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Grignag Sage
Joined: 19 Nov 2007 Posts: 500
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Posted: Tue May 29, 2012 8:19 pm Post subject: First Yew War |
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(In an attempt to detail some of the great conflicts and events that have defined the Atlantic Roleplay community, I/we will be recording the events as they happened from a 3rd person omniscient perspective and in an unbiased view. It will involve submissions from people who EXPERIENCED the events (second hand accounts aren't terribly useful right now) or at least existed in the game at the time in order to reinforce the validity of the history. A key point here is UNBIASED. Do not attempt to add any favor or spin on anything recorded here. ICly I encourage you to lie, warp or omit the truth as you please. Here though, we just want the facts as they stand. I will attempt to write the majority of the information as I recall it. However, I will *need* the input of others to help me put this together correctly. If you think I am missing a detail or have a piece of incorrect information [more than likely] then please post it and I will correct the main document. Once it has been agreed that it is complete it will be wiki-fied or archived as deemed appropriate.)
Note: NONE of what is read here is considered open IC information. Unless someone has told you this or you've read other IC accounts, this information is unknown to you. This does not exist in a book somewhere in game. It is simply a way for us to preserve the information in a meaningful way.
Primary Contributor: Grishnak, Cheef uv da Stormreavers.
Date of Conflict: (Under investigation)
Background:
The Yew Town Council of Justice had existed for some time as the protectors of Yew and members of the then Council of Virtue. They generally kept themselves concerned with the matters of their territory, providing assistance as was needed. However, to the south, near the dungeon Shame, rose a soon to be powerful force from the native orc populations there: the Stormreaver Orc clan. Lead by orcs like Grishnak, Og'din, Voqk and many other noteworthy Orcs of that era, the humans of all lands began to know the fury and avarice of the Stormreavers. With a fundamental antipathy towards all humans, it was only a matter of time before conflict began to brew with their closest neighbors in Yew.
Prelude:
A man by the name Will Smitt, whom was spellbound to the clan, came to the Orcs seekng their assistance. Evidently he had laid claim to Yew as the rightful kingship and wished to employ the Orcs to help him secure his claim. The Orcs were uninterested until promises of shinies (gold), ale and of much bloodshed was offered. Mobilizing their forces, the Orcs began raids and operations into Yew on a much larger scale, leaving the town council of Yew under no misconception of what was to come. As the level of violence begin to scale up, the Orcs soon shoved Will Smitt and his claim aside as they made plans to take the city for themselves. Gathering up their magical allies in the Cult of Infernal Necromancy (Ncr and the Order of the Ebon Skull (OES), the Orcs marched to war. Opposing them was the Yew Town Council (Yew), the Lost Order of Alkabeth and eventually the Moonglow Town Council, Britannian Council Knights and the Urban Knights.
The War:
Each battle does not require its own breakdown as the methods and tricks employed were the same in each battle with only the sites of bloodshed being different. There were five locations where battle occured. The southern sheep pens, the Yew healers, the Court of Justice, the straights offshore (sea battle) and the ruins north of the Orc Fort. Each side drew up plans for counter-attacking once one sides advance was checked and would thus determine the victor by who managed to drive the other back to their headquarters first. With their battle plans prepared and their allies gathered, the war began in earnest.
However, not every war is characterized by glorious last stands and the pulsing tide of battle and war. Some wars are remembered for simply what they were. A one-sided slaughter. The First Yew War was exactly this as the Orcs proved entirely unstoppable. With superior numbers the Orcs held a significant advantage. With battle tested tactics, namely the "krimp" (an orcish strategy of having 4 orcs box a target in and then cross heal while they killed their target), they destroyed whatever enemy formations they came across. Technology in the form of lances and bolas allowed the Orcs to swiftly dismount and targets on horseback. And finally, superior unity and discipline allowed the Orcs to command any battlefield they stepped upon.
The battles were short and bloody with the Orcs commanding the field at every turn. In a matter of weeks the war was over and the Stormreaver clan stood triumphant. The Yew Town council was forced to withdraw its authority from Felucca Yew and retreat into Trammel. Standing triumphant the Orcs took claim of the city and made use of its sheep and ale for many years to come (take that to mean what you will).
