legend

cities of
cities of
legend

Home to over 25,000 rampaging Orcs, Skarr is a city of pure brutality, a place of
nightmare that even the bravest Adventurer will fear to tread. Built from the ruins
of an ancient dwarven stronghold the Orcs themselves destroyed, the hordes of Skarr
range for miles in every direction, bringing slaughter and misery to any community
unfortunate enough to be within range of their predations.
skarr: city of orcs

MGP 8310 US$19.99

skarr: city of orcs

Alex Greene (order #3583073) 78.
 cities of
LEGEND skarr: city of orcs
Credits Contents
Original Author Introduction 2
Wil Upchurch
History 6

Developer Government 11
Bryan Steele
Ecology 17

Editor Daily life 19

Charlotte Law
Commerce 22

Layout Skaar religion 24

Jonathan Goodyer
Defences 34

Interior Illustrations Tour of the city 42

Pedro Potier, Jon Netherland, Vebjorn,
Movers and shakers 55
Phil Renne, Gill Pearce and Chad
Sergesketter Skaar in your campaign 79

Copyright Information
Cities of Legend - Skarr: City of Orcs ©2012 Mongoose Publishing. All rights reserved. Reproduction of non-
Open Game Content of this work by any means without the written permission of the publisher is expressly
forbidden. Legend is presented under the Open Game Licence. See page 86 for the text of this licence. All
text paragraphs and tables containing game mechanics and statistics derivative of Open Game Content and
the System Reference Document are considered to be Open Game Content. All other significant characters,
names, places, items, art and text herein are copyrighted by Mongoose Publishing. All rights reserved.
Printed in USA

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 introduction

Home to over 25,000 rampaging orcs, Skaar is a city of pure brutality, a place of nightmare that even
the bravest Adventurer will fear to tread. Built from the ruins of an ancient dwarven stronghold the
orcs themselves destroyed, the hordes of Skaar range for miles in every direction, bringing slaughter
and misery to any community unfortunate enough to be within range of their predations.

Few dare to make their way into Skaar, for the orcs are an evil race that despise any not of their
own kind. To travel on the plain of Skaar, or within its deep caverns, is to court death itself. No
amount of skill in arms or magic will prevail here and yet there is much that must be discovered
about the orcs’ organisation and overall aims. Do they intend to stay within the boundaries of
the city? Or are the warlords of the marauding orc armies building up their strength so as to
sweep all kingdoms before them in a murderous red tide of blood-letting and carnage?

The rulers of the city detest any interruption to their interests and the order maintained over
the barbarous inhabitants and so ruthlessly quash all uprisings. The common orc endures much
hardship beneath his masters and yet remains loyal to his race, his allegiance bought by the
promise of gold and the ever present threat of death. Goblins live at the bottom of the social
strata of the city and yet even they provide no in-road for a would-be invader and vanquisher
of orc-kind. Life within Skaar is characterised by murder, brutality, poverty and starvation, but
no inhabitant seeks escape whilst the forces of man, dwarf and elf do their utmost to eliminate
any weak orcish presence found beyond the boundaries of the city. The city remains an eternal
threat to all those who hold dear the forces of righteousness and civilisation. It falls to the sword
and wit of heroes to overcome this great menace, to perform the very acts of legend and succeed
where entire armies might fail.

Cities of Legend
Skaar: City of Orcs heralds an exciting new series from Mongoose Publishing. Designed to
provide Games Masters with entire settlements and communities to drop into any existing
campaign, Cities of Legend will open the door to an entire treasure trove of exciting gaming
sessions, made all the more memorable for the locations in which they are set. Every city within
the series is specifically designed to inject the very element of high fantasy into any campaign.
Skaar represents the kind of city that is often mentioned or spoken about but rarely written as a
sourcebook, ready for Games Masters to use with their players – you now have an entire city of
orcs to play with. Enjoy!

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 Skaar: City of Orcs
Within this sourcebook, you will find an entire city ready to drop straight into your campaign.
Skaar: City of Orcs is fully detailed, with maps and illustrations depicting the foul lives led by
those who dwell within. In addition, Games Masters will be able to make ready use of the
complete backgrounds provided for those individuals and factions who have risen above the rest
to become dominant forces within the city, constantly vying for power with one another in a
continued struggle set to destroy Skaar from the inside.

Skaar: City of Orcs contains enough action and adventure to keep players on their toes for many
gaming sessions to come and an entire chapter is dedicated to enabling Games Masters to insert
Skaar quickly and easily into their existing campaigns. One way or another, few players will ever
forget the adventures they endure within an entire city of orcs and their foul kin.

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Alex Greene (order #3583073) 7
Alex Greene (order #3583073) 7
 history

Over 700 years ago the dwarves of the Ironhallow clan were driven from their ancestral homes by
a combined force of duergar and troglodyte invaders. They, along with several other clans of the
shattered dwarven settlement, fled to the surface in order to find a new home. After wandering
for several months, disagreements began to creep into the inter-clan council. The council could
not reach a consensus on where or how to continue their search and so most families began to go
their separate ways, with the Ironhallow being the only ones to remain above ground.

They travelled for months, lost in the land above, and many died or abandoned the clan. Some
of those who fled were younger dwarves, hot heads who told the elders they would rather wander
the land as adventurers than continue their quest for a new home. These became the Dispossessed
of Ironhallow, but theirs is another tale.

The rest continued to wander, far from their wounded home, until they eventually came upon
a flat plain atop a great mountain. Here they rested for several days, until a scouting party later
returned with exciting news – a crevasse had been found in the side of the mountain. Explorers
were sent immediately and, after several days, they returned to report a large network of caverns
within the mountain. No signs of prior inhabitation were found throughout and one of the
caverns even housed a large lake.

The dwarves rejoiced at the news. The clan elders christened their new home Ironhallow Hall
and pronounced that forever more the day of its discovery would be a sacred holiday.

Ironhallow Hall Prospers and Grows

It took several decades to truly make the place a home. The first order of business was the
construction and reformation of the interior caverns. The dwarves decided to leave the main
entrance small at first to facilitate the clan’s protection and not until 200 years later did they
finally create a grand stone archway to welcome visitors to their home.

Inevitably, the other races inhabiting the area began to notice the dwarven community. War is
as much a way of life underground as it is on the surface and Ironhallow Hall quickly found it
had a number of enemies in places untouched by the sun. A familiar enemy quickly became the
predominant aggressors in the new community, for the troglodyte clan making its home nearby
was not large but was particularly hardy for the species and relentless when battling the dwarves.

From the outside world came humans and elves, although the fair folk rarely cared for dwarven
company. These travellers usually sought shelter but as time passed they started to come for
trade. The Ironhallow dwarves had discovered untapped jasper and emerald mines beneath the
mountain, and soon found themselves beset more often with traders and merchants than lost
adventurers and rangers.

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 The clan elders feared for the safety of their people and wished to preserve the sanctity of the
hall in the face of increased traffic. They ordered construction start outside the hall on the plain
they had settled decades before, now referred to as the Hearth Plain. Structure after structure was
erected and in little time a thriving town lay just outside the dwarven city. Taverns and inns were
almost as numerous as shops devoted to trade, crafts and goods, and over the next three centuries
Ironhallow Hall prospered under this busy trade.

The Horde Descends

Just over a century ago, three dwarven rangers arrived at Ironhallow Hall just in advance of a
rampaging orc horde. The horde had already smashed several settlements within a few miles of
the hall and was quickly ascending to the Hearth Plain. Defences were hastily mounted as the cry
of invasion rang through the caverns. Many of the town’s visitors fled, seeking shelter and safety
with their own people. A few others stayed to help defend Ironhallow.

These brave few included Acheroi’s Stalwarts, a human mercenary band resting after a rigorous
campaign against the troglodytes beneath the mountain, and the Sai’chin, a feared group of elven
archers whose reputation for both accuracy and bravery was known throughout the land. Erik
de Galhart, a paladin whose star was on the rise within his order, made his final stand with the
Ironhallow dwarves too. One member of his retinue, Pangrath, survived the battle and it is his
writings that provide one of the main sources of information about these bloody days.

The orcs struck quick and hard. They roiled into the city in a seething, evil mass, cutting down
defenders and burning homes and shops. Several units of dwarf crossbowmen and infantry had
been stationed in the outer city, their grim duty to slow down the horde whilst those inside
prepared to defend their home. These forces included the elven archers, whose deaths are given
solemn remembrance by Pangrath alongside the dwarven fallen.

It was not long before the Hearth Plain fell to the invaders and the horde showed no signs of
stopping or reinforcing its position. The orc warlords pushed their troops onward, executing any
orc who stopped to loot or plunder. By nightfall, the orcs had secured the entry halls but the
stalwart dwarven defenders, supported by powerful chanters and priests, had managed to stay
the momentum of the horde. As the moon reached its apex, the orc warlords finally called a halt
and posted units to shore up their positions. The first day of battle was over.

