Brood Wagon

One of the most fascinating and original creations of the Clans, the Brood Wagon I believe is what they call it, but it's basically a giant cart carrying their dead. However, it is also how they procreate. Basically, the Aeslurin Kingdom had this ritual that would bring their creations back from the dead. When the Clans got a hold of them and declared war on their masters, they tried their best with their limited knowledge of magic to recreate this ritual spell. However, they were still Apprentices trying to recreate the work of Masters. The something went wrong when the first Wagons were created and made it so that it created newborns rather than just bringing back the dead. This isn't much of a problem for the Clans though, it just means a slight setback but that hasn't stopped them from covering the lands they control.

— Malvrari's Manuals of the Wilds, Volume 3, Orc Lands

History

When the Clans were slaves to the Aeslurins, the mages were the ones who cast the rituals and resurrected the Orcs and Goblins after battles so their numbers were preserved. However, when the Clans gained knowledge of the ritual they did their best to recreate it in a way that was portable and able to be used without constant maintenance by their own mages. In copying the ritual, however, they made mistakes and so it turned it into a spell that creates younger versions of those who it tries to resurrect. The Clans also did not know that Goblins and Orcs where separated for the rituals, so when they threw everything into the Wagon it spontaneous created both the Bugbears and Hobgoblins as sub species. This led to the modern clans which have only been strengthened by this technology.

Construction

The War Wagons are constructed with their floors slightly curved upwards so that the bodies will pile neatly in the center. They are also treated with a sealant to keep the fluids and other liquids inside. There are rows of metal on the inside with runes carved that are the Clans crude rendition of the Creation Ritual. The top is also covered and sealed so that it creates the entire ritual circle.

Armor & Defenses

Large slabs of metal are hammered onto it's sides which are then covered in magical runes that help ward off magic.

Appearance

The wagon looks like a massive metal adorned box with reinforced wheels designed to churn through everything in its path. There are also 4 metal rods that can be pulled down so that if need be the squad of bugbears can lift and carry it over particularly rough terrain. The Brood Mother and other orcs simply follow behind it ready to defend it with their lives if need be.

Uses

The inside of the wagon is covered in magical runes that are activated by living flesh of the Brood Mother keyed to the Wagon. The Brood Mother picks up the bodies of the dead and puts them inside the Wagon. Then they cut a piece of themselves off and trigger the spell. It takes a little bit of time, which usually the War Wagon pulls back behind the lines, and then releases the new formed children into the care of the other Brood Mothers. Then they squad with the Wagon moves back out into the battlefield to keep gathering the dead.

Propulsion

The Brood Mother can move it through the magic of the wagon which is VERY slow, or it can be pulled by bugbears, which is faster.

Nickname

War Wagon

Rarity

1 for each horde of orcs

Beam

8 feet

Length

20 feet

Height

15 feet

Weight

up to 6 tons

Speed

2 mph

Complement / Crew

The Brood Mother, 3 or 4 hobgoblins, and 5 to 10 orcs

Used By

DUL
GRUUL
GARN
YAK

Further Reading