Orcs on the Rampage - Tales from the Broken Lands(Updated 25-May-06)

Orcs on the Rampage - Tales from the Broken Lands(Updated 5-Sep-17)

The Vile Runes, is a tribe started by Garnash One-Tusk an up and coming member of the Drippin' Blades tribe. Hoolg Redmane, the Blood Orc Horde leader saw his ambition, and gave him a dangerous area of the Broken Lands to attempt to tame, 2 Tribes have failed in this area previously.

This part of the Blood Orc Hordelands has the Vesubian River on the Western Boundary, (With Ogre Tribes across the river on the entire bank) and the rival Fat Lip Tribe on the East. Horde lands are to the North, and the border with Darokin to the South. Any new lands for the Vile Runes must come from the Fat Lip Tribe, Darokin, or as a last resort, within the Ogre Tribe lands.

If the Tribe can hold these lands, it is theirs to keep and expand. This puts the tribe in near conflict with the Fat Lips Tribe. An older and more powerful tribe that was looking to expand into what is now Vile Runes land.

The Vile Runes Tribe is comprised of Blood Orcs, Goblins, and Ogres(Half Ogres as well). There are some human slaves in the tribe used for general labor, and the occasional meal when times are hard.
Blood Orcs are a sub-race of orcs, recognizable by their generally red hides, and more simian features. Blood orcs are about the size of a tall human, with small round ears. They have Long, shaggy hair, bright orange to dull red. They are more muscular and aggressive than normal Orcs. Whenever possible, they favor black, studded leather armor and hoods.

The Orcs in this Campaign are:

Gorga, a young Orc who has been training with the scouts and hunters of the tribe. His wilderness knowledge and skills mark him well as a future leader within the tribe, if he can survive the rivalries he will engender in the tribe.

Scrag, a young Orc a little more feral than some, his battle frenzies have been a sight to witness among the youngsters.

Rhgl,(Pronounced Huggle) a young Goblin with skills in fashioning weapons. If he can hone these skills into making War Machines, he will be an important member of the tribe. His ability to let others take charge is wily and calculating.

Iirkh, is a Half-Ogre/Orc cross between one of the Chiefs guards, and an older Orc female in the tribe. With his extraordinary strength he has been hard to manage by the women, and has had to endure several beatings by the males in the tribes, to get him to obey when the females need him to. His strength will make him a powerful warrior.

Drusilla, is an odd one in the tribe. She was found in the tunnels below the tribelands, left behind to die. The tribe adopted this young Black-skinned Elf and she's been a wild one in the lands around the tribal outpost. She is learning the hunting skills and lore of the lands to become a full member of the tribe, and not a breeder.

Sharraxtharkhul, is another goblin to cause contention in the tribe. This one has allied himself with a Wolf Companion, and learned to live out in the wilderness. He shows a spark of magic born of the land, and will surely draw the ire of the shaman of the tribe, if, he lives long enough to be a rival for power.
Margrax is his Wolf Companion

Tyco, is an angry Orc, found captured in Darokin Lands. His memory of the death of the Screaming Monkey tribe still haunts him as he joins up with the Orcs out of the Vile Runes tribe. He is considered pariah until he can prove to be a valued member to this tribe.

Snig is a Goblin with an Axe and the fortitude of a Warthog. He leaps into combat and back out quickly, but soaks up hits like bread in warm butter. He shows up later in this story.

Drigka is a Bard of some renown within the Red Orcs homeland. He is beginning to make a name for himself in the Vile Runes tribe.

Chupa is an oddity among the chiefly Orc/Goblin/Ogre tribe. Under advisement from his advisor, Garnash One-Tusk has seen fit to purchase the kobold with magical abilities, to increase the magic capacity of his tribe. He has had some training in sorcery, and has lived all his life as property of Orcs. He has a chance to become a full member of the tribe now.

Gaak half brother to Iirkh, is a full-blooded Ogre who actually has the intelligence and wisdom to be a force to reckon with in the tribe. He has been training hard as a fighter with a specific goal in mind.

