The Great Calamity

Disaster / Destruction

Humans, Elves and Dwarves invaded, slaughtered and uprooted Orc-Kind.

During the era of Giants the Orcs still lived all across the south in their traditional manner, dividing themselves into clans and farming the fertile soil or hunting wild game depending on the season. The Humans, Elves and to some extent Dwarfs had long coveted said lands, often raiding border villages, claiming hunting grounds for their resources or simply taking the skulls of Orcs they came upon as trophies, but it was only when they ended their internal bickering that they could accomplish something as horrifying as The Great Calamity. The Elves were the first to draw blood, marching into the Maw Peninsulas and spreading fire and devastation, with all those not slaughtered or surrendering chained and forced into submission by the Elves. The few survivors spread the word across the Orcish lands of the terrible bloodshed, but by this time it was too late. The Humans and Dwarfs had already descendend in the east, trapping many between the forces advancing on both sides. Some escaped, but most where either taken as slaves by the Elves or willingly submitted to the Dwarves or Humans, who then turned around and sold them away into bondage regardless.   By the winter of the year 789 there were no free Orcs left in the west and from what survivors have recounted the land has been wiped of all traces of them, with new Human or Elven settlements now occupying old Orcish lands. As all hope seemed lost, a great clansman by the name of Grolbach the Liberator rallied the great clans of the Orcs and in desperation to prevent further bloodshed volountarily forfeited the leadership of the Orcish lands to the noble Dragon Jawbreaker, earning the Orcs his protection. For a time the Elves and Humans stayed their hand, too busy razing Orcish settlements to ruins and putting down slave rebellions to truly look to the east. When the attack finally came, Grolbach met them on the open field with steel and dragonfire by his side. Despite all the preparation, it was not enough. Grolbach died valiantly in battle stood atop a pile of the corpses of both Men, Elves, Dwarves and Orcs, for so ferocious was the battle that the rivers turned to blood and men got trapped in piles of their dead comerades.   Even as Grolbach was brought down when a dozen spears pierced his chest, Jawbreaker continued to hold the line by smiting all those seeking to destroy Orc-kind with his burning flame. Even this was destined to doom, as the mages assembled and hurled their bolts of magic and pierces his scales, bringing him to the ground in a burning inferno. With this the armies of the three cruel Kings could finally make short work of those Orcish warriors that remained, cutting them down to the last man. Despite their bitter defeat, Grolbachs efforts had not been in vain. As the Orcs held the armies that sought to destory all their kind at bay the civilians, sick, children and the elderly were led by the great Clan-Mother Orthna on a journey into the high mountains where the armies would not reach, ultimately saving Orc-Kind and letting it rebuild anew alongside their Ogre and Goblin bretheren. Orc-Kind has however not forgotten this horrific act of history and one day, when Orcs are once again strong and prosperous, we will march across our former home and free all those kept in servitude and slavery, righting this horrendous act. All those who stand in our way would be right to tremble, for iron chains rust, but Orc-Kind remains strong.