The dwarves worked through the night to gather children and other non-combatants, readying the
groups to descend into the caverns if the orcs overwhelmed the Hall’s defenders. Phalanx after phalanx
of dwarven infantrymen, crossbowmen, chanters and battle priests arranged themselves for the orcs’
next assault. They knew that being underground gave them no advantage, for the orcs could see as
well as they in the sunless realms. The dwarves and their allies steeled themselves, comforted with the
thought that dying in defence of the clan-home would make them heroes in the afterlife.

Before sunrise, the attack came again. Orcs poured in droves through Ironhallow Hall as the
defenders desperately attempted to push them back. Dozens of invaders fell at the hastily
constructed walls, although twice as many remained to fill the empty space. The dwarves, pressed
back deep into their caverns, had failed to spot a second horde arriving from the southern valley.
This orc army had been delayed as it tried to cross the Valley of the Sphinxes and after a day and
a half of negotiation was allowed to pass.

Beset by an endless tide of invaders, the dwarves assigned two regiments to lead the children and
elders away from Ironhallow Hall. The ancestors of those who founded the great clan-home were
on the move once more but vowed to some day return and enact their vengeance.

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 Orc Rule
It took several more days for the orcs to root out the last of the stubborn defenders, as each
dwarf fought to his dying breath. Looting and celebration took place alongside the execution of
surviving clansmen. Dwarves were forced to watch as their enemies took over their homes, ate
their food and destroyed their belongings.

The orc warlords themselves marched into the defeated city on the ninth day of the attack. This
was just as their shaman had predicted – one day of battle for each of the fingers of the Maimed
Lord, followed by victory in his name. They ordered a parade of the captured dwarves and cut off
the fourth finger of each of their hands. They then turned them loose, the sacrifice complete.

Few buildings remained intact in the outer city and many still spat smoke into the sky as
scavengers picked over the battlefield. Twisted harpies and goblins were among those picking the
dead clean of flesh and gold. Ironhallow Hall itself was more a charnel house than a former dwarf
cavern. Thousands of dead bodies littered the floor and Craddush Lake, once the lifeblood of the
dwarven community, now ran red with the very blood it once nourished.

The orc warlords claimed what buildings were left as their own, leaving the horde to find shelter
within the mountain. They had little knowledge of what lay within the mountain passages but
realised they had come to the end of their journey.

The City is Rebuilt

The army ate better than it had in months, feasting daily on the bodies of their fallen enemies.
The orcs cleaned out the passages of Ironhallow Hall and brought valuables to the outer city for
the warlords to admire and squabble over. Great mounds of treasure were scraped from within
the halls. The stronger orcs took the best caverns for themselves, whilst others instinctively

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 banded together to ensure themselves a good base. The warlords realised the horde was not
travelling further and decided to call Ironhallow their new home. Messengers were sent to orc
encampments across the land and thousands upon thousands of orcs descended upon the new
city. Crude tents and fire pits dotted the Hearth Plain as orcs awaited the word to move into their
new home. More arrived daily, often with tribes of goblins in tow.

Meanwhile, the orc army had cleaned out the underground halls, converting smithies and
foundries into kitchens and storage rooms. The trading post, one of the few buildings remaining
intact after the assault, became the home of the powerful shaman of the horde who advised its
warlords. After a few years, the caverns became choked with orcs, so the army moved out of the
city to make way for the overflow. They encamped a mile from the main city, just on the edge of
the Hearth Plain and the warlords gave over control of the settlement to a City Master and left
a small contingent of troops to keep order and support his will. This form of government still
exists in the city, although tensions between the incumbent City Master and the captain of the
troops threatens to erode the stability of the entire city.

Fury of the Maimed Lord

For two generations the orcs lived in their new city, now renamed Skaar. The warlords found their
horde dispersing as the attrition of peacetime slowly shrunk their force for fighting was common
both in the outer city and inside the caverns, and roving bands of thugs and hoodlums made it a
chaotic and violent place. A new shaman, Akrilla, predicted that a great catastrophe would befall
the city, whose leaders grew fat and lazy whilst its people wasted their good fortune.

This prediction was to come true in a murderous fashion. Great black clouds were seen forming
through the peaks of nearby mountains, growing larger as they moved toward the city. The warlords,
nervous because of Akrilla’s frightening prognostication, ordered all troops to break camp and take
shelter away from Skaar. It was the last time many would see their mountainside home.

The storm descended furiously on Skaar, pelting the outer city with large drops of rain and
hail the size of an orc’s fist. The wind blew so hard that the orcs’ desperate cries were lost in
the maelstrom and those that took shelter within the mountain were granted but a temporary
reprieve, one that would last only hours. Soon, water began dripping through the ceiling in many
of the halls, and in many places the rocks burst open to allow great torrents of water to barrel
through the city.

The storm subsided after a half day of destruction, the clouds seemingly dissipating into the
great, black sky. The army moved back to the Hearth Plain to survey the damage and many of
the orcs spread further destruction in fits of anger and rage. The warlords immediately sought
Akrilla, thinking she had brought this disaster on with her precognition. Although protesting
they had not heeded her warning, the orcs demanded her blood and Akrilla was forced to flee
the city using magic to escape her pursuers, and lost herself deep within a nearby swamp. She
remains in exile to this day, watching over the city that unfairly punished her, torn between her
desire for revenge and her servitude of the orcs’ cruel god.

Being superstitious and not fully convinced that Akrilla’s visions were indeed false, the warlords
wasted no time in raising their army once more. They told the assembled horde that they must
destroy in their god’s name or be destroyed themselves by his vengeance. Something awakened in
the orcs that had lain dormant for many years and the horde was on the move once more.

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 The Aftermath
With the horde gone and the city in near ruin, orcs from around the region began again to
migrate to Skaar. Although a small military contingent had been left behind under the command
of a young orc named Grogan Thral, authority in the city was weakened and many orcs saw the
opportunity to grab power in the void. The most notable of these was Cylus Groon, a vicious
and gluttonous orc who would stop at nothing to fulfil his desires. He assembled a dedicated
group of followers who ensured that his rivals were in no condition to contest his control over
rebuilding the city.

Skaar was slowly rebuilt using labour from nearby tribes of goblins, hobgoblins and trolls to
speed the process. Cylus Groon and his men arranged all of this, further solidifying his position
as civil leader of Skaar but whilst Grogan Thral and his men disliked Groon’s tactics, and resented
the presence of hobgoblins and trolls in their midst, they had their orders from the warlords and
so co-operated.

The Present Day

Portions of the horde return to Skaar every few months, to refresh their numbers and bring loot
to be stored within the city’s deepest vaults. Meanwhile, those that live in Skaar go about their
lives. Some of the hobgoblins and trolls that helped rebuild the city remained and the ever-
present goblins still eke out a living from the scraps of the orcs. Cylus Groon and his cronies
run the entire city, having suitably impressed visiting warlords with their quick rise to power
and ability to maintain control. Grogan Thral watches Groon from afar but does not bring his
concerns to the warlords, knowing they would likely strip him of his command, or worse. The
descendants of those orcs displaced still seethe over their past defeat, waiting in the shadows for
a time to strike.

Thus it stands today, a once proud dwarven outpost reduced to a slop pit for the families of those
that destroyed it.

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 government

Civil government in any orc city is a loose affiliation of powerful and ambitious orcs with the
backing of the most powerful tribes and chieftains. Skaar is no exception to this. The single most
powerful orc in Skaar is a fat, ruthless schemer named Cylus Groon.

Groon first came to power in the wake of the devastating storm that nearly destroyed the city
25 years before. From then his unyielding grip on the city’s operations has shown no sign of
slipping. In times past he was a young, pugnacious orc with a reputation for travelling with a
rough crowd of rowdy drinkers and thugs. He often displayed a cruel imagination and stomach
for trouble that frightened even the seasoned criminals among his gang but underneath this
disgusting exterior, however, lay a keen and ambitious mind.

When the storm came, Groon and his cohorts took shelter in the caves along with the rest of
the city. There they plotted ways to profit from the chaos and destruction, talking of looting
destroyed structures and bullying those that found themselves without shelter. Groon, however,
had another plan. Rather than risking the wrath of the returning army, why not aid them regain
order? Although this did not sound like fun to the majority of his gang, Groon eventually won
them over with promises of power and riches gained with impunity. After the storm receded,
they immediately began ‘organising’ work groups to bring order to the blasted city. They beat
orcs and goblins alike, forcing them to work night and day and report to Groon regularly.

Groon and his men spent the rest of their time eliminating any who would stand in the way
of their rise to power. Many of the town’s leaders had been killed during the storm but others
remained, and it was these that Groon primarily saw as his rivals. Several ‘accidents’ later and
most of the would-be opposition had been taken care of permanently. While his men did most
of his dirty work, and often took the fall for their behaviour, Groon travelled to a nearby tribe
of hobgoblins in order to broker an agreement. He paid them a sum of gold and the promise of
further remuneration in exchange for a few dozen of their men to aid in the rebuilding of Skaar.
Although potentially more dangerous than the hobgoblins, Groon also made the same a deal
with a nearby group of trolls.

