The Stone Horde

Insignia of the Stone Horde

**The Stone Horde** an organization of Orcish clans located south-east in the Highwell Mountains and surrounding areas on the continent of **Yamga.** Mountains, plains, and forest make up the nation's geography with a handful of rivers scattered, flowing into the sea along its eastern and southern borders.

The nation is led by a sole **Warchief,** elected through ritual combat, and the **Stone Council,** elders representing each clan.

## History

Historically at least twenty-two clans have existed within the Highwell Mountains, however in-fighting and warfare has whittled the Orcs down to **nine—the Stonewolf, Boulderfist, Lizardmaw, Seastrider, Frostbite, Thunderwolf, Plainstrider, Oakfist, and Oakwolf clans.**

## The Black War & Creation of the Stone Horde

In the final months of the **12th Year**, **Grah'll Dragonsbane** of the **Boulderfist** clan began the **Black War** after becoming corrupted by **Izohr, God of Chaos.** Dragonsbane along with his generals pledged total obedience and accepted chaotic powers from Izohr. This practice eventually spread to the others of the Boulderfist clan until the grand majority became corrupted, causing the minority, led by **Thru’n Doomblade,** to retreat to the neighboring **Greatwolf** clan as the **Exiles.** Once the majority was corrupted, Dragonsbane led a deadly invasion against the weaker clans surrounding Boulderfist territory.

Shortly in the **13th Year**, the **Alliance of Four** was established between the **Oakfist, Stonewolf, Seastrider** clans, and the now extinct **Swiftwind** clan. These were the largest clans of Highwell, and together a resistance was possible.

After several months of defense, the Greatwolf clan succumbed to the Boulderfist onslaught. The corrupted orcs were nigh unstoppable. The Exiles were forced once more to retreat; this time out of their home mountain range and onto the plains of the Swiftwind clan.

Still in pursuit of the Exiles, the Boulderfist army did not slow or falter. An invasion on the Swiftwind clan was immediate; just six hours after the fall of the Greatwolf clan. The Swiftwind wolf-riders were no match for the corrupted Boulderfist berserkers. After just four months, ultimately the Swiftwind clan was entirely overrun.

On the eve of the 15th Year, the Boulderfist turned their attention to their southern neighbors: the Oakfist. This period became the war’s bloodiest. The Boulderfist blitzkrieg resulted in half the Oakfist territory being lost nearly immediately. With the aid of the Stonefist and Seastrider clans, eventually a stalemate was established.

The war eventually ended when, in the 19th Year, Grah’ll Dragonsbane was struck down by **Karg’ath Bloodmaul,** a young general of the Stonefist clan. After the fall of Dragonsbane, the entire Boulderfist army was swiftly defeated over a period of three months.

Upon capture of **Dragonmar,** the Boulderfist capital, the **First Convention** was held. Established here was the return of the Exiles to their homeland, the formation of the **Thunderwolf, Frostbite, Plainstrider, & Oakwolf** clans, and the most notable being the creation of the **Stone Horde.** The first Warchief declared being Karg’ath Bloodmaul and the Stone Horde capital being set in **Grommash,** located in Stonefist territory.

Those that pledged service to Izohr, later coined **“Chaos Orcs”,** were imprisoned and forced to atone. These orcs had skin as black as obsidian and those that renounced the god’s power of chaos became drained, appearing gray skinned and scarred. Later at the First Convention, Chaos Orcs that remained in the eastern half of the Oakfist became the Oakwolf clan. The ruling body of the Boulderfist became the Exiles, with Chaos Orcs making up the majority of the clan still.