When a civilized race considers orcs, to a fault they all think the same thing. Vicious tusked warriors that have been raiding and pillaging for centuries. Typically orcs are organized into tribes. Each one named after something threatening, either their leader (usually) or their surroundings. Tug’s Tusks, or Dragonspine orcs, for example.
Generally speaking, orcs are numerous and somewhat nomadic, moving on after they have purged the area from whatever resources it may hold. They may be the deadliest threat to civilization, be it elf, dwarf, human, or even minotaur. What keeps them from becoming a worse threat is racial infighting. Each tribe tries to dominate the others. The weaker tribes have to worry about stronger tribes taking them over, even while they try to dominate tribes weaker than them.
On occasion, the tribes will subjugate a weaker race like goblins and kobolds. These are used as fodder, so the dominated tribe rarely lasts long. Fighting among themselves is what has kept orc numbers low, far more efficiently than any concentrated effort by civilized peoples.
Until recently.
Four years ago, the Plague of Tusks swept over the theocracy of Hammon. A massive army of orcs, completely unheard of, invaded the country, intent on conquering it and establishing the first orc kingdom. Led by Duurik Silverclaw, a cunning orc that had been blessed by the god of strength Inokk. Duurik claimed that his god showed him a vision of a kingdom of orcs. He gathered all the other chieftains and convinced most, killed others, to join him. As a result, guided by a council of the most cunning orcs, themselves leaders of tribes that joined his cause, a horde was formed.
The horde nearly succeeded in conquering Hammon. Within two seasons they had captured two thirds of Hammon. Only the holy city of Luns, and its surrounding cities remained. Despite his councils advice, Duurik called a halt to the invasion, as winter was approaching. Duurik planned to fortify his conquests, moving forward, fully rested as spring began.
The humans of Hammon refused to wait. They trekked through to Solarri, the second largest city of Hammon in the dead of winter. The orcs were not expecting it. The humans attacked in force, with magic and steel. They were aided by dwarves and elves, and every other civilized being in the area. The humans even called and received aid from sky and sun dragons, as well as powerful celestial angels.
Luns was freed in a single night, and Duurik despite spending his blind rage on every human he came across, was slain the following morning. The Hammonites slaughtered every orc they came across, eventually enacting the Purge, an edict that placed a bounty on orcs. They would only be the first on that list. Without the leadership of Duurik and his council the horde splintered. Most tribes were caught and subsequently killed. To date there are no orcs living in Hammon.
There were survivors of course. One of Duurik’s council, Krujat knew that the orcs would lose this war and the cost could be catastrophic. He rallied his former tribe, the Sundered Skulls and set themselves up to defend the retreat of the orcs that were no longer loyal to Duurik. They were slaughtered to the last, but a large number of orcs, including females and children fled south.
These orcs were led by the half-orc Kruuj the Scarred, son of the former chief of the Sundered Skulls. He led the exodus of his people out of Hammon, into the wilds between the kingdoms of Cerak, Cheshire and Vorlaria. Neither kingdom was particularly welcoming to orcs, especially not after the Plague.
Renaming and uniting the survivors under the Bloody Skulls banner, after the devastating loss of orc life at the end of the Plague of Tusks, Kruuj now seeks a new home for his people. The tribe is made up of survivors of the former horde.
The Bloody Skulls are unique among typical tribes of orc. Kruuj is an avid student of war, and has structured the Skulls around military arrangement. He has a council of war, made up of the most powerful members of the various different factions within the Skulls. There is a rigid hierarchy based on profession within the Skulls itself. For example, all things being equal, a barbarian would outrank a ranger, or rogue, but would be outranked by a cleric. Orcs are trained from youth based on what talents they possess, a physically weaker orc can still find purpose as a scout in the rogue or ranger camps, or even among the sorcerers. This way all orc can find purpose within the Bloody Skulls.
The chieftain, arguably undisputed, of the Blood Skulls is I have mentions, Kruuj the Scarred. The most interesting thing about Kruuj is that he is a half-orc. Half-orcs rarely achieve high ranking positions among orcs in general. For Kruuj to have become chieftain is a testament to not only the respect he rightly commands, but the physical prowess he surely possesses. Kruuj’s primary directive is to find a safe haven for his tribe. Hammon is no longer safe for his kind. Once that has been achieved, Kruuj will decide what the future holds for the Bloody Skulls.
His second in command is Veddeq, high priest of Inokk, god of strength and patron of orcs. To round out the high council is B’Kall, the most powerful sorcerer in the tribe. Veddeq still believes in Inokk’s vision for the orcs, and argues that Kruuj doesn’t understand the vision because he is not of pure blood. If Veddeq had it his way, the Bloody Skulls would wage war immediately.
B’kall is unwavering in his loyalty to Kruuj, and is the primary reason Veddeq hasn’t made a more overt play for leadership. B’kall’s power comes from an unknown entity, which also makes Veddeq question his motives. B’kall knows as long as he uses his power for the Skulls, Kruuj has no reason to doubt his loyalties.
There are many more stories to tell about the Bloody Skulls. Perhaps next time I will discuss more of the workings of the Bloody Skulls. For now this introduction will serve.
Always take time to enjoy the music of life.
– Chord, the Ivory Bard
A Darkness Rising 