He returned to the city with a retinue of strong and loyal followers, although he convinced the
orc warlords he had merely brought in aid at great personal expense. Further challenges to his
authority were not forthcoming and, with the horde leaving soon to resume its plundering and
destruction, Groon was firmly entrenched as the civil leader of Skaar.

Groon’s Government
Groon has managed to build a loyal network of followers during his tenure as City Master. The
surviving members of his original gang form a close inner circle that provides the muscle behind his
rule. Their numbers have been augmented by new recruits over the years, even including a half-orc
who proved his worth by killing his human mother when she travelled to Skaar to find him.
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 These enforcers, known as the Silver Tusks, wade through the city in small gangs, rooting out
any signs of dissatisfaction or antipathy toward their leader. They see failure to pay regular tribute
to Groon, for all the good works he performs, as a sure sign of dissatisfaction and offenders
are beaten and intimidated, depending on their standing within the community. Those found
taking their complaints to the guard under Grogan Thral are treated far more severely. Groon’s
men take what they want when they want it but they are careful not to abuse this privilege. They
know that if they are too blatant, Groon will be forced to make an example of one or more of
them to appease the warlords by whose grace he rules. These gangs give a wide berth to those
who show influence with Grogan Thral or the other military leaders.

Groon has other sympathetic followers within Skaar as well. A small community of hobgoblins
has grown around the original group that were brought in to aid in the rebuilding process.
Around 150 of the creatures now make Skaar their home and they have formed their own tribe
with the blessing of their former chieftain. This tribe is moderately loyal to Groon and his
company, although some of its younger members show an independent streak that has the orc
City Master on edge.

Many of the goblins in the city are under his employ, usually as thieves, messengers or labourers.
They are not necessarily loyal to Groon, being simply dependent on him for wages and food.
Some of the more unfortunate goblins end up as food themselves, for those who displease Groon
are fed to the trolls he keeps as guardians and labourers.

Groon’s Goals
Groon desires nothing but power over as many orcs as possible. He was far too lazy to join
the hordes that periodically terrorise the surrounding lands, so he chose a different route to
power, one easily afforded to him when the horde left Skaar. Since then he has enriched his
personal coffers at the expense of the city, whilst maintaining at least the façade of performing
governmental duties. He keeps the streets free of chaos and violence (for the most part) and
polices the city’s main resources, namely water, weapons and material goods.

Despite all of Groon’s flaws, he is a reasonably efficient City Master. There have been no major
internal conflicts under his rule and several attacks upon the city have been rebuffed through his
leadership and that of Grogan Thral. Normal life continues in the city without much disturbance.
The open market flourishes, especially when the orcs of the horde return with plundered goods
and gold, and few orcs desire to leave the city once they arrive. Groon himself answers only to the
orcish warlords that visit the city from time-to-time, in particular Warmaster Thak who retains
the ultimate authority to have Groon removed. The warlords as a whole have determined Groon
to be a satisfactory caretaker of the city and do not bother themselves with inquiries regarding
his methods or motivations. Grogan Thral has repeatedly expressed his concerns but each time
he is met with little more than a shrug. He has been informed in no uncertain terms that he is
to do whatever he can to ensure the stability and defence of the city and that includes seeing to
the safety of Cylus Groon.

Notable Authority Figures

The second most powerful orc in Skaar is Grogan Thral, leader of the standing army of Skaar.
Thral is an unusually intelligent orc who despises Cylus Groon for his gluttonous and conniving
ways. He believes orcs in leadership should be fit and able to defend their own interests, not
rely on a cadre of bullies and informants to monitor their affairs. However, he is bound by the
warlords to provide a regular guard to Groon, which he does but uses this position to gather
information about the City Master. He secretly tries to undermine Groon’s rule but is very
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 ‘I want you to kill him. Then bring his body to me so I may defile it properly.’

Groon gave the order as if he were ordering a pint of ale from a waitress, fully expectant that his
wish would soon be fulfilled without the slightest hesitation.

‘Yes, Groon, he will be dead before morning,’ said the tall, muscular orc standing in the doorway.
‘By the way, I thought your take-over of the southern land holdings was masterfully performed.’
The orc then formed a meaty fist and thumped his chest, the common salute used by orcs from
the horde.

‘I’ve told you not to do that around me,’ said Cylus. He grabbed the wall next to him and hoisted
his corpulent form out of the chair in which he was sat. ‘I am not a warlord, nor do I have the
desire to be. If I wanted to I could make it happen, of that there is no doubt, but I will leave such
strenuous work to orcs like your warlord Grimlir.’

‘Whatever you say, Cylus’ said the other orc. Alodai be damned, I hate this Groon. Still, he is the
most powerful orc in the city and there is an obvious connection between he and warlord Grimlir. ‘I
will bring your cousin’s body and those of any who stand in my way.’

Groon watched the orc as he receded into the hallway. ‘There is one who will go far,’ he said
to the burly orc with silver tusk caps standing next to him. ‘He has just the proper amount of
respect, and the proper amount of ambition.’ Groon turned to his aide and gave him a serious
look. ‘He is not to leave this building alive.’

The other orc nodded and with a silent grin he drew his axe and stepped off into the darkness.

careful not to implicate himself in any uncovered plots. One slip is all he needs to remove Groon
from power but so far no opportunity has presented itself.

The leader of the orc army, Warmaster Thak, also wields great power in the city when he is in
residence. His word is law and even Groon keeps a low profile during these times. At times when
he is off leading the horde, he entrusts the military duties of Skaar to Thral, who has proven a
capable and enthusiastic leader. Warmaster Thak is aware of some of the tactics used by Groon
in his rise to power but he keeps himself wilfully ignorant of current activities. So long as the city
functions as well as it has, he cares little as to what its leaders or citizens are doing. In his own
opinion the city is no more than a place to bring the loot his horde captures and provide a fresh
recruiting pool for more warriors.

The Opposition
The only serious threats to Groon’s rule are the machinations of Grogan Thral and the ever-present
menace of the dwarven resistance. Grogan Thral has several plans in motion that he hopes will
slowly erode the power of his corpulent rival. First, he ensures any orcs sent to guard Groon are
loyal only to him. This guard provides information on Groon’s movements and plans, allowing
Thral to devise counter-schemes to hinder Groon’s growing operations. He also knows the Silver
Tusks do not target businesses with ties to him or his forces and so he has created a number of
interests in the city run by orcs retired from his army. By channelling more commercial activity into
areas the City Master cannot touch, he forces Groon to siphon less gold to his personal coffers.

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 The dwarves living near the underground caverns of Skaar are also a thorn in Groon’s side.
They plot constantly to sabotage the orcs in what they still consider to be their city. Ambushing
the deepest orc patrols, they steal both equipment and food whenever they can. The resistance
includes the Warriors of the Nine, a group descended from the dwarves who lost their fingers to
the orcs’ dark god. These stealthy warriors have attempted to assassinate both Groon and Thral
in the past but such missions have always failed.

New Heroic Ability: Warrior of the Nine

Prerequisites: CHA 13; must be of a dwarven race
Hero Points: 10
Duration: Permanent

The Warriors of the Nine are a group of dwarven fighters descended from those who were
mutilated by the Mended Ones during the initial invasion of Ironhallow Hall by the orc hordes.
Numbering more than nine, they have carried the weight of their fathers’ and grandfathers’
humiliation down through the ages and their close tie to the ancestors grants extraordinary
powers and abilities.

You now roll an additional 1D6 for all damage rolls against orcs and goblins, as well as gain
+20% to all Weapon skills against these targets.

The Functions of Government

Groon runs the government from a converted trading post, once the largest in the original
dwarven city. He spends much of his time organising the daily business of Skaar, including
monitoring the work crews, keeping up to date on the Lake Guard and even more importantly
taking reports from his men on the state of his personal affairs.

Most orcs do not care to work for Groon, so they take full advantage of the other races living in
Skaar. The primary labourers in the city are goblins, who perform mostly as waste disposal and
other forms of slave labour. Most often, the goblins are happy to work for the city as it is the most
reliable source of income they can hope for in Skaar. Those that do not work in this capacity are
often forced to steal or settle for slave wages where they can get them, but most often are thrown
onto a work crew where they live in servitude. The tribe of hobgoblins is far more self-sufficient
and organised than the goblins. They have a standing contract with the city to produce metal
goods, including armour and weapons, and they grow a good portion of their own food within
the boundaries of their settlement.

Sometimes Groon is asked to resolve disputes between citizens and, as often as not, will make
judgement against both participants, thus limiting the amount of time he spends on such
endeavours. The result is that vigilantism and hired ‘trouble-shooters’ are the most common
and reliable form of justice in the city. When Groon does make judgement against a citizen it
most often results in time on a work crew, not a good prospect because of the cruelty of the crew
masters. Fines are rare because of the relative poverty of the city’s denizens but they can be levied
on the spot when it is deemed necessary or when the target is known to be wealthy.

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 Groon’s Business Interests
Groon has firmly entrenched his own interests with that of Skaar.

