Trakmar's long standing tradition of ripping off heads continues I see.
Wonderful <3
That one better of ended up on a spike! D:<
Part 5: Empires and Heroes
Reports arrived at the Crossroads of a nearby ritual site that had been gravely disturbed. The Red Blades had been hard at work preparing their next move against the centaurs, but they had to continue to ensure that the Horde's own interests continued to be looked after in the meantime. And defiling a ritual site so close to home, that would surely not stand. The Red Blades set out to search the site not too far from the Crossroads itself, in search for the culprit.
Upon arrival, there was curiously enough no sign of who might have disturbed the site. Supplies and effigies had been strewn about and disturbed well enough, but nowhere on the ground was there any sign of centaur hoof prints or otherwise. The orcs spread about the site to investigate, but there was little need for them to linger for long. A sudden, powerful gust of wind threw the orcs down upon the ground, rendering them unconscious. When they awoke, it was in a different place and time entirely... much like the last time that they received a vision of the Battle of Ashenvale. But where were they now? Their own skins were brown. Pure. Uncorrupted. And not of their own. What's more, the grassy plains of Nagrand around them were unlike any they had ever seen, as was the thundering sky above. An unlikely sight for the tranquil plains of Nagrand. Most notable of all, however, was the immense crowd of orcs they found themselves surrounded by.
A large clamour erupted as the orcs around them began to cheer at one of the orcs who began to climb atop a formation of rocks in front of them. There were murmurs of a certain 'Nelgarm' overheard by the orcs when the pivotal figure raised his hand to call for silence. “Defilement and destruction!” the elder orc atop the rock formation cried out. “This is what the ogres have brought to our revered temple of the elements! In their greed, they have driven us from the Throne! And in their ignorance, they have DESTROYED it with their foul magics!”
The crowd began to cry out their anger, but once more, the elder shaman referred to as Nelgarm called for silence. “It is a blessing! For never before have so many clans united to stand for a single cause! Shadowmoon! Warsong! Frostwolf! Blackrock! Laughing Skull! From the northern wastes to the southern plains, our banners have flocked together to deny Imperator Morok! The Throne of Elements has been destroyed, but we will rebuild! Today, all of you are the champions of the Furies and will go with their blessings and vigor in your hearts! Let no ogre go unpunished! Death to the ogres! Death to the Gorian Empire!”
With a tremendous cheer from the horde below upon the fields, each of them cried out in unison. “DEATH TO THE OGRES!” they cheered, and the orcs felt compelled to join in. Something overtook them in their lust for vengeance of the desecration of hallowed ground. Something primal that stirred in them, overtaking any sense or reason and making them forget all about how they came to be here in the first place. They found themselves swept away by the tide of marching orcs as the banners of many different clans began to flock to the battlefields surrounding the Throne of Elements... with them at the fore. When the bridges to the Throne came in sight, they charged without hesitation, eager to draw the blood of the defilers!
Cohorts of ogre legionnaires attempted to stand their ground against the waves of orcs, but even with the support of the magisters behind them, they were forced to give away their ground. As the battle raged on, there appeared to be two different faces to the enemy. One of them was an ogre Centurion by the name of Glokthol, who led the defense of the regular brutes. Another was a High Magister by the name of Volgorosh, in charge of the magisters responsible for the study and - ultimately - explosion of the Throne of Elements. Whereas Glokthol seemed concerned for the fate of his own troops, Volgorosh seemed to care little for friend or foe alike, allowing both to get caught in the crossfire of his spells and treating either with utter contempt. Both swiftly found themselves overwhelmed by the orcish onslaught when it turned out the very elements themselves stood by their side in the course of the battle, and when they were pushed all the way back to the Throne itself, the two leaders were the last ones standing. All that awaited, was for their fate to be decided...
The orcs, thus, stood at a crossroads. What was to happen with either of the captives? Volgorosh made a case for himself by pleading for his life, claiming he had valuable information to give to their chieftains. Though some orcs found themselves compelled to comply to the ogre's wishes, others disagreed and desired to cut him down on the spot. A heated discussion followed between the orcs from all the various clans, with each their own perspective on what happens to dishonorable enemies - for this foe had certainly proven to be that much throughout the battle. In a moment of negligence, Mal'garr took the opportunity to set the magister aflame with the elements' blessing, putting a premature end to the discussion. Then, there was Glokthol, however. He had shown certain honour through the battle and had given the orcs little reason to believe he had any dishonourable intentions. It was Thrash'Nak who allowed the brute to pick up a weapon to defend himself with, allowing him to die a worthy death with a weapon in hand. Though the ogre was barely able to mount a proper defense due to his sustained wounds, he was given an honourable death. He fell to the ground, gasping his last breath.
