The Media Wizard

In all seriousness, this is a well-written post. I will admit that I have not read it all (I'm sorry, Kale), but it seems incredibly unique and interesting. Judging from the comments surrounding this, I think a significant amount of people would prefer the lore to not be centered around dragons. Dragons in our own world have many different variations and I think that this can be explored with multiple groups, but I think seeing something more Fae-based would be unique to the server. I would love a fae subrace like this. With all of that said, the lore looks great. All I hope is that the concerns being raised are taken to heart rather than just being responded to. Whatever comes of this, I will be excited to see where it goes. To keep with the trends and "cool kids", though:

Wait a minute...

News spread to the Lord Commander of the discontent among the bandits and their reporting of the incident outside of the woodlands. A light chuckle would escape him. The elf sits in his wooden chair within the Warden Keep and would look to his scattered warriors drinking, eating and speaking with one another. "They are correct," the elf says as the table grows quiet in a slow fade. "According to the zeitgeist among these bandit groups, they are none-too-pleased with our account of events. Their idea of victory is fluid and it shifts with their circumstances. So do ours, however. It is a game to them: the same as life and death." The elf-lord shakes his head with a bright smile. "They are correct that they took the city. They are correct that we fought them from atop the keep's walls. We did, however, recapture the city in their absence. We did suffer no casualties. We did lose no gold, loot or armaments in their attempts on the barracks. They complain about a paper. I fail to see, though, how that is my problem." The night continued on and Amaesil enjoyed his meal.

THE END OF THE LONG PEACE Just over two years had passed since the last attack on the Woodland Realm. The major conflicts of Almaris had concluded and the Descendant races had finally become tired of war. It was — as the elves know — only momentary, but it was enjoyed nonetheless. The Ferrymen had become quiet and the other dangers of the world had gone dormant. News of attacks on distant settlements reached the elves of the south, but they paid them no mind. Two years passed. Then, the Rustlers attacked. To my kin and our allies. Today is a day of triumph. After nearly two years of peace, the up-and-coming bandit group known as the Rustlers came to our borders to test the might of the elves. I had only recently returned to active duty when I was informed that a bandit was at our gate — a bandit accused of robbing a child on the roads to Oren. In my own foolishness, I allowed this woman permit into our city. It was then that a cleverly hidden group of bandits sprang forward and entered. The Wardens mounted their horses and galloped through the streets as the bandits ran rampant. All citizens were warned and made themselves scarce. Elves fled to their homes and some even fled down the coastline on trade vessels bound for Yong Ping and Sutica. Upon completing their rounds, the Wardens dismounted and stealthily exited the safety of our city. No citizens were killed, robbed or beaten. It was the brave Wardens who had been with me when the gates fell that joined me in the Warden Keep across the Hinterlands. The bandits had successfully taken our city — this cannot be denied; however, it was our mission to claim it back. We sent birds to the bandits in hopes of luring them out of the city and to the Warden Keep. A group of Wardens and Council members successfully returned to the city after the bandits fell for our trap and reclaimed the gatehouse. We retook our famed city without a single swing of a sword. At the Warden Keep, our soldiers fired down arrows from our defenses as the bandits wailed and sniggered at the elves "hiding behind their walls." I am not entire certain that the concept of keeps, walls, gates and defenses have reached the realm from which these charlatans hail from. After a prolonged encounter, we finally saw the famed Rustlers depart our lands en masse. The city was safe and our citizens were entirely protected. The only damage sustained was to our barracks. These bandits left us with passing words: "We will see you on the roads." Be safe, friends of Elvenesse, for it seems that the Ferrymen were not the last of this strange breed of warrior. Van'ayla, and pride to our Wardens. HIS LORDSHIP, Amaesil Vuln'miruel, Lord Commander and Estelaurir of Elvenesse, Annilir of the Mali'ame, Exarch of Amathea, High Warden of the Order and the Lord of Kindle

The elf smiles as he reads the missive. It was always a joy to see the people of Vortice doing well.

Amaesil watched the eldritch spectacle from the uppermost room of his keep. A deep frown appeared as he observed the horizon with the aid of his high elven instrument. With a snap, the telescope sunk down into its cylindrical shape and was set atop the stone railing. The elf-lord folded his hands against the small of his back and watched the beam of red be snuffed out as quickly as it had appeared. A dark omen. The scowl deepened on Amaesil's face. Like a shockwave, his druidic senses telegraphed the unease of his woodland domain: silver butterflies neglected to fly from his shoulders and the stag Estelavern had mounted a nearby peak to gaze out toward the strange light. The natural world was at a loss. With a blur of motion, Amaesil descended the outer steps of the keep. Leaving the butterflies in the garden, the elf-lord stood before his glittering table of white high above the Hinterland's ocean wall. He turned his eyes toward the night sky to gaze at the celestial bodies floating overhead. Perhaps they would hold the answer, but Amaesil doubted it very much.