• Groon personally owns a portion of the habitable area on the Hearth Plain, as well as several
caverns within the mountain. He charges a fair price for using his land, although he also
takes a percentage of any commercial enterprise performed by his tenants. This is one of the
few legitimate business interests that Groon presides over.
• The hobgoblins overcharge the city for their metalworking and blacksmithing, and pay a
percentage back to Groon as ‘craftsman fees’.
• Groon draws a salary from the city treasury, as well as paying his cronies as city servants.
They have several funds from which they can draw gold and do so liberally.
• The Silver Tusks solicit protection money from nearly all of the city’s traders and craftsmen.
They are careful not to demand too much and if any are caught overcharging they are
beaten and expelled from the Silver Tusks.
• A group of goblin thieves works under the Silver Tusks and pays them a percentage of their
take, most of which goes directly to Groon.

Other law enforcement in the city is carried out by either Thral’s men or the Silver Tusks,
depending on who is in the area at the time. The Tusks always defer to the military in order to
avoid any confrontation that could reflect poorly on the City Master. Thral is fair but harsh and
will not hesitate to send an offender to the work crews or the army.

Crime and Punishment

The attitude of Skaar’s citizens is that nothing is criminal until you are discovered. Getting
caught will earn the unfortunate culprit the following punishments.

Theft
Assigned to a work crew, for a period of up to six months.*

Murder
Depending on Groon’s mood and his disposition to the orc in question, this may or may not
result in work crew servitude.

Bringing False Accusations

Time on a work crew. This punishment is often handed to both the plaintiff and the defendant,
regardless of how the case is adjudicated. Groon really does not care about the legitimacy of a
complaint and this law only exists so he can rid himself of more orcs by punishing them under
this statute.

Damaging City Property

Expulsion from the city or death on the spot, depending on the mood and demeanour of the orc
who caught the offender. Either is acceptable by law. The beaters of the church of Alodai also
carry out this punishment with pleasure.

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 Consorting with an Enemy of Skaar
Death. Enemies of Skaar include any race not welcomed into the city.

* Military service may be substituted for getting sent to a work crew, if the guilty party desires it,
although the minimum term of service is one year. In this case he is left free until the next horde
arrives. Subsequently avoiding this military duty results in execution at the hands of Thral.

These are the only crimes that warrant serious punishment in Skaar, where law does not reign
in any great fashion. Groon and the Silver Tusks answer only to their own laws and are free to
break these as they wish though Groon does monitor the behaviour of his servants and egregious
lawbreakers will be dealt with permanently.

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 ecology

Living in Skaar is not easy for the vast majority of its inhabitants. The city lacks many of the
basic provisions necessary for life, including an abundant food source. Water and living space
are also in great demand, although these are more easily come by than food or even safety. Those
that live well do so at the expense of others, leaving many of the orcs and goblins of Skaar to die
of starvation or disease. Survivors often master the art of scavenging their basic needs from the
discarded waste of those above them whilst thieves generally take what they need where they can
find it; many others are forced to submit themselves to the work crews voluntarily just to subsist
on the meagre rations provided by the city.

Skaar is barely self-sufficient, as is the case for most permanent orcish settlements. It relies heavily
on plunder brought back by the hordes and on banditry perpetrated by its permanent citizens.
There is no permanent water supply above ground, so the orcs must retrieve their water from
deep within the bowels of the city where an underground stream feeds the lake. The lake itself is
under permanent heavy guard, as dwarven guerrillas, troglodytes and other underground perils
constantly vie for this important water source.

The leader of this city is a foul, bloated orc named Cylus Groon. He is an unusually savvy orc,
given to bouts of extreme cruelty even as he uses cunning and sneaky diplomacy to keep himself
firmly entrenched as the highest orc. He exercises complete authority over the city, although
most orcs try to ignore his pronouncements and go about their daily lives. The captain of the
city’s defenders, Grogan Thral, sees Groon as a gluttonous buffoon but also recognises the threat
that Groon would pose if he were to openly question the authority. Both are subordinate to the
Hordemaster when he is in residence and the town resembles a military encampment more than
a civilian city.

Food and Water

Water is relatively plentiful due to the underground lake that sits on the city’s outskirts but
it is still rationed by the permanent garrison under Thral. The many subterranean races that
utilise the water source battle constantly for dominance of the caverns around the lake, so it is
imperative for the city’s security that common orcs not be allowed to move freely around them.
They must also ensure the lake’s water remains fresh and pure, as the despoliation of the lake
would surely mean an end to Skaar.

Orcs are given ration chips, small black tokens made of baked animal waste, which they can
exchange for water at stations throughout the undercity. One ration chip is good for one meagre
week’s worth of water for a single orc. These chips can also be purchased on the black market for
a high price (this is one of the most lucrative businesses in Skaar) and in some areas of the city
are worth more than their weight in silver. A desperate orc might part with a ration chip for as
little as two gold pieces but more likely they would be acquired through the black market at a
cost of six to ten gold pieces each.

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 Food is a major concern for a city this large, especially one with no real trading partners or
agriculture, and the mountainous terrain in which the orcs live affords them little opportunity to
hunt or fish. Therefore, the orcs of Skaar have become adept at scavenging the surrounding area
for food and many of them hunt for game in the caverns below the Hearth Plain.

Skaar’s only outside source for food is the hobgoblin tribe from which Cylus Groon originally
recruited the warband that now lives in the city. They bring food from the wilderness, as well
as captured stores of grain and livestock from nearby human villages and towns. The food is
transferred from hobgoblin to orc and then on to Groon himself. By the time it reaches the
common inhabitants of Skaar its price has been outrageously inflated.

Some of Skaar’s inhabitants have taken to raising small edible animals such as rabbits and rats
that are then sold live, dead or cooked, on the open market. Rat meat is the most plentiful found
in Skaar. Swarms of the rodents scurry about in the dark because of the city’s filthy environment
and a larger dire race has been growing in numbers for years.

Shelter
Shelter is another concern for the orcs of Skaar, since the city’s population greatly exceeds the
living space afforded by the caverns below. The Hearth Plain is nearly at capacity also, making
its habitable area both valuable and limited. The filth and squalor in which much of Skaar’s
populace live further reduces the available space because waste dumps and gravesites have sprung
up all over the city. With no formal plan in place to deal with these issues, vast areas of the
Hearth Plain have been made uninhabitable. Those who live on the Hearth Plain know Skaar to
be a vastly different place from those who live underground and vice versa.

The undercity is a sheltered environment, free from the worries of the frequent storms that pelt
the city. Although it is perpetually chilly in the caverns, those living below do not have to deal
with climactic changes and sudden weather patterns. Those who can afford cavern space below the
Hearth Plain generally decline to build structures in which to live as the caves themselves provide
cover from wind and storms. However, walls or doorways are often built into private caverns to
dissuade casual theft and valuable items are kept hidden in caches within the stone walls.

It is easier to live without a permanent home in the caverns, because unclaimed space can be
squatted more easily. Although Groon owns much of the undercity, as he does the Hearth Plain,
the Silver Tusks are much more active on the surface. The heavy presence of Grogan Thral’s
guard dissuade the Silver Tusks from openly conducting their business in the undercity with any
frequency and squatters can usually count on protection in the short term, even if they will be
forced to pay bribes to Thral himself.

Life on the surface is much tougher for the citizens of Skaar. They are under the immediate
scrutiny and control of Cylus Groon and his Silver Tusks, and must face the ever-present danger
and annoyance of heavy storms, animal attacks and even raids. Less than a dozen structures were
spared the torch during the battle in which the orcs won control over the city.

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 daily life

Life in Skaar is a daily struggle for survival. While some orcs are able to carve out a decent life
in the city, it is almost always at the expense of others. Stronger orcs tend to punish the weak or
sickly, taking what they want without regard. This forces weaker orcs to band together and often
they pay protection money to the Silver Tusks, or some other group of stronger orcs, simply to
be left alone. Bullying and thuggery are especially prevalent any time a large group of horde orcs
returns from their plundering. In order to prevent this abuse from becoming widespread, the
warlords have enacted strict policies of separation between the hordes and the city. This is the
reason for the fenced area at the edge of the Hearth Plain where horde orcs are forced to stay
when they return to the city.

Since there is no organised agriculture in Skaar (aside from the Ugreckt, who have many small
gardens to supplement their hunting), the orcs rely on captured goods and hunting for their
sustenance. This creates a harsh environment in a city this large and most orcs have found a way to
scrape by even in the leanest of times. The Mended Ones tell the people their poverty and hunger
is a sign from Alodai that the orcs are not being true to their nature. Orcs are made to conquer and
destroy, not lazily inhabit a city where no terror is to be wrought. However, no matter what the
shamen say, those orcs who do live in Skaar need to live. To this end many orcs have learned the art
of scavenging, or finding a way to live where little living is to be made. These scavengers generally
take on two forms – those that live alone and make their way about the city on their wits and
cunning, and those that are adept at living off the discards of more successful or affluent orcs.