Aftermath:
With such a spectacular victory behind them, the Orcs soon became known as a large and capable power. While not "evil" in the strictest sense of the word, their warlike nature and lack of respect for orderly human institutions would often see them opposing Lightbringer guilds for years to come. The Yew Town Council faded mostly from sight as the stage of history began to shift to other places and nations, not showing any particular activity until the Second Yew War. _________________ Femmies?! HOWAH!
Can't we all just get along? No? Excellent.
Last edited by Grignag on Wed May 30, 2012 12:20 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Molly Moderator
Joined: 29 Dec 2003 Posts: 3627 Location: The ARPC Boards or Sanctus, Luna, Malas (VA USA)
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Posted: Tue May 29, 2012 9:12 pm Post subject: |
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You left out Britannian Council Knights (Pre House Gauntlet) _________________ Grand Duchess Molly Kaldhel
Oracle of Truth
The House Gauntlet
Sanctus, Luna, Malas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXoGDbJ5nLU
_______________________
"In politics, if you want anything said, ask a man. If you want anything done, ask a woman."
-Margaret Thatcher- |
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Grignag Sage
Joined: 19 Nov 2007 Posts: 500
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Posted: Wed May 30, 2012 12:20 am Post subject: |
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Updated with the guild. _________________ Femmies?! HOWAH!
Can't we all just get along? No? Excellent. |
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Tarothin Armunn Babbling Loony
Joined: 30 Dec 2003 Posts: 2061 Location: Dark Cove, Felucca
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Posted: Wed May 30, 2012 8:51 am Post subject: |
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Tell Grish I said hi!! Unless he still checks ICQ in which case I'll just send him the message myself. |
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Grignag Sage
Joined: 19 Nov 2007 Posts: 500
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Posted: Wed May 30, 2012 12:28 pm Post subject: |
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Nah. Grish has long left this part of the gaming scene behind. He still holds the fort under his account name, but I haven't seen him log onto his ICQ account in years. But i'll post the <3 's to him in FB. _________________ Femmies?! HOWAH!
Can't we all just get along? No? Excellent. |
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Tarothin Armunn Babbling Loony
Joined: 30 Dec 2003 Posts: 2061 Location: Dark Cove, Felucca
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Posted: Wed May 30, 2012 1:32 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks! |
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Molly Moderator
Joined: 29 Dec 2003 Posts: 3627 Location: The ARPC Boards or Sanctus, Luna, Malas (VA USA)
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Posted: Thu May 31, 2012 6:12 pm Post subject: |
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There are still a few of us that talk to him from time to time. I have the orc fort for him so it does not fall. If you need to give him a message I can pass it along. _________________ Grand Duchess Molly Kaldhel
Oracle of Truth
The House Gauntlet
Sanctus, Luna, Malas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXoGDbJ5nLU
_______________________
"In politics, if you want anything said, ask a man. If you want anything done, ask a woman."
-Margaret Thatcher- |
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Grignag Sage
Joined: 19 Nov 2007 Posts: 500
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Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2012 10:20 pm Post subject: |
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Archived on the wiki. _________________ Femmies?! HOWAH!
Can't we all just get along? No? Excellent. |
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Grishnak da Orc Chief Honored Member
Joined: 16 Jan 2004 Posts: 57 Location: Hiding in Canada till the taxman leaves, then back to the war.
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Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2012 9:33 am Post subject: |
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Yewwar was to be my last Hurrah! As I was leaving for Bosnia (ah, the days of simple peacekeeping duty) soon and wanted to go out with a bang, while ensuring continuity with a new leader. SSo, after a bit of digging, here is the history of the first Yewwar as recorded for posterity.
[Quote] Historic Note - Yew / Orc War Recap I had intended to post this series of reports back when they were more timely to the situation. Unfortunately, I never got around to doing so. However, I do find them to be of significance to the shard and thus have decide to post-report them as an historical note. They were all authored by Grishnak, except where noted.
Yew War - The Beginning
Darkness covered the Stormreaver Fort like a blanket. Grishnak stood looking over the walls below him and pondered. The watch fires burned low and the quiet murmuring of an army asleep drifted up to his ears. Nodding to himself, he turned and reentered the sanctum of his tower, grimacing as his back twinged in pain.
Settling himself in his great chair, he looked at the cow skin stretched across one wall, the skin converted into a map of the lands surrounding the fort. Shifting his weight in his chair, trying to ease the pain of age, Grishnak stared through the map into the past. A long way since living as a street urchin in Britannia, he now ruled an empire. It had taken fourteen years to reach this point.