Suddenly, the clamour of battle and the thunder in the skies above ended. An eerie silence befell upon the battlefield, when suddenly the slain Glokthol, in his defeated, maimed state, rose above the orcs once more. When he spoke, however, there was something otherworldly about his voice. As if something different entirely had taken a hold on him. “Slay a dishonorable foe, even if that foe is helpless,” the ogre’s husk uttered. “And slay an honorable foe who is not helpless. That is our way. That is the Code of our ancestors. And thus shall it ever be.”
It was with those words that the orcs were pulled back out of their dream state, carrying them back to the ritual site once more. As it turned out, no centaurs were responsible for the disturbances after all. It was the spirits themselves who wished for the orcs to tread upon these spiritual grounds, so they might be imparted with another wisdom. Once more, it seemed the spirits saw fit to bestow upon them a reminder of an aspect of the Code of Honor. No doubt it would be a lesson that would become relevant in the days to come, knowing the ramifications of their previous vision...
For this and many more summaries of recent events, check out our campaign report thread here!
http://orcsoftheredblade.com/forum/index.php?topic=4636.0
Part 6: Planting a Flag
The dark of night had fallen, and orcs were stirring in its darkness to set about their plans to strengthen their ally. Krerak was still far from posing a proper challenge to Worza's forces, so the orcs had to find a way to bolster his ranks. Their plan was to venture to the Stagnant Oasis, where one of the rivals to both Worza and Krerak made his home. His name was Sharrek, and this warlord relied on overseers and enforcers to keep his warriors in line. The orcs' plan was simple: cut off the heads of the overseers to sow discord in the warriors' ranks and force Sharrek out of hiding to face them in person. Then, with or without his head attached to his neck, they would one way or another ensure that his warriors would fall in line to follow Krerak instead.
The orcs had split up into two groups. The first was led by Vraxxar Wildmark and the second was headed by Karnna Blackfeather. Both experts in the arts of subterfuge, they were to ensure each orc in their charge would make it through the oasis unseen and would successfully cut down the leaders in each camp. On Vraxxar's end, it was Kai'gron Ripclaw who spearheaded the attempt by using his blow darts to take out many of the first camp's guards, putting them soundly to sleep before the rest would sneak in to cut down the overseer up close. The second camp was nullified in no small thanks to the shaman Razaron Madeye and his callings upon the elements of wind, taking down many of the centaur warriors before the overseer would follow.
On the opposite end of the oasis however, Karnna's pack faced some greater hurdles. Having less subterfuge at her disposal, but rather the likes of a noisy warrior and an elderly warlock in the form of Thash'Nak and Mal'garr Firefist, she and Regnan were left to flank their target campsite. With the two unlikely warrior and warlock friends presenting a distraction for the centaur warriors, Karnna and Regnan went around to cut the overseer from behind. In the ensuring chaos, they set fire to the campsite, which lured out patrols and alarmed warriors from the other, neighbouring campsite. It allowed the party of orcs to sneak through undetected to neutralize an overseer who was left with only three guards.
When the last overseer's head rolled, Sharrek at last came out of hiding. He called upon the intruders to show themselves, and show themselves they did. Much to their surprise, this Warlord Sharrek proved to be quite different from most of the other centaurs. He seemed to care a great deal about appearances, striking the orcs as particularly vain. Using this information to their advantage, the orcs managed to win him over to Krerak's cause by seducing him with the future prospect of one day usurping Krerak from his newly regain Warlord title. Though it would be unlikely to happen, Sharrek's hubris was enough to sway him. He pledged his warriors to Krerak's cause, strengthening the latter's numbers.
Though a sound success, the victory was ultimately a fairly small one, however. The orcs killed a fair number of Kolkar warriors to fight their way through to the overseers, thinning the amount of warriors that Sharrek could provide to Krerak. Will their combined might be enough to challenge Worza? Only time will tell...
We're halfway through our big guild campaign and still gaining speed! For an overview of all the past reports, look no further than here!
http://orcsoftheredblade.com/forum/index.php?topic=4636.0
Really enjoying the campaign so far! <3
09/04/2018 22:28Posted by RhonyaReally enjoying the campaign so far! <3
Dag nabbit it Rhonya you aren't helping my envy =[
A lovely bunch. I've enjoyed interacting with you guys and admire the dedication that goes into writing the guild's own campaigns/events!
Part 7: The Hunger Game
The time had come to go on the offensive. With Krerak's forces slowly gaining in strength, it was now time to thin the opposition and tip the scales in Krerak's favour by weakening the reigning warlord. With directions given of his old oasis by Krerak himself, the orcs were shown various points of interest on a map of the Forgotten Pools. On one end, there was a supply shed containing vital supplies to help Worza outlast Krerak in the long run. On the other, there were the champions' tents, where the veteran warriors of Worza's clan had made their home. Both targets were selected to be taken down in a nightly raid, but preparations had to be made carefully. The Kolkar still greatly outnumbered anything the Red Blade could muster, so tonight had to be a night for subterfuge.
