ORC TRIBES
| The Orcs of Eredane as told by The Loremaster of the Cardraal Clan: The Favored of Izrador | ||
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Beast Mother
Blind Mother
Bone Mother: As the population of the chosen of Izrador began to grow, one tribe suffered from a wasting illness that could not be cured. The tribe's mother-wife in her great despair beseeched the Dark God to restore her children. Izrador heard her plea and her children were returned to her. Their dead bodies shambled back to their tribe. In her madness the mother-wife greeted these walking dead as if they were fully restored to life. The undead were given homes, clothing, and weapons. Over time the tribe's witches became adept at raising the dead. When the tribe fought their battles, their dead walked with them. They gained the name the Mother of Bone tribe from their armies of the dead. Physical description: The tribe's living warriors often paint their faces and hands white to match the tribe's skeletal warriors, and wear black armor adorned with fragments of bone taken from dead adversaries. The Kurasatch Udareen wear elaborate necklaces and belts of woven bones. All Mother of Bone orcs, even the soldiers, carry ritual daggers with them at all times. Clawed Mother: The Clawed Mother orcs are believed to be the descendants of the mating of a great arctic polar bear and a mother-wife of Izrador. Whether the stories are true or not, the tribe has several characteristics that differentiate them from the rest of the orc race. They are larger, heavier, and they have natural claws. Before the arrival of the Oruks, they were the most feared orc warriors. When the orc horde poured across the Fortress Wall at the end of the Third Age, the Clawed Mother orcs overwhelmed the Dornish defense of the citadel at Riversbend and took the final keep. Physical description: They're normally 4-12 inches taller and 60-120 pounds heavier than normal orcs. They're even more muscular but are not as fast. Many members of the tribe bleach their hair white in honor of the mythical ancestor (great polar bear). Cold Mother: When the original mother-wives of Izrador were formed from the surviving eldethar refugees, they were each given a test to see if they were worthy to serve as the mothers of the Dark God's favored race and the tool of his deliverance. The first Cold Mother was cast out of the warren and into the snows to either die or prove her strength. Her dual nature as both eldethar and a vessel of Izrador's power allowed her to survive and adapt to her environment. She became one with the cold. Her children were born not in the warmth of an underground lair but on the ice in the bitingly cold northern winds. Physical description: The Cold Mother orcs wear their hair long and braided like the Dorn. They are usually wrapped in furs that have been bleached white. Winter wolves that are raised with the tribe often accompany them. Crooked Back Mother: When the Shadow corrupted the eldethar, some tried to resist. Those that did were tortured and mutilated until their spirits broke and they accepted Izrador as their master. One of the original mother-wives was one of those who had been tortured. Her spine was malformed and her body was strangely stretched. It was a dark miracle that she could give birth, but she did. Her children were as malformed as she was, but they gained immense strength and strong wills. However, they were ponderously slow and not quick to learn from their mistakes. They neither dominated their neighboring tribes nor were they dominated. Instead of destroying the tribe, the Shadow found a use for their damaged bodies. The Crooked Back tribe became the Shadow's destroyers of fortifications. Their great strength allowed them to be heavily armored and to carry their mauls and great axes and use them to destroy walls and tower gates. Physical description: If they could stand erect, the Crooked Back orcs would be taller then most orcs. Due to their malformed spine, they are permanently hunched over. Their arms (at least one of them) are abnormally long and they sometimes use their arms to help propel them when they run. Iron Mother: Along with the Mother of Earth tribe, the Iron Mother orcs are the closest to their eldethar ancestors. Both tribes are similar in size and shape. While the Mother of Earth orcs specialize in mining and fortification, the Iron Mother orcs are the race's armorers and weaponsmiths. The weapons they create are not ornate or beautiful, but they are easy to make and very, very effective. Some of the tribe practice a form of self mutilation were they insert shards of steel into their skin in an attempt to be one with the metal. Physical description: Much smaller and squatter than normal orcs (minus 10-14 inches and 10-40 pounds lighter). They tend to be dressed