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When you think of the Orcs, think of the green-skinned hordes boiling out of the grasslands to rape, plunder and pillage whatever gets in their way. Orcs possess a deep cunning and an innate understanding of combat, strategy and tactics. They are not an easy opponent to face, and often turn the tide of battle with their sheer ferocity and rage.
Moving like locusts across the Land, the tribes of Orcs, Goblins and Half-Trolls led by the Orc Khans leaving few intact towns or villages in their wake. Every year for centuries, the green-skinned hordes come screaming out of the northern grasslands (called the Fist) to raid and pillage the more civilized inhabitants of the Land. After a few weeks of fighting, killing, looting and burning, they move on top the next area to continue the destructive cycle. Many times throughout history the Orcs could have conquered and remained in the lowlands, but this was never their goal. After they have killed and plundered their fill, they always retreat to their homelands.
Until now.
After the massive invasion of Prieska by Kzar Nabar’s war-horde (a kzar being a leader of many tribes), and the eventual collapse of Nabar’s army after his death at the Battle of Rokos, a number of the Orcs that came south decided to remain in their conquered lands. These Orcs, members of the Shadow Khan tribes, broke centuries of Orc tradition, and earned the enmity of those traditionalist Orcs – the Broken Tusk – who believe that all the loot taken from a season of raiding should be returned to the Fist and divided through trial of combat. By avoiding returning to the Fist, the Shadow Khan tribes earn the enmity of their Broken Tusk brethren who see the break of tradition as an evil and despicable act, but yet make for themselves a second Orc homeland along the western edge of the faltering Empire. Each of the tribal leaders, or khans, may choose for themselves whether they side with the Shadow Khans or the Broken Tusk.
Meanwhile, the common view by many non-Orcs is that all of the green-skinned vermin should be cut down as soon as possible, as the chance of Orcs conquering the Land – rather than just pillaging it and running off – signifies a dangerous trend that may destabilize entire civilized regions. It is a peculiar, uncertain time, and the events of the next few years may well shape the course of Orc – and human – culture.
Even though divided internally over this philosophical schism, the clurch drum continues to symbolize the heart of Orc society, and remains prevalent amongst both the Shadow Khans and the Broken Tusk. The drums are more than just musical instruments, as every Orc is raised from birth to understand the rhythmic beating of the clurch drummers. With these hide instruments a master drummer can convey information across great distances, including how many soldiers are coming, and from what direction. They can command Orc troops to attack, stop or retreat with nothing more than a change in rhythm. And after the battle is over, the clurch drummers tell the tales of old in their rumbling, banging language.
Subfaction: Broken Tusk Leader: Khan Harrowblade The Broken Tusk are the traditionalists of the Orcs, who look upon the thieving Shadow Khans as ticks to be popped and eaten. After the fall of Kzar Nabar’s army at the Battle of Rokos, the Broken Tusk were prepared to return to the Fist with an unimaginable amount of bounty – bounty that would be battled over in the traditional way, tribe against tribe, with the strong taking their rightful tribute from the weak. But when the Shadow Khans refused to return to the Fist, keeping a sizable portion of the spoils of war for themselves, the act enraged Khan Harrowblade, the leader of the Broken Tusk, to the point that he swore life-oath that he would one day destroy every treacherous Shadow Khan.
Subfaction: Shadow Khans Leader: Khan Rava In all the known history of the Orcs, there has never been a greater season of raiding than in 434 Tz, when Kzar Nabar led the war-hordes of the Fist into the underbelly of the Empire. When Kzar Nabar was killed during the Battle of Rokos, and the Orc armies threatened to scatter to the four winds, Khan Rava and the leaders of the Shadow Khan tribes held a gathering long into the night. In the end, they decided, going against all tradition, to stay and control the occupied territories and make Prieska into their own homeland. By not returning to the Fist and sharing (or losing) their spoils to the traditionally stronger Broken Tusk tribes, they would be able to reap the spoils, raise whole broods of strong-limbed children, and have lives away from the heavy-handed dominance of the Broken Tusk tribes. While this strategy is dangerous, the mass of human slaves and goods taken during the raids throughout Prieska allows the Shadow Khans food, treasure and numbers of slaves they’ve never dreamed of – all of which they never have to share with the Broken Tusk or the other Orc tribes of the Fist. Whether their daring plan will work is yet to be seen, but for one summer at least, the Shadow Khans will live like kings.
It doesnt make sense to see OoU or Uhlrick Charger played either. Or Rax Coldstone. he's dead too, right? But people still do. :) I love Orcs. They're so warm and squishy.
ok now, first darq kills rabhan and routs his orcs, then a solonavi kills nabar, and the atlanteans rout his orcs, now Rava and Harrowblade have a sworn oath to kill eachother. could there be any less going for the orcs? oh yeah, the 2.0 version of the slasher is 2x as many points. so much for swarm. AGH!
you could still use nabar, take a look at the "historical" scenarios wizkids is promoting. those took place long before the current time frame. just pretend you're fighting with the alive nabar. or say he was necromanced ;)
Finally we get to see what the orc subfactions look like! It's about time. Hmmm, to me it kinda seems like the orcs will tear eachother apart, that definately isn't good, we want them to fight together and take over all the lands. I think I'll be more of a Shadow Khans player then Broken Tusks. It's just more my style.
Ohh yeah... YAY Nabar is dead! finally, eat that nabar, eat it and like it!
*Sniffs around a little* I smell another Civil War! This time it's Orcs and it should be interesting. Well if there is a Civil War, I hope there will be one.
Broken Tusks are cooler than the Shadow Khan. Just letting everyone know who's better and all.
Well these new faction fictions give a bit more background but in no way, shape or form am I seeing a storyline explanation as to why 2.0 and 1.0 can't go in formation.
This is a sophisticated background treatment that takes the Orcs and Orcish culture seriously, as opposed to the jokish old-school backround treatment.
this gives us an idea of the stats that will come. the shadowcans will be weak versions of broken tusks or just weaker figs. they might also be less orcis scince they are going agaist orcis ways?
Go broken tusks! fight for the spoils!
An interesting set of campaigns can come out of this Orcish Civil war. I'm not to worried about the orcs fighting one another an any of the other factions coming in to kill them. I mean if the Orcs have been raiding for centuries without resistance, then why would anyone resist them now?
Too bad for Nabar though, but I guess that means our orcs can turn their guns on those silly Galeshi.
