Jump to content

A HISTORY OF ORCISH WEAPONS AND MOUNTS


Panashea
 Share

Recommended Posts

The weapons and mounts of the orcish people have marked the fields of battle with absurd creatures, deadly siege weapons, and horrific crafts shaped by the will of the Ruka, and a desire for wanton bloodshed. Here are but a few, preserved from history, and feared by many.

 

This is just a big collection of famous mounts, orcs and their creatures. Thank you to the many orc players who wrote much of this lore, and to the wiki for preserving a lot of it easily. 


LAK

WBvSsYc4I_GYp1zVB1V745gY8uRIQ1MEOnt9k9ZRlsiSLSW3iQrYnXm3qnSbxWiu76XkGT0-uag_4Zh7sjT282NN2823C93bxPnTdnwS2053ilu7__QekOOf9xxVglgCk8Mu9Dps

 

The Lak clan is distinguished by their large size and intense zealotry for the Swamp Spirit Laklul. As such, they utilize the spirit's patron animal as a weapon. The Toalak possesses an intense hallucinogenic and dangerous toxin.  Due to the potency of their slime, Laks often imbue the slime on long poles and pikes. This strategy has been employed in large formations, but even a single Lak has made their mark with a simple spear. It is said that Khariya'Lak of Athera was able to defeat wyverns in single combat, while suffering the affects of the Toalak slime. His maddened fervor toward Laklul, and his intoxication gave him a ferocity and might that allowed him to defeat beasts many time his size.

TOALAKS

 cCOxZuq.jpg

 


Toalaks are frog mounts for Lak that are from the swamp, they secrete poisonous, hallucinogenic slime.  The height of a Toalak  varies greatly from 5-9ft and scale in at a respectable range of 400-600lbs, with females being noticeably slimmer and smaller in stature. Their body is covered in warts and typically have very shallow horns on their back with little practical use other than camouflage. They bear lanky arms and powerful hind legs that are excellent for hopping and leaping about, able to hop their height and a few meters in distance at a time. Their webbed feet allow them to be natural swimmers, which they do quite often. The toalak is an omnivore, typically feeding upon a wide range of various swamp flora. Their size does not permit them to be primarily herbivores and thus they must hunt. Due to their lack of agility and size they are ambush predators, waiting for smaller prey to unknowingly stroll near them for their demise. The prey they consume are rather small, ranging from swamp rats and stray dogs. They are held in place by the beast's small, primitive teeth and powerful jaw until the toxins in their saliva sets in, which usually takes a minute or three. They'd swallow their catch whole afterwards. 

 

Their intense toxin prevents them from being preyed upon. Most Toalaks are relatively mild mannered despite their grumpy appearance.  Their slime is often taken with little struggle and used in alchemy or simply for a power high within the shamanic community. 

 


 

GORKIL

The Gorkil clan exists as the baseline and lifeblood for the orcish people. One of the oldest clans, their lineage has stretched from before Aegis to modern day.  An honorable and ever present clan, they have wielded a variety of weapons to best their opponents.  A spear and shield was originally adopted in large army formations alongside simple phalanxes, though the strategies of the Gorkil have always remained a precarious mystery for even the most adept strategists. Gorkils ride atop massive Warboars,  skirmishing the flanks before expending their javelins to charge the cavalry, archers and then infantry.  As individuals, they possess an intense lethality at close and long range.  As a horde, their coordination and mercilessness allowed them to conquer and overcome many opponents. Even those with larger numbers, or the might of Dark Shamanism. 