The first are the archetypal poor orc, clothes tattered and teeth rotting from a deprived diet and
poor health. These unfortunates barely sustain themselves by begging and foraging through the
discards of other orcs. They often go for days with nothing to eat but the grasses of the Hearth
Plain or the occasional scrapings of moss and fungi from the cavern walls of the undercity.
The true scavengers are far more cunning, however, and it is often impossible to tell they use

New Heroic Ability

Expert Scavenger
Prerequisites: CON 14; Survival 55%
Hero Points: 8
Duration: A number of consecutive months equal to CON plus POW.

You are able to live on almost nothing, finding sustenance where you can and utilising the
discards and garbage of others. You need never spend money on food and drink. In addition,
given a week, you can acquire any mundane item worth 5 gold pieces or less for free.

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 intelligent tactics to survive. These clever orcs attempt to befriend more successful orcs and use
this affiliation to their advantage. These orcs gain entrance to parties and meetings where food
and drink are served, stealing excess away for later consumption. They make their way into
organisations whose membership can be counted on for a meal or a helpful fist of gold in lean
times. Their scam is to appear as if they do not need help, thereby making it easier to convince
people to help them.

The consumption of alcoholic beverages ranks as a favourite pastime for all orcs of Skaar,
especially those from the hordes visiting the city. The dwarven stores of ale and wine that were
kept in the caverns beneath the Hearth Plain were one of the greatest finds for the orcs that
invaded the city. Too heavy to carry with them as they retreated, the ale represented a treasure
the dwarves were forced to leave behind in the wake of their defeat. Most of these stores were
depleted in the days of celebration following the successful invasion but the warlords managed to
hide some of the barrels away for their private stores. Some of these hidden caches were sold or
transferred to heirs upon the deaths of the original warlords but there are tales among the city’s
elite telling of caverns full of barrels that remain intact and ownerless to this day. Cylus Groon
has made it a high priority to find these lost barrels of ale and wine, as the prices they would fetch
from the warlords and other city leaders would be considerable.

Unable to rely on regular shipments of alcohol from the horde, who are not quick to give up
their spirits, the orcs were forced to brew their own grog using local ingredients. After years of
experimentation with roots and herbs, the orcs found what they required below the earth. A
dark grey mushroom grows in many of the caverns beneath the Hearth Plain and after the siege
the orcs quickly found them to be inedible, causing acute abdominal pains if eaten either raw or
cooked. It was for this reason that it took so long for the orcs to figure out that when properly
distilled, the mushrooms would produce a strong, bitter brew. The orcs call this dark concoction
grokk and the citizens of Skaar have learned to favour this drink above all else. It certainly beats
another captured consignment of disgusting elven wine.

As has already been discussed, many orcs do not worry about survival because they simply take
what they need from their weaker neighbours. Individual orcs take it upon themselves to use
stealth to acquire the goods of others but for the most part thievery is left to the goblins. There is
no established thieves’ guild in the city of Skaar but there is a group of goblins who live together
and co-ordinate their efforts. Whilst not officially a guild, this organisation has made them far
more successful than their more individualistic counterparts.

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 The goblins that live at the edge of the Hearth Plain are also frequently found on the work crews
that perform most of the hard labour within the city. A Silver Tusk, or other government official,
needs no reason or justification to throw a goblin on the work crew and once assigned it is nearly
impossible to gain release. Goblins work side-by-side with orcs on these crews and this is the
one place in Skaar where all receive equal treatment. Work crews are usually made of between
12 and 20 individuals, all under the supervision of a brutish taskmaster. They are responsible for
keeping the city free of waste and garbage, as well as making repairs to important buildings and
the defensive structures along the edge of the Hearth Plain. Every few weeks, a dozen or so work
crews are taken down the mountain to cut logs from the forest and retrieve plants, herbs and peat
from the swamp on the western end of the mountain base.

In the caverns beneath the Hearth Plain, the work crews haul rocks and rubble, as the orcs are
continually excavating new caverns as well as those buried by the dwarves during the invasion.
They are also used to collect water from Lake Craddush so other orcs can avoid the dangers of
that area. The large number of goblins lost at the shores of the lake account for the many zombies
controlled by the disciples of the Asphibyiex.

Life in Skaar is even tougher for the orc children of the city, who lack both the strength and
cunning to defend themselves from adults who show little mercy. The harshness of their existence
is reflected in a popular children’s game in Skaar known as Ackabar. Ackabar begins with a group
of children climbing up to one of the numerous ridges that cover the cliff face of the mountain
where they then pair off, before attempting to throw each other to the ground below. The game
pauses when an orc child flies off the ledge, as the others scramble to watch the impact. Unless
the loser breaks a bone, goes unconscious or dies the game continues. Outside observers of this
brutal pastime use it to justify the destruction of the orc race, citing the violence of even the
children as proof that the race entire is evil to the core.

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 commerce
In commercial terms, Skaar is an island. The orcs living in the city see very little foreign commerce
due to both their isolation and aggressive nature. The humans and elves that once traded with the
dwarves of Ironhallow Hall now shun the area, unwilling to enter into any agreement with the orcs
and fearful of the consequences of even short term dealings. Even the independent merchants who
once made the mountainside plain a regular and profitable waystop along their usual trade routes
have stopped coming here. A few early violent incidences with the orcs convinced them and those
that came after that trading with Skaar was far too costly to consider.

The nature of the orcs themselves would make it difficult to establish trade relations with
outsiders were this ever the inclination of the City Master and warlords. Even distant orc and
other humanoid tribes make poor trading partners, as they tend to be just as treacherous as those
in Skaar. Another problem standing in the way of trade is the almost total lack of natural resources
and produced goods in Skaar. The orcs simply create nothing of value to any other community.
If an orc needs something, he takes it, either from another orc or a nearby settlement. It is much
more in keeping with the nature of orcs to conquer and plunder rather than open the channels of
commerce other races find so valuable. The orcs are consumers of the highest order, taking from
the land and people around them without contributing anything valuable in return.

The most regular source of income for the city is the large amount of treasure brought back by
successful warlords. Most of this ends up in the city’s coffers one way or another as Groon is
quite adept at funnelling much of this into city expense funds and the like. Still, some of the loot
gets distributed to the families and friends of orcs returning from the horde. The Hordemaster
himself pockets a fair amount of coin by making himself the intermediary for such transactions,
since horde orcs are rarely allowed within the city proper. All things considered, he is relatively
honest in these transactions, merely taking a cut of whatever he is transporting into the city.

The city’s internal economic system is far more robust than its trade concerns. There are rich
and poor in Skaar just as in any city but the determining factors of wealth are far different from
a human settlement or dwarven kingdom. Rather than skill and hard work determining an
individual orc’s success, the denizens of Skaar rely on cunning and brute strength to establish
their pecking order. At the top of the chain stands Cylus Groon, along with his network of
cronies, cohorts and servants. As the City Master, Groon is responsible for the distribution of
city funds as well as payroll and business.

He also oversees the distribution of land both on the Hearth Plain and within the caverns
beneath, a position he utilises to the greatest advantage. As there is no real private land ownership
in Skaar, acquiring prime real estate necessitates dealing with Groon. Those that find themselves

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 in the good graces of Groon, whether through favourable business dealings, alliances or flat
bribery, always have an easy time gaining access to favourable locations. Groon is wise enough
to grant the best caverns and lairs to the warlords and their favoured minions, especially those
affiliated with Bakka Grimlir. The rest are open for sale and sometimes new buyers become quite
attached to their high priced living spaces.

Much of the city’s commerce occurs in two places, the Field and the underground market. The
market is an abandoned dwarven amphitheatre, where orcs lay out their goods on blankets and
seek to sell or trade with the other denizens in the city. Occasionally Groon or a Silver Tusk will
wander through the marketplace, claiming interesting items as a tax to the city government but
the Field is such a chaotic environment that not even the Silver Tusks relish intruding upon it.
Here is where black market deals are made without the prying eyes of Groon and his cohorts.
The Field is also one of the few safe places in Skaar for foreigners, if they can even reach the
cavern, which lies deep within the city’s core. Anything goes in this wild and rowdy place and pit
fights arranged therein would be reviled in any civilised city.

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 skaar religion

Religion plays a large role in the everyday life of the orcs within Skaar, permeating everything
they do. They primarily worship the god Alodai, also known as the Nine-Fingered or the Maimed
Lord due to a missing thumb on his left hand. He received this disfigurement at the hands of
Kharkus, a demon lord that sought to challenge Alodai’s divinity in the distant past.

The tenets of Alodai force orcs to submit wholly to his will, which is most often interpreted
for them by the shamans known as the Mended Ones, although it often takes a visit from the
sect’s enforcers to impress the urgency of their god’s desires upon stubborn or non-religious orcs.
Alodai also demands daily remembrance of the power he holds over his worshippers, which most
often comes in the form of self-abuse.

Aside from the two main shrines to Alodai in the city, several smaller ones can be found throughout.
These shrines take the form of a wooden likeness of the god’s face nailed to a post in the ground
whilst sticks and chains are placed next to the post. Worshippers use these implements to bludgeon
themselves, their form of deference to the Maimed Lord. It is considered bad form to bludgeon
another orc with these implements, no matter how religiously inspired the act may be.