NPC's
Members of the Eagles warband kept around in case of character death, visiting players, fodder, and to round out the warband numbers. So far their morale is good, and they trust in Gorga, when he remembers to give them orders. They can see that he rewards those in the warband who do well.

Hobna was rescued from the hands of Darokin soldiers, where he surely would have been put to death. Hobna is formerly a member of the Screaming Monkey tribe as was Tyco. He has earned his way into the Vile Runes through his actions. His skills with a bow make him an excellent support member in any warband.

Shglsnor is a stealthy Orc, with meager battle skills. His way, is that of stealth and striking from behind. He is easily swayed by talk of treasure and increased standing in the tribe.

Gilnak is a grizzled Orc survivor of many battles. His skills with an Axe are competent with moments of greatness which make him useful to have in a fight.

Poor Drusilla, growing up knowing that she's ugly because her tusks are too short....

Coming of Age Ceremony

Adventure Synopsis and Campaign Start

Beginning at Dusk the Vile Runes tribe is gathering quickly by the outside firepit, for Garnash One-Tusk has called for the yearly coming-of-age test to be given to the next batch of younglings in the tribe. There is an excitement in the air, as there is much discussion and argument over the fitness of the new batch of younglings to be full tribal members.

Discussion and arguments about the current batch of younglings are centered on the possibility that they would make excellent tribe members, if they can just survive the trial.

As the Vile Runes tribe gathers, Garnash One-Tusk signals for silence and the tribe quiets down. The Ogre guards flank him while he stands near his seat of respect. He speaks in a commanding voice for the entire tribe to hear.

"You who have lived under the protection of the Vile Runes, must now prove yourselves. If you do, you become full members of the Tribe. If you fail, you will be dead or cast out as pariah.... Step forth all who would be members of the Vile Runes!!"

The six who are to undergo the ritual step forward to be presented to the Chief. The tribe Shaman comes forth and begins casting his spell, waving his Gri-Gri around and dancing in the firelight.

Garnash speaks again:
"I lay upon you, the quest for weapons and armor. Bring back a suitable amount and you will win membership in the tribe."

The shaman continues dancing and wailing to Wogar the patron of the tribe, smacking each of the younglings with his Gri-Gri. Iirkh is restrained by Gorga, and Scrag from retaliating on the shaman, which would be a mistake for sure.

Garnash shouts his final commands:
"Let none aid them, on threat of death. If they return with enough armament, they will be full members. Let them die if they can not succeed. The nearest Pinkskin village is 3 days to the south, may you return as Vile Runes!!!!"

With that a war cry goes up from the tribe, and the younglings are chased from the only home they've ever known. Spears and knives are prodded to speed them along. Women and children cheering from the palisade, hurl rocks to show support.

So Begins the first adventure from the Broken Lands.

The Warband Prepares, and meets up with a Friend

Gorga quickly finds a path heading south into the wilderness, and the others all defer to his knowledge of the lands around the tribe home. The main settlement of the Vile Runes is a palisade and a few buildings surrounding an entrance to the tribes cave system. Hunting trails head away south and break down into trackless
wilderness a few miles out.

Rhgl sidles up to Gorga and says, “We should prepare spears and clubs for weapons. I can help fashion the rough weapons from wood and rocks."

Gorga announces this to the rest of the younglings, “Everyone try to find something to use as a weapon” and begins making his plans to take control of this motley band of creatures. All seem to agree and set about finding something to use as they go. Rhgl makes a mental note of Gorga’s seeming desire to lead and begins planning how to best take advantage of it.

Iirkh grabs up a rock the size of an Ogre’s skull and takes a few experimental swings with it, snarling at imaginary foes. Everyone gives him a wide trail for this. “Rock good.” Is his final pronouncement.

They all locate saplings that would make spears, and Rhgl finds some sharp stones for crafting the crude weapons. The issue of food and water is not brought up until later that night. Moving quickly through the scrublands, good time is made heading south. Gorga stops occasionally to gauge their direction by the stars and, Sharraxtharkhul is in agreement that the direction is correct.