Fourteen years of struggle. Fourteen years of toil and war and preparations for this one final act. Grishnak had rallied the lost Orcs to his banner, claimed the ancestral fort, and proceeded to give rebirth to the once proud Orcish nation. Now the time was at hand to complete his great quest. Now was the time to drive the Humans and Elves from the lands of the Orcs for all time.
Sitting in his revere, Grishnak contemplated the events of the past. The war with Moonglow over their betrayal. The kidnapping of the dirt thief Cyan. Carrying off the Woman in Red to the depths of Despise and holding her there.
At that thought, Grishnak shuddered, remembering how she left him, singed and bleeding. Other wounds he felt, more and more with each passing year: the scar on his face from a Yewbie’s sword, the chipped fang from when Dunedain challenged him. What hurt him most of all were the memories of Orcs past.
So many lost. So very many.
Korgath, the mighty Orc Lord, lost on his mission to the mines. Snarfu, slain by the restless souls of his vanquished enemies. Marga’bud, the first Orc to answer his cry for unity. Krog the Elder, slain defending the Shame pass. Durin, the Renegade, who left the Clan to seek his own empire. Dead all these years.
Footsteps on the stairs behind him pulled him back to the present. Turning he saw Snarg, son of Snarfu, and the Tribe leaders Qog and Fugluk enter the room. The time was at hand.
Tomorrow would begin the final assault on Yew. In this, there would be no quarter. Either Yew would fall to the Orcs, or the Clan would shatter itself trying. Grishnak felt his age and knew if the Orcs were to retake what was theirs, it would have to be now, for this would be Grishnak’s final battle.
Yew War - The First Battle
Several days ago, I recieved word from William Smit the IV that the Stormreaver Orcs were going to finally live out the ultimate dream of the Stormreaver Orc Clan, to take their ancestral home of Yew from the humans. They wanted someone to witness this historic event, and they chose... me.
Somewhat distressed over William's reversion back to his old, orcish ways, and somewhat distressed over the fact that the Orcs were attacking Yew, I went to the Orc Fort, where Grishnak told me what his plan was, and that he needed someone who could speak the language of men to tell of the great battle. So it began.
Monday I arrived at the Stormreaver Orc fort, expecting the usual crowd of five or six Orcs. I was, quite simply, shocked. I counted approximately fourty Orcs milling about, snarling, eating strange things, and generally being disgusting. With the sudden appearance of a human in their home, the Orcs snarled and went on the defensive, surrounding me rather quickly.
"Dis de humie we not to clump?" Snarg asked Grishnak.
Grishnak looked. Then, he was distracted by a small rabbit hopping by, so he had to look again. "Err. yub. He mojo scwibble and draw pictures."
I breathed a sigh of relief and sat down to watch the "festivities" as the fourty something Orcs hit each other with blunt (and not so blunt) objects, cut cloth into bandages (which they called healies.) and ordered the slaves to bring them more of the "Majuk waddah" which, for all practical purposes, seemed to look exactly like potions, though I noted that their refreshing red potions contained more blood than most alchemists require. I also noticed that the Orcs were rubbing dead, rancid rats up against their weapons, much in the way that assassins poison swords, and, as only a few Orcs had this ability to rub rancid rat against a sword properly, many of the others were asking these gifted few to "rat" their weapons for them. I noted this and began to wonder if it would be effective in battle. "Fark!" Grishnak began to shout. "Fark! Who tuld them idits to go to da ruins?!" Apparently, this was not a good thing, as Grishnak began to beat his head against a wall. "Me wunt everyone to get into the fort!" he shouted. "Into da fort!"
"Into da fort, into da fort!" the Orc chorus began. "Ju too, humie." Shak'nak said, pushing me along.
When everyone had gotten into the fort, it was a shocking site indeed. I counted the Orcs, there was a line of thirty Orcs, with various high ranking Orcs, which Shak'nak said were the "Waarghs, Captains and nobs" milling about on ostards. I had never seen the Orcs ride any mount before - usually I saw them eating mounts. Grishnak stood before the shouting, smelly masses, and began to rally his troops. I could not always hear him, being in the back, but the effect was profound. When he charged the Stormreavers to take back the land that the pathetic elves and humans had conspired to take from the Orcs, the troops were so enthused that they could have taken on the Bludgod himself.
