Gron'Dol

Gron'Dol is a male orc fighter in the Emeron campaign.

Gron'Dol is the chief of the Dol-Aton Clan of orcs.

## Background

Living on the Plains of Galmar the Dol-Aton Clan frequently subsist by raiding other monster and barbarian tribes and sometimes traveling caravans. As with most orc societies the Dol-Aton Clan believes in leading through strength and physical power. Accordingly, Gron'Dol is among the most strong, powerful, and skilled orc warriors in the clan.

## Ery’thelia and Raskin

Gron'Dol was infatuated with Ery'thelia, a skilled and powerful female orc warrior in the clan. In spite of her half-human son Raskin (whom he was disdainful of), he made frequent overtures of marriage to her. One day his chance came when Raskin foolishly used a sharp blade on a fellow orc during war training. Gron'Dol sentenced Raskin to prove his strength by fighting one of his finest warriors, a sentence that Gron'Dol was confident would result in the weak half-orc's death.

Ery'thelia offered to fight in Raskin's place, but Gron'Dol shamed both of them publicly by asking if the boy had no honor and was too weak to fight for himself. Changing tactics, Ery'thelia renounced her son, stating that Raskin should instead be banished as he was not an orc, and that if Gron'Dol would grant this mercy that she would accept his proposal of marriage. Pleased, Gron'Dol happily did so, ordering Raskin to be removed from their warren and leave Dol-Aton territory under pain of death.

## During the War of Alliance

At some point before the War of Alliance, Gron’Dol agreed to join many of the other monster and barbarian tribes on the Plains of Galmar in agreeing to fight for Melia Sedri in the upcoming invasion of the Kingdom of Emeron in return for spoils and Emeronian land. .

Gron’Dol led the Dol-Aton Clan in battle, raiding the villages, hamlets and farmsteads in eastern Antyoch. One such war party, led by Ery'thelia, was wiped out with his wife captured. Word of her capture had not spread, however, and a messenger from Duke Riffin Etiamond came to the Dol-Aton war camp to privately inform him of Ery’thelia’s capture, and offer her safe release in exchange for the Dol-Aton Clan abandoning their campaign in Antyoch. Enraged, Gron’Dol slew the messenger and had his severed head returned to Duke Riffin.

Some weeks later, another diplomatic party arrived at the Dol-Aton war camp, this time led by none other than Raskin Daggermaw. Raskin and his companions offered an alliance with the Duchy of Antyoch, promising a lordship and estate for Gron’Dol should he accept and fight for Duke Riffin. In a private meeting between Raskin and Gron’Dol also revealed that Duke Riffin was still willing to release Ery’thelia unharmed and with no word that she had been captured, lest Gron’Dol be humiliated and therefore lose face before the clan.

Gron’Dol refused to consider Raskin’s offer unless he and his delegation proved themselves worthy. To that end, he demanded they participate in the The Contests, a series of trials to prove the mettle of a member of the Dol-Aton Clan. Raskin immediately accepted and he and his companions immediately proved victorious in the Contests, proving they were worthy to listen to.

In the negotiations that followed, Raskin and his companions were able to convince Gron’Dol of the advantages to siding with Duke Riffin, not the least of which was arable land where orcs would effectively rule themselves. Gron’Dol declared he would ally with Antyoch, and held a feast to celebrate the alliance. He warned Raskin, however, that he would not grant membership in the Dol-Aton Clan back to the half-orc.

### A Potential Complication

Although Gron’Dol had declared that Raskin and his companions be unharmed, the night after the feast to celebrate the new alliance, one of Gron’Dol’s war leaders, Dur’rang, nearly destroyed the alliance before it could even begin.

Dur’rang, an old enemy of Raskin’s sought to avenge himself and an old would upon the orc. He and a handful of orcs loyal to Dur’rang infiltrated the tent Raskin and his companions had been given to rest in, looking to murder the half-orc. The assassination attempt was a failure, however, and Raskin slew Dur’rang and most of his followers immediately bowed before Raskin’s strength.

Raskin awoke Gron’Dol and the rest of the clan, having Dur’rang’s body hurled at the chief’s feet and declaring that his membership as a member of the Dol-Aton Clan was not Gron’Dol’s to give, but Raskin’s to take. Gron’Dol did not respond to this declaration, but stated he’d given orders for Raskin and the delegation to remain unharmed, and as a result he stated the fate of those who followed Dur’rang was in Raskin’s hand. Raskin opted to show mercy, stating that the orcs in question would not get any future such consideration should they cross Raskin again.

## Changing Sides

Soon after Raskin and his delegation left, Ery’thelia returned, released from imprisonment in Antyoch City. Her captivity remained a secret within the clan, and she carried instructions for where Duke Riffin wished the clan to attack to maximize the advantage of their alliance not yet being widely known. Gron’Dol, pleased to have his wife and most trusted war leader back, prepared the Dol-Aton to resume the war again.

## Appearance

Gron'Dol had tusks nearly as long as a large man's middle fingers and his dark hair braided in a tight knot that went straight down to his back.