The orcs split up into two groups in order to hit both targets simultaneously. One of them was led by Vraxxar Wildmark and Kyrazha Throatrender. It was they who would go after the supply hut. The other group, led by Karnna Blackfeather, would strike at the clan's champions. Through careful coordination, they split up once they reached the edge of the oasis and ensured their attacks would take place at the same time. Kyrazha's group successfully managed to navigate their way in between the various outlying Kolkar camps, making their way to the supply shed without detection. Once there, all it took was a lit arrow flying through the sky to light the fuse to chaos.
The flying arrow was all the signal the other group needed to assault the champion's camp. With an explosive charge thrown into their midst, a handful of centaur were taken out even before they charged in next to cut down the hapless veterans, who were caught off-guard. Meanwhile, Mal'garr Firefist's magics set flame to their tents, while Karnna, Regnan, Prachanda and Durrosh sank their blades into the centaurs' flesh. Even the champion, who came running out of his tent in a panic, found himself burnt down by Mal'garr's fire in an instant, reducing him to little more but ash.
Meanwhile, the supply raid could not go any better. Sending out several more fire arrows, the team set fire to the remainder of the supply hut, successfully evading patrols of centaurs who had been sent out to investigate the last known source of the fire arrows. A substance of flammable material thrown onto the roof of the supply hut was enough to finish the job, setting the hut alight in a blazing inferno. Their task was done, and they hastily began to circle around the northern end of the oasis to link up with the other group.
The aid proved to be more than welcome. With the loud explosion of the blasting charge, the camp had drawn the attention of several more centaur warriors, led by yet another champion. The battling orcs found themselves outnumbered as the reinforcements charged in! Behind them however, another wave came charging in... A wave of orcs! Having successfully flanked the reinforcements, they made quick work of the newly arrived veteran warriors. A slaughter of centaurs followed, as the champion, too, was quickly cut down. Two centaurs were all that remained of the surprise attack, and they were allowed to flee from the site in order to spread the word of the Red Blade's assault. Word of this would no doubt reach Warlord Worza at the end of this night... and with him, all of the Kolkar clan would soon learn that none of them are safe any longer. The Red Blade and the Kolkar rebels were on the rise. And soon, they would come at them in full force...
Yet another successful mission! Read all about it and past events here!
http://orcsoftheredblade.com/forum/index.php?topic=4636.0
Team sneak best team! \o/ Was so proud of my sneaky orcs and troll and goblin. <3
First Rule of Fight Club...
Many of the local farmers within the Northern Barrens have reported a number of their workers being taken during Kolkar raids, these workers are being used against their will within savage Kolkar fight-pits. Kai’gron Ripclaw followed up on these reports and took it upon himself to scout and observe one such fight-pit that laid at the foot of a hill beside the Great Divide.
Once a plan was established he gathered the resources to use against these Horse-Men. Blow-pipes coupled with highly toxic poisoned darts made from snake fangs along with a feathered tail to aid accuracy, Garrote wire laced with his own poison brew and a collection of clay-pot grenades with a ten minute fuse.
That night Kai’gron Ripclaw called on the aid of Vraxxar Wildmark, Karnna Blackfeather and Regnan. Due to the nature of this event Kai’gron order all clan symbols and identification to be omitted. Taking their Wyverns skyward from the crossroads they used the cover of night to land safely and unseen on top of the hill above the fight-pit.
Kai’gron placed Wildmark to lead Regnan and for Blackfeather to follow his own lead. Both packs ascended both sides of the fight-pit, stalking the three Kolkar sentries that stood oblivious to the Orcs. The ambush was swift and quiet, All favouring to garrote the Centaur sentry guards. Kai’gron gave the order to WIldmark whom began placing the clay-pot grenades into the hillside on their descent, whilst Karnna and Regnan took care of the remaining Centaur sentry guards.
Once set the pack set about rescuing the prisoners, Blackfeather snarled as she watched Overseer Hellka from their hidden spot. Noting the number of Kolkar to be around fifteen a diversion will be used. Kai’gron sent Regnan to pick the locks of the locked and chained caravan, sent Wildmark to get into position for his diversion and set himself and Blackfeather to slit the tent to gain access inside the tent. Once inside they found the prisoners were caged, Karnna quickly picked one lock whilst Kai’gron dropped a small liquid into another which melted it enough to be broken. Both Orcs set about extracting the tired, ill and exhausted prisoners out the back of the tent.
All was going well until a few prisoners cried out in their own deluded state, this alerted the remaining Kolkar that stood outside the front of the tents, Kai’gron gave the order for the diversion. With that Wildmark lite up a small explosion just inside the oasis, this did its job the majority of the Kolkar, Overseer Hellka stood there in a panic state whilst all around her galloped towards the explosion. Blackfeather did not hesitate, stepping through the shadows behind Hellka, the assassin sank her hidden blade deep into the Centaurs neck sending the Overseer to the floor.