What is are things you dislike about the Orcs and Krugmar? How can it be improved? I have been on the server for nearly 10 years now. In that time, I've had the opportunity to play an orc 2-3 times and experience the different approaches to the player base. Ironically enough, my first interaction with the server was being robbed and killed on the road by the orcs back in Aegis. With that said, I believe the orcs and their culture are not being utilized or followed. The orcs are an antagonistic people and I believe it is entirely within their lore to be barbaric, honor-crazed fantatics who enjoy the more brutal aspects of life. The issue is that the lore translates server-side to PVP-obsessed goons who alt their orcs. I know plenty of orc players who are incredibly active on their characters and progress the roleplay of the Rexdom, but the majority of the orc rally force from an outsider's perspective are alt accounts, trolls and bandits. I've had orc alts that have constantly visited my roleplay community 2-3 times and only have the purpose of annoying people with subpar villainy roleplay. Furthermore, I've heard tale of orc players being forced to act dishonorable in roleplay by their superiors because it would waste too much time. That does not inspire confidence. It feels — for me — that the orcs are rescinding their lore standards and actively attempting to aid and abet bad bandit alts for the majority of their war activities. During the time of my first orc, the community focused on being bandits on their orcs. We robbed people and had frequent clashes with the forces of Oren back in the Fringe. It was exhilarating being an antagonistic group and then returning to a giant city of interesting orc roleplay. I just do not see that with current-day Krugmar. My main point of advice is to find players for events and raids that are good roleplayers and actively engaged with your day-to-day. The military of Elvenesse is small and hardly trained in PVP, but they are active on their personas and contribute interesting roleplay to our home tile for the majority of their playtime. Even my players who alt bandits strive to make the experiences of those being robbed interesting and not one-emote halts. What are things you like or admire about the Orcs and Krugmar? You all seem to have a very welcoming player base. My general interactions so far OOC are positive. Strangely enough, the culture I see among the players is more engaging and orc-like than the roleplay side of it. Players like Clocky are incredible luck and fostering those player experiences are the best things the orcs do in my view. Under Mick, I had some really fun and interesting roleplay with Rex Zhot when I was captured in Krugmar. It was some of the most tense and interesting roleplay I've had on my current character period! I would love to see more of that aspect from the orcs. You all are bad guys in-game — make it interesting! What do you think the Orcs and Krugmars biggest opportunity is for improvement? Your current players. As far as I am aware, there are a handful of really fun and active orcs in Krugmar that are having difficulty getting the other players to contribute past raids. Honestly, these players trying to help Krugmar are the most valuable of things. Dedicated and roleplay-centric players are the bread and butter of any surviving community on this server. Bandit groups, orc empires and human vassals alike buckle and crash down when there is not enough roleplay being conducted to justify logging onto the server. A raid is fun, but so is raiding on any other server. Roleplay is what you should foster.

Amaesil Vuln'miruel would read the missive and a frown would form. He'd then open his mouth, but it soon closes. He'd hum. "Rather fair depiction. We lost kin, but our will is unbroken." "Should we respond?" Galan Brylynn asked. "Eh."

Amaesil smiles. "As it should be."

Amaesil wonders how the Uruks will spend his minas. Maybe on some ladders for their next attack on Haelun'or and Elvenesse. He smiles.

I just aged 10 years in a second.

Hell yeah! Any idea when it'll be up?

I have genuinely never been excited for anything more on this server.

The battle was long, bloody and did not end with casualties and loss from the defenders; however, Elvenesse had stood strong against the onslaught with the aid of her allies. A red day, but a glorious day in the Woodland Realm.

They came once more. The victories of Haelun’or had made the opponents of elves spiteful and eager. Their longboats were spotted moments before crashing into the Tahorran docks and splitting the wooden planks like tissue paper. The Ferrymen — seeking to redeem themselves for their past failed attack — cascaded from the sides of their longships like water over a cliff's edge. A bell had been rung. The citizens of Elvenesse fled to the Citadel under the order of Lord Commander Amaesil Vuln’miruel; all except one elf who was immediately found and captured by the attacking Ferrymen. The Elvenessi sent their birds across Almaris and locked down the city. There they waited. The warships of Haelun’or and Oren appeared on the eastern horizon. Their soldiers left the ships and marched through the empty streets of Elvenesse to the applause and cheering of the citizens peering out from the safety of the citadel. A battle ensued along the cliffs of Elvenesse as the Ferrymen clambered up trees with the skill and grace of some of the wood elves themselves! Unfortunately, they could not breach the outer wall of the city. The battle shifted to the front gate of the city. The elves held out for as long as they possibly could. Eventually, the Ferrymen left the borders of the nation! Few losses came from the Elvenessi and their allies. This was no victory of slaughter, but a victory of defense. The wood elves who had been devastated by every single raid on their soil for the past twenty years had finally outlasted the Ferrymen in open conflict. Victory, but with a price. The city would sleep soundly this evening.