Just as Grishnak finished his first round of shouting, the hulking demonic form of the Bludgod himself came from the ground, his towering figure merely observing the gathered Orcs. The Bludgod smiled and nodded and then vanished back to where ever it is he hails from.
"Fur da Bludgod and Grishnak! Hoowah!"
"HHooooowwwaaahhh!"
"Take ober Yew! Har har!"
"Hoowwhaa!"
With that, and a few shouts from Grishnak, the Orcish horde thundered from the fort, shouting a vicious warcry as Qog led them to the battlefield.
"Dis is really sumthin, humie." Grishnak said to me.
"Indeed." I replied.
"Ju be drawin' sketches an rememberin wut happens, cuz dis be de beginin of de time dat de Orcs take back wut we had taken frum us!" And with that the Orc chieftain ran to join his shouting troops, the nobles running along side him with the frightened ostards, through the woods towards Yew. I ran after, unable to keep up the frenzied pace of the berzerk orcish hordes.
Out of breath, I arrived at the ruins north of the fort and south of Yew where the Orcs were laying their ambush. Grishnak took a break from whipping his troops into a bloodlusting frenzy to do some cold, calculative military planning. As he ordered the troops to split into three groups, I felt someone tap me on the shoulder.
"Ah, Garrett." I heard him say. It was William Smit the IV. "How do you like my handiwork?"
"Your handiwork?" I replied. "I thought that retaking Yew was the calling of the Stormreavers."
"Aye, it is..." William replied. "But I helped bring it to this." "Oh really." I said.
"Yes. Enjoy the show, Garrett. And make sure you don't get killed." "I always manage." I replied.
I muttered some unheard words beneath my breath. Had Will had given the Orcs this idea so he could take Yew in this manner after having lost the mayor's election? But, there was no time for that, things were happening.
Grishnak's troops, the largest force, remained in the center of the battlefield. He sent the other two forces off, one to the east, one to the west, so that the forces formed a cup that would surround the Yew army as it marched in from the North. Tactically, it was a brilliant plan, except that the Yew army decided to march in from the east instead of the North. The eastern wing was slightly outnumbered, but they fought well, the filthy rotten rat on their weapons was apparently as deadly as the strongest poison, though the fierceness of the assualt was being pushed back by the Yew advance. Then, Grishnak's wave of troops charged in, clashing against the Yew lines. The screaming horde of Orcs outnumbered the soldiers at least three to one. It did not look like something the Yew army would survive. I saw Grishnak himself slicing men in half with his axe as the Orcs around him laid into their opponents with filth-covered cutlasses and scimitars. As the rear line of Yew's mages saw the battle, they began to cast all manner of spells - magic was thrown about, stunning the Orc forces and dropping more than one Stormreaver, but the mages had never counted on having Orcs on ostards attack them with full force. Just as the Yew lines broke and the fighting settled down, the Western wing of the Stormreaver army arrived, finding little to do other than chase down stragglers and beat down the few remaining members of the Yew army. The Orcs had won the day.
"Dere be other battles." Grishnak said. "But we win dis one! TO DA FORT!" He shouted, and a warcry arose from the gathered Orcs as they raised their weapons and the severed heads of their enemies to the sky, saluting Grishnak and the bloodgod.
"Fur Grishnak and duh bludgod!" they shouted, as the mages opened gates to the fort.
The festivities at the fort were amazing. Food and ale flowed like water, and I helped myself to a bag of ale as the Orcs killed the ostards they had been riding and began to cook them. But, my time there was done. Just as I was about to leave, William Smit the IV stopped me again.
"If the battles contine in this manner - which they will - Yew will never be the same." he said.
"I remember when you were vice-mayor of Yew." I said. "Seems like alot of trouble to become mayor, all this."
"Not mayor of Yew, Garrett." He said. "Mayors work for Lord British. I work for the Bludgod! And I will be chieftain of Grishnakopolis!"
"Sounds like a bad tourist attraction." I said.
"All humans will have a place in Grishnakopolis." William said. "Some in the mines, some on our dinner tables!" and with that he let out a rather wicked laugh. I felt it was time to leave.
So this is the story of how the Orcs won the first battle of Yew, after years of planning to do so, this is the culmination of the dreams of the Stormreavers. I can only hope that the citizens and guilds of Yew will protect and defend their city with greater numbers in the future.