 

Gorkil Berserkers are fond of fighting in insurmountable odds. The Athera Wargoth Kugar'Gorkil overcame the undying strength of a dreadknight with both axes, placing the dreadknight's weapon atop his many trophies. The Gorkil Berserkers would wield zweihanders, Kriegsmessers or Poleaxes in a fit of bloodlust, swathing and scything apart the enemy with untouchable speed and agility,

 

GORKIL WARBOAR

QDLlNx5xgNLKm0YgzRxVpZIXaDXt6VOFA5cnOXo5

 

Growing from 5 to 6 feet, and usually weighing around 500-800lbs, and some even bred to be as tall as a typical Paint Horse, Warboars have thick, dense and explosive muscles and light bones, allowing them to suddenly sprint forward in a burst of speed and charge down almost any foe , far quicker than a normal horse, and faster than even a Lur wolf. Their tusks grow long and sharp like scythes, with two sets growing on both sides in many cases.  Their skulls are thick, allowing them to withstand impact from their charges, and their necks are tall and strong, evolved from their days of digging up roots from the ground.  Finally, the Gorkil Warboars are famous for having mud-red fur, whilst also being thick and wiry, allowing them to withstand the moderate cold, and protect them from the sun. Typically skittish and temperamental, a Warboar is likely to either charge or flee in an instant upon seeing someone in the wild.  A mechanism commonly used for charging, and subsequently goring, any who would dare approach them .Their brains are hard-wired to be the first to react, and their bodies have evolved to be the quickest animal on the plains.  For a tamed Warboar, the instinct to flee can be dulled and dampened when bred right, and the right training can make almost any Warboar instantly charge upon command, or when trained to recognize certain foe.  
 

 


 

RAGUK

The Raguk clan formed during a golden age of orcs in Athera. Formed from multiple clans, they made a name for themselves though conquest and forging. Worshiping the Machine Pantheon of Leyd,Gazigash, and Gentharuz, they are blacksmiths first. Geared towards providing weapons for Krugmar, they have mastered the craft of creating weapons of war and great metallic siege constructs.  

Revered widely by those of the Dâr ob Griish, Blood Steel is considered the ultimate metal, being made not only with the skill of the individual smith, but also infused with the iron of the blood that is enhanced and molded into the steel by the unending power of the Spirits.

 

It can be used to create some of the strongest steel in Orcish culture, and is widely sought after by those few who are aware of its existence. Blood Steel is created specifically for the Raguk, with barely any outside of the clan subject to its potency. This in large is because these Raguk believe they were chosen by Gazigash to use her latent abilities, so that they may wreak devastation in combat and honour her with bloodshed.  

 

Typically Blood Steel is fashioned into blades, but can also be used to create armours of complex design and defensive potency. Each item is crafted to the best of the smiths ability, and is decorated according to their worship. They will often use bone for the hilt of the blades, or for decoration in points around the armour in order to represent Gazigash and her domain in its entirety.

 

MYRZYM

200px-Myrzym.jpg


The myrzym are, conveyed straightforwardly, bred for conflict. Their tall stature safeguards the rider from high swinging blows and their thick hide protects them from strikes of lower course. Their tusks are as sharp as razors, and viciously boast a knack for impaling oncoming traffic. It is said that the great Spirit of Blood and Bone, Gazigash, blessed the redskinned warriors with the large grotesque creature, malforming carcasses’ bones and blood into a proud, reserved creature. A myrzym’s personality stretches as far and wide as the sun’s reach over the dunes. From humble, large creatures to ferocious, bloodthirsty monsters.

Though their purpose remain generally within combat, they possess cultural importance to the Raguk. They are a clear representation of the spirit's ability, and are thus respected as much as the wargoth of the clan.

Myrzym appear often adorned in a collection of awe-instating jewellery: typically formed from precious materials, and a product of Raguk smithing. Fine velvets and silks are usually draped across their bulky frames, and painstakingly conceived paints cover their leathery hide. In the event that a myrzym is slain in an offensive altercation, the owner is expected to mourn the loss of their companion. The remains are traditionally crafted into ceremonial armour which is donned for 15 days and 15 nights. Thereafter, the uruk is expected to tame a further myrzym.

