Cinderwolf Clan

**Alpha Clawreaver**
 **Wolfseer Prime**
 **Other Leaders**
 **Elite Guard**
 **Primary Village**
 **Secondary Villages**
 **Status**

The **Cinderwolf Clan** (informally '**Cinderwolves'**), is a clan of Mag'har Orcs loyal to the Horde. Initially formed two years after the destruction of Draenor, the Orcs of differing Clans came together to survive the harsh conditions that followed, eventually moving to Azeroth and fighting for the Horde across it -- attempting to carve out their place in their new world.

Eventually, following Garrosh Hellscream into the civil war, they were scorned and subjected to tribuals following the conflict. They were given clemency and pardon under the condition they moved to the Eastern Kingdoms, to which the Dreadgrave Legion offered them a chance to settle in newly conquered territory the Stromic Highlands.

Since then, they have adapted and thrived -- setting up permanent settlements and creating traditions and customs that continue to persist to this day. Although the Cinderwolves' relationship with their Highlander Human neighbors is unfriendly at best, they have made some overtures to try to reduce hostilities and gain legitmacy for the conquered territory.

The Clan is currently led by an Orc only known as **Chieftain Cinderwolf**. Their capitol is **Gormash** in the Stromic Highlands. They are known to have a small flotilla of interwar Orcish frigates, normally captained by the Alpha Clawreaver, **Kostari Seasplitter**.

# History

## Aftermath of Destruction

The Clan formed two years after the destruction of Draenor in the uncertainty that followed. Many of their number came from other Clans -- primarily Warsong, Thunderlord, Bleeding Hollow, and Blackrock Orcs -- and worked to grow to a middling clan of skilled and ferocious fighters and hunters, combining the best aspects of their previous clans and discarding the things that didn't work. This progressive and reformist style allowed them to easily adapt to the harsh conditions of the Outlands.

## Hellscream's Azeroth

When the Mag'har reunited with their Azerothian kin, the Cinderwolves had grown to a middling clan of skilled and ferocious fighters, combining the best aspects of their previous clans and discarding the things that didn't work. This progressive and reformist style allowed them to easy adapt to the harsh conditions of Azeroth when they followed Garrosh Hellscream into the Horde.

After settling their people in the Barrens, many warriors joined the Warsong Offensive in Northrend. Their contingent was led by the elder shaman and 'Wolfseer Prime' -- Thokkrah. During the conflict, other young leaders emerged to the forefront, such as Kostari Seasplitter and Zusha.

The Cinderwolves remained ardent supporters of Garrosh Hellscream after the War in Northrend, continuing to fight for the Horde in Ashenvale, the Barrens, the Twilight Highlands, and eventually, becoming part of the frontline during the offensive into Pandaria.

### Civil War and its Consequences

When the civil war began, their clan voted to support Hellscream nearly unanimously and migrated into Orgrimmar. Their most senior warriors and shaman joined the Kor'kron Legion. In the early stages of the war, Kostari and Zusha led frequent, near-daily raids with outriders in the Barrens to harass the rebels. Even as the rebels drew closer and closer and the Kor'kron Legion was being reduced in droves, the Cinderwolves remained loyal.

During the Siege, however, is when things seemed to go awry. Many Cinderwolf warriors were killed in the defense with the Clan remaining in the Valley of Honor -- spared only by an intervening Tauren Chieftain called **Naharak Hawktotem**, convincing the Clan's leadership to stand down.

After the civil war ended, the Clan's leadership and many of its warriors were put under a tribunal. Chieftain Cinderwolf was sentenced to death along with several warriors, but with so many of its warriors dead, many Cinderwolves in their senior leadership were given clemency. A new Chieftain Cinderwolf took the helm and they went into exile from Durotar and the Barrens.

## A Second Chance

### Nomadic Period

The Clan -- perhaps numbering only half of what it was -- became nomads. They reeled from their defeat, their blood boiling with hatred after being subjected to what felt like a humiliating tribunal, and now in exile. Although granted clemency, many Horde settlements turned the nomadic clan away. To feed their Clan and gain any amount of coin, many veterans and youths became mercenaries.