Although mandated a daily ritual, very few orcs actually practice this on a regular basis. This gave
rise to the practice of using brute squads to ensure that the Maimed Lord was getting his due. These
squads of burly orcs travel out into the city on one day each week, thumping orcs who pass by a
shrine without stopping to worship. On the other days of the week, these squads collect tithes for
the church. While they do not often resort to physical violence, the menacing image of these orcs
with their thick red robes and large clubs is sometimes not enough to inspire the believers.

The orcs of Skaar believe the city was given to them by the Nine-Fingered as a gift for heeding
his prophecies and abiding by his will. More importantly, they believe it was he that nearly took
it from them due to their complacency during the great storm that swept across the Hearth Plain
many years ago. They still refer to that storm as the Fury of the Maimed Lord and they live in
fear that every dark cloud forming on the horizon is once again a sign of his displeasure.

Religious Practices
The self-administered floggings of Alodai’s faithful are by far the most common of religious
practices in the city. This duty is usually fulfilled at one of the small shrines around Skaar,
although few do so regularly. This practice is not meant to harm the Nine-Fingered’s followers
and even when they must be administered by his brute squads are in no way fatal or even harmful
beyond a few bruises and some pain.

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 The Legend of Alodai and Kharkus
Kharkus the demon lord rules an abyssal lair whose very air inflicts pain and suffering on those
exposed to it. The air whips and cuts the skin as clouds of sulphurous dust coat the eyes and throat.
A millennia ago, Kharkus hatched a plan that would expand his dominion beyond this realm.

The orcish god of suffering, Alodai, was to manifest himself on the material plane for a brief
moment in order to power a great orcish war machine that would lead his followers to victory.
During this moment, Kharkus would strike at the god, who would be weakened by this
manifestation. Kharkus intended to destroy the god and rise to divinity, claiming the dead god’s
realm as his own.

A moment can be an eternity even for those as powerful as Kharkus and Alodai, and it was more
than enough time to wage a battle between the divine being and his would-be usurper. Kharkus
shifted into the material world at the exact moment of Alodai’s arrival and forced them both into
a field where no time ran. Alodai, enraged by this interruption, drew his mighty spiked club and
attacked the demon lord. Kharkus countered with his two bladed whips, inflicting great wounds
upon the god. One of his strikes severed the thumb from Alodai’s left hand, a wound that lingers
to this day and gives Alodai one of his most fearsome titles, the Maimed Lord.

In the end, Alodai defeated the demon lord and drove him back to the Abyss. As punishment for his
transgression, the god locked Kharkus’ plane in a state of timelessness, creating a barrier that could
not be crossed through either side. Kharkus was forced to work indirectly to further his fiendish
agenda and in retaliation he sent an ally to help the orcs who founded the Cult of Kharkus.

Alodai has held the upper hand in this epic struggle for nearly 1,000 years but the pendulum
is beginning to swing back toward Kharkus. His cult has grown far beyond expectations and
the barrier erected by Alodai is beginning to weaken, allowing limited movement between the
planes. All signs and portents point toward another epic conflagration between the two powers
and some worry their struggle may spill out onto the material world where terrible destruction
would be wrought.

Alodai’s faithful are not under strict duty to follow any other rituals, although many have
personalised their worship of the Maimed Lord with a variety of small tributes or sacrifices. Some
give money to the church above and beyond that claimed by the brute squads, whilst others wear
symbols of the god at all times. There are two common symbols worn by the faithful. The first is a
circular wooden medallion carved to resemble their god’s face, similar to those found at the shrines.
The second is a cape or robe in the same rust colour as the robes worn by the faith’s enforcers.

The shrine of Alodai on the surface is called the Shrine of Circles, a pattern of circles beaten
into the grass of the Hearth Plain. According to doctrine, the Maimed Lord watches each circle
and looks favourably upon those within. Acolytes and priests of the orc god walk between the
circles, administering a righteous thump to the faithful who prostrate within. The priests follow
this with the phrase ‘Alodai thanks you’, and then move on to the next circle. Staying in a circle
too long elicits suspicion from the priests; either the orc has done something terribly wrong or
he enjoys the thumping a little too much.

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 Alodai: The Maimed Lord, The Nine-Fingered
Alodai is the chaotic evil orcish god of pain and suffering. He exhorts his followers to commit
acts of cruelty upon one another and themselves, demanding pain is felt in order to understand
what he protects them from. Human theologians have posited that the god merely feels sorry
for himself and that he wishes the pain of his lost finger on each and every follower. Alodai also
demands his worshippers spread pain, death and destruction on all those around them. He
drives them constantly into battle and relishes the large hordes spreading his gift to the peoples
of other races and nations. Alodai is often associated with chaos, destruction, evil and strength.
His favoured weapon is a spiked greatclub.

The other major shrine, found beneath the city’s surface, is known as Blue Falls Rock. This
natural stone formation has a unique combination of minerals that cause it to glow blue when
exposed to light. It has the appearance of molasses flowing down the walls of the cavern but the
smooth flow is every bit as strong as the surrounding walls. The blue stone has an unexplained
effect on creatures using Night Sight, acting like a bright light would to a creature using normal
vision – any viewing the wall using Night Sight is temporarily blinded. This property fades
immediately if the stone is removed from the wall and the wall itself radiates no magic at all.

Patterns have been painted on the walls using tree sap, which is hard to detect with normal sight
(Perception –10%) but blocks the blinding effect of the wall on creatures using Night Sight. These
patterns are transcribed from ancient orc writings that detail the form of Alodai. Worshippers stare
at the wall and then close their eyes, where the shapes and patterns invert to become bright images
in the orc’s mind. They believe that by taking the image of their god into their minds, they allow
the deity to feel a wholeness of body that his maimed form does not allow.

Religious Organisations
The Church of Alodai
Priests and laymen devoted to Alodai walk the caverns and streets of Skaar in great numbers,
performing both the spiritual and mundane tasks of the church. The church is led by a group of
shamans known as the Mended Ones and it is they who determine official doctrine and lead the
orcs in crowded group services on holy days.

The Mended Ones are a mysterious group that wear black masks when they move about in
public. These masks are identical in appearance, so individual Mended Ones cannot be identified
by observers. They live in a wooden building built against the rising cliff face of the mountain,
just to the west of the Shrine of Circles. It is said that when the fires die out on holy celebrations
and orcs lie drunk and gorged in the streets and alleys of the Hearth Plain, the Mended Ones
walk through the celebration claiming the service of orcs who catch their eye.

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 Church Rituals and Holidays
Most of the orcs in Skaar claim allegiance to the church of Alodai, even if many are not truly faithful.
Almost every orc in the horde is a faithful servant of Alodai since the time of the great storm and the
inattentiveness of the orcs in Skaar often contributes to conflicts with homebound horde orcs.

The church has five holy days each year, one to mark the passing of each season and one to
celebrate the defeat of Kharkus.

The Yawning Sun: This ritual is performed to celebrate the lifting of winter and is the only time
any kindness is shown within the city. The church invites all citizens to come together and feast
in celebration of the beginning of spring. They set up tables of food at various locations within
the city and watch long lines form as the citizens come to claim their free meal.

The Burning Thirst: In the middle of summer the church mandates that its followers drink
nothing but hot water for an entire week. This causes many orcs to become sick and die but the
ritual continues to be followed without regard for their suffering. The horde is exempt from this
ritual but many of them are so devout they still follow it.

The Broken Back: As autumn descends on the Hearth Plain, the church demands its followers
give a tribute of gold and either wood or peat to the church. This has a dual function, allowing
the church to garner a great deal of raw currency and also ensures the city stores are filled with
fuel for the winter ahead.

The Maimed Lord’s Triumph: On the first day of winter the church celebrates the victory of Alodai
over the demon lord Kharkus. Followers are supposed to spend the day in supplication to their lord and
any found roaming the streets by vigilantes of the church are beaten in the Maimed Lord’s name.

The Frigid Belly: Helping to conserve the always strained resources of the city, the followers of
Alodai fast at the midpoint of winter. This is the least followed ritual of the five holy days as it is
difficult to keep an orc’s stomach from dictating his actions.

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 Orcs singled out in this manner are bound to serve the church in a variety of capacities. They are
used to gather food, deliver messages and do the mundane, laborious work of the church. The
length of engagement is at the pleasure of the Mended Ones but rarely lasts less than a year. Those
who refuse this service are judged infidels, branded with the symbol of Alodai on their cheeks and
sent out into the city. Orcs branded in this way rarely survive a day in Skaar, as thugs and thieves
descend upon them using their heresy as an excuse to slay them for their belongings.

However, service to the church of Alodai is a good lot for an orc in Skaar and most recognise it
as such. They are well fed and clothed, even given a special tabard to wear that identifies them as
wards of the church. This grants them access to areas otherwise deemed off limits to the common
orc and affords a basic level of respect not shown to any other. The orcs are not paid for their
service but are granted access to equipment and goods of a higher quality than is generally found
elsewhere in the city. While they may not keep any such things after their service is complete, the
orcs are free to use these items as they please during the time of their service.

