Grugh

Grugh was the leader of an orcish warhost sent by Kzar Kraksha of the Orc Raiders to protect Snow and Sigwold's pack train. His regiment consisted of Orcs and Goblins - Cave Butchers and Cave Archers, despite the fact that Grugh was not, in fact, a Cave Orc.

## Characteristic

The Orc leader had a little more armor on him than his companions, with a bit more decoration, mostly pilfered human work roughly hammered into place. He rode in typical Orc stance, half hunched over his mount’s head. A rank stench came off from him - there was no way to tell whether it came from the half-cured hides the green-skinned warrior wore, or from unwashed flesh. The Orc had a curved slashing sword in his hand, and a hand-and-a-half straight blade. As a token of peace, he neither clashed his weapon nor chanted.

## Personality

Grugh had a good sense of humor - for an orc, at least. For instance, he’d pinned the name “Lukush Buttwound” on one of his warriors. The epithet had come from the unfortunate Orc’s all-too-close brush with an arrow during a retreat. It was inconceivable for Grugh and his comrades that Lukush’s rear end, skinny even by Orc standards, should have been hit. The sound of his laugh was like stones being ground together.

Despite his humorous side, Grugh was also very honorable for an orc, relieving Lukush of his rude epithet-name when he died at a skirmish with the Scorpem and replacing it with Diedwell.

## History

In 419 Tz, Sarah Ythlim brokered an agreement with the current kzar, Kraksha, to allow safe passage for the Rebel pack train of black powder through the Fist. To ensure safe passage and as a token of honor, Kraksha sent Grugh's warhost to escort Snow and Sigwold's pack train.

His Raider band that came the Rebel way totaled about a score of Orcs and Goblins—light cavalry, ten Cave Butchers and five Cave Archers. Upon approaching, they spread out, Goblin archers standing with arrows nocked, searching for targets among the rocks surrounding the campsite. The Cave Butchers rode with bare blades. Now they began clashing them against their rough Ankhar-bone armor, starting a war-chant. Grugh then rode forth - his Cave Lizard had an odd, capering gait as he came forward to confront Snow and Sigwold. Grugh, Snow and Sigwold had a short talk after which it was revealed that Grugh's warhost was the escort kzar Kraksha provided, per Sarah's request. The three of them, now joined, rode to Khamsin.

The travelers then endured yet another night of camping without a fire, which meant uncooked food and a freezing night out on the plains. On the other hand, it made it harder for any passing patrols to spot them. The messenger from Khamsin had blundered onto the pack train just as the long shadows were turning into true evening - Grugh joked around about him and his boys eating the boy since he had good meat on him but it didn't go farther than a joke. They sent the young messenger back after feeding him and giving him a good horse. The travelers then set camp for the night.

Next day, they came upon Eginhard's troops battling an Imperial Scorpem patrol and joined the fight, killing all of the patrolmen and capturing their mounts - during this fight, Lukush Buttwound died and had his epithet-name replaced with Diedwell. After this, Grugh's job was done and he and his raiders went back to the Fist.

***Orc Raiders***

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Rebel Thunder (Bill McCay), Chapter 7
2. ↑ Rebel Thunder (Bill McCay), Chapter 9