Kai’gron then ordered the three remaining Orcs to safely load the remaining prisoners and themselves onto the caravan then follow the small path that led along the Great Divide at the foot of the hill to the safety of Rageroar Camp. He would venture back to light the fuses that littered the fight-pit. Moments later the sound of galloping hooves was heard as the Kolkar headed towards the now escaping caravan. With a tug of the reins Wildmark guided the caravan towards the hidden path, spears, arrows and rocks were thrown at them, many missed but a few hit the wheels of the speeding caravan, this coupled with the rough terrain slowed the escaping orcs down.
The kolkar chased onwards along the hidden path eventually getting slowed as they bottle necked through the pass. Seeing an opening Wildmark handed a clay-bomb to Karnna who lite and threw it into the middle of the stomping Kolkar, all it did was crack open spilling the gunpowder over the head of a horse-man. Cursing, the orcs held tight as the caravan wavered over the rough terrain but with one final clay-pot grenade left this would be there final chance. Karnna launched the grenade towards the bottle necked group of Kolkar, the explosion ripped through the small pass tearing a crack in the great divide sending the chasing Kolkar to the bottom.
The caravan arrived into Rageroar Camp and straight away Karga Rageroar gave the order to unload, feed and water the freed prisoners. Moments later a huge explosion was felt and heard as the clay-pot grenades brought half the hillside down onto the fight-pit and camp with rocks and mud. Whilst the freed prisoners, peons and soldiers were distracted by this the three mysterious orcs vanished away into the night. Kai’gron gave the order to head back to the Crossroads as soon as possible.
Arriving back into camp Kai’gron gave appraisal to the three orcs, stating that might not be the last they’ve seen of these fight-pits.
Read all about past events here!
http://orcsoftheredblade.com/forum/index.php?topic=4635.msg44773#msg44773
Sneaky sneaky!
Love it!
Love it!
Part 8: Conquerors and Murderers
The spirits linger in the most unexpected places. Where all the orcs had expected only centaurs to be their host as they approached upon the Lushwater Oasis to make their next plans with Krerak, something strange happened. The waters of the oasis began to stir, an unknown presence of spiritual nature disturbing them. The orcs came closer to the pools to investigate the source, when suddenly the water rose up in a great wave and washed all over them! It rendered them each unconscious, taking them to a faraway land and time...
Once again, a spiritual force had taken the orcs to a vision of otherworldly nature. With the orcs likely used to these visions by now, one would think that they should have been able to keep their senses by now... But that was far from the truth. In fact, this time more than ever before, they were taken by an overwhelming desire to shed blood! The Draenei city of Shattrath stood before them... and Shattrath was burning. Siege machines and a horde of orcs surrounded it, with the dreaming orcs in its midst. Furious voices that demanded the blood of the Draenei filled the air, rousing the orcs' innate lust for blood. Their own, conscious selves may have been hidden deep within, but they were trapped in the minds of blood lusting orcs. Some of them even family that they once knew... or perhaps even their younger selves! The vision twisted their minds as they were swept away by the current of the blood haze, making it very difficult indeed to resist temptation.
The horns of battle were sounded, and in a great tidal wave, the orcish Horde swept over Shattrath. Though a few defenders attempted to nobly defend its citizen, they ultimately were doomed to fall to the orcish onslaught. In their blood haze, even the citizen were cut down despite the codes and morals that the orcs previously so ardently lived by in their own time and bodies. They pressed deep into the city, cutting their way through its many districts and civilians along with it and stopped only by what few defenders who could - if only briefly - muster a defence.
Something happened as the orcs progressed, however... As the screams and death throes of the innocents resonated all around them, some of the orcs began to be slowly pulled out of their blood haze. One by one, Vraxxar and Karnna and then Kozgugore and Regnan began to regain their senses, allowing them to see with their own, conscious eyes the tragedy that befell not only upon the people of Shattrath, but also the once so noble and honour-bound orcs. The comrades they once knew to be honourable continued to press on through the Draenei ranks and civilians. In the face of such an overwhelming force, what were they to do? Though some more than others, they began to fight back against the blood-crazed orcs, attempting to hamper their attempts and, for Karnna and Regnan, even attempting to cut down their own clansmen. As the Draenei defenders made their final stand, they slowly began to persevere over the orcish onslaught as the orcs began to fall one by one, unable to keep up their rampage.
