Book I (Ap.D): The Tale of Rhughash and Rhenna

This story was related to me by the grandchildren of Chieftain Thrakaduhl da Tharka, of Clan Dhakka, who would tell them the story when discussing his love for the elf, Kaira. Thrakaduhl’s grandchildren related the story to me as their grandfather had told it, complete with his particular way of speaking, and some laughter and tears shed for his memory.

Immortality in this life is over-rated. I know many humans long for it, wish for some way they can avoid their end, but you need to understand, there are things far worse than dying. I’ll admit, I don’t believe that we’re all dreaming. It’s the traditional orc belief, I know, that you can jump off some cliff and just pop back up somewhere else like some persistent gopher. But I’ve always held with the idea that we start with this life, and when we move onto the next, that’s it. No dying and coming back. It’s a one way trip. You get one chance at this life, so make it count.

I say all that because when I tell you immortality is a load of hog swill, I want you to understand that it’s because we get two lives for two different reasons. We get an afterlife that lasts forever, and we get this life, which doesn’t, and that’s the point. That’s what makes this life special. This life is short, so anything you gotta do, you gotta get it done fast, and not waste too much time on regretting and second guessing. Save the philosophy for the next life, you’ll have plenty of time for it.

That said, the story goes that a long, long time ago, there was a young orc named Rughash, who had a damned hard childhood. He was born in the middle of the biggest war between orcs and elves that was ever seen on this side of Kaleida. You see, after our common mother Hannoua died, the bonds between us and our elven brothers and sisters became strained. Orcs live only briefly, but elves live for a long time, so, not surprisingly, elves ultimately ended up running things. King Ellouin’s eldest daughter succeeded him, all of Queen Hannoua’s children by Dureshka being long since dead, and from then on elves controlled Lallau’s throne, and eventually everything else – even after our ancestors crossed the Morn Ocean from the Old Kingdoms and came to Feguncia.

Now, I’ll allow, it did make sense for them to run things. When an elf can watch two dozen generations of orcs come and go, you can be sure she’s going to be the wiser for it. There’re two problems with that idea though. The first is, there’s more to ruling than being wise. When you’ve lived that long, you forget what it’s like to be young, and you don’t think about how little time the rest of us have to get on with our lives. You start thinking you should be making decisions for everyone else, for their own good, but you forget what’s good for you isn’t what’s good for them. The second problem is, that while an elf might become wiser with time, they forget that some of them ain’t born with the sense God gave a horse. I’m telling you, it is possible to be so damned stupid that, if you had a hundred lifetimes, you couldn’t find your own ass with three mirrors and a court attending.

Now, problem was, in Feguncia the elves who crossed over from the old world had, for some reason I still don’t understand, allowed themselves to fall under the leadership of the dimmest elf that ever graced this hemisphere. The elven King Vlakahs was dumb as a rock. Most elves are like wine, get me? The bottle don’t change, but what’s inside gets better. Vlakahs was like bottled goats milk. In the end, he had less brains than a head of cheese, and unlike cheese, he didn’t get any sharper with age. But that didn’t matter to him because he was too stupid to know how stupid he was. Unfortunately for the rest of us, he was on the throne in Feguncia for centuries, which was more than enough time to screw the kingdom up royally. It was under him that the elves lost control of Facia to a race of bureacrats, and got hoodwinked repeatedly by Dwara in the west. Some of the other elves even tried to talk to him, explain what a damned mess he was making, but the words went in one pointy ear and out the other with nothing to catch them in between.

Now, where was I going with this? Oh, yeah, Rhughash. Rhughash was born after the orcs, and some of the humans who’d come to live beside them, had finally had enough and decided to split with the elves. Some of the elves wanted to join their fight against Vlakahs but the orcs didn’t want their help – said they needed to find their own way in the world and couldn’t do that with them hanging over their shoulders. And to their credit, those elves understood and agreed to simply be neutral. They up and left, and settled in the forests of northern Feguncia, on the coast of the Morn Ocean. Which, by the way, is where your grandmother’s family is from.

