The Stone of Vorg

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Episode 49 of The Trigan Empire

The Stone of Vorg
aka Emperor Z
De steen van Vorg (Dutch title)
The Stone of Vorg (Dutch title, translated)

Written by Mike Butterworth
Illustrated by Philip Corke

The Stone of Vorg was originally published in 10 instalments in issues 668 (2 November 1974) to 677 (4 January 1975) of Look and Learn magazine.

It is reprinted in Volume 4 of The Rise and Fall of the Trigan Empire (Rebellion).

Plot summary

A stranger rides onto the main square of Trigan City. There stands a large boulder—the Stone of Vorg. A man on the square explains to the stranger why the stone is there. Once, Targo, the father of Trigo, wandered in the hills. There he met a sootha. He shared his food with him, and after eating, the sootha foretold the future. He said that his son would become the greatest ruler on Elekton, until a man splits the stone in two with a single blow. Trigo had the stone placed on the main square. The stranger strikes with his hand and splits the stone. Trigo is told what has happened. He sends two members of the Imperial Council, Zacho and Serro, to investigate.

The man calls himself Z. During questioning by Zacho and Serro, the Captain of the Imperial Guard tries to kill him, but is overpowered by the stranger who calls himself Z. Zacho and Serro, want to use the stranger to seize power. They want to crown him emperor.

Trigo goes to the Plain of Vorg to think in peace. Zacho and Serro instruct a group of men to kill Trigo. They find him on the Plain of Vorg and knock him out. They leave him for dead. Because Trigo does not return, the Imperial Council appoints the stranger Z as emperor. The man seemingly cannot read or write and signs everything the two councilors present to him with a cross. Zacho and Serro rule with terror. They take control of the Imperial Treasury and raise taxes.

Trigo is found by a group of desert warriors and is still alive, but he has lost his memory. To prevent him from escaping, they want to blind him, but Trigo saves the life of the blacksmith’s son who was to put out his eyes. As thanks, the blacksmith buys Trigo as a slave and lets him work for him.

Zacho and Serro want to elevate their families to the nobility. They go to Emperor Z with the document, but he turns out to be able to read. He believes things have gone too far and has the two arrested. He frees Janno and Brag, who had been imprisoned.

The desert warriors march on Trigan and want to conquer it. They first attack the city of Rilli and take it. Trigo helps to make the weapons with which his own people are attacked. The desert warriors then attack Trigan City. Emperor Z does not want the desert warriors to be destroyed by atmosphere craft but chooses to honorably engage in hand-to-hand combat with his army. In this battle, Brag must fight Trigo, but Trigo flees. However, he is shot by a Trigan soldier.

The Trigans achieve victory and find Trigo, who is unconscious. They take him to the palace, and the people are filled with suspense over Trigo’s condition. The next day he regains consciousness and recognizes Peric. Emperor Z leaves Trigan, for he realizes that Trigo is the true emperor: the people will never love him.