The image of a High Priestess of the Draenei suddenly showed herself. Flanked by what few last remaining Draenei defenders, she cast a bright light upon the orcs. Those that were not slain by their own companions' hands or already lifted from the blood haze now, too, found themselves relieved of the curse. It was then that the priestess began to speak, though it was clearly not in her own voice. “Cannibalize neither friend nor foe,” she said. “And do not succumb to the ways of the unnatural. To the ways of demons or their magics and practices. That is our way. That is the Code of our ancestors. And thus shall it ever be."
As she uttered the last words, the veil of the spirits' vision began to recede over the orcs, bringing them back to the world of the living. As the orcs once again found themselves opening their eyes in the oasis they previously thread upon, the High Priestess' final parting words gave them a sincere warning, an almost bestial growl heard resonating in her voice.
"We were once the demons. Do not succumb to it again.”
Another overwhelming vision overcame our orcs in last night's event! To read back on the entire campaign's progress, check out the campaign report thread down below!
http://orcsoftheredblade.com/forum/index.php?topic=4636.0
Member Spotlight: Nosh'marak
Our last Member Spotlight dates back from before the guild's previous hiatus, which means it's high time to put some of our active and finest members in the spotlight again! Though it's been a long time in the making, it's finally time for Nosh'marak Ironclaw to shine and be recognized! As one of the clan's newest officers as a Rrosh-tul and not to mention one of the clan's few token Alternate Universe orcs from Draenor, he's sure to have an interesting thing or two to say about his time with Orcs of the Red Blade!
How did you end up joining Orcs of the Red Blade, and why? Are there any earliest memories that stick out, perhaps?
It's actually a pretty standard story! I was playing and RPing my hunter, but had an Orc warrior stashed away at around level 30. I decided to start RPing him, first as a Warsong raider, but then ended up switching to a Blademaster after a short bit. I was talking to my friend about which guild to join and which ones are the best for Orc RP, and the name Orcs of the Red Blade caught my attention! I looked it up, having never heard of it, and I was very intrigued - so I sent in my application and waited the most dreadful wait in my WoW time. I was so excited to join this guild; it looked amazing!
As for early memories, I think the one I remember the most was when Vanara and Kyrazha tested some poison on my first Orc and left his arm completely numb for a while! It really just stuck out to me as the atmosphere during the occurence was friendly, something that I wasn't really expecting for a scenario where someone was, y'know, poisoning a New Blood. It got me even more intrigued than before. Fun times!
Is there anything in particular that made you decide to stick with ORB ever since you joined?
Well, quite frankly, it has to be the quality and general atmosphere both IC and OOC! Events were always top-notch, everyone had a way to be included, and there wasn't a lot of division. Everyone RPed with everyone, which was a change from what I'd experienced previously on Argent Dawn. Thankfully it hasn't changed since then - It's still as welcoming as ever! No-one gets bashed on for being inexperienced, but rather get helped with growing and becoming better at roleplay, and in some cases even maturing as a person!
What are your fondest memories throughout the years you've had with ORB? Any orcs, events or personal RP that stuck out or were particularly enjoyable to you?
Oh goodness. There's been a lot of great moments, but I think the stuff that's really stuck with me has been the times when other Orcs and guild friends have helped with some of Nosh'marak's character development; such as when Rhonya and Srelok assisted him (and me OOC!) with his path to becoming a Shaman. It was a hell of a fun journey and it definitely proved to be one of the best I've ever made RP-wise. It's definitely helped Nosh stick out quite a bit as a Shattered Hand.
Another thing has to be the more personal things, such as Makaroth's and Nosh'marak's friendship, or Sadok being welcoming towards him. These things also served to bring him better in to, what was at the time, the Red Blade tribe, and kickstarted his journey as a character! It definitely opened up a lot of possibilities at the start of said story lines, but even more possibilities when they were sort of tied up and finished.
On the topic of orc RP in general, is there anything that sticks out for you? For example, is there anything you'd like to see more of in everyday RP, or concepts that might seem really cool to you or such?
Quite frankly I think people need to stop being afraid of being diverse! I see a bunch of the same character concepts every day, but there's a whole world of other concepts yet to be explored! It doesn't have to be overdone, but it's more a matter of adding your own twist to it. Nothing too extreme, but something to distinguish yourself from the masses. It's not something I see a big problem within our own guild per say, but it's something I'd say the Orc scene in general suffers from. There's no defined way for an Orc to be, even though there's obviously more and less common ways, so don't be afraid to try out a reasonable concept that someone else might say is crap!
Carrying on with that subject, we all know by now that the Mag'har from the alternate Draenor universe will soon become an allied race. You have been RPing one for a couple of years now already, however. Is there anything in particular about an AU orc that appeals to you, perhaps more so than an orc from the main universe? What makes them so fun or interesting for you?
Well, I'd say what interests me about playing an AU orc the most is the fact that there's a vast amount of things and places still unknown to them, and I feel it makes for some interesting RP. For example, an AU Orc who sees a Tauren for the first time would probably be quite confused, but perhaps intrigued to learn more about them. That, along with a story of redemption for the crimes of the Iron Horde, is what sets them apart for me.