Garrett Granth; Guildmaster, Master Author Guardians of Lore
Yew War-The Second Battle (we fought for sheep)
The drums beat in the cool night air, while the watchfires burned along the palisades. Inside the Orc Fort, the Nobs gathered around the sheepskin map of Yew. With charcoal in hand, they made various markings on the map, indicating the different possible directions of attack. After much arguing and bashing about, all the Nobs agreed that they had the perfect plan for taking of Yew. Picking up the sheepskin, they carried it over to the Chief's tower to present to the Chief.
Inside the tower, Grishnak was drunk. Celebrating the victory over the Yewbies had lasted for days, each day getting more and more fuzzy from the accumulated effects of stale ale and lack of sleep. Retelling the story of how he slew a hundred armed men with just an axe (he was, after all, trying to impress a fem), he jumped atop the table and swung his axe in a mighty circle. The circle ended in with the axe imbedded in the wall. Sumbling, Grishnak fell from the table, kicking over the brazier burning in the corner and setting fire to the fur lining the floor.
Qog, Og'din and Fugluk burst through the door and thrust the plan to Grishnak. With his helm covering most of his eyes, Grishnak took the sheepskin and began to beat the fires with it. Howling with singed knuckles, and to the horror of the Nobs, Grishnak tossed the sheepskin map atop the blaze.
Thinking quickly, Zhan'ee jumped up and stomped out the flames with her boots, then smacked Grishnak's helm clear around on his head.
'Tupid pug! Ju ruined da plan!'
Grumbling, Grishnak grabbed hold of the horns of his helmet and tried to pull it off, smashing his nose in the process.
'Bah! Nub need plan. Meh knu wut tu du. Meh just gwu nort!'
Looking among themselves, the Nobs just shrugged and agreed it was a good plan.
Dawn found the Orcs staggering out for battle. With them rode the dark knights of the Shadow Counsel and the Holy Disciples of Darkness. Their objective, sieze control of the farming communities of Yew. Key to control over the farmlands was the sheep farm south of the Town Square. From there, the Orcs could both control the farms and prepare to launch their offensive deeper into Yew territories.
Vargen, Captian of the Yew Militia, surveyed his defenders. The losses suffered in the last battle had been replaced, and reinforcements had arrived from the Lost Order of Akalabeth and Clan Moor. Mighty knights, resplendant in arms and armor, and stout yeomen bearing the arms of freemen, all pledged with one task: defend their homes.
Realizing that they still were outnumbered by the Orcish hordes, they hoped to reinforce the structures of the farms and fight a defensive battle. Assembling all their forces inside the walls of the sheep pen, they stood fast, the sounds of marching feet approaching from the south.
From the south and the west, in two great waves, the Orc hordes desended upon the defenders. Spying the foe holed up inside the sheep pen, Grishnak let loose a mighty yell and hurled a smoking purple flask into the mass of human and horse flesh blocking the gate. The resultant explosion knocked Grishnak off his feet and into the darkness of unconciousness.
The waves of Orcs assaulting the gates began to pile up bodies all along the walls. The Yew plan was working! Orcs could not breach the gate and the few knights who fell were quickly replaced. Even the guards of the absent king lent their aid, slaying the Orcs who sought to pull the riderless horses to the ground and roast them.
Thinking quickly, Gogmagog and Shagrat, Orcish Shamans both, hurled their combined magic at the forces in the gate, opening up the ranks of the humans long enough for Durgoth, Grekunk Tribe Captian, to lead a charge.
Into the breach came the remaining Orcs, spilling into the now open ground of the sheep farm. Now that their numbers could be brought to bear, the human lines fell back. Isolated knights were pulled from their horses and pummeled. In the end, all that remained were the Orcs and the sheep, and the sheep were scared.
Yew War- Third Battle
Grishnak strode through the fort, kicking up dust with his boots. Looking around, he saw the Orc war machine in full gear. Pugs hammering out more weapons, more armor. Majuks preparing their erbs and chanting to gain the power of the Bludgod. Wargh'Chai's rubbing their blades down with rancid rats. The push into Yew town was going well.
The little one Zha'Sheik runs up to Grishnak with a rock and drops it on his boot. Yelling in surprise, Grishnak hops on one foot, holding the other, then falling over onto a cookfire.
"Gah!" he yelled, rolling about trying to put out the flames. "Wot woz dat for?"
