First Orcish War

**The First Orcish War** was a conflict fought between the Orc clans of the Shattered Hills and the Humans of the Kingdom of Rockgale.

## Prelude

None but the Worldsmasher himself can claim to know the workings of the mind of Therion, but the historical record strongly suggests that since quite early in his adult life the great and terrible Red Dragon was scheming to conquer not just the nearby kingdom of Rockgale, but indeed a good chunk of the world. To that end Therion sought out a weapon to wield against his foes and to set the stage for even greater conquests..

The cunning Dragon quickly found the pawn he sought - the ambitious young shaman Ozmonogor. Therion promised Ozmonogor untold power in exchange for his utter obedience. Seduced metaphorically by Therion's promises of power and literally by Hevisa's irresistible sensuality, Ozmonogor readily accepted his new role as Therion's disciple. The young Orc became an avid student of dark magic and developed into the most powerful Orc arcanist in Asul's history. He taught other young Orcs the arcane arts, sharing with his brethren dark new brands of magic, terrible arcana which reeked of doom and dragonfire.
Therion, seeking to tighten his hold over the Orcs, helped Ozmonogor found a secretive cabal which manipulated the tribes and spread the use of dark magics throughout the Shattered Hills.
Sensing that the time had come, Ozmonogor united the warring tribes into a single unstoppable horde. Knowing, however, that the various chieftains like Shonetho and Urbod-Ongu would vie for overall supremacy, Ozmonogor set up a puppet warchief to rule over this new horde. Azhuum the Destroyer, a particularly depraved and vicious Orc warlord, was chosen to be Ozmonogor's puppet.
Therion knew that the horde was finally prepared. The Orcs had become his cudgel.

## The War

Confident that the Orcs would serve his purposes, Therion ordered the invasion to begin.
As the forces of Rockgale and the Orcs clashed across the kingdom, internal conflicts began to take their toll on both forces. King Treigl Carregwynt, who believed the bestial orcs to be incapable of conquering Rockgale, contemptuously held his position at his capital. However, Highlord Inidomba Lothringen became convinced that the battle should be taken directly to the enemy, and he was forced to choose between his convictions and his loyalty to the king.
As time went on, the Orcs continued to dominate the defenders of Rockgale. As the Orc's victory drew nearer, Urbod-Ongu, one of the greatest Orc chieftains, began to grow dissatisfied with his role in the hierarchy, and covetous of power.
Emboldened by numerous victories in battle, Urbod-Ongu set out to claim that which he felt was his and ultimately assumed the role of warchief by killing Ozmonogor's puppet, Azhuum. Under his decisive leadership the relentless Orcs finally laid siege to Rockgale itself. King Carregwynt had severely underestimated the might of the Orcs, and he watched helplessly as his kingdom fell to the bestial invaders. Ultimately King Carregwynt was assassinated by Cadi Ethgath on behalf of Therion.
Lothringen and his warriors, returning home from Gwyntmarw Tower, hoped to stem the loss of life and save their once-glorious homeland. Instead, they returned too late and found their beloved kingdom in smoking ruins. The Orcish hordes continuing to ravage the countryside and having claimed the surrounding lands for their own. Forced to retreat to the nearby Kingdom of Ondarian, Lothringen and his companions swore a grim oath to reclaim their homeland at any cost.

## Aftermath

Highlord Lothringen rallied the remnants of Rockgale's armies after their defeat at Rockgale Keep, and then launched a massive exodus to the neighboring kingdom of Ondarian. Convinced that the Orcs would overcome them all if left unchecked, the leaders of the local Human nations met and agreed to unite in opposition against them.

Appointed as Supreme Commander of the allied forces, Highlord Lothringen prepared his armies for war.