Dogeater Clan

The **Dogeater Clan** was a Green Orc clan that followed Korgus Dookanson during the Greentide. During the invasion, they acted as the wargmasters and logisticians for the orcish forces. After the Battle of Castanoth and Greentide’s end, the clan would use its control of wargs and knowledge of Escann to roam as nomads.

# History

## Rise to Prominence

Little is known about the Dogeater Clan, then known as the Strongbloods, during its time in the Serpentspine. From what can be garnered, it appears that the clan was only one of many minor clans following Korgus Dookanson during his initial unification of the orcs within the mountains. Because of this, it is difficult to discern what the clan was doing before Korgus’ call or even during much of this period.

Despite this lack of prestige and history, the clan’s chieftain Grom Strongblood would catch Dookanson’s attention during the fall of Khugdihr. While not prominent in any battles during the siege, Grom and his clan’s methods of organizing supplies and wargs would prove to be vital to Gurukk Siegebreaker and his forces’ success. After the hold’s fall, Korgus would summon Grom to better evaluate the chieftain. After some lost personal exchanges, Grom was appointed the role of Wargmaster for the rising Greentide. With the role of Wargmaster, Grom and his clan would be responsible for securing the routes, supply, and loot of the orcish army as Korgus declared his war on Escann and the Regent Court. The prestige of the anointment was immediate with the clan suddenly being present and given a voice in the Korgus’ council.

## The Greentide

### Becoming the Dogeaters

The sudden rise of Grom and his orcs would cause friction between themselves and the lesser clans. At the head of this friction was Vord Wargblood, a chieftain known for his crass and aggressive personality, and whose clan was well associated with warg ridership. Because of this, Grom’s role as Wargmaster made Vord and his clan an informal subordinate, something that did not sit well with Vord.

After a number of probing raids into Castellyr, this drumming resentment came to head when the two clans were finishing ransacking a nameless hamlet. In the battle’s aftermath, a search for meat began for themselves and their wargs. The search was nearly futile as after scouring every building, all the orcs could find were the remains of some rotting beasts and a kennel of stubby-legged, sausage-shaped hounds. Using this as an opportunity to elevate himself Vord declared the beast corpse fitting for the party. Unwilling to engage in Vord’s games, Grom allowed Vord the glory and simply butchered canines without notice.

Later that night, Vord’s carousing and boasting combined with the bounty of beast meat had earned him the favor of most of the camp. Believing it a chance to solidify his standing, he roused the orcs to party and jeer at Grom for preparing the canine meat. Based on oral tradition, this is where the term “Dogeater” came from as the one off insult spread around camp.

The next day, a wave of sickness fell over Vord and those who joined his meal as the beast meat proved to be rancid. Now unfit for battle, the sick orcs were left behind to recover while Grom led the remaining party to attack the next village. Before leaving, Grom is said to have anointed Vord “Beasteater” the honor as leader of the sick orcs in case of attack before moving on.

### Battle at Rottenstep

By the Battle of Rottenstep, Grom had served as Korgus’ Wargmaster for nearly two decades. In that time, he and clan earned their place as one of Korgus’ Ten and long solidified themselves as a quiet bulwark of support for Dookanson. For this reason, for much of the battle Grom and the Dogeater clan acted as the reserve and rearguard of the orcish host during the battle. Entering only after the general withdraw had been ordered by Korgus, Grom Dogeater atop his massive warg Karlur and the finest of the Dogeaters would counter charge the pursuing Lorentish Order of the Ashen Rose.

The bold action did not simply blunt the advance of the Cannorians, it broke it, albeit temporarily. Within the initial contact, the Order’s leader Leon síl Toarnaire would die broken, after being crushed in Karlur’s maw. Soon after, the legendary knight Frederic síl Bennon would be brought to his knees, overpowered by Grom’s strength. And finally, the godschosen woman Corin would meet her first death with Grom’s last breath.

## After the Greentide

The death of Grom and many of the clan’s best warriors would see it mired in disarray in the battle’s aftermath. While present in the Battle of Castanoth, the clan would make no noteworthy actions or impact in the Greentide’s final conflict.

Instead, with Korgus’ death, the disheveled clan would find itself in plains of former Castellyr where it would slowly reconstitute itself using the old Greentide’s supplies and wargs eventually turning into a semi-nomadic host.

# Legacy

While the Dogeater clan’s contributions to the Greentide are well known, as their actions enabled the host to roll through Escann without starving, another contribution of the clan was the sahm’bana or “shared dwelling” in Orcish.

Coming to her in a herb induced dream, Dhoulza Dogeater’s invention was crucial to the early Greentide’s sudden success. Amongst the first of the Green Orcs to adopt wood into her constructions, the adaptation enabled these portable round tents, covered and insulated with skins or felts, to be easily produced thanks to the abundant forests to the north where the Greentide first emerged.

The sahm’banas would eventually fall out of favor as the orcs clans in Escann settled down in the mid to late 15th century, but would remain foundational in early Escanni orcish architecture and design.