Anyway, I’m not ashamed to admit, our orc ancestors and their human allies got their asses handed to them. Vlakahs was twelve biscuits short of a baker’s dozen, but his military commanders weren’t idiots, and they knew more about fighting than three generations of orc warriors. In fact, I imagine they could have ended the war in just a few years, but the poor fellows had to deal with Vlakahs dragging them down. Almost inevitably, they’d be just about to make some decisive final victory when the king would suddenly take an interest in the war, would come down from on high, and start telling them how they should be doing things.

So about a century into the war, we orcs had gone and just about spent ourselves, despite King Vlakahs repeatedly providing the idiot’s equivalent of a divine intervention. We’d thrown everything we had at the elves as fast as possible, banking on our greater numbers and relative fearlessness to quickly overwhelm them, but it was like throwing a bucket of water at a wall. Our population was decimated – and I don’t mean that in the literal way your grandmother would say I’m supposed to use it, I mean that in the way normal folks use it; a hundred years into the war, the orc population was one tenth what it had been at the start, and that one tenth was now our entire standing military. Another defeat could have obliterated the orc population altogether.

So, that’s the world Rhughash was born into. His parents were soldiers barely older than you. They were too young to fight a war, and definitely too young to become parents, but back then orc kids were being encouraged to make babies as fast as possible, being told it was the only way to save the race. But about like you’d expect, his parents didn’t last long in battle against elves, and Rhughash was orphaned not too long after he was weaned.

Now, this part gets pretty hinky, doesn’t really make much sense, but I reckon I’ll tell it to you the only ways I ever heard it. The story goes that Rhughash was such a perceptive child, that he knew immediately what needed to be done to save his people, and that when he spoke his first words, they were a prayer to the Loutha. Now, the only way I’ve ever heard that explained, is that Rhughash was actually a Louan – a sleeper who chose to remember his previous dreams – and because of that he was able to call upon the awakened for help.

Whatever the case may be, he made a deal to become unkillable, or as the story would tell you, he made sure the Loutha kept him asleep for eternity. The idea was, an orc would finally live long enough to learn all the things the elves knew, and one orc, at least, would always survive every battle. Now, the catch was he couldn’t just restore the orc race by using the time he was afforded by his immortality to just start getting busy with orc women – he would have to be celibate – no relations with women. According to some folks, he was forbidden to love altogether. Well when Rhughash struck the deal he was an angry little boy, so he wasn’t concerned with relationships, and he agreed to it.

Now, I can assure you, it took a damned long time, but Rhughash eventually did what he said. He learned to fight, learned to win, and learned how to teach. The orcs began winning a few fights, then some more, and then a lot, and their population grew, while the elves began to wane in number. Partly because a lot of them were just tired of the war and up and left, but hey, I reckon winning is winning.

Now, in his long years of fighting Rhughash made many friends, fellow soldiers who followed him into battle and inevitably died, but he learned to accept that with grace. That is, until he met Rhenna.

Rhenna fought like a devil let lose in a locked building. No one could stand against Rhenna, so it was inevitable that Rhenna the Relentless would eventually wind up next to Rhughash the Unkillable on the battlefield. You’ve heard of the unstoppable force meeting the immovable object? Imagine if those two things met, and then decided to come after you together. They crushed the elves again and again in one battle after another. And, with so much time spent fighting alongside each other, they eventually developed a bond that transcended the comradery of the battlefield.

Now, there’re two very different versions of this story here that orcs have argued over a lot for a mighty long time. I reckon it doesn’t really matter which version is true, but you kids should know both.

In one version, Rhughash had sworn himself to celibacy, and moreover, to never know the loving touch of a woman. Because of this, he never told Rhenna how he felt about her. She knew, of course (after all, orcs aren’t subtle), but there was an unspoken agreement that they must honor his vow to the gods. Unfortunately, Rhenna eventually died on the battlefield. Rhughash knew he’d lose her eventually, of course, but when Rhenna did actually die, with Rhughash never having actually told her he loved her, he was overwhelmed with grief over the loss. Moreover, because of his immortality, he fell into despair, because he knew he’d never see her again. He knew that if he’d consummated their love, they could have died together, and been joined in the afterlife, but he had made a vow, and could not break it now any more than he could have then. Nevertheless, he regretted his pact with the gods so greatly, that when they burned Rhenna's body, he could no longer bare the weight of it. He walked into the fire as it consumed her and begged the gods to withdraw the immortality he’d been blessed with. Now, legend has it, he went into the fire and never came out, but not one person in attendance heard but the pop and crack of the fire, and Rhughash’s weeping prayer to be reunited with his beloved Rhenna. That's one version, anyway.