 


 

BRADUK

The Braduk clan were some of the largest orcs to ever live. Said to be mixed with olog and powerful blood, they stood over their brethren.  As giants, they need not have concern for any true weaponry or craftsmanship, and so they wielded whatever fit in their hands. A Braduk generally carries a Golok,  a short machete-type weapon, generally kept strapped to their leg or the small of their back. These are generally inferior to other weapons, although can also be used in battle.

BRADUK RHINO

200px-rhino.jpg

 

Braduk Rhinos have a diet consisting of grains, grasses and small plants. Usually the untamed rhinos are kept in a pen and fed their daily meals, but once paired with an Orc they are let free to roam and eat as they please. Stunted Rhinos, a somewhat common occurrence in Braduk forts due to the lack of grasses, are usually killed and processed. Their hide is used in armour, their horns sometimes sharpened into daggers, and their meat is cooked up in stews and casseroles, being too tough for any other meal.


The rhino’s most common colour is grey though rare sand coloured rhinos can be born. The very first rhinos were black, but as time went on their skin lightened through reproduction. It is unknown if a black rhino remains, the last being Ghazkull’s, and there has only been one recording of a white rhino.

During infancy, the Braduk rhino will have just a bump where the horns will develop. As they mature, they grow two horns; one directly in front of the other. The front horn is longer than the back horn, and usually reaches an average length of 47 inches (120 cm), while the second horn usually reaches 35 inches (90 cm). If a horn is cut off, it will take decades to re develop, and during the first couple days, the hole will remain. It is a lethal spot, and if stabbed will result in a fatality. It’s common practice for a Braduk to customize his rhino’s horns by sharpening them, overlaying them with iron, or sometimes carving his name or important symbols into them.


Their thick hides cover most of their body and legs. It’s too thick to be penetrated by arrows, but hard swung weapons are capable of breaking the bones of the beasts. On some occasions, an Orc will use rhino hide as a moderate substitute for leather armour, and the clan mothers have been known to replace an Orc’s flesh with a rhino’s in serious injuries to prevent infection. The rhino’s underbelly is loose fat, and is the weakest spot on their body, save for the soft flesh behind their large ears and underneath the horns.

 


 

LUR

The Lurs are not footmen, they are hunters. The hunt is the most important thing for a Lur. To prove themselves in the hunt is what all young Lurs wish to do. Lurs are agile and quick witted. Their weapons follow a similar nature, though many take pride in utilizing the beasts they fell in future weapons.  

LUR WOLVES

Clan Lur - Clans - The Lord Of The Craft


The name ‘Lur Wolf’, derives from the Lur Clan as they are the only known clan able to harness the might of these wolves as their animal companions. Though other clans may try to tame these beasts for themselves, they will be rejected and likely turned into a tasty snack. One is not the master of a wolf, nor is the wolf master of the orc. It is a bond forged from pure loyalty that cannot be changed, hindered, or passed on.

 

These creatures tower over their original wolf cousins by nearly three times their common size. Their hulking stature makes them about the same size as an american quarter horse, making it optimal for their orcish companions to ride them with ease, charging down their enemies with immeasurable ferocity. As for their bite force, it is equivalent to that of an American Grizzly Bear. Their endurance is equivalent to that of a horse. Being the mounted creatures that they are, they are often tasked with taking orcs on long trips and journeys, or even fighting in full battles alongside their riders.

 


 

OTHER ORCISH MOUNTS AND BEASTS

Orcs use a variety of animals to get jobs done. Some serve as pack animals, siege weapons, or simple messengers. Clans have their own varieties of these animals, but these served as creatures utilized by all of the orcish people. 

 


JABBERNAK

U_5Kq_FnBxXyZ2W3dpXcpGtzrzE6g43cN9nGqp9nVISisc_NebsQt_66xaLFhtgWry21hU9lrh6-0k9CxdT0119bRSeCnOL-PH-KnIbJAVkGFAblZ6QzHBZuHx8fajULFKz_S4z5

 

 The Jabbernak served as a fantastic pack animal and traveling mount, capable of surviving in many environments, provided it had the meat to survive.Sturdy and aggressive, they matched the orcish’s bloodlust with a high feeding response.  The Jabbernaks is surprisingly intelligent compared to other lizard-kin, rivaling intelligent birds though they lack the ability to truly communicate with each other. Their use has been dated back to Aegis, famously in the Clan Wars between Clan Rax and Dom.