Grinning mistchieviously, Zha'Sheik replied "Meh bopped ju! Har Har!" and darted away.
Rising to his feet, the bruised and burned Chieftain grumbled, then glared at the watching Orcs, all who suddently found other things to do.
Snarg came up to Grishnak, trying very hard not to let his smirk show.
"Dem redy for ju buss," he said.
Nodding, Grishnak went up into his tower to confir with Navrip and Smogg, leaders of the Disciples and the Necromancers. The three of them confered and planned and schemed. The next offensive into Yew took shape.
The next day, the Orcs assembled for war. Leading off were the Grekunk, the green death. Fading into the shadows of the forest, they moved into position overlooking the Yew Town Square. Noting the defensive lines the Yewbies had assembled, Og'din the Unseen left Voqk to watch and returned to the assembled horde at the Yew Sheep farm.
There he found Grishnak and Qog rousing the spirits of the Horde with shouts and promises of blood. Quickly Og'Din reported the position of the Yewbies and their numbers. Darting out between the legs of the assembled troops, Zha'Sheik yelled at the top of her little lungs "Meh wonna bop dem!" and she stooped to pick up a rock. Laughing, Smogg rallied his assembled Necromancers and started heading north. The Orcs swept to the west, circling the south side of the Town Square and striking the Yewbie lines from their west flank.
The Yew Militia, the Clan Moor, the Sic Semper Gloria, and the Lost Order all had assembled a defense anchored on the Bowyer shop and the Butcher shop in the town center. A line of mounted knights stretched between the two, with archers and mages behind them. Covering their flank was another screen of mounted knights.
All knew that this battle would be critical. If they lost this, then the Orcs would be knocking on the doors of the Abby in no time. They HAD to push back the hordes. Their hope, that the Urban Knights would arrive at the field of battle in time to throw their weight of numbers into the fray.
The Orc horde crashed into the Knights, pulling them from their horses and pummeling with axes and spears. The sheer ferocity of the attack pushed back the line momentarily, and a moment was all that was needed.
Springing from the shadows, Grekunk Captian Voqk plunged a rat coated blade into a Yewbie mage, causing panic in their ranks. The bend in the lines of the knights became a breach, and into it poured the Orcs.
Several Orcs lay dead or dying before taking 3 steps into the Town, but over their bodies rushed more. The mass of numbers soon pinned the Yewbies against the Bowyar's walls. Now the Necromancers entered the battle, hurling their black magic spells into the few remaining knights. Their charred and blackened remains sliding to the ground in a tinkle of broken chainmail was the death durge of the Yewbies.
The last knight, unhorsed, threw himself to his knees. Pulling his helm off his head, he looked up at the massed Orcs.
"I beg of you, mercy!" he cried.
Pausing, the Orcs laughed cruely at his plight. Then Zha'Sheik darted out between their legs and bopped him on the head.
Yew War- Fourth Battle Lost at sea
Grishnak leaned over the side of the ship The Broken Fang, and emptied the contents of his stomach into the sea for the fourth time.
"Har Har!" laughed Sugrod, behind him. "We nub eben get uut ob da bay yet"
Glaring, Grishnak turned back and heaved over the side again.
Far ahead, the assembled fleets of the Urban Navy, the Town of Yew, and Clan Moor waited. Vic Twenty, the Fleet Admiral, surveyed his fleet and pondered. His intelligence told him that 12 ships, carrying almost 50 Orcs was heading his way. Grimly he went about counting the number of arrows and greater explosions each ship possessed.
The Orc fleet made the turn out of the bay and into the Ocean proper. That's where things took a turn for the worst.
Signalling to the fleet to come about, the Orcs on the following ships looked at eachother.
"Wot dat means?"
"Err, means gwu rite!"
"Nub! Means gwu left!"
"Tupid! It means thwo da booom booms," and that miscreant triggered several on his own ship, obliterating the vessel.
As the Orc fleet got more and more bedraggled, a dark storm appeared on the horizon. Vic Twenty eyed the approaching storm with trepedation. Orcs he could handle, he hoped. Storms he could weather, usually.
Orcs and a storm?
That might be hard.