As for tips for future AU roleplayers, I'd say to not overdo it, but also don't be afraid to explore the possibilities. Make sure your character has a sensible reason for joining the Horde, and make sure not to rush it. It's easy to make an AU Orc who never joined the Iron Horde, or one who defected due to the values of the Iron Horde, but the thing that you have to pull off is giving them a reason that reflects their personality. Nosh'marak for example never had a family or comrades, and when he stumbled in to the Red Blade in Tanaan, he realized that was something he'd missed. Things like that. Contrast and reflection to their past and present.
Interested in reading back on past Member Spotlights? We have several more of them here!
http://orcsoftheredblade.com/forum/index.php?topic=4254.0
Nosh <3
Part 9: Hearts and Minds
Even centaurs have families.
It may be easy to forget such a fact when most of what orcs endure and witness of their people are raids and murders. But even they were once born and nurtured by mothers and taught to hunt by fathers. It was a fact that the Red Blades, too, were made familiar with today.
The mission was simple: to set out along the western road from the Crossroads to meet with a small war band of warriors from Krerak's clan, who would then join forces with the orcs to lay waste to a part of Worza's camp in an effort to further weaken his forces. The war band's leader, Champion Jorek, greeted the orcs with cautious optimism, having been instructed by Krerak himself to follow their instructions and to allow them to lead this raid. The plan was to attack two parts of the camp at once. By splitting up, they sought to sow as much chaos and death as possible, ensuring Worza and his forces would be further demoralized. With one party led by Kai'gron Ripclaw and another by Nosh'marak Ironclaw, the centaurs were left to guard the rear of the attack.
The tactics employed had already been tried and proven by now. Like with past raids, the orcs began by applying fire to their enemies' homes. Their tents were set alight in a swift attempt to deliver as much panic and death as possible, before they swooped in to cut their warriors down up close. The plan was as sound as ever, as the centaurs were caught completely unawares and found themselves cut down left and right. Something was different this time, however... some of the centaurs did not even take up any arms to fight. Whereas some of them came running out of the burning tents, their dry hides set aflame, others simply attempted to run in an attempt to escape the chaos... These were not warriors! They were not even fit to fight. Civilians were caught in the middle of the battle, with a handful of them being slain by the fires and even one stray dagger. Though a large remainder of them still managed to flee further into the heart of the oasis, their warriors were left behind to try and cover their retreat and fight for their own lives... Lives which were soon forfeit.
Despite the Kolkar warriors' attempt to fight back, they were no match for the Red Blade's attack from the dark. All that remained were burnt down tents and the scattered bodies of the slain. When they saw the dust of battle had settled, Jorek and his accompanying centaur warriors moved in to assess the damage done. They approved of the slain warriors of Worza, leaving less for them to contend with... but then they saw the slain bodies of the innocents, and the burnt down markings of the tent that signified it as a family hovel. The previously elated centaurs became infuriated by the innocent casualties of war, laying the blame on the orcs. The orcs, in turn, accused the centaurs for not giving adequate information on the inhabitants of the camps.
A confrontation seemed inevitable, as the centaurs believed the orcs should have known civilians might be caught in the midst of things, rather than to haphazardly set tents alight without knowing its contents... When the two groups seemed dangerously close to turning on one another, reason came to settle things between them. Reinforcements were no doubt on the way, following those who had managed to flee the site of battle. The orcs decided their Chieftain could mete out justice, should it be deemed necessary. In the meantime however, the damage had been done. Though the orcs had never intended for innocents to be caught in the flames of battle, they had to live up to their mistakes. The Code of Honor, intentionally or otherwise, had been trespassed. It was now to the Guardian of the Code of Honor, Akashok the Great Wolf himself, to decide over the fate of those responsible for the transgression made... And to the orcs to salvage the unlikely alliance between them and the Kolkar rebels.
It's been another thrilling night frolicking out in the fields with our centaur rivals! Read all about tonight and past events here!
http://orcsoftheredblade.com/forum/index.php?topic=4636.0
Poor Rhonya did a little oopsie! Hah xD Wonderful event!
Part 10: Spearbreaker
20th of April
Warlord Worza's grip on his people was weakening. Each day, more centaurs abandoned his cause following his failure to protect them and their own homes. Though the accidental killing of innocents was an unfortunate consequence of the Red Blade's previous attack, an unintended side-effect was that the centaurs there grew more desperate in escaping from Worza's unstable reign. So desperate was his desire to maintain some measure of control over his people, that Worza had apparently ordered his warriors to stand on guard on his oasis' borders both day and night, ensuring none would escape it. That did not keep some from trying, however...