An artist's rendition of the Musin's final moments before dying at the hands of the Sillumir member. 18th of the Grand Harvest, 25 SA

Victory. Lord Commander Amaesil Vuln'miruel was not a lord of a grand army or citizens of strong wills; however, his Wardens had never let him down. Month after month; battle after battle. The Wardens stood among their allies and broke foes on their shields and swords like waves on the Elvenessi coast. Victory.

The Lord Commander makes a note to even the odds next time a raiding party attacks their ally's city.

The streets of the Silver City were empty. The city was devoid of life. Was this because the High Elves and their allies had hidden away when the orcs came to raid? Had the "twiggies" been so fearful of an orc onslaught that they elected to cower behind their walls? No, not one bit. The city was empty... ... because every elf was fighting! High Prince Evar'tir Oranor, Lord Commander Amaesil Vuln'miruel, High Warden Aerendyl Hawksong, Warden Tadorn Kesereth, Warden Oryl Sirame, Warden La'io Valkryne, Warden Ievis Aedove, Warden Matthias Caerme'onn, Vallein Vuln'miruel and Briar Taliame'onn joined their cousins of the Silver State for the second time in a year. The Wardens had successfully held out during a short, planned training before the Orc warships were spotted on the southern horizon. The Wardens of Elvenesse charged out of the gates and let arrows fly. The Wood Elves slammed hard into the front lines of the orcish hoard and tore apart any semblance of formation. As the combined forces of the Wood Elves, High Elves and Humans bore down on the warband like an avalanche, the fear was smelled on the air. The same orcs that had previously executed CHILDREN on Elvenesse soil were seen fleeing the battle for the comfort of their warships and, then, the Warnation. Many were cut down, but many ran like the cowards we knew them to be. As the orc warband fled for the second time, the Wardens stood among those victorious. A cheer rang out across the western world and peace was restored once more. The world had seen the dishonor of the orcs again and again. The world would never be the same. The thunderous march of feet in the direction of the Warnation grew louder and louder. Lord Commander Amaesil Vuln'miruel stood with a blood crossbow in hand as he watched the black sails disappear over the horizon. A smile came to his lips. They had won. AGAIN.

Lord Commander Amaesil Vuln'miruel stood, once again, alone in the vacant streets of the Sutican capital. His armor clanked as he and High Warden Aerendyl Hawksong meandered through the streets of the city. No children were seen this day. Cobwebs and rats were plastered throughout the city. Had the Suticans truly abandoned this place? Had this been their wartime tactic? Had they fled to another place of refuge? No, Amaesil thought. My scouts have been all across this region. They are simply... gone. Confusion raked the Lord Commander. Why had the Suticans declared a war and attempted to fight the combined forces of the elves? Surely they had known that their citizens held disdain for such an affair — what citizens they had left. Their only solitude was in mercenaries and brutes. As Amaesil and Aerendyl came to stand atop the cliffside overlooking the bottom portion of the city, the two shared a deep sigh. A war this was not. No lives had been taken by their kin nor did they want to. Sutica had lost already. They were only picking at the scraps now. The two elves stood there for a long while before descending toward the warships that now freely docked at the Sutican port unimpeded. With that, they sailed home.

Never before had the Lord Commander felt so proud of his men. When Haelun'or called, Amaesil gave the word; when Amaesil called, his men arrived. The visions of elven unity were seeming more and more realistic in the gloom of the Orc Tribute War. Lord Commander Amaesil Vuln'miruel, High Warden Aerendyl Hawksong, Guardsman Gailien and Guardsman Tadorn Kesereth slid into their boats and sailed the seas toward the northern shore of the Silver State. They landed on the shore of their cousin's island and were welcomed with glee at the northern gate of the High Elves. With haste the Elvenessi sprang down the pure white streets of the city until they joined the host of elves at their front gate. After hours of waiting, the call was given. A plan was devised and the Elvenessi would barrel down the orcs like waves on the rocks of Amathea. With a blow of a horn, the Wardens and Emerald Guard led the Sillumir out of the front gates and into the orc warband with a thunderous roar of metal boots on pavement. The orcs fled and the Lord Commander stood with his longsword — amaelaurir — drenched in the blood of his foes. He looked to Gailien as the guardsman pulled their weapon from the corpse of Alog'Bazra the Vile. The two elves shared a glance. The lives that they had watched been taken by the orcs during their last raid on the Woodland Realm were on the road to being rectified. Today, no Wood Elves fell. The orc raiding ships vanished into the distance and the Elvenessi — while small in numbers — stood alongside their High Elven cousins and declared yet another victory. With a handful of final words to the Sillumir, the Elvenessi boarded their boats once more and began to set sail. Amaesil smiled as the sun began to dip over the horizon and the wind sent his crimson robes snapping about. He spoke words so soft that perhaps his own kin did not hear him: "Today the orcs tried their ferrum against a true foe — and lost."