As the dark clouds blotted out the sun, the ships from the Orc fleet sailed into the waters surrounding the Yew Prison, Orcs intent upon freeing William Smit and installing him as Chieftain of Yew. The first clashes between Orc and Yewbie were undecisive, ships becoming lost in the waves. Soon the pelting rain was such that ships floundered, men and Orc thrown overboard, ships beaching themselve on any land and disgorging sea sick Orcs and Men.
Some ships actually came to grapple range and fierce, but short, battles raged across the decks. These battles had no weight against the storm however. Try as they might, the Orcs could not press home their attack while the storm scattered them across the ocean.
Yew would stand another day.
Final Conquest of Yew, Loss of a Chief
William Smit sat in his prison cell, playing dodge the rats with the other denizens of his small enclosure. Occastionally a guard would wander by, either on some errand further past him, or to drop off a bowl of gruel.
Whenever that happened, William would shout out to the guard.
"Hey turnscrew! You're gonna like it in the mines, I'll see to it!"
Invariably this brought laughter to the guards early on in his captivity. As the Orc forces pushed closer and closer however, the guards would avoid eye contact and hurry away.
Soon the smell of smoke was hanging in the air, and the clash of metal on metal could be heard in the distance. William just sat back in his cell and played with his long and nasty beard and smiled.
The defenders of Yew knew this was their last stand. They had to hold the line here and hope that reinforcements would arrive. Fast riders had gone out to call in the military might of neighbors to the north and east, but no word had yet reached them. Though they swore to defend Yew to the last man, each feared that today he would be called upon to perform the final task.
Vargen, Captain of the Yew militia, felt his drop as the ranks of Orcs marched towards the walls of the Court of Truth. Knowing they could not match the enemy man for Orc, Vargen had hoped that by fighting from the Court, he would be able to use the superior defenses of the stone ediface to his advantage. Upon seeing the ranks of Orcs preparing to assault, he knew that the stone walls would not make a difference.
"GAH!" Grishnak cried out as he fell off the featherless bird for the fifth time. Climbing back to his feet, he drew his scimitar to slay the beast, only to be stayed by the laughter of the Orcs around him.
"Shaddap! Alla ju shaddap ur get clumped!"
Grumbling something about traditions and not riding food, Grishnak climbed back atop the ostard, which seemed even then to glare at him with a malicious look.
"Oki birdee, ju nub like meh, und meh nub like ju. Meh makee deel wid ju. Ju nub du dat agun, meh nub eat ju win dis ober."
The ostard settled down with those soothing words, and the Chieftain continued to troop his lines. Satisfied with the sight of 50 Orcs and the outriders of the Shadow Counsel and Holy Disciples of Darkness, he gave the signal to advance.
The Orc Horde smashed into the defenders at the Court of Truth like a tidal wave. Man and beast were pulled from the walls of the Court and hurled into the courtyard. Swarms of Orcs assaulted up the steps to the walls.
Trugak and lu'zan charged into one battlement, only to be confronted by a barrier of piled boxes. Laughing at this feeble attempt to hold them out, Trugak smashed into the barrier with his axe. The resulting explosion blew Trugak and lu'zan to the Bludgod in tattered rags. Bits of Orc decorated the entire room.
U'nuk, with several Runts in tow, charged into the room and stopped. "eep!" he hollered, then charged right back out again.
The fighting moved swiftly into the bowls of the Court of Truth, the dwindling numbers of defenders falling back farther and farther towards the prison. Their task was hopeless. For each Orc that they managed to slay, two more stepped up to take his place.
Soon they were fighting outside the cell of William.
"Should we slay William," one asked, knowing the situation to be that desperate.
"No," sighed Vargen. "It wouldnt make a difference. The Orcs will just find another puppet"
William pressed his nose gleefully against the bars of his cell and watched the last Yew defender fall before the scimitars of the Orcish Horde.
"Get me outta here!"
Laughing and shouting Orcs quickly broke the door to his cell and cut the chains off his wrists. Escorted to the Court of Truth, the Orcs sat William in the chair of the High Judge.
At last the battle was over. With William installed as Chieftain of Yew, the Orcs had won their war. William immediately signed the documents surrendering the souther half of Yew to the Orcs, foreswearing all claim of territory. That which had been stolen long ago was returned. The Orc Nation was reborn.
Grishnak sighed and leaned back against the wall, then slid down till he was sitting on the floor. It was done. Fourteen years of fighting over in an afternoon. He felt the aches and pains in his body. Age, affliction, and wounds, all felt worse and worse with each passing day.
