if this army was under his control. Bruuk became fascinated with the demons.

　In NRC 473 Bruuk left Skard on a horse with only the Princess Reena with him. They travelled to the Deepest Labyrinth. In the Hall of the Demon King, Bruuk killed his daughter Reena as part of a ritual to summon the demons. The body of Reena would become host to the Demon King, and Bruuk would be able to control the Demon King, and thus the demon army, because of his blood-ties with Reena. When the ritual was completed and the Demon King emerged, Bruuk exercised no control over it. The Demon King celebrated its freedom, and explained to Bruuk he has no blood-ties with the body the Demon King possesses. It was then that Bruuk understood that Reena was not his biological daughter. He drew his sword and attacked the Demon King, who quickly recovered from the wound and killed Bruuk on the spot with the Demon Sword “Soul Crusher”.

　After his death, a doppelgänger demon disguised as Bruuk. When the demon army marched to Skard for a battle with the Moss forces, Bruuk and Reena were seen at the front lines by his son Nasher and others, prompting many to believe Bruuk was leading the demon army and may be the Demon King. Eventually, Nasher comes to believe the man who is leading the demon army may be a doppelgänger disguised as his father. At the end of the Demon War, he encounters "Bruuk" in the royal castle of Skard. Nasher beheads him, revealing Bruuk to be a doppelgänger. Nasher is subsequently killed by the Demon King. The Skard royal bloodline is succeeded by Nasher's, at that time unborn, son with Raffinia.

Notes

• The unnamed man with a goatee who appears in the opening chapter of Record of Lodoss War: The Lady of Pharis bears a resemblance to Bruuk. They also suffer a similar fate; being killed by the Demon King with the Demon Sword Soul Crusher.