 

“Wargoth Veruk’Gorkil led a campaign in the northwest, annexing many of the smaller clans that aligned with the Raxes. The forces eventually closed in on Nomad Plains, where the first major battle of the Clan Wars would be held. At the Battle of Nomad Plains, Veruk personally led five hundred Gorkils, riding the fastest war boars the clan could muster, to eliminate the twelve hundred jabbernaks Tythor had brought to the battle. The group quickly broke through and began to wreak havoc on the enemy forces, decimating the cavalry and nearly routing the enemy. And as the Gorkils decimated the cavalry, the Dom shamans sent lightning crashing down from the skies, made fires erupt out of nowhere right in the middle of Rax forces. While the Rax forces were able to hold their ground for some time, it eventually proved to be too much, and they had to make a hasty retreat. By the end of the battle, the twelve hundred jabbernaks Tythor had brought to the battle was reduced to a hundred and fifty, while Veruk’s regiment had only lost thirty war boars, and even fewer Gorkils."


Before their disuse,  they served as excellent pack mules and skirmishing units, though their fragility and temperament made it difficult to utilize in long term battle. It is difficult to say what happened to these creatures, or where the practice of their husbandry was lost. 


 

SCADDERNAK

eRjCyUlsGhRKkhFCYYfN1u-7aY7CGGzt9r2fM2gAe6m9BWf2HhDRn7nignRr-NwtH3Aiv7mX6wVwcB5U03Su2uCnTGLosovpny0MBlwiiogH-sqEsSeF-kNcGI8PhMx72Em6v93t

 

 

Mighty War beasts, having been used by the Orcs for hundreds of years to siege cities. Even for Orcs, the ability to tame such has been nearly impossible. Their natural aggressive nature and hate for all things other than themselves makes them unsuitable mounts. Many stories exist of them tearing their victims a part in a matter of seconds, though citings have been shown that a Scaddernack enjoys slowly tearing apart its prey. Scaddernaks are  huge, dark creatures that resemble a mix of spider and scorpion with eight legs and a giant pincer. They stand at least at 20 feet, though most are even larger. They bear two claws, each larger than an orc and possess the strength to destroy forts and cities. It is usually black or sandy coloured.

 

There are few known scaddernaks, both impart to the orcish people living outside the desert, and their rare appearance.

 

Lurgoi - Scaddernak of the Lur clan, tamed by Ber'lur and given to Craotor. It took a bite out of Fort Krug when it got hungry. It was brought to Asulon on the Mighty Orcish Boat and it resided inside Strigzgoi for a small while until it feasted upon a hut, it was then moved to the Lur Camp and it is in a slumber there until someone awakes it.

 

The Kar'ak Scorpion - A pre-historic, rogue breed of Scaddernack, previously thought to be extinct. Possibly the last of it's kind. Slain by great warrior Tythor.

 


VORUHK

 

11 Facts About the Bone-Eating Bearded Vulture | Mental Floss

 

 

A Large orcish messenger bird found in mountainsides.  Relatively intelligent, the bird feasts upon the marrow of bones orcs leave behind. Being quite large, they easily carry messages and other small goods between long distances. Their wings stretch to a 15 ft wingspan, and allow them to cover long desert treks and distances with relative ease.  Most birds have their feathers dyed or painted to exaggerate their massive forms, or carry small flags and banners.  They are too skittish of combat as scavengers, and have never been utilized as such.  It is common to see packs of Voruhk following orcish hunting parties or pilgrimages. They clean up what the orcs leave behind, and are seen as a good omen when wandering the deserts of old. 

Edited by Panashea
Link to post
Share on other sites

 Share

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    No registered users viewing this page.



×
×
  • Create New...