In the cover of night, a family of centaurs had broken through the guards' lines. In their panic however, they ended up north of the oasis, isolated from Krerak's troupe. At Krerak's request, the Red Blade set out to help escort the escapees to safety. It would not be an easy task given their proximity to Worza's oasis, but many orcs rose up to the challenge. Some even showed eagerness to try and prove their skills in leadership, resulting in Kroat the Rallier, only a New Blood at the time, being appointed the pack leader under the supervision of Rrosh-tul Nosh'marak Ironclaw.
Kroat led the orcs north, sparing little time in rushing to the northern part of the Barrens. As they dismounted from their wolves there, the sounds of battle could be heard in the distance... harpies had set themselves upon the centaur refugees! Through the orcs' swift intervention, they managed to save all of them just in time. It appeared the orcs' reputation among Worza's clan preceded them, as the refugees' leader, Gervash, knew full well who he was dealing with. Though he and the families and few warriors with him regarded the orcs with caution and some even contempt, they were compelled to fall in line and accept the orcs' offer for aid. It was only by their help that they would have any chance of making it to the southern end of the Northern Barrens.
The orcs set up a defensive formation around Gervash and the centaur refugees as they set upon the path to the south. Unable to run full speed due to some of the refugees' wounded, raiders from the Kolkar clan managed to catch up on them, however! Twice, the orcs had to fight off an attack as they were set upon from all sides, having to fight tooth and nail to ensure none of the refugees would find their death upon the Gold Road. Despite overwhelming numbers, only two fell in the chaos of battle before the orcs and refugees would continue their way onward. All these weeks of experience fighting the centaurs had certainly paid off.
The escort continued southward, and though the orcs had to remain clear of the Crossroads due to the nature of their escort, the Lushwater Oasis, the refugees' new home, awaited. Before they could get that far, a dust cloud betrayed movement on the horizon, however... But rather than having to face more centaur raiders, this was a disturbance of a different nature altogether. They were orcs on wolfback, brandishing weapons. They stopped in front of the orcs, surprised to see them escorting the centaurs.
Their leader stepped forth. He introduced himself as Vorkash Spearbreaker, a name he had earned breaking the many spears of his centaur enemies. They were his enemies because three months prior, the Kolkar clan had raided his family's home and pig farm, murdering all of his family along with it... What's more however, is that the Red Blades themselves were there. It was Vorkash who came running to them to ask for their aid in the farm's defence all those months ago. They managed to fight off the war party led by the then-Champion Worza at that time, but only because Sargeras' sword piercing the world of Azeroth had interrupted the encounter. Vorkash had learned from that day of the Red Blades' readiness to help defend him and his home, and vowed to follow in their footsteps by eradicating every last centaur out there. This time however... it were those very Red Blades who stood in the way of Vorkash killing one of the warriors responsible for the death of his family, Gervash.
The centaur stepped forward and admitted his role in the raid. The orcs stood at a crossroads, having to choose between a scorn orc seeking blood vengeance or a centaur looking to guide his innocent family to a safe home. A difficult choice had to be made... and it was eventually Trakmar Beastbane who made the decision. Gervash would have to honor Vorkash' demand for a fair fight if they were to lead his family any further into safety. Seeing no other choice, Gervash indulged the young orc in his duel.
The two circled around each other, the one waiting for the other to charge... Vorkash was the first to make his move, and in his furious charge, he held his axe aloft. Gervash was not without some vigor himself however, and he managed to dodge the strike of Vorkash' axe, before piercing his spear into the vengeful orc's flank. The orc fell from his wolf in a cloud of dust. A fair settlement had been made, even if it wasn't to the young orc's liking. For now, he would have to wait for his revenge... until a day would come that he would chance upon Gervash in the field once more. The Red Blades had resolved the matter as diplomatically and as honorably as they could, ensuring the innocent refugees' safe arrival at the oasis and suppressing Vorkash' demand for blood... for now.
For a visually more appealing and overview of all previous reports, check out the thread here!
http://orcsoftheredblade.com/forum/index.php?topic=4636.msg44860#msg44860
TL;DR?
Nope! Loved it! Thankyou for keeping up these brilliant chapter story posts Koz! I for one really appreciate the effort that goes into it.
Looking forward to reading about how this all pans out...
...if only I could be there myself! Alas only two weeks to go.
For the blood of the clan!
Nope! Loved it! Thankyou for keeping up these brilliant chapter story posts Koz! I for one really appreciate the effort that goes into it.
Looking forward to reading about how this all pans out...
...if only I could be there myself! Alas only two weeks to go.
For the blood of the clan!
Come back to us faster Okiba!!!
Part 11: Uprising
22nd of April
The orcish people have seen many hardships in life. They may have brought suffering and death to others, but they too have paid dearly for it. Tonight served as a harsh reminder of this, as the orcs were led to another vision of unknown origin.
