The Orcs of Yew
From Atlantic Roleplay Wiki
Title: The Orcs of Yew
Author: Lord Malcolm Guile
Chapter One General History
Long before there were any humans living in lands now called "Yew" or its environs, there existed numerous tribes of orcs.
These sinister creatures fought one another over control of the lands, and, by means of constant wars and infighting, managed to keep their numbers down.
From time to time, a leader would emerge from among one of the tribes, unite them, until his death, and would lead them in invasions of neighboring territories. It is confirmed that there was at least one orcish invasion of Minoc, and a score or more raids made upon Skara Brae, which was, at that time, only a tiny hamlet of brave pioneers in the region.
The greatest among these leaders was a chieftain named Grishnak. He was so powerful and lived so long, that from his name a title was born, and all those named Grishnak after him have honored him by assuming his name. During his lifetime, he extended the lands of the orcs in all directions, forcing out all human settlements smaller that actual towns or cities, and made his name to be feared among the most stalwart warriors of mankind. The orcs believed he never died, but was taken to be with their god, to rule at his right hand. Most likely, however, he perished in battle or at the hand of one of his many sons, who sought leadership over the orcs.
Chapter Two The Orcs Dispossessed
In ages not reckoned by recorded time, as the orcs weakened themselves in the aforementioned ways, and by disease and inbreeding, which made many of them sterile, and as humankind multiplied in greater number by contrast, the orcs were pushed out of their lands over many centuries by large bands of settlers who hired bands of mercenaries to protect them from the orcs.
Ultimately the town of Yew was created by the settlers who poured into the now vacant orc lands in ever-increasing number.
During this dark time for the orcs, many of the individual tribes simply disappeared, being entirely destroyed by marauders and hired soldiers. Other groups merged. From these, only one remains to this day, and their end seems near.
[the remaining pages contain information on the nature, habits, peculiarities, martial prowess, etc., of the Yew orcs]