A Bad Prediction

A Bad Prediction is a fairytale that Orcs tell their children so that they do not trust everything a stranger tells them. This is the story as told by an Orc in The Tales of Udai, transcribed by Workris Galkan.

Javrakk the Smug by Jarhed

A Bad Prediction

"There were two Orcs. Bhull the Wild and Javrakk the Smug. They were best friends. Strong, but not Chiefs. They went out to raid one day, but a small tent stood in the way. They could go around it, but that is the cowards way! Real Orcs go through danger!"

The Orc then wanted to go fight something, so the story was picked up again later.

"They go into the tent, right, and a Korvian is sitting there with a crystal ball. Big, shiny. Korvian looks at them and says, 'I can tell your fortune. You two will kill each other.'"

When asked if that was the extent of the prophecy, the Orc said,

Bhull the Wild by Jarhed

"What? No! There was more! It was... 'You two... will die from each other! Together you bring doom!' Javrakk smirked, but Bhull... he believed it! He left Javrakk and made his own Clan! Javrakk, in fear of Bhull and the prophecy, went back home to get stronger. When he heard Bhull was Chief, he challenged his Chief and killed him. Then, the two Orcs were both Chiefs! They raided all of Udai, getting strong and looting villages! They ripped the continent apart so they would be ready if they ever had to fight. But deep down... neither wanted to fight!"

The Orc that was telling the story went to bed after this, meaning that there was another break in the story. The next day, the story continued.

"They avoided each other every chance they had to meet. Anytime someone warned them the other was near, they ran. For they had been told that the other would be their death would be caused by their best friend, and they did not want that. To be killed by their best friend and to kill their best friend was a fate neither Orc wanted. So they kept away from each other. They never were happy, because they were not with their best friend. They were only scared and angry."

The Orc began eating during the telling of the next part of the story.

Tricker by Jarhed

"It was only years later, after Bhull had become a monstrous legend, that he finally heard of what happened to Javrakk. His best friend, who never wanted to fight in the first place, had been killed in battle by a group of Korvians. Bhull, who had dedicated his life to ensuring that he would be able to survive fighting Javrakk after hearing the prophecy, fell to his knees at this news. It was then that he realized what the Korvian had done. The Korvian never predicted anything. Just told a story, and Bhull believed it. He had ruined his and his best friend's lives all for a false fortune. He wished he could take it back, but it was too late. He was now Bhull the Wild, the feared Chief that he never wanted to be, and his best friend that he wanted to share his life and his loot with, was dead. All because of one Korvian... named Tricker. The lesson to learn is to never trust anyone you don't know! If Bhull had listened to Javrakk, they would be together! But he listed to a stranger, and ruined everything!"

Historical Basis

Records of many stories throughout Udai folklore indicate that Tricker was, in fact, a real man that lived some time from 112-250. Various tales tell of his exploits, tricking various people into horrible situations all for a good laugh. Bhull the Wild is a feared figure whose name many Orcs grow up hearing as well, though it is believed that this story may have been created to humanize Bhull so that Orcs would not grow up to be as evil and ruthless as the famed Orc was. It is also possible Bhull was never real at all.


It is unlikely that Javrak was a real person. Aside from this story, there is no record of him. Orcs are not known for keeping historical documents though, so it is possible, but for a Chief that rivaled Bhull, it would be expected that he would at least have one other story to his name.

For Korvians

Galkan discovered that the tale existed in Korvian society as well. It was a very different story, portraying Tricker in a similar but more positive light. His trick is not meant to evoke the reaction of not trusting others (though that is always something Korvians believe should be taught, as they love to fend for themselves). Instead, Trickers actions are meant to show how easy it is to deal with Orcs, and that one should not be afraid to face them with everything they have. Tricker's story is told to make Korvians less scared of their, as the Korvians say, "less civilized" neighbors.

Other Cultures

A Bad Prediction was adapted into a story by the Elves, who did not want to use a story from Orcs. It was adapted, instead, into a story about a Dark Elf Head Priest of the Goddess Sia who had Prediction Magic, who convinced two members of the Elven army to fight each other, tearing apart the foundation which lead to the Elven army becoming one single unit rather than the split, Dwarven-like squads.
The Dwarves didn't like the slander in the Elven story, particularly because the insult at the end was not earned at all. There were no Dwarves in the story at all! So they replaced the Dark Elf Priest with a Dwarven General who had Prediction Magic so that the story would make more sense. They also just wanted Dwarves in the story who would fuck with Elves. They did not really think about any deeper meaning in the story other than that.