It started with a request at a nearby mine. Peons there had ceased all work due to a cave-in and mysterious sounds haunting the mines. Upon arrival, the orcs could straight away sense a spiritual presence in the mine. As they forged further into the mine shaft, the energies - and ominous sounds along with it - began to increase... and the light of the torches and any other light sources the orcs themselves attempted to create, fade. With a shrill cry that echoed through the tunnels, the orcs were taken into complete darkness. It became difficult to tell where they were, who was with them and whether they even had their eyes open. The blackness carried them away, taking them to a different darkness altogether...
When the orcs awoke, or perhaps simply regained their bearing and senses, it was the darkness of night that greeted them. Blackened clouds began to conceal the light of the pale moon as a storm was brewing in the distance. It was not only the weather that was dark, however... it was life itself that was at its darkest. The orcs found themselves carrying little more but some rags, their feet covered in wet mud as they stood scattered in a walled encampment... an internment camp. The orcs were prisoners of a human camp, surrounded by a great number of orcs who had fallen to the same fate. A feeling of lethargy slowly began to overcome them as the stupor of their fellow inmates proved to be intoxicating. What more was there to live for, save for to wait for a dishonorable death in these filthy camps not even fit for animals? The great wars were lost. And now, the orcs' honor, too, was lost.
The overwhelming sensation of loss and sloth threatened to overwhelm the orcs... when suddenly, a terrifying scream more piercing than the thunder that raged above them could be heard splitting the night from outside the wall. Were those sounds of battle? At that moment, a young, blue-eyed orc emerged among the fellow prisoners. "Those are our allies outside the walls! They have come to free us!" he shouted. "Can you feel it stirring? Can you feel your spirits longing to fight, to kill, to be free? Come, my brothers and sisters!" Without pause, the orc charged to some of the guards and began to attack them. From the nearby ramshackled prison huts, orcs began to emerge with makeshift weapons made of stones, joining the assault. The dreaming orcs themselves were caught by surprise as much as the human guards were... but even so, the blue-eyed orc's call to arms began to stir something within them as well. A jagged bolt of lightning struck the main wall and in the breach, a tide of lithe green bodies followed! They were led by an orc clad in imposing black plate armor and an orc whose eyes glowed red in demonic hellfire in the darkness of the night. It was an impressive sight. And inspiring one. And it roused the orcs to battle!
With stick and stone and tooth and claw, the orcs began to fight for their freedom. Through the first gate and its jailers, and then out of the courtyard and its muck, onto the road above and its checkpoints. As the battle ensued, the orcs slowly began to find back their vigor and strength, rejuvenated by the sight of battling orc exemplars and the scent of freedom that was theirs for the taking. Despite the odds they faced against the armored guards, they fought their way to the gate, where the orc invaders were keeping the breach clear for them to escape through. The green, open fields beckoned, and the blue-eyed orc and his companions led them through the cover of night to safety when they had all managed to scale the remains of the prison wall. Freedom was theirs!
Escaping into the night, the leaders took them to a site with an ancient pile of standing stones. There, they climbed upon the stones and began to rally the orcs present, prisoners and warriors alike. "Succes!" the orc clad in the black plate armor and hulking hammer cried out. "You are free, my brethren! You are free!" The crowd around him roared and cheered in unison, elated by the success of their escape attempt. They began to chant the name of Doomhammer, and shout praise for the emergence of a new Horde. A better Horde. An honorable Horde. The dreaming orcs shouted and cheered along with them, roused and inspired by this sight of their peers. It was then that time suddenly seemed to stop, however. The maws of the cheering orcs surrounding them stood agape in mid-cheer, but they did not move nor make a sound. The only thing that the orcs could see moving, was the head of Doomhammer himself... and a light awoke in his eyes that implied something different altogether. Something ancient, and powerful. As it began to speak, its voice resonated with spiritual energies.
“Avenge any physical harm done according to balance and justice,” the ancient voice said. “And fight your enemies to the very end. Always. That is our way. That is the Code of our ancestors. And thus shall it ever be. Through your actions and the actions of your fathers and mothers, you have achieved true freedom. Treasure it. Fight for it. Die for it. Let none take it from you ever again.”
There was a sincere tone of severity in the being's voice. As the world around the orcs began to collapse and take them back into darkness, its final words resonated as a final parting gift. A final word of advice for the orcs, for they would not lay eyes upon this ancient being of power in any such visions for a time to come again... “Shok, Arash, Vrashaa. Be free. Through freedom, be strong. And through strength, be proud.”
Our campaign is slowly drawing to a close, and what a second-last event it's been! Read all about it here!
http://orcsoftheredblade.com/forum/index.php?topic=4636.msg44548#msg44548
I'm not sure what upsets me more. That I missed this campaign or that these chapter posts are nearly at an end =[