Now, in the other version, Rhughash had foresworn love in general, not women. Now, to Rhughash, when he made the vow as a child, it was all the same. Everyone around him treated it the same – when a man grew up, he would love a woman, and she would bear his children, just as his parents had. That was what he vowed not to do, or so he thought. The problem was, eventually he met Rhenna, the unstoppable warrior, just as in the other version, but according to this version, Rhenna was a he – not a she. 

Just as in the other story, Rhughash loved Rhenna, but in this case, he didn’t leave it unspoken, he denied it to himself, because he did not believe it possible for one man to love another in that way. Eventually, Rhenna actually confessed his love for his leader, and Rhughash spurned him. To him it was nonsense. So, the next day, Rhenna went to the battlefield, and fought as Rhughash would – with no regard for his own safety. Legend has it he won the battle with his own two hands, but he succumbed to his wounds afterwards. When Rhughash saw Rhenna’s lifeless body, he was consumed with grief believing he’d never see his beloved friend again.

Story goes, though, that whoever he’d made the pact with was so moved by his grief, that they decided that Rhughash had fallen in love, whether he had admitted it or not. That meant he’d broken his vow, which dissolved the pact and ended Rhughash’s immortality. But, being the romantics they apparently were, they could not punish Rhughash by destroying him or denying him entrance to the afterlife, because doing so would be punishing the heroic Rhenna.  So, Rhughash’s life was ended, but he was reunited with the man he loved.

Like I said, I don’t reckon the difference between the two versions is real important, because the point is the same. Living forever doesn’t mean nothing if you never really live. Fall in love whenever you can. Don’t go being shy about it. And when death calls, don’t say ‘goodbye,’ just say ‘see you on the other side.’

Book I (Ap.C): The Tale of Dureshka Fal, Father of Orcs

This is the story of how orcs came to be, as related to me by Ygun of Clan Rohgar, who assures me it faithfully relates the same story her grandmother, Ygritte of Clan Rohgar, would have told Azraea when they met in the town of Defiance.

Once upon a time, there were two brothers; Dureshka Fal and Ellouin Fal. Ellouin was a stoic, methodical, and calculating warrior. He was a hero, and a true friend, but to many he would have seemed cold. His brother, Dureshka, was also a hero but he was less disciplined and less inhibited. He did what was right when he thought it was right to do so, trusting his heart to guide him, and perhaps not often enough his wits.

Now, Dureshka and Ellouin were not only brothers, they were fast friends, and they did everything together. It was sometimes said that, without Dureshka, Ellouin might never do anything, and without Ellouin, Dureshka might never live to do anything twice. They were two halves of a whole. Unfortunately, this also meant they both loved the same woman, the princess Hannoua.

Ellouin was dazzled by Hannoua’s unearthly beauty and grace, her white hair and blue eyes were so vibrant they were said to be like an icy mountain lake. Dureshka however, was enamored of her fiery spirit. She was filled with passion in all things, especially fighting and loving. [Ygun adds that, she personally would like to think that, whether he admitted it or not, this is also why Ellouin loved her – because she was so much like his beloved brother.] The three were all good friends, and had many adventures together, but this is the tale of how their adventures ended.

Hannoua’s father was the Mage-King Lallau, a powerful sorcerer and a devoted but perhaps overly protective father. Lallau was well aware of the attention his daughter received from her two friends, and was more than a bit uncomfortable with their tendency to whisk her away for quests and such. Lallau was worried that, one day, Hannoua might follow them and not return.

