Ancient History of the Stormreaver Clan

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Title: Ancient History of the Stormreaver Clan

Author: Unknown

In the beginning, Grishnak was a homeless Runt.

Birthed to a wretched existance in the forests around Trinsic, he learned early on to avoid the sound of approaching Men. Hounded and hunted by the inhabitants of Trinsic, he soon journied north to the more cosmopolitan Britain. Grishnak found a living, of sorts: rooting in the trash heaps for food, avoiding the sharp sticks and thrown rocks of the Men children. He would curse when Men in shining armor riding horses would spur past him on the road, shouting epithets and sometimes striking him with their swords.

One day, after being knocked into the muck along the side of the road, Grishnak rose up and swore everlasting hatered of Men. Setting out for the mountians to the west, chased off by farmers defending livestock against a hungry wretch, and seeking shelter in damp caves, Grishnak found a pass through the mountains that eventually led him to the sea.

Wandering the wilderness, Grishnak found an old Orc fort, fallen in much disrepair, occupied by scrawny and ignorant Orcs. Defeating the leader of this band, Grishnak laid the ClanStone and claimed for himself the mantel of Chieftain and declared a rebirth of the Orcish Nation.

The weak inhabitants of the fort were of no use to Grishnak, but soon others heard his call to arms. A mighty warrior appeared at the gate one day. "Meh Korgath!" he shouted, then swung a mighty axe at Grishnak.

Although Grishnak proved the stronger, he spared the life of such a fine warrior and gave Korgath a position in the growing Clan. Another named Snarfu slunk into the fort one day, able to control the wild magic, he quickly impressed upon Grishnak the need to have magic users. Thus the ranks of the Clan began to swell, but their growth did not go unnoticed. The miners of the mountains and the cutters of wood reported increased Orc activities, and soon the attention of armed Men turned to the long neglected fort.

Much hard work was done by the Clan to secure their foothold on the Fort. Many times bands of Men, many coated in the red blood of their victems, would ride into the fort and slay all they could. The Clan needed shelter from these predations and begain building a shelter for themselves. Soon the Clan Shak was complete and the Clan had the safety both of the Fort itself, and when that failed, the Clan Shak.

When a gathering of Mages decided to build upon an ancient ruin a tower dedicated to the persuit of magic, the Orcs fear of magic manifested itself. Knowing they were outnumbered and weak, Grishnak devined a plan to use the explosive potions to topple this unwanted tower.

Although many humans perished, the Orcs were beaten back and the tower stands to this day, avoided by Orcs.

Still, the lands were constantly violated by the Men, particularly the miners going to the pass in the mountains. This had to be stopped. Orc scouts were sent out to follow these Men who took dirt from the ground and made it into implements of war.

Soon Wagraa, the Wulf Rider, returned with news. He had found the source of the incursions into the Orc Lands. An association of Men existed to steal the dirt from the mountains and make things with it for sale to other Men. Again, the disregard for the territory of the Orcs by Men was evident.

Revenge must be had. A plan was formulated: seize the leader of this association of dirt thieves and use her to supply weapons and armor to the Orcs.

The dirt thieves were known to be meeting in the town of Minoc soon and an ambush was laid. As Cyan of the UBB was approaching the house the meeting was to be held in, hidden Orcs rushed her from all sides, throwing explosive potions among her cohorts. In the confusion that followed, none saw the shimmering blue portal into which the Orcs had plunged Cyan.

Cyan's enslavement stirred up the forces of Men like sticking a sword into a bee hive. Soon the Yew Militia swept into the Fort, seeking the location of Cyan. Unbeknownst to them, their attack was anticipated and Cyan was moved far away to slave for the Orcs. She was beaten repeatedly untill she made arms and armor for the Orcs. Although this was most welcome by the Clan, her greatest contribution was that from her endevours, Orcs learned the craft of blacksmithing as well.

After many months of working in the mines, Cyan was near dead. Rather than see her die of hunger and exposure, Orglik the Shaman sought to make one final use of her and give her over to the Bludgod. Chained atop the sacred tower, Cyan beheld the deamon the Orcs worshiped before it was driven back by a combined army of the Urban Knights and the Yew Militia.

The Clan fled to the Orc Fort near Cove, hoping to defeat the hosts of Men in that fortress. Soon the banners of Yew and Urban flew in the distance and the sound of marching feet made the earth tremble. Orc and Man fought hard that day, but soon the weight of numbers forced the Orcs back until finally they won free to Cyan's cell. Grishnak and his survivors fled by sea back to Yew.

In vengance for their support to the Yew Militia and the Urban Knights the past year when Cyan was rescued, the Clan assaulted the town of Cove. In an hour long pitched battle against the Urban Knights, the Orcs proved victorious.

This would mark the begining of many such battles in this remote village.

The Yew Militia also began to patrol along the edge of the Orc territory, seeking to learn more of the Clan. Several times Pyros of Yew tried to reach the actual fort itself, only to be driven back.

With Runtees being sent into battle half trained, the Clan realized that it could not fight the hosts of Men alone. Orc scouts again went out into the world, seeking allies. Soon the Order of the Ebon Skull, the Infernal Cult of Necromancy, and Holy Disciples of Darkness offered much needed aid. The tides of battle begain to shift, Orcs started beating back the forces of Men with their newfound allies.

The second battle for Cove resulted in victory for the Orcs against a surprise attack by the Urban Knights.

A new runtee came into the Clan. Unusually, this runtee was quiet and unassuming. Few could have guessed that Qog would some day rise to lead the Clan. Weilding his scimitar and shield with finess and showing great courage he quickly came to the attention of the Chief.

One day the fort recieved a unique visitor.

Tilf and Gilf, the Ettin Lord came calling upon the Clan. Some Men had stolen something from Tilf and Gilf, as Men are wonton to do. They had made off with the giant two-head's favorite club and the ettin wanted the Clan to recover it.

Quickly organizing a couple search parties, the Orcs journied to Britain to find the missing club. Qog led the group that included Guz'kth, the Orc Archer, who found the Man holding the club.

Siezing upon the moment, Qog led the Orcs in an attack that succeeded in gaining the club. Tilf and Gilf promised greater cooperation between ettins and Orcs in the future.

Continued in book II