The Great Orc March

Population Migration / Travel

A vast migration of orc tribes from northern Varangia that moved through southwest Reikerk and into Faleria and southern Savia, usurping control from the Palladian Empire.

Beginning in the winter of 11 SE, a large number of orcish war bands hailing from the Dyrmark Wilds of northern Varangia began to move north along with their mates and children. It is believed they had been driven from the region by the Wodlings, a human tribe recently arrived as part of the Great Exodus of Man. They attempted to settle in western Reikerk, but instead gained more followers who advised them they had better chances of gaining land peacefully in the Palladian provinces.   From here, the orcs marched into Faleria and at the border fort of Marquinet, they asked the commander for entry into the Empire. The commander initially agreed but several hours into the crossing, she received a missive from the provincial capital and her men attacked the incoming orcs. It is unclear why the commander did this, and a number of theories have been put forward. The orcs, easily outnumbering the garrison, overran the Palladians and torched the defenses.   Led by their chief, Vojdan Thundercrow, the orcs terrorized the Falerian countryside and sacked each town they came across. They largely ignored the peasantry but did butcher many landholders. The Palladians were initially unable to mount a strong defense, as two provincial legions had been sent to Placidia to put down a slave revolt and to Savia to resolve a decurion's succession crisis. The orcs managed to sack the provincial captial of Galedinion, before General Irleneia rallied her forces near Pinereach to face them.   At the Battle of the Red Grove, the Palladians managed to cut down a large number of orc warriors, only for Vojdan and her fellow mages to terrorize the Palladian cavalry and direct them to cut down their own soldiers. With her men demoralized and forces diminished, Irleneia met the main orc horde one final time at the Battle of Sojorner's Rest and was decisively routed.   A peace treaty was signed by Irleneia and her subordinates, declaring Vojdan Executive Consul of Faleria and Warden of the Eastern Territories, effectively ending Palladian rule of the province. Palladian patricians and nobles that surrendered to the orcs were allowed to keep some lands but those that did not had them seized and given to the orc refugees.