Overview
So named for the Black Mountains which rise up from all of these small Isles, the Black Isles are home to the warrior/sailor Black Orcs. The land is as rugged as the Orcs who hail from there, with stormy seas, rugged coastlines and unforgiving terrain from which to forge an existence. There are a few things the Black Orcs need, and a lot more they want, which the Blacks Isles cannot provide. Their solution to this is to raid and take what they want from their ‘weaker’ neighbours.
The Black Orcs raid, traditionally just before Winter, but it can be any time of year, and they loot and plunder their neighbours from as far south as Constantine, to as far north as the Vikings, although the latter is often thought to be for the challenge of a real fight, rather than any great plunder which may be obtained. The Black Isles is sometimes also a haven for outlaws or pirates to hide themselves from authority, although this carries its own risks, as the Black Orcs are extremely wary of visitors, tending to view them as target practice or food before considering them trade partners or allies.
History
Originally these Isles probably had many races living here, but the Black Orcs won the endless fighting, and now, other than slaves and the odd visitor, it is the Orcs who are the dominant race within these Isles. There have been times when the Black Orcs have been united under one Orc Chieftain, such as the legendary King Grunek Redblade, and at the peak of his rule, the Black Orcs succeeded in capturing half the southern island of Hohiro. But generally, the Tribes are more fragmented, and the Orcs will fight amongst themselves with the same vigour as they will any other race.
Once in a generation a notable Orc Chieftain will unite many tribes, and set out on a Grand Looting. This is when the Black Orcs are at their most dangerous as they can often sack even medium sized cities, as has happened with:
Leyton in Klydor: sacked by Krak Brokentusk of the Sons of Steel 25 years ago. Took many slaves, including nobles
Rasallin in Lotan: sacked by Doruk Stormborn 10 years ago, after a prophecy from the Ravens told of great success. The night they attacked a festival was being held with wealthy families from all over Lotan in attendance.
Cedari in Avalon: sacked 60 years ago by the Unkard the Younger of the Skulls. The city was very badly sacked, and much of it burned. Several artifacts of historical and cultural significance were captured and now adorn Orc halls.
Many Orcs will claim descendance from a great Chieftain who led one of those Lootings.
Common Races
Orcs
The Black Orcs are tall for Orcs, averaging half a feet taller than most, but with the same solid build. Their skin colour varies through shades of green and red, but is most often a dark grey to a black, and all have black hair. Green skin is often claimed to prove lineage to Grunek. They consider beards a sign of experience, and only proven warriors may have one.
Slaves
The Orcs take slaves from everywhere, women for breeding, and men as labourers, primarily as oarsmen for their larger war-barges. Even other goblinoids, including Ogres are treated the same as non-Orcs, although any non-Orcs can become part of a tribe by proving their worth in combat.
Cities
Skull Rock
The legendary castle of the first Black Orc Chieftain, Grunek Redblade, Skull Rock is said to now be protected by the spirits of Grunek and his elite Bodyguard. Any Orc who wishes to claim the title of Chieftain is expected to travel into the heart of Skull Rock and return with a waterskin of the blood red water that can be found in its centre. Many never return.
Redblade
Passing for the capital of the Black Isles, all of the main clans are welcome here. Redblade is a large harbour but is well sheltered with a narrow gap between its headlands and a large number of reefs which make the trip dangerous for those unfamiliar with the place.
Organisations and Suggested Characters
Black Orc Tribes
Nearly all the power on the Black Isles is held by one of the Tribes. The power of individual tribes can rise and fall quite quickly as promising young Loot Kaptins might fall out with their chieftain and form their own tribe, or they might kill the Chieftain, or they might be destroyed.
The most noteworthy tribes right now are
Stormfuries
Famed for their shipbuilders and warbarges, the Stormfuries have the strongest fleet. They believe their ancestors guide them through storms, so they have no fear of them, and will use storms to launch their assaults. As well as Trials of Strength, the Stormfuries may also resolve challenges by sailing solo into massive storms. First one to return alive through the storm and reefs after sailing to a point and back wins.
Sons of Steel
The Sons have controlled a productive Iron mine for generations. They sell the Iron to any who are their allies, which has made them stable (relatively) and wealthy. Their home settlement of the Vault now has strong steel defences and is the strongest tribal stronghold. Heavy armours are more common for the Sons than other tribes.
Skulls
Most known for their fierce berserkers, the Skulls believe you gain a portion of the strength of your enemies if you collect their skulls. Some wear the skulls. Others make shrines of the skulls. The skulls do not make threats. They may offer a warning, but they always prefer action to words when it comes to settling grievances or differences of opinion.
Ravens
Guided by a powerful Seeress, the Ravens specialise in espionage, stealth and information. They often “know” which place will offer the best rewards for a Looting, and many tribes will pay for this information, and often accept more of the risk and share the rewards with the Ravens. The Ravens also maintain a flock of Ravens they use to communicate across the isles. Other tribes may also make use of these ravens for an appropriate fee or favour.