This nomadic period persisted for two years -- Zusha and several Fangwardens journeyed onto Draenor with Horde Expedition, recruiting groups of friendly Mag'har to bolster their Clan, but it was not enough unless they had a home.

### The Dreaded Oath of the Grave

Newly appointed Executor of the Dreadgrave Legion, Kazimir Lotusdust, came to Chieftain Cinderwolf with an offer: come to the Eastern Kingdoms and unleash the Cinderwolves' ferocity and rage against the Stromic Highlanders and all that they could conquer could and would be settled. This was a second chance -- to serve the Horde and carve out a place through strength and conquest.

The Spring Offensive of 32 L.C. was a turning point in the Cinderwolves' fortune; although they did not necessarily trust the Dreadgrave Legion, they had no other choice but to fight in this new war. Their forces were used to shock, to crash against Dreadgraves' anvil and harass the Stromic Highlanders of Clan Sutherland, Clan Drugain, and Clan Douglas. The remaining Sutherland knights and the fierce Drugain warriors were no match against the fury of the Fangwardens and the highly mobile Wolfkin.

The Offensive secured the majority of the southern Highlands: the Lower Ucheldir Range, across the Prenmawr Midlands, to the edge of the Coedwig Plateau was now under Horde control. The Dreadgrave Legion made good on their promise: the lower half of the Coedwig Plateau was settled by the Cinderwolves and to this day, receives a minor garrison of Dreadgrave soldiers to help defend it.

## Present Day

With the Dreadgrave Legion's help, the Cinderwolves have managed to push back no less than three counter-offensives by the Highlanders. Cinderwolf Wolfkin made many forays northward into the lands of Clan Douglas, but only to raid and weaken them so that subsequent offensives might be staved off.

Some Cinderwolves had been taken prisoner by the Order of the Blazing Dawn Highlands Chapter, but have since been returned. Kostari Seasplitter has been leading a warband aboard the Howling Reaver, aiding the South Sea Exchange Trading Company in their quest to find the Bloodstone Shards and hunt down Bronwyn's Mutineers.

# Culture

## Meritocratic Function

The Cinderwolves generally operate as a meritocratic clan; by right, any individual that passes the Cinder Rite is allowed a voice and ability to rise through the Clan. If a member of the Clan feels that they have been spurned due to nepotistic action, they may make a challenge before the Clan Elders to mediate the dispute. If the spurned party does not feel as if they have been properly done justice, they may make a final challenge in a mok'gora.

Individuals are expected to pass on their knowledge so that others may rise; talent is certainly valued, but far more value is often placed in work ethic and struggle for achievement. Often called simply called **The Strife**, it is believed that strength is found and measured through such a struggle and that is what makes or breaks an Orc.

Finally, all members are expected to contribute, in some way, to the improvement of the Clan. If an individual cannot contribute, they are often socially excluded and pushed out -- trialed constantly with tasks that they cannot possibly hope to achieve on their own. This harsh treatment is often referred to as **The Toil** -- it is only when the pariah shows desire and need for aid and help of the Clan that they are allowed to no longer suffer 'their Toil'.

If an individual is consistently Toiled, they are finally exiled.

## Families

Despite the meritocratic nature of the Clan, there are several prominent families and bloodlines that have formed from the earliest days of the Clan, generally taking shape around the old clan progenitors. The most prominent families are the **Sootgrin** (Blackrock), **Stormhair** (Thunderlords), **Wrathfang** & **Ragebringer** (Warsong), and **Bloodpride** (Bleeding Hollow).

Many families are often housed together in several generations. The houses, called **Emberhomes** that they occupy are centered around the firepit, which is normally embedded into the ground and elevated benches make forum-like, in a circle. The firepits are almost always lit and it is here that social functions are kept, family meetings, and almost every meal is taken.

Much of the land in Gormash and Zeth'gora have inadvertently taken on the characteristics of the most prominent family living there, often organically forming districts around the larger Emberhomes of the five most prominent families.

## Beast Taming

The Cinderwolves have a culture of beast teaming that stems from their Thunderlord heritage. They have tamed several creatures and brought them from the Outlands to Azeroth, though primarily wolves. In particular, the Cinderwolves have taken on the tradition of bonding a wolf pup to a newborn child and ensuring their bond remains. They have direwolves and wolfhawks as their primary mounts.