The leader of the Mended Ones is a mysterious orc whose influence in the city grew after a
successful run with the horde almost 20 years ago. When he returned from the campaign he
called a group of Alodai’s servants together. They retreated for several days into the structure that
would become their home and when they emerged they wore the black masks that have become
their trademark. From that day they expanded the church’s influence in Skaar, to the point where
the Mended Ones’ word carries almost as much weight as that of Grogan Thral and even Cylus
Groon. Groon and Thral both have good relations with the priests and the Mended Ones often
hire muscle and purchase information from the two rivals.

Cult of Kharkus
This dangerous cult has existed in orc culture for some time and they have a large presence within
Skaar, boasting just over 700 members in or around the city. The size of the city allows them to hide
their activities whilst accommodating the strange and unusual rituals they are bound to perform.

Recruits are subjected to a day long ritual before given full status as a member of the cult and
many fail to survive the initiation. The initiate is first blindfolded and brought into the cult’s
private caves, where he is given a mark on the right hand that burns through the entire ritual. He
is then forced to perform heavy labour for several hours whilst cult members yell and scream at
him. This serves to dull the mind of the initiate and implant suggestions into his subconscious
mind. Finally, when he is exhausted from the day’s assault, he is taken into the cult’s summoning
chamber to face his final test – confronting a demon.

The cult has used the same demon for nearly a year now, being forced to find a replacement after
the last broke free of its bonds and rampaged through the cult compound. They wooed this new
demon with the blood of 30 orc and goblin captives, and pay it regular tribute in the form of
gems, gold or further sacrifices.

Cult members bring captives into the summoning chamber and call the demon. The mark the
initiate was given at the beginning of the initiation allows the demon to affect him without
breaking its bonds. At this point they leave the demon and initiate alone, entering the room an
hour later to find either a new member or a dead body, depending on the whim of the demon
and the strength of the initiate. Once the initiation is over, the orc becomes a full member and
spends the next few days learning the ways of the cult.

The fundamental belief of this cult is that Alodai did not survive his confrontation with the demon
lord Kharkus. Rather, Kharkus killed the god during their battle and now inhabits his body, ruling
both his own minions and those of the dead god. The fact that their priests are unable to cast spells
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 does little to deter them. Kharkus, in their minds, does not grant spells to the true followers so the
foolish masses continue their worship of Alodai, thus feeding the demon lord yet more power. It
should be noted that the Cult of Kharkus does not seek to undermine the Alodaisian faith. In fact,
the most zealous proponents among Alodai’s faithful may belong to the cult. Their god benefits
from a growth in Alodai’s worship, so they work toward that end with a fervour equal to that of the
Mended Ones themselves. They believe that those who are worthy will be brought into the cult in
their own time, so they actually spend very little time seeking recruits.

Those that do undergo the initiation rite find themselves in a world of alliances, nepotism and
corruption. They are showered with material goods immediately, seducing them all the more into the
demon lord’s realm and suddenly find themselves paying discount prices in the market and gaining
preferential treatment in taverns and inns. Such orcs may find an extra ration chip or two in their
sack at the beginning of the month, or an extra gold piece in their pocket at the end. These small
things alone are enough to ensure the loyalty and commitment of most new members within a city
like Skaar. Beyond that, members are granted access to the best jobs in the city. Proven members can
find themselves in positions of authority within the standing guard and every place in the city feels the
influence of the Cult of Kharkus, although many times orcs have no knowledge of such a connection.
Even the Silver Tusks are not free from its influence for at least two of their number swear allegiance to
the demon lord. Cylus Groon does not deal with the cult himself and collectively they are perhaps his
biggest rivals for economic domination of the city. If he knew members of his own gang were affiliated
with the group the City Master would have them purged immediately.

The downside to affiliating with the Cult of Kharkus is harsh indeed. First, junior members
are expected to act as the eyes and ears of the seniors. If a senior member demands a favour,
those of lower standing must complete the task in a satisfactory and timely manner for the cult
has frightening ways of dealing with those who shirk their responsibilities. Since its beliefs run
contrary to those of the church of Alodai, the cult has been outlawed within Skaar. Indeed, there
are few places an orc can openly wear the mark of Kharkus. If an orc were ever publicly revealed
as a member of the cult, he would likely be beaten severely and delivered to the church of Alodai,
who would instantly slay him.

New Heroic Ability

Order of Kharkus
Prerequisites: POW 12; Lore (Kharkus) 50%; Must serve the demon Kharkus willingly and
wholly.
Hero Points: 8
Duration: Permanent

The demon worshipping members of the cult of Kharkus hold special powers over demonic
entities, using them to intimidate enemies, increase personal power and wealth, and spread
influence to even greater levels. Each member is infused with a form of demonic energy upon
joining the cult and the leaders of the cult can draw upon great amounts of this raw power.
Consorting with demons is never without its risks, however, and as senior members of the order
grow in power, so do they grow in attachment to the demonic forces that grant it.

You can gain 1d6-1 temporary POW by sacrificing any living creature through ritual, the effects
of which vanish at the sunrise on the following day. Additionally, you may communicate with the
demonic minions of Kharkus once per day, getting dark and sinister answers to your inquiries.

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 The orc stood in the corner, sweating. He could feel the course robe rubbing the skin of his chest
and arms. He was sure they were red and the sweat and grime that covered him would cause
them to burn well into the next day… if he lived that long. The robe was golden and covered
with strange symbols whose meaning he could not even guess.

‘All things ready?’ asked the orc beside him to another who was busy checking the circle of
powder on the floor of the room.

‘This is good circle, Kruk, the demon won’t even be able to breathe our way,’ said the other.

Grendl fought back the urge to shed his robes and flee from the cave before they could summon
the nether beast. He knew, however, that if he fled he would never make it out alive. The cult
members in the next cavern would kill him before they let him leave, secrecy being of the utmost
importance. No, his path was chosen and now there would be no turning back. He had a better
chance with the demon.

‘Listen, let’s get this one out of the way fast,’ said Kruk. ‘I’m hungry.’

‘Right, don’t rush me,’ said the other orc, whose name Grendl did not know.

The orc backed off the circle and pulled a leather pouch from his belt. He withdrew a handful
of powder and began to chant. As his words began to crescendo he threw the powder over the
circle, creating a glistening globe of force that flickered into and out of existence. Amber smoke
started to rise from the ground within the circle and a creature appeared that looked like a purple
wardog with an oversized mouth and two human arms.

‘That’s disgusting!’ said Kruk.

The other orc jumped in. ‘Demon! Bellow with rage, for you are now mine to command!’

‘Can we not just get this over with?’ said the demon in a lazy tone. ‘You know I have villages to
burn. I am starting to think this was not worth the orcs you sacrificed to me.’

The orc looked startled but he recovered quickly. ‘That’s why we brought you these gems,’ he
said as he held out a silver tray full of black gems. ‘We just got them today, bathed in blood as
you like them.’

‘Hmmm… Where is the initiate then?’ asked the demon.

Disciples of the Asphibyiex

This strange cult was founded after the great storm hit Skaar, over two decades ago, and has been
growing in influence over the last few years, now boasts around 400 members city-wide. The
cult’s followers believe an ancient god rests at the bottom of Lake Craddush and it was he who
caused the great storm, not the Maimed Lord. They also believe another storm is imminent and
that one day soon their god will rise up and destroy those who live in his sacred caverns. It is their
hope that Skaar will be delivered to those who were faithful, namely them.

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 Lake Zombie
Lake zombies are the foul creations of the disciples of the Asphibyiex. Their only known location
is under the black waters of Lake Craddush, in the caverns beneath the city of Skaar for the
elemental god known as the Asphibyiex revealed the secret of their creation only to the orcs who
worshipped him. Ever since, these orcs have created several dozen of the wretched undead who
live beneath the surface of the lake, feeding on bodies dumped into the water by the disciples.
These zombies are often called to the surface by the disciples to perform manual labour or to
fight on behalf of the cult. Their existence is still a secret in Skaar and the disciples’ operatives
within the Lake Guard help to safeguard this secret.

Lake zombies feed on the flesh of the living, as do other zombies, but their proximity to the
elemental god whose secrets permitted their creation grants them several advantages. First, they
act more swiftly than normal zombies, allowing them a full array of actions each round. Second,
the water they absorb into their bodies makes them incredibly resistant to bludgeoning weapons
of all kinds (these weapons inflict half damage). This water can also be used to distract their
opponents in combat, thus making it easier for the zombie to drag his foe into a watery grave.

Lake Zombies are summoned and created using a corrupt version of the Resurrection spell upon
a recently drowned victim that has a single grain of Lake Craddush’s sand placed in each eye.
Otherwise, they are the same as the Zombie entry in Monsters of Legend.