A short and simple missive is published. It carries the stamp of the Lord Commander of Elvenesse: a fox with a crown of antlers. The missive reads as follows: Honorless. Savage. Pathetic. I am a warrior, but only these past few years have I been considered a leader. The position of Lord Commander is a difficult one and I must endure regardless of the weaknesses of myself, my people and my Princedom. We are bloodied, massacred and dumped for sport by the Orcs and this is nothing worth arguing. We all across this world have suffered at the hands of the Orcs, but keep in mind what they fear. Last Elven Day, the Orcs of the Warnation executed non-combatant elves during a time of slumber for most of Almaris. Those of us that could rally — Elvenessi and allies alike — could not combat the numbers of the Orcs. With a city full of civilians, I personally made the decision to protect those within our walls rather than face the Orc hoard. It is a decision I will live with for the rest of my days. The Orcs, however, acted in the most dishonorable of fashions. They executed Eradus, a high elf and member of the Sillumir, after stripping him of his weapons. He challenged them to combat for his stolen things back, but they took his life without honor. With the aid of the Ferrymen, they butchered him along with children and elves who had not seen a day of combat in their lives. I pleaded with their captors to seek payment in lieu of their lives: both 300 minas and sets plate armor; however, they denied it. For what? The joy of slaughtering children? These Orcs are pathetic echoes of their once great nation. The Orcs pester our borders and decapitate our children for one reason — we are weak. I can admit this. These Orcs are weak, too. They could never face the armies of Oren, Norland or the Dwarves. Not in their current array. They are a pathetic, cowardly race that pick the battles they can win because they know they are only slightly more powerful than ourselves. They kill children because they could not slay a knight of Oren. Cowards. Come to our borders and slay us if you choose. We will know you to be savages, not warriors; honorless and scum in green skin. HIS LORDSHIP, Amaesil Vuln'miruel, Lord Commander of Elvenesse Exarch, High Warden of the Order, Lord of Kindle and Brother Oak

Lord Commander Amaesil Vuln'miruel stood alone in the empty streets of the Sutican capital. He watched the combined forces of Silver and Bronze march through the streets in their attempt to find someone — anyone. The Lord Commander was relieved, in truth. He strolled through the vacant streets with a hand rested on the pommel of his elven longsword. Every so often he would catch a glimpse of terrified eyes looking out from behind curtains in the locked and boarded homes. He had no interest in harming the innocent; none in the ranks of the United Elven Army did. He continued down the pathway before arriving at a large, empty garden. The elven warrior lowered down to a seat on a bench that overlooked the small pond. It was a peaceful, tranquil location during such an organized invasion of the city. He could still hear the marching, but it had become drowned out by the constantly ringing alarm bell of the city. Nobody came, though. They were afraid. It was then that Amaesil saw eyes peering back at him from across the pond. Behind a small bush was a child dressed in fine blue and silver robes. The child squeaked as Amaesil took note of him and dipped down to hide behind the bush. Amaesil chuckled softly before rising up. The bronze-clad elf glided silently across the grass before coming to the bush and looking down toward the cowering child. "Do not fear me." Amaesil reached into his robes and produced a small candy that his own son enjoyed. He extended it toward the child. "Here. Take this, oem'ii." The child looked up in astonishment. After a brief pause, he accepted the candy and gnawed at it hungrily. "Are you here to hurt us?" the child asked with suspicious eyes. "Not at all," Amaesil replied. The Lord Commander lowered down to a seat in the grass beside the child and looked out at the streets covered in silver and bronze. "We are not hungry for anything but justice, little one. We are not brutes such as Uruks; glory-bound fools such as humans. We want justice for the crimes permitted to occur to us — in a city far, far away from here." "You started this," the child protested. "Perhaps we did," Amaesil admitted with a soft hum. "It was not our intention, but perhaps we did. We intend to finish it, though, little one. Justice must be served. Go home, now." Amaesil rose up and offered a gentle wave to the child before the little human sprang up and rushed into the side streets of Sutica. Amaesil looked toward the sky. Yes, he thought. Justice.