Gorga and Drusilla forage for food and water as the rest of the group takes a breather from their overland travel. Sharraxtharkhul slinks quietly into the brush.

Scrag calls out to him, “Don’t wander far unless you want to be a meal, something follows us.” Sharraxtharkhul ignores him and skitters out of sight. “Stupid Goblin, something’s gonna eat it.” A low howl is heard from nearby as Scrag says to no one in particular “See, told you.”

Everyone gathers together near Iirkh and prepares to fight with sticks and rocks at the least, tooth and nail if required. Sharraxtharkhul skitters out of the brush, with a large wolf at his side, with head down, and tail out straight.

Sharraxtharkhul see the others prepared to fight. “He’s my friend, he’ll help us along the way.” Everyone takes him at his word. Iirkh reaches his hand out and ruffles its’ fur. “Nice little wolf, Iirkh not hurt you.” The wolf is visibly distraught at being handled by such a large creature, but Sharraxtharkhul helps to keep him calm, and thereby from being crushed by the huge half-Ogre.

Rhgl turns to sharpening and shaping spears for most everyone except Iirkh, whose boulder needs no modifications. A lizard, and a slow moving bird along the trail found out the hard way, as Iirkh strength and deceptive speed left nothing but stains behind in the aftermath of trying out his “good rock.”

Scrag wonders if the wolf would make a good pelt to cover his head and back, but decides to see if the wolf really helps out or not. The wild Orc wonders if any of its’ bones would make strong enough weapons as well. Sharraxtharkhul notices the penetrating stare, and takes the wolf to the far side of the clearing.

Drusilla and Gorga return from hunting after a while, and share out the melons, and roots they’ve been able to find. “This will keep us alive, for when we take food from the pinkskins.” Gorga ponders his statement for a moment, and decides to make his opening gambit for control of the group. “If you want to stay alive, to raid pinkskin settlements, follow my lead.” Everyone knew something like this was coming, but no one was prepared to gainsay the statement. “Gorga good, bring food.” is the only comment made, by Iirkh, and everyone seems OK with Gorga taking leadership, for now. No bloodshed or bruises for the first contest of leadership in the makeshift warband.

Next Up: Assault on the farmhouse

Cool

Hmmm... Now where's that pesky 'Subscribe' button??

Assault on a farmhouse

As dawn approaches, the Drusilla and Gorga look for a likely place to rest, sheltered from wandering pinkskins for the day, with shade to protect all the light sensitive eyes. Drusilla finds a large grouping of scrub Oak trees, and tells Gorga about the location. “This way to make camp for the day” commands Gorga. Each Orc picks a place among the trees to rest and is soon fast asleep.

At dusk the Orcs rouse slowly and stretch knotted muscles from the nightlong trek, which has brought them this far, near the border of Orc lands and Darokin Empire. Gorga and Drusilla are already out searching for food, and more roots and some grubs this time, are the fare for the morning meal. Iirkh gets up and scratches his back on one of the trees. The groans and moans of pleasure emanating from the Half-Ogre are abruptly cut short as the tree gives way with a snap. “Ieerrrrkh!!!” is the next sound that is heard, and wisely, no one laughs as he gets to his feet and finishes the job on his back with the fallen tree. With that taken care of Gorga goes around and makes sure everyone is ready to continue.

Gorga and Drusilla again lead the way south into Human lands. There is anxiousness among the Orcs, not born of fear, rather born of the feeling that battle and conquest is near. The night passes with a single stop for food. The scrublands are have been changing dramatically as they move through the night. The surrounding land has become plains and farmland, this close to the Vesubian River. Scattered trees dot the landscape, with moderately rolling hills the primary features. About three quarters of the way through the night, a path is found heading south. Looks are exchanged between Gorga and Drusilla; a pinkskin settlement must be near.

The path wanders through some low hills, until the edge of some tilled land is spotted. A small farmhouse can be seen across the field of food planted in rows. Sharraxtharkhul crushes one of the fleshy orbs hanging from the plant, smells and tastes it, and says simply
“Tomatoes.” And drops it to the ground. “These are good to eat, and will replenish some water.”