Chainlords
The chainlords believe the Gods want the strong to take from the weak. They take the most slaves and make money selling slaves to other cultures. Their war barges always strong rowing speed, powered by their many slaves.
Axes of Grunek
Akin to Knights or Samurai, the Axes of Grunek are the elite warriors of any Clan. Each Orc warrior, upon surviving 10 “Lootings” becomes an Axe of Grunek. At this point he chooses a Clan Leader to swear allegiance to, and becomes akin to a Noble of that Clan. It is normal for a warrior to choose the Clan that ruled his home village, but not compulsory, and many choose another, usually based on a combination of rewards promised, glory anticipated, and perhaps respect. Despite their name, they do not all wield Axes, but all may carry the sigil of the Redblade on their person as a sign of their prestige.
Scum
Those that lose the favour of their Clan, usually through some display of weakness or cowardice, may be disowned by their Clan Leader. They then become Scum, who are in theory no longer welcome in any clan lands, although it is not uncommon for them to find a new life amongst another Clan.
Slaves
Although it can be challenging to play, there are plenty of slaves in the Black Isles. And those that can fight will be given an opportunity to show that, and perhaps if they have the patience and don’t get themselves killed first, who knows how far they could climb. The current leader of the Skulls was once a slave (enslaved when his tribe was conquered).
Regional Life
Relations
As their only real dealings with the other races is when they Raid them, as might be expected, they have poor relations with basically everyone.
Clothing
The Black Orcs favour clothing which allows freedom of movement, such as shorts and vests. But they also love trophies of their Looting, with weapons and heavy armours being the most sought after. It is common to see Black Orc veterans wearing wares of another culture.
Women
The Black Orcs have relatively few women, for only 1 in 5 children born are female. As such many of their women are captured slaves. In any event they have few rights. Interestingly, only female Black Orcs generally display any promise as Channellers, and assuming they aren’t burned at the stake, some become trusted advisers for Orc leaders.
Cities
Key settlements: Skull Rock, Redblade.
Trade
The Black Orcs have almost no trade relations with anyone.
Exports: Slaves, captured booty from raids that they don’t want..
Imports: Metals, foodstuffs, jewellery, weapons and armour.
Arms
The Black Orcs will use all manner of weapons, with warhammers, axes, swords, shields, paired weapons and two-handed weapons all common. While they do make their own weapons, these are often of poor quality, so those taken from Looting are the most valued. Armour is the same, although few Black Orcs will wear full suits of Plate-mail while on their boats. Ranged weapons tend to be crossbows, but bows and firearms are also used if available.
Language
The Black Orcs speak their own language which is actually quite different from that of other Orcs. Many have also learned the common tongue from slaves, as this can be useful on Looting missions.
Religion and Magick
The Black Orcs follow the Orc pantheon, and heavily favour Gruumsh over all others, although prayers to Ishtar before major battles are not uncommon. The Black Orcs have little tolerance for magick users (although they love magickal weapons and armour), and most Channellers are burned at the stake as a sacrifice to Gruumsh. Many Orcs are superstitious however, and those that can “read the signs” have occasionally risen to positions of some power.
A cleric blesses the warriors before the upcoming battle.A potential Chieftain seeks guidance on the likelihood of his Challenge being successful
A cleric blesses the warriors before the upcoming battle.
A potential Chieftain seeks guidance on the likelihood of his Challenge being successful
The end to a successful “Looting”. Time to pack the captured goods up and return home
The end to a successful “Looting”. Time to pack the captured goods up and return home
The Black Isles Lore Points
Legendary King
All Black Orcs believe their race is watched over by the spirit of Grunek Redblade. Some of the more educated Orcs believe Grunek is a servant of Zankeine, while many others believe he is Zankeine, or that he killed Zankeine and inherited his place as the God of War.
It is often inferred that when an Orc challenges for leadership, that it is Grunek’s blessing or will that decides who wins.
Tribes
The Black Orcs are separated into many clans/tribes, with each clan having its own settlements. Conflict between the clans is common, but so too is two or more clans uniting for a “Looting”.
Looting
An almost sacred task passed down from Grunek to his people, “Looting” is how the Black Orcs survive, taking their longships and war-barges on raids against their neighbours where they rape, pillage and plunder for all of the items their civilisation craves – slaves, quality weapons and armour, foodstuffs, and construction materials. It is from these Lootings that most other races have come to know the Black Orcs.
Looting Sacrifice
Many tribes sacrifice valuables to the Gods before departing on a Looting. It is considered very poor behaviour to sacrifice something of little value.
Trial by Strength
The Black Orcs revere strength, and as such nearly everything can be contested or settled via a challenge, usually one of combat. The fight is until one yields or dies. Only Scum are forbidden from issuing a challenge, and as such it is not unheard of for an unscrupulous leader to declare potential rivals Skum before they can challenge for leadership. There are cases however, of a wrongly sentenced Skum returning with an army of his own years later and retaking control of the Clan.