in all brown and are sometimes derogatorily called mud orcs. Moon Mother: Not all of the first wives of the Dark God wished to serve the Shadow. The Moon Mother was one who tried to flee from the Dark God. She and her children fled into the wastes and instead of salvation, they found another form of damnation. An ancient evil spirit of the north attacked the small group. The spirit took the form of a large wolf. The wolf attacked the Moon Mother and infused its essence into her. The transformation inflicted the curse of lycanthropy on the Moon Mother, a curse she passed on to her offspring. The curse weakened the Moon Mother tribe's ability to resist the Dark God and before the beginning of the First Age, the tribe had become loyal servants of the Shadow. The tribe is known for their vicious behavior. They do not interact well with other tribes and are usually kept well separate. The tribe is used to inflict terror and break the enemy's will to resist. When the tribe attacks under the full moon, it is fearsome to behold. Short of magic or silver, human resistance fighters are ill equipped to fight the tribe. Fortunately, the tribe is not very large. The survival rate of their children is poor, a part of their curse. The tribe also does not accept those without a pure bloodline (those tainted with lycanthropy but not of their blood). Unless they are kept under control, they will hunt down their lesser brethren and destroy them. Physical description: The members of the Moon Mother Tribe are slightly more muscular than other orcs, and tend to be much hairier. They are wild of character, and very violent. They become savage when the moon is full. Mother of Burning Blood: From the beginning, Izrador ordered them to live on the edge of Grostrafang, the northern volcano. They thought he favored them, for this gave them access to heating, even though they were often burned by the frequent lava eruptions. They considered this was some kind of sacrifice to their god to be swallowed by a lava flow, and since those times, they ritually burn large parts of their skins to prove their dedication to the Dark God. After millennia, this practice gave them an unhealthy affinity to the powers of fire. They feel only the worst burnings, and have become somewhat pyromaniacs and highly suicidal. The logical choice was to affect them to the Erethor borders, where they spread fire like a disease. Those orcs who shame themselves in combat are allowed to redeem themselves by performing the Dance of Fire. They are ritually rubbed with tar, which is ignited, then they run as fast as they can to the elven settlements in hopes of spreading fire to as many buildings and inhabitants as possible. Their fierce devotion and their fire resistance give them incredible resilience for that purpose (they can last 1d8+4 minutes spreading fire before dying). They also gained the extraordinary ability to be able to ignite flammable materials by placing their hands upon them for 1d4+2 hours. Physical description: These orcs are red-haired, and typically smell of burned charcoal. They always bear the marks of fire branding on their chests. Mother of Dark Blood: When other Kurasatch Udareen challenged her power, this until-then unassuming sorceress drew her own blood and showed them its darkness to prove that Izrador indeed favored her. She used it to fuel her spells, which were the most impressive that the Kurasatch Udareen could use while drawing their power from the Dark God. Since that time, the members of this tribe always had the best connection with Izrador, and thus show the best abilities as orc legates. They are however jealous of the favoritism shown to The Order of Shadow, as most members are humans who, in the orc's eyes, did nothing to earn such an envied position. This tribe has always strongly opposed the Order of Shadow, and has clerical powers to back their claims. They remain deep in the North, as close as possible to their God. There are many members living in Theros Obsidia. Conflict with human legates is almost palpable there. Physical description: These orcs are shorter and darker skinned than other tribes. Their fur capes and boots are usually enough to make them recognizable, as well as their heavy handaxes which they carry in all circumstances. Mother of Earth: The Mother of Earth tribe orcs, or the diggers in the dirt, are the best miners and makers of siege equipment. The tribe is probably the closest in physical form and temperament to their eldethar/dwarven ancestors. Of all the orcs, the Mothers of Earth, are the most feared for their abilities to destroy or bypass the dwarven defenses. Physical description: Much smaller and squatter than normal orcs (minus 10-14 inches and 10-40 pounds lighter). They tend to be dressed in all brown and are sometimes derogatorily called