Members of the cult also believe that becoming an undead creature will bring them closer to
their god, allowing them to serve his needs more closely. For this reason, almost every priest
of the Asphibyiex specialises in the necromantic arts. Members consider it a high honour to
be chosen for this service and once a year the members hold a type of lottery for the privilege
of being killed and then reborn as one of the undead. The cult’s leaders have always rigged the
lottery, as none of them yet wish to test their faith with such finality. By sheer accident, although
those in the cult’s higher echelons proclaim it to be a boon of their god, the cult discovered
the process for creating a potent form of undead known as a lake zombie. These zombies are
amphibious, requiring contact with water to fuel their undeath and are fearsome combatants
both on land and underwater. The disciples have a large number of zombies hidden beneath
the dark surface of Lake Craddush and call upon them whenever their is need of their services.

The disciples gather monthly to offer sacrifice and prayers to their unknown god. They
congregate near the lake, taking care to avoid the inevitable guards who patrol the area and
call into service a dozen or more zombies to protect them from the cavern’s numerous dangers.
They have an elaborate ritual that involves pouring water from one cylindrical, bottomless jug to
another without spilling a drop. The ritual takes incredible co-ordination and thus far has never
been performed correctly. Still they strive toward that goal, for they believe it will be a sign of the
impending appearance of their hidden god.

The necessity and utility of having members within the regular guard posted to Lake Craddush
is obvious and insinuating its members into the guard has been the cult’s greatest success. Several
members of the lake guard are affiliated with the cult, whether through initiation or simple business
dealings. Cult members arrange for monthly meetings to take place outside the view of other orcs
and ensure the stock of zombies is never discovered. Two members of the lake guard unknowingly
aid the disciples by smuggling ration chips to cult members disguised as black market traders. The
disciples then sell the ration chips on the black market, helping to fund the cult.

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 The Asphibyiex
The Asphibyiex is a malicious water elemental god, originating from the elemental plane of water,
trapped in the material world by a consortium of powerful spellcasters who were bent on closing an
elemental rift near their home. He is a minor deity of water elementals and is worshipped by certain
communities of merfolk and other aquatic creatures. It is unknown how he acquired dominion
over water-borne undead but leads his followers down the necromantic path at every opportunity.
The Asphibyiex is associated with death, destruction, evil and of course… water. The favoured
weapon of his acolytes is the trident, although many of his priests also focus on grappling and close
quarters attacks to force their opponents into water where the priest has a distinct advantage.

New Heroic Ability

Disciple of the Asphibyiex
Prerequisites: POW 12; Lore (Asphibyiex) 50%; Must have drank the befouled water of Lake
Craddush.
Hero Points: 8 or 12
Duration: Permanent

The leaders of this strange cult within Skaar practice the dark arts of necromancy in conjunction
with their worship of the water elemental god, the Asphibyiex. They are able to create the undead
terrors known as lake zombies and their charismatic lectures are persuasive enough to convince
orcs to sacrifice themselves to a god they have never known. Although the group is not large
by any means, its members are loyal and very well placed within Skaar society. More powerful
members retreat to their secret cavern in order to prepare for the return of the Asphibyiex.

You have an additional 5 Magic Points to spend on spells based on or affecting the undead.
Additionally, if 8 Hero Points were spent to purchase this ability, you gain the ability to command
zombies with a –10% Influence Skill Test. If 12 Hero Points were spent to purchase this ability,
you gain all of the aforementioned benefits and will rise automatically as a Lake Craddush
Zombie to serve the cult eternally.

There are no prominent citizens or great leaders within the cult and this is one likely reason for
its lack of widespread appeal. Another is the general insanity of the cult’s beliefs. Surprisingly,
however, the cult is not too far off the mark in its doctrine. Although it is not an ancient god
that dwells at the bottom of the lake, a lesser water elemental deity named the Asphibyiex does
in fact reside there. Lake Craddush was formed when a powerful spell sealed an open portal to
the watery hell where the god resided, trapping the Asphibyiex in the material world and he has
dwelled here ever since.

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 Akrilla the Witch
Akrilla was the High Shaman of Skaar for over a decade before she fell into disfavour during the great
storm that destroyed much of the city. Her rise to power had been quick, during the days when the
Mended Ones and the church of Alodai were the official religious leaders of Skaar. In those days they
were not masked and walked freely about the city. Although many in the city did not trust her, Akrilla
held the respect and awe of many of the Mended Ones due to her skills in divination and potion
making. So, on the day of the Yawning Sun, they unanimously proclaimed her High Shaman.

During her tenure as High Shaman, Akrilla was a recluse from the city, only leaving her sheltered
home to attend meetings of the church leaders and to oversee the celebrations on Alodai’s holy
days. Rumours abounded that she consorted with devils and many claimed she was in league
with the Cult of Kharkus. Nothing could have been further from the truth, however, as Akrilla
dedicated herself solely to the church of Alodai and the orcs of Skaar, even enduring untold
suffering to complete the rituals that made her divinations so powerful. All of this took place
away from the eyes of other orcs and their suspicion led to Akrilla’s downfall after the mighty
storm known as the Fury of the Maimed Lord.

During the weeks leading up to the Fury, Akrilla repeatedly tried to warn the city’s leaders about
the coming punishment. She would emerge from her abode, her skin drenched with sweat and
caked with the blood of animals, screaming the contents of her visions to sceptical orcs. Despite
her reputation, such claims were not easily believed by the other Mended Ones and she soon
stopped emerging from her home completely. She spent the final days communing with Alodai
and brewing potions that wracked her body with intense pain. In a final, desperate, act to ward
off the coming storm, she held the thumb of her left hand over a candle until flesh and bone
alike disintegrated. To her dismay, the clouds continued to build on the horizon. After the storm
receded and much of the city lay in ruin, the berserk inhabitants of Skaar were in danger of
finishing what the storm had begun. Their rage had no direction and thus it turned inward,
causing the destruction of hundreds more orcs as well as many of the structures that had survived
the storm. The warlords convened and decided they needed to redirect the energy of the orcs.
What they needed was a common enemy.

The Mended Ones, already searching for a means to rid themselves of the troublesome witch,
provided the perfect solution. They informed the warlords of her predictions and that she had
cited the orcs’ recent laziness and pacifism as the reason for their god’s displeasure. They also
spoke of her unusual behaviour of late and fears that she may very well have succumbed to some
form of demonic possession. Of course few believed this but it mattered little to the warlords.
The warlords saw a double victory in the offing. They could allay the rage of the orcs by providing
a scapegoat with Akrilla and then could use her predictions as impetus to raise the greatest horde
in living memory. This solution proved beneficial to both the Mended Ones and the warlords,
and so the plan was enacted and Akrilla was forced to flee the city just to save her life.

Akrilla still lives deep in a swamp at the base of the Hearth Plain, continuing her study of divination
and potion brewing.

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 defences

The horde that constantly roams the countryside searching for plunder and causing destruction is
Skaar’s greatest defence. Although most of the horde, and the warlords who control it, remain away
from Skaar at all times, a small contingent always rests within the city. These orcs spend their time
repairing war machines, recovering from wounds and helping the Skaar Guard defend the city. The
most experienced and deadly warriors of the Skaar Guard usually graduate to the Lake Guard, a
group that patrols and defends Lake Craddush from the deadly denizens of the caverns below.

The Horde
Orcs love to rampage and destroy. So when Alodai expressed his displeasure at the laziness that
had befallen the orcs of Skaar, a horde of immense proportions was gathered. Each of the hordes
that overran the city of Ironhallow Hall numbered nearly 3,000 berserk orc warriors. The new
horde unleashed was larger than both combined, sending over 7,000 orcs on a blazing destructive
path throughout the surrounding countryside.

The warlords who organised the horde decided amongst themselves that they alone would lead the
orcs to glory. Their use of the witch, Akrilla, as a scapegoat for the destruction of the city also gave
them an excuse to exclude other shamans from the leadership. This horde would go without shamans,
who were tasked to help rebuild the city in an image more pleasing to the Maimed Lord.

In the intervening years, the shamans have grown in power and authority within the horde. The
warlords, although jealous of the power of these orcs, do not discourage such growth for after the
first such shaman rose to power and allied himself with one of their number, all warlords have
struggled to see their own shaman win over the loyalty of the orcs they command. A warlord
without a shaman in today’s horde is a weak and vulnerable target for an aggressive underling.

Factions
The horde is currently divided into several different factions, each with a powerful warlord as
leader. Smaller factions exist but often ally with a larger faction out of necessity and survival.
None of these smaller factions pose a great threat to the more powerful warlords and so they are
permitted to exist as separate entities. A shaman supports each of the warlords and in return gains
the respect and devotion of the warlord’s men. These influential leaders are often more scheming
and treacherous than their martial counterparts, as each desires to gain enough influence to
become the High Shaman of Skaar, a post left empty since the exile of Akrilla. There is one
unaffiliated shaman in the horde, Esteria, who has assembled a few dozen loyal orcs to guard and
protect her and the minor warlords who do not maintain an allied shaman all court her favour,
viewing the addition of a shaman as the next step toward legitimising their command. Esteria
has not yet made a decision and most