Iirkh’s comment “That not food, that what food eats!” makes his idea of food quite clear.

The farmhouse is quite small, and made of clay brick and wood. A quick discussion ensues, to formulate a plan.
“We charge across the field and kill everything we see!” raves Scrag.
“Let’s not warn every pinkskin for a league around.” Gorga snorts.

Rhgl has the idea that is used. “I can sneak quietly up to the farmhouse and they’ll never know I’m here. I’ll come back and tell you what I see.” With a nod from Gorga, Rhgl is off with no sound in his wake. “Little guy make no noise.” Is the only comment made. But everyone is surprised at how well Rhgl remains silent.

Rhgl makes it to the side of the small house, and sees an opening up on he wall, big enough for him to fit through. With little time for thought, he is up the wall and looking inside. The sound of yard birds on the other side of the house is nearly drowned out by the snoring coming from the far end of the single room building.

He makes a quick assessment, and returns to report to Gorga and the others. “There is a single room in the building, with two pinkskins sleeping on the far end. A large table at the near end of the room, and some woodcraft around the room are the main furnishings. The door is wood with a wooden bar across it.”

“Iirkh will smash door.”

“What if they have magic?” is Drusilla’s reply.

“Iirkh not scared, Iirkh strong.”

Rhgl offers, “I can go back in and open the door from the inside, and let you all in. They’ll never hear me with all the sleep noises they make.”

Gorga approves of this, and they all cross the field. Rhgl is up and through the window before everyone else can get around to the front of the house. The door quietly opens, and Rhgl’s gleaming eyes and sly smile poke from behind the door. Iirkh squeezes into the small hut and move to where the humans are sleeping. Gorga follows, and goes to the other side of the sleeping mat. With a thud that jars the floor, and a crack shattering bone, Iirkh’s hand brings down the “good rock” he’s been carrying. The male is now missing a head, and never knew what happened. The female awoke long enough to take a wooden spear through the chest by Gorga, with little but a gurgle coming from her mouth. The human farmers were dispatched without trouble at all.

Next up: Not so quiet assault on a town

Just a bump

(Bump)

The Axe said:

(Bump)

Click to expand...

Thanks, I have the next update completed. A little longer than the first two. I've spent time reading 42 pages of Pirate Cat's story hour. I posted the update to our gaming forum on snotling, and if the group doesn't have any complaints about who said what, I'll update this story by tomorrow evening with it.

Not so quiet assault on a town

With the coming of dawn, the place has been ransacked. Anything of seeming value has been claimed. Some kitchen knives are taken as secondary weapons; a blanket is used to bundle up belts, clothing and anything else that looks useful to the Orcs. Until now, the only clothing has been animal skins to cover themselves. Drusilla heads out to the front yard, and tries to catch a white-feathered bird the pinkskins were keeping. Iirkh is caught up with the same task and tends to smash his. Meat “is” on the menu today, even if it is from rangy little birds. “The pinkskins call them “Chickens,”” says Sharraxtharkhul. “They are kept as a source of food.” No one seems to care, as long as they are worth eating.

Rhgl begins studying the table and insists that he can make a shield out of it for Iirkh, if given enough time. He begins looking for materials that would allow straps to be attached and hold the weight during combat. Gorga directs the other Orcs to carry the bodies out to some high grass by the field, he is sure they won’t be found during the coming day. The light outside causes everyone to retreat to the interior of the small house, to settle in for rest during the daylight hours. Sharraxtharkhul communicates to his wolf companion, that he should eat some birds and find a place away from the pinkskins to rest for the day. The small house will be crowded enough without the wolf taking up room. The windows are covered over to keep most of the light out, and everyone finds some space to claim. With much crunching of bones and slurping of marrow, not much is left of the birds when everyone is done eating. They take turns watching throughout the day for pinkskins to come up the path, but no one comes to visit the small farmhouse. With an overcast sky, Dusk approaches more quickly than the day before. The small farm is searched again, and Drusilla grabs a rake that was left out by the field.