As he watched the Orcs parade about and loot and pillage, he smiled to himself and closed his eyes to darkness one final time.
A boot to the ribs brought Grishnak quickly to his feet, snarling and reaching for his axe. The sight that greeted him stopped him cold.
Laughing eyes stared at him, eyes he had not seen in years. "Korgath," he said. "Ib dat reely ju?"
Laughing again, Korgath nodded, then pointed behind Grishnak.
Grishnak turned and saw he was in the courtyard of a mighty citadel. A pen of pump horses occupied one corner, a giant black tower took up the view on one side, and rows of hunched slaves carted kegs of ale into the tower.
Amazed, Grishnak looked back to Korgath.
"We been ekspekting ju," Korgath said.
Grishnank looked down his body and realized his pains were gone, his wounds healed. Then he realized were he was, and grinned.
"Kum, lets gwu. Da Bludgod waitin for ju," Korgath said. Spying Krog the Elder leading in fresh horses to the feast, Grishnak knew he would like it here.
- by the Spirit of Grishnak _________________ " Got Orc?"
"A day without orcs is like a day without oxygen"
" Orcs may not be that cuddly, but God are they cute!"
- Polly The Hobbit |
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SunWolf Journeyman
Joined: 07 Feb 2004 Posts: 102 Location: Yew
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Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2012 12:27 am Post subject: |
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The story that Grish posted is accurate from what I remember. Yew never vanished after the first war, there were reasons why we all stepped back and did our own thing which we still do. We have been together for fourteen years now, with the same people, kept in contact with those that have left the game as well playing other games with them. The most fun we had was when we would interact with the other groups in our area and build up a trusting relationship with them resulting in fun for all. The first Yew war was built on that. We didn't use ghost spies; we used gm armor, respected each other as though they were our own guild members
Vargen stepped down from Captain soon after the war, and Silent Death was promoted. Yew had close to 70 real members and still was saving Molly, We were fighting orcs and running skirmishes against NCR.
Following Silent Death was Axita Captain, and soon after her, I rejoined Yew from KOS. Yew had 80 some member. Some were affliliated with the guild TWT, with whom we are currently in a close alliance. Clan Moor is the lastest addition to the alliance at this time. So in 14 years, the links in the chain keeps adding and we are having fun.
The date on the Yew War, August - Sept 2000 or somewhere around there.
Next time when someone wish's to write any history on the Yew Town Council, please feel free to ask us cause we still in game somewhere. Sorry for the late post, I, nor any of us don't really follow these boards but it is still our guild.
http://twtguild.freeforums.org/ |
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SunWolf Journeyman
Joined: 07 Feb 2004 Posts: 102 Location: Yew
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Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2012 12:58 am Post subject: |
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From our old criminal records
William Smit IV
Sex: Male
Charge: Career criminal.
Status: At Large.
Guild: William spent a short amount of time as a Militia Private before returning to work as a playwright in his own guild. After his first trial he joined several guilds all of which are members of the Dark Conclaive. He was last known to be a member of the Stormreaver Orc Clan. Intelligence is checking on his current affliation.
Appearance: William Smit IV always wears a dark blue colored jester's outfit. For combat he switches into a full plate mail set made from shadow iron.
Hangouts: William is often seen at, in, and around Yew. And has recently been spotted on several occasions at the former BTF castle, now headquaters of the Dark Awakening.
House: As far as we know Willian does not currently own a house, though Intelligence is checking on this information.
Stormreaver Orc Clan
Charge: Kidnapping, Murder, Arson, and Horse Thievery.
Status: At Large
Tactics: The Orcs are well trained in ganging tactics. Many orcs are relatively weak, but they work well together. Orcs will usually demand tribute unless hostile intent is shown.
Guild: ORC. Their title is a relative identifier of their skill level.
Appearance: Orcs generally wear ringmail armor, and use wooden shields and scimitars. Armor is colored based on rank. They are easily recognizable by their orcish faces and helmets.
Hangouts: The Orc Clan currently makes its home at the Orc Fort near Yew on the Felluca facet.
Leaders: The leadership of the Orcs has changed hands several times. Grishnak, Qog, Snarfu, and Korgath have all held the reins one or more times in the past.
House: The Orcs maintain two small shacks near the Orc Fort to hold their gear. Orcs are often found training in front of the northern-most shack. |
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