Thanks, that means a lot to me guys. I'd be writing up Part 2, but I might be GMing a game shortly for some friends.
Mysterious Edit: Lore!
The Ur-Warlord, proud at the skill displayed by his troops, gave an inspiring speech as the stocked food of Shadevale dwindled away. They would take the maps and weapons that they had found, additional ships as well and return to their homeland to prepare for a strike into the north provinces of Imperia. They would fight great battles, overcome huge obstacles and expand their dominion and that of Giirvak the Mighty!
The assembled orcish horde cheered this news and made ready their ships for the return. In a few short months the ships were loaded heavy with weapons, troops and supplies. The orcs departed due south from the province known as West Northron, wherein their Warlords kingdom was centered. Their passage however, was stymied frequently by foul weather and treacherous waters. The orcish sailors did their best, but many ships were lost. Twice the ship of the Ur-Warlord was threatened, but mysteriously the storms would break before ever coming close to sinking his vessel.
Unfortunately for the peoples of Toldrun, the orcs spilled forth in waves and waves from the ocean, and slaughtered whatever armies they found. Proving themselves superior in force of arms, they solidified their hold on the grasslands of W Toldron, and N Villvale. Afraid of slavery, all the free peoples fled towards the central lands of Imperia carrying tales of the brutality of the Orcish army.
War raged across the northlands, the Ur-Warlord could scarcely be stopped by force of arms. At the height of his invasion, he controlled the lands of Villvale, Toldrun and sacked the lands of Pomford, and shipped much in the way of wealth and knowledge back to Northbrand.
The Battle of Dark Pass, and the fall of the Ur-Warlord
A mighty host assembled, the strongest and best warriors Arcanan could bring to bear, and they marched forth to draw the orcs to battle in the Dark Pass, located within N Grok, between the west and east Skytip mountains. There would the Great Wizard himself, crack the strength of the orcs, and drive them into the sea.
The Ur-Warlord led his people well and wisely, and through battle they learned many secrets of war that were lost within the Time of Blood. But magic was never a secret the Orcs came close to understanding in those days. They were drawn to the Dark Pass by the magic of the Great Wizard. A few hours past dawn on a warm day in early Summer, the Orcs, goaded into blood-lust and fury by the implacable metal clad defenders, charged forth in a writhing surge of axes and hammers made mostly of stone and powered by raw muscle.
Stone clashed against metal, was broken, but still sundered whatever lines the Arcanans could muster. Weapons were picked up from the dead and the orcs pressed hard the Arcanan line. But there were always more troops willing to throw themselves bodily in the path of the Orcs, while the Great Wizard prepared a mighty spell.
Thousands died that day, needlessly some say,though the casualties were highest for the Arcanan forces. Towards the end of the battle, the Great Wizard stood before his line of battered troops, a glowing nimbus encircling him. The Ur-Warlord strode forth himself, the honor of destroying their leader through strength of arms would be his and his alone.. A bellowing roar, Axe met circle of light, and all was ended in a flash.
Some say the earth shook. Others say the air burned. Yet more claim that darkness rose up and snatched the breath of life from the Orcs. No one is quite sure what magic the Great Wizard levied against the Orcs, only that the Ur-Warlord was no more, his axe laying abandoned in a circle of dead bodies.
Chaos and confusion reigned then, and with no strong leader to unite them the Orcs were easily out manuevered and driven slowly, inexorably back. When the last Orcs tried to flee, to their homeland, they were pursued. Without the strength of unity, the Orcish tribes fell back into their bickering ways, and with no one to prevent it, the Arcanan Empire took Northbrand, and culled and enslaved the Orcish people, using Orcish strength to fuel great labor works across Imperia.
All the great works of the Ur-Warlord were razed..The War Academy of Gaz'a'Dun, the Place of Stone Markers..
Save but one. Somewhere deep in the blizzards and snow of Northbrand the Orcs speak of a temple to Giirvak, where the Ur-Warlord rests and celebrates his victories. Awaiting the day his people need him once more. And on that day, axe in hand he will rise up, return, and lead his people once more into war.
But that is surely myth and hope, as there was no body left.
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Topic: Fiefdoms @ War: Fluff Thread (Read 76216 times)