However, King Lallau knew that she loved her two friends so greatly that he could not forbid her to see them. He conspired, then, to bring their adventuring to an end the old-fashioned way – through marriage. Hannoua’s younger sister had already wed, and the time Hannoua spent with the two men raised many eyebrows in the court, especially since they were born of considerably lower station than the princess. Lallau, then, began to pressure her to marry. It was an idea she intensely protested, for she did not wish to be wed to some prince in another kingdom. However, Lallau suggested that, if she were to wed soon he would break with tradition and allow her to marry beneath her station – she could take one of the brothers as her mate, even though neither was royalty.    

It was an unusual concession to say the least, a compromise Hannoua could not refuse. However, she truly loved both of the brothers, each in their own way. Dureshka was passionate and exciting, but Ellouin was comfortingly reliable. One thrilled her, and the other made her feel safe. With one she could imagine growing old together, but with the other, she had to admit, she might not grow old at all.

Hannoua tearfully confessed her indecision to her father. King Lallau, however, was not so conflicted as his daughter regarding who to choose; he liked Dureshka better as a man, but if he was going to trust his daughter to someone, he knew it would be Ellouin. He kept this to himself, though, and promised to help make the decision by giving the two men a test. He would use his power as the king to give each of them one wish, and then, when she heard what each of their wishes were, she would know who the better man was.

So the king called the two men before the court, and made his offer. Because they had both won his daughter’s heart, he would give his would-be sons-in-law one wish each. Both wishes would be granted, and afterwards, the better man would wed his daughter. The two brothers pondered silently for a moment, and Dureshka began to speak first, as usual. Ellouin, however, stopped him and insisted he make his wish first. It was very unusual for Ellouin to do anything before Dureshka, for he never considered anything without lengthy contemplation. Because of the unusual circumstances, Dureshka honored his brother and was quiet, allowing his normally stoic friend to speak first.

Ellouin spoke of Hannoua’s beauty both inside and out, and wished that the king would use his magic to ensure that she never change, that she be not only young and healthy until she died [actually told as “until she awakened”], but that her wit remain sharp and her heart remain good. This selfless wish pleased the king, and he knew for certain, Dureshka’s wish could not surpass it.

Dureshka looked to Ellouin in surprise, but Ellouin simply smiled, and told him that all would be well, and to make the wish his heart told him was best. Dureshka looked to the lovely Hannoua, thought of their many adventures together, and told the king what his one and only wish was – Hannoua’s hand in marriage.

The king was furious with Dureshka for violating the spirit of the exercise, but Ellouin advocated vociferously for his brother, arguing that technically Dureshka’s wish must be honored. You see, Ellouin loved Hannoua but he knew his friends well. If Hannoua married Dureshka, Ellouin knew he would still keep Hannoua as his friend. But if Hannoua married Ellouin, Ellouin feared that he might lose Dureshka as his brother.  

The king had no choice but to grant their wishes. He gave Hannoua ageless beauty and strength and married her to Dureshka, appeasing all three. The king, however, did not like to be tricked, and the fact that Ellouin had been clever enough to do so only reaffirmed his belief that Ellouin would be a better husband, so he used his power to make Ellouin ageless like Hannoua, and he cursed Dureshka to age faster, believing the marriage would end quickly and Hannoua could spend the rest of her very long life with Ellouin.  

The king’s magic, however, had limits. Dureshka aged rapidly while Hannoua not at all, but in the few years he was with Hannoua, their passion for each other and their love of life was so great that she bore several children before Dureshka died, all of whom inherited their mother’s blessing, and their father’s curse – not those bestowed upon them by Lallau, but those bestowed on them by their own nature.

Hannoua’s blessing was that she was as beautiful and genuine within as she was without. Her heart was filled with love for the two brothers and for her own father, but more than anything, she did not want anyone else to be hurt by the choices she made. She was selfless at heart and that was reflected in her outer beauty. Dureshka was not as selfless as Hannoua but, for better or worse, his heart was honest. He knew that he might not have been the better man for Hannoua, but when asked what he desired, he could only answer honestly. Dureshka Fal’s outward appearance may not have mirrored his inner self, but he was transparent in all that he said and did. 