Some more foreign beasts include at least three rylaks, a few clefthooves, bears, boars, talbuks, and ravagers. At least one Ettin is known to have been 'tamed' by the Clan.

## The Mountain

In the area in which the Cinderwolves settled is a large mountain which the Orcs call Makgun'gol. It is here that the dead are taken, ritualistically burned, and their ashes scattered from the highest peak, while they are added into the **Hall of the Dead**, which was an 'Orc-made' chamber where the names of all the fallen and any of their great deeds are located.

Makgun'gol is also the site where its most severe punishment is dolled out. When individuals dishonor the Clan in a deeply shameful or heinous way, the offending individual's toil is believed to be too great and they are cast off its highest peak with the expectation that they die. In the slim chance that the individual survives, it is believed that they are a new person, having risen and reborn. Otherwise, the individual who dies is believed to have been given the same death rite as any others who have passed.

# Notable People

## Chieftain Cinderwolf

Chieftain Cinderwolf is the leader of the Cinderwolf Clan. He is the second known leader of the Cinderwolves after the fall of Garrosh Hellscream. He currently resides in **Gormash** and is known to be hyper-protective of his Clan against outside judgements and tribunals.

Chieftain Cinderwolves is considered penultimate in all martial, administrative, and spiritual aspects, but relies the counsel of advisors and the Council of Elders.

## Kostari Seasplitter

Kostari Seasplitter is the Alpha Clawreaver of the Cinderwolves, often the front-line leader of the Cinderwolves. She is the three Alpha Clawreaver to have the position and is a veteran of many wars. She is known as a fierce, bold warrior and sound tactician. Although she only started sailing during the War in Northrend, she has since taken to it easily and become a veteran ship captain.

She is known by many since the War in Northrend as **Seasplitter**. She does not claim to hail from any of the major, prominent families and has fully integrated her identity with the Cinderwolves rather than grasp at a past that is no longer hers. This, along with her unwavering loyalty to the Clan and her refusal to treat her warriors as numbers or replaceable boots has gained her the deep respect of the Clan.

With the situation in the Stromic Highlands stabilizing and the armistice holding, Kostari often finds herself at sea, conducting anti-pirate operations aboard the Cinderwolves' light frigate, the \*Howling Reaver\*. In warfare both on land and at sea, Kostari favors fast, agile, manuverable forces that are able to punch hard and keep the momentum going forward.

At some point, Kostari began hunting Bronwyn's Mutineers for unspecified reasons. She engaged with the \*Bullfrog\*, captained by Kamos nic Burke but the situation at sea went awry at some point, leading to her defeat and capture. She was rescued by the Private Security Forces of the South Sea Exchange Trading Company. She was then present at the Argent Vanguard outpost in Icecrown, receiving prisoners of war from the Order of the Blazing Dawn. After the attack on the Argents by the Blackdream Hivebrood, she was impressed by the Security Forces of the South Sea Exchange, declaring they owed them a Blood Debt.

Kostari is believed to have masterminded the ambush-at-sea on the \*Bearclaw\*, using her light frigate's speed and the Dreadgrave's Dreadpriests' ability to hide their ship in using the Shadow to great effect.

Kostari has no known mates, lovers, or children. Her home is located in Gormash. She has a Wolfhawk companion which she tamed when she came into adulthood called **Duskeyes**.

## Thokkrah

Thokkrah is a Mag'har (MU) Orc and Wolfseer Prime of the Cinderwolf Clan. He is the second Wolfseer Prime and the longest-holding bearer of the title. He was born into the Blackrock Clan and is a founding member of the Cinderwolves. He is the patriarch of the Sootgrin family and has established a lasting legacy through his many children and grandchildren. Despite his advanced age, he is known to be quite spry. He also seemingly knew several historical figures by name, such as Grommash Hellscream, Blackhand, Drek'thar, and Ogrim Doomhammer.