Gorga leads the group south along a path, with the assumption that it will lead to another farm, or the nearest settlement of pinkskins. He is right. The wolf joins up with Sharraxtharkhul and the two scout out away from the path on the right, and Rhgl scouts out on the left. After about 30 minutes of scouting, Rhgl comes back.
“Gorga, there’s a settlement you can see over the next rise. Come see.”
They move down the path, with Rhgl skittering along beside Gorga until the town can be seen. Sharraxtharkhul and the wolf join up with them from the right side, and Gorga begins forming a plan. He’s been training under the other scouts and leaders in the tribe, to learn the best way to use Orcs and their abilities in combat. He takes in the lay of the town. There’s a large area of Trees off to the left that grow in even rows. Some kind of low fence is around them. Just to the right of that is a structure with a wall around it. There are a couple of trees inside the wall. A couple of smaller structures, one of stone, the other of wood, are between the walled area, and the path they are on. Across the path is another group of wood structures, with smaller huts and shacks off to the right of them. The walled structure looks to be the place most likely to have weapons or armed resistance.

Gorga decides to attack this place first, and then move on to secure the rest of the town quietly. He makes his wishes known to the other Orcs.

“We will move off the path about 150 steps from the town, and come around behind that fortification.” As he points to the walled area to the left. “Iirkh can see over the wall, and tell us what is waiting beyond. It looks about the height of an Orc, so we can get over it easy.” “We kill every pinkskin we can find. Keep it quiet, so we don’t alert the town.” Iirkh grins, and everyone is getting excited for the battle to come bloodlust rising. “Let’s go.”

They leave the path and start moving up on the Eastern side of the fortification. As they get closer, Iirkh can easily see over the wall. He says to Gorga. “One pinkskin over there.” He points to the North end of the building, inside the wall. As they move up on the South end of the wall, a gate is seen about halfway down the wall. Gorga to Rhgl, ”Up the wall and see if anyone is on this end of the courtyard. Open the gate for us, if no one is there.” Rhgl nods gleefully and quickly scrambles to the top. Without a backward glance, he goes over the wall. In moments the gate is open and Rhgl stands there with a grin. “Welcome.”

There is a small path leading form the gate, to a door on the stone structure in the middle of the walled area. The walls are about 8 feet high, with a slanted roof made from flat pieces of wood, overlapping each other up to the top, somewhere up towards the middle. There are no openings in the wall of the structure, only the single door on this side. There is no visible means to open the door from this side, short of bashing it in.

Gorga tells the others. “I’ll go around and take out the guard, Rhgl you go that way. In case he bolts.” “Everyone else, wait for a 20 count and follow Rhgl.” With that Gorga slinks around the corner to the South, and Rhgl sneaks around the North side of the structure. Gorga slides along quietly along the side of the building, and comes to the SouthEast corner of the building. He snickers quietly to himself when he sees the obviously non-combatant standing over by a gate on the East wall. A quick move up behind him, and the human never sees what grabs him from behind and forces more than a foot of sharpened wood into his back and up into his chest. A strong and oddly smelling hand has grabbed him over the mouth, but he had no time to scream. Rhgl is watching quietly from the other corner of the building. The rest of the makeshift warband come up behind Rhgl, and they all move to the East end of the building. There is another door on this side. Gorga shoulders the body and heads off around the back of the building. He doesn’t think to tell the others to wait for him, which may have been a mistake. While Gorga is off to hide the body, Rhgl gets antsy and decides to check the door. No handles or latches on this side. He takes a look at the wall and is up the side before anyone can say a word.