Thus, a child of Dureshka Fal and Hannoua is blessed and cursed, for his or her outward appearance matches the inner soul and nothing can be done to mask it. This is why all orc infants are identical, you see. People begin as blank slates, and so orcs are born all looking the same. We do not even have boys and girls as you think of them, just children who become, in their own time, what they will be. Like anyone, we all have a little beast in our heart, of course, but unlike most others our beasts always show through. Because of this, with an orc you will always know what you’ve found.

Book I (Ap.B): The Dreamers; An Orcish Creation Myth

This story was related to me by Yghchrizta, Shaman of Clan Rhanseyh

Most stories such as this start with, ‘In the beginning’ but for orcs, there is no beginning. Orcs have no creation story dealing with the universe, only with what we understand to be the real world. Outside of this world live the Loutha, or the true people. We know little of the Loutha, even though each of us is a Loutha.

The world as we know it was created when a Louhtha, whom we know as Liruna, the mother of dreams, became so tired that she fell asleep. Some believe that this was an unusual occurrence, because the Loutha are tireless beings, but others believe that no Loutha had slept before, simply because sleep hadn’t been invented yet. Either way, when Liruna fell asleep, she dreamed of a strange and wondrous world, and as she slept the world grew and her imagination created wondrous and terrible things to fill it. Liruna was alone in this dream and became frightened, so she awakened. Liruna was captivated by the world her sleeping mind had created, though, and wished to sleep and dream more, so she convinced her closest friend, another Loutha named Hosin, to lie with her so that she would not be alone as she slept.

Liruna and Hosin dreamed together, and they traveled the dreamscape side-by-side, creating whatever their imaginations could conceive. They slept for what we would consider an eternity in the dream world, crafting the sun and the stars, the earth and its seas, and creating the rules which would govern their movement. But, eventually the wonder of their creation faded in their hearts. What at first had been new and strange, was now commonplace and ordinary, for no matter what they might imagine, they could create nothing which surprised them. Eventually they began to see their world as bleak and desolate, so they awakened again.

Liruna and Hosin told the other Loutha of their dream, and told them they needed help making more dreams, and so the other Loutha slept as well, each one dreaming new and strange things – trees, flowers, birds, and beasts. The dreaming Loutha became the Louan, the builders of this world, the first people, who could command and shape this world around them just as Liruna and Hosin had. The Loutha would sleep and become the Louan, awaken again as Loutha, and then return to sleep, and each time they slept, they created new dreams – until they also began to run out of things to dream.

The Louan were sad, for they had no more to do, but then a great Louan wisewoman, Taya, had an idea – she would awaken, but vowed that when she returned to sleep, she would be sure not to remember anything of her waking life, or the dreams she had had before. So it was that the first of the forgetting peoples came to this world, for when Taya returned, she knew nothing, not even her name, or what would happen when she reached the end of her dream. The other Louan told her who she was, how she had come to be there, and what would happen, but despite this, everything had become new to her again, and she was happy for it.

Eventually Taya woke from her sleep, and as a Loutha, remembered everything that had preceded her awakening. She was overjoyed by the experience, and after a time, decided to do it again. The rest of the Loutha did the same, and before long, few Louan remained in our world – they were replaced by the forgetting people, the dreamers who did not remember their waking lives. The Loutha who chose to forget became new and different things, people of all shapes and colors, and who dreamed new lives, with new stories. Each would dream for a time, then awaken, and dream again, remembering nothing. Only rarely would a Loutha return to the dream as a Louan, to shape the dream with their power of remembering. 

This shapes our understanding of not only life and death, but magic as well. We know that there is no life or death as others think of it, only the dream which we pass through briefly, and when we awaken, we become Loutha again, remembering all of the dreams we’ve had before.

Further, because we know there is no life, only the dream, we know we have no limitations. We can change anything. Like the Louan, the first people, we can shape our world and ourselves as we please if we have the will and imagination to do so. This is why traditional orc shamans do not write spells or incant special words, or gather herbs and burn incense. They know these things are not truly necessary for magic, and we believe that magic can still be made the old way, as the Louan did it. Many among the other races do this as well when they first learn the ways of magic. They learn to shape the world in simple ways through thought alone, but when they try to do more, they are taught the way of spells, and so many forget the power in their hearts.