As a veteran of Orcish Horde under Blackhand, Thokkrah engaged in several major battles against the Draenei. Despite the growing usage of Fel magic, Thokkrah managed to avoid using it and unfortunately contracted red pox and was quarantined to Garadar for the remainder of the war. When Ner'zhul attempted to rally another Horde on Draenor, Thokkrah resisted the call -- remaining at Garadar to tend to the sick.

After the destruction of Draenor, he fell into a depression as many of his loved ones had passed on due to war or famine or otherwise. He found solace at the Throne of the Elements and trained from that day forward to become a shaman, strengthening his connection with the elements and spirits deeply. He also attempted to guide Garrosh Hellscream out of his depression, to no avail -- but remained a steadfast supporter of Hellscream's legacy.

After the creation of the Cinderwolves, Thokkrah became among the few Wolfseers of the Clan. He followed Garrosh Hellscream into the New Horde and onto Azeroth, partaking in the Warsong Offensive in Northrend, but after the war became more and more distressed as Garrosh became Warchief and pursued offensive wars in Ashenvale, Stonetalon, and Pandaria. He decided to retire back among the Clan to ensure that his family would continue to live on.

He was one of the few members of the Clan to speak out against joining Hellscream's faction in the civil war, but ultimately followed his Clan to Orgrimmar and fought with the Kor'kron Legion. In desperation to prove his loyalty, he became a Dark Shaman. He was granted clemency by the tribunal after the civil war, but ultimately went into exile. During the exile and vagrancy period, Thokkrah was elevated to Wolfseer Prime.

Thokkrah participated in the invasion of the Stromic Highlands and the settlement at Gormash and Zeth'gora. He was present for the prisoner exchange at the Argent Vanguard outpost between the Blazing Dawn and Dreadgrave Legion. He was also present for the battle at sea against the \*Bearclaw\*.

He is known to have only had one mate who is now deceased. He had seven children and has approximately thirty grandchildren, making up the Sootgrin family. He has a wolf companion called **Steelheart**.

## Zusha

**Zusha Bloodpride** is a Mag'har (MU) Orc and leader of the Fangwardens. Despite her youth, Zusha is among the greatest warriors of the Clan and her generation. She is third daughter of the Bloodpride family, but perhaps their most glorious member. She has an (non-familial) friendship with Thokkrah, often describing him as 'Uncle Greyfur'.

Only coming of age a year before the re-opening of the Dark Portal, Zusha participated in raids on the Ogre clans when she was a teenager. She looked up to the elder warriors and was infatuated with legendary figures and was desperate to prove herself. She quickly became prized warrior and by the time Thrall came to Garadar, was already among the strongest warriors among the Wolfkin.

With piss and vinegar in her veins, she joined the Hellscream Offensive and was among the Garrosh's most ardent supporters. She and several other young warriors traveled abroad as part of Hellscream's Vanguard and particularly enjoyed her service in Ashenvale. She was the most full-throated supporters of Hellscream's side in the Civil War, even going as far as to join the Kor'kron Legion.

After the Civil War, Zusha created the Fangwardens to serve as the elite guard of the Clan and as a method of hiding former Kor'kron Legion veterans. She served in the invasion of the Highlands and further, the War of Thorns.

She was present for the prisoner exchange at the Argent Vanguard outpost between the Dreadgrave and Blazing Dawn. She further was present for the battle at sea against the \*Bearclaw\*. Currently, she's serving as the main bodyguard for Thokkrah and Kostari.

Zusha has no primary mate, but is known to have a voracious appetite when it comes to lovers, having sired upwards to twelve children with at least seven different women. She has a direwolf companion called **Wickedbones**.

## Cronch

**Cronch** is a young Gronn and member of the Cinderwolf Clan. He was adopted into the Clan sometime after the Civil War by a small contingent who returned to Nagrand and found him abandoned. Since then, he has grown significantly in the last few years, now serving as a 'warrior', though kept at a distance to throw boulders. Despite his size, he is still considered young teenager.

As a youthful Gronnling, he is still learning the values of the Cinderwolves. Most recently, he was present in the aftermath of the Dreadgrave-Blazing Dawn prisoner exchange and met **Gruk Gigglerib**, whom Cronch took a great liking to!