The roof slopes up but there is an opening in the middle of this structure. A fountain dominates the middle, and the walls on the inside of this area have multiple openings high up, and a couple of doors. The openings have some kind of fabric covering them from the inside. Rhgl does not see anyone on this side, and lets himself down near the inside of the door. Quickly the door is opened, and Iirkh strides in, followed by Drusilla, Scrag, Sharraxtharkhul and his wolf. The courtyard is well ordered with small bushes, plants and trees surrounding the fountain. The fountain bubbles quietly with a soft soothing sound. Clearly defined paths show the way around the courtyard. Rhgl opens the nearest door to the inside structure, on the right side. In a blink, he is in, and checking out the nearest room. Iirkh squeezes his bulk in, the other five squeeze into the room as well.

There are a couple of large basins with water in them, as well as a couple of metal buckets here. A cabinet is in one corner, and there is a bench along one wall. There’s some kind of sitting place in the corner that stinks quite a bit. On quick inspection this is obviously used for leaving excrement behind.
Drusilla picks up the buckets, and says. “These might be useful.”

Gorga sneaks back in, and is quite angry with everyone for not waiting. "You wait for me, I lead this warband!"

Iirkh peers down at him, "Iirkh not scared of pinkskins."

Rhgl is quick to latch onto this, "You are wise Iirkh, we should find them now."

"You smart goblin, Iirkh like you. You lead."

This not being quite what Rhgl had in mind, settles in beside Gorga, and they continue to explore.

[Gregan Donnels is sleeping peacefully.] It’s been a beautiful day with a leisurely stroll through the orchard, and watching Marilyn bouncing the baby and feeding her this evening. Retirement has been good, this is what I was meant for, not being a burglar in Corunglain. A successful early career in burglary and an early retirement away from the city, this is the life. I wonder…

{Gregan… Gregaaannn, wake Up!! I hear something.}

Gregan is quickly shaken awake by his wife, the fear in her voice is apparent, and the hallway does not look quite right to him, too dark for normal night. He reaches for his sheathed short sword next to the bed. As he stands, he hears a snarl

“He thinks that little blade is going to stop us.”

“Run Mari, run” are the last words he speaks. A large Orc, with a Wooden spear in hand, charges into the room, a black-skinned female elf at his side. Both run him through with wooden spears, as two more creatures emerge. A small wiry looking Goblin runs across the room to the cradle, and the forgotten baby inside, it’s cries are silenced before Gregan hits the bed. An over-powering smell fills the room, as a hunched over Ogre reaches across the room, and shatters Marilyn’s back with a boulder, as she tries to escape screaming down the hall “Orcs, Orcs,!! Guuuhh.” Gregan falls into a less peaceful sleep, some would call hell.

Gorga hisses at Rhgl, “Not the child, oh nevermind. Go check the hallway.”

Rhgl starts down the hallway, and hears a door slam in the distance. “Hey something just went out the front door!”

Rhgl peers around the corner, and can see the window coverings askew, as if someone crawled out. He quickly climbs out the opening, and sees the other Orcs running out the inside door. Thinking quickly, he gets to the outside door and opens it for everyone else, knowing they would be slowed down in pursuit, if they bunch up at the door. Iirkh is the first one past, rolling like a juggernaut through the doorway, 3 steps across the front yard, and he is jumping over the fence out front. Everyone else rushes past, with Drusilla opening the outside gate for everyone. Rhgl heads for the wall and perches on top to see how this plays out. Two pinkskin females are running for their lives, Iirkh puts on a burst of speed, and runs right over the first girl, a foot right in her back from the 9 foot Half-Ogre, sends her to the ground with a crushing finality. This is the only thing that slowed down Iirkh and allowed the other pinkskin to reach her goal. The town square has a large bell in front of a large stone building.

Rhgl can hear her wailing, and yanking the chain of the bell. KLANGG, “Orcs!!” KLANGG, “Orcs!!”

The young woman can hear the running behind her, and ducks down below the Bell for some cover, any cover from these brutes.

Iirkh reaches down to grab her, saying “Head, meet rock.”

Grabbing the small woman by the head, Iirkh miss-judges his strength, and the head pops in his hand like a melon. “Frail Pinkskins.” Is his comment as he drops her to the ground. The Orcs fan out to see what the bell calls.

Next up: A cleric saving lives

Where'd ya go?

Bump