mud orcs. Mother of Lies: The Mother of Lies orcs are the agents the Shadow uses to ensure that his favored race remains loyal. The orcs believe that the original mother of Lies was the first of the eldethar to freely surrender her soul to Izrador. She then betrayed her sisters and helped the Dark God kill or enslave the rest of her clan. They are considered the most loyal of the orcs. The Night King Sunulael uses the tribe to spy on the other orc tribes and even his own Legates to ferret out those who would betray the Dark God. The tribe is also frequently tasked with assassinating those who have lost the Dark God's favor. Physical description: The Mother of Lies orcs are physically non-descript. They are trained to temporarily alter their appearance to blend in with other orc tribes. Mother of Rage: As her soul was corrupted, the being that would become the Mother of Rage, struggled against her bonds and screamed in anger against the gods that had deserted her people and left them to their dark fate. As Izrador reshaped her, that rage was infused throughout her body. When she gave birth to her first offspring, their struggles during the birth almost killed her. Caring for the young was difficult as they were unable to control their rage. The fledgling tribe was at risk of destruction, either by the Dark God himself or by ripping itself apart. The elders of the tribe were finally able, with the power granted them by the Dark God, to harness their rage and use it against the God's enemies. The savagery of the tribe is legendary. The sight of these raging orcs has caused more than one enemy to flee in panic. Physical description: At a distance, there is little to distinguish the Mother of Rage orcs from other orcs. You have to get up close to see the almost solid red eyes, the ragged armor, and often broken or malformed claws. Pale Mother: The Pale Mother tribe is unique among the great tribes, as they are a patriarchy. Early in the First Age, the tribe suffered under a weak and indecisive Kurasatch Uradeen. The tribe's warleader, Urgoth, rebelled and slew her with his bare hands. The legends say he had the Dark Lord's blessing, as he seemed unaffected by the Kurasatch Uradeen's spells. Since that time the tribe has been ruled by a male. Once assuming the leadership of the tribe, the male takes the name Urgoth in honor the tribe's first leader. The tribe's females are relegated to raising the children and foraging for food. They have become servants vice the masters of the tribe. Over time, the tribe has lost the ability to cast even the simplest spells. Physical description: The tribe's orcs have much paler skin than their brethren. Occasionally, one of them can even pass for a dworg, though this is rare. The tribe also takes prizes (noses/ears/teeth) from spellcasters they kill. The prizes are worn as necklaces or sewn into their clothing and armor. Swift Mother: The origin of the Swift Mother orcs is less clear then the other great tribes. Some believe that the tribe is descended from a different eldethar clan; possibly a clan related to the early elves. Physically, the Swift Mother orcs appear to be more closely related to elves than dwarves. The tribe is tall and lean and very fleet of foot. Not being anywhere near as strong as their brethren, the tribe would probably have been eliminated if they had not shown their value as scouts and skirmishers. Physical description: Very tall and thin for an orc (add 4-6 inches and reduce weight by 80-140 pounds). As they're mostly stationed on the Erethor front, they're almost always dressed in dark green clothing. Sword Mother: According to legend, the sword mother orcs are descended from a mighty female champion. She was gifted with a black sword from the Dark God and used it to cleave through her enemies. Her children were taught the discipline of the sword and they used that discipline to build the most cohesive and best led warbands in the north. Through superior tactics and better organization, the Sword Mother orcs dominated the neighboring tribes. When the Shadow needed generals and highly disciplined troops, it turned to the Sword Mother tribe. Their martial skills have only been honed by the fighting of the last one hundred years. Grial the Fey Killer is a Sword Mother orc. Physical description: The Sword Mother orcs are easily identifiable by their bearing, organization, and the way they keep their clothes and weapons (normally immaculate). Sword Mother orcs stand erect and move with purpose, not wasting any movement. Torn Mother Tribe: When the eldethar were turned into mother wives one of them fought back. She used every means at her disposal to remain free of the shadow. After Izrador forced her to bear his children, she had to watch whilst he tortured her young. Begging for mercy she offered her soul to him if he would free her children. Izrador agreed, but on the condition that her children's souls could only be free if they died on the field of battle, fighting his enemies. With that he killed the mother wife and took her spirit and bound it to the tribe. Down the years she has watched her tribe grow strong and has advised the Kurasatch Uradeen. She exhorts her people to die by following Izrador's word and they do so, throwing themselves onto the weapons of their enemies. Physical Description: Each member of the Torn Mother Tribe has ritual scarring on its face in remembrance of the first one. To look into the eyes of a Torn Mother orc is to see nothing. They are taught from birth that to die fighting is life. Wolf Mother: At the beginning of the Second Age, a number of the great tribes were decimated by the fight against the Dorn and the fey. The stronger tribes took advantage and attacked their rivals in an attempt to take territory and fresh meat. The Wolf Mothers were crushed and the survivors scattered to the winds and left to feed the wild beasts. Izrador approved this, of course, as he could not tolerate weak servants. The surviving Wolf Mothers and their worgs fled to the barren western wastes. They shared each other's warmth in order to survive the harsh climate. To gain the meat they needed and to protect their tribe, the Wolf Mothers learned to ride their wargs and became very effective cavalry. Over the centuries, the tribe prospered and became a power in the western wastes. During the battles at the end of the Second Age, they proved to be the equal of the Dornish cavalry. During the battles of the Third Age, they rode with the vanguard of the Shadow's army and participated in the crushing of the last Sarcosan army. Physical description: The members of the Wolf Mother tribe are smaller and lighter than an average orc (normally 6-10 inches shorter and 60-80 pounds lighter). The tribe wears its hair long and loose like a worg's mane. They wear wolf furs and often necklaces of wolf teeth. The White Mother Sect: A long time ago, there was an orc tribe deep in the North. Legends say they were Izrador's best servitors, the most vicious and cruel, led by implacable kusaratch udareen. Yet they never received a word of praise for their actions; worse, too often did the Order of Shadow take for his own their achievements. By the end of the Second Age, Grormarg, the kusarach udareen of the tribe, was in open conflict with the legates because of the high competition for power between the Dark God's minions. When the Last Battle of the Second Age ended, the White Mother Tribe had successfully defeated one of the Dragons that had come from the South to oppose their northern brethren who had been seduced by the Shadow. Klirxci was only mortally wounded, though. Cut from their supply lines because of the aftermath of this hard fought battle, the tribe had not eaten anything for weeks. This large amount of flesh was a great boon for them. But Ikar the Legate, one of the few surviving humans, forbid the orcs to eat such meat, for Izrador had forbidden it. Grormarg was upset: surely Izrador would not let perish such brave combatants who had served him so well? And she decapitated Ikar with her vardatch. That night, all the tribe dined of dragon meat, and Grormarg ate the dragon's heart. Then she dreamt and saw the future. She saw the orcs invading all of Eredane. She saw the dwarves bathnig in their blood and the elves savagely tortured. She saw the humans enslaved and collaborating with the Legates. And she saw that Izrador would destroy his creatures when he would have conquered the world and would not need any more fighters. She saw the dark mirrors finally draining the world's magical energies but eventually this would not grant Izrador enough energy to tear the Veil. Instead, the Dark God would use this energy, not for his Ascension, but to absorb the land's life energy, killing all living creatures in the process. Only then would the Shadow be strong enough to break the Veil. And she saw Izrador ascending to Heaven from a cracked and deserted, lifeless world. When she woke up, she knew with absolute certitude that her vision was true. Klirxci was reputed for her prophecies, and this was obviously an unexpected gift from the dead dragon to its slayers. She then gathered her closest followers and told them her dream. Those who denied it were quietly later assassinated. And those who saw her wisdom were gifted with an injection of the dragon's blood, and gained its clairvoyance. They secretly killed all other members of the tribe in their sleep. The White Mother Tribe was no more. The White Mother Sect was born, and no one knew it.
PORTAL | THE SOUTHIES | DURGAZ | ERANON | ZAL'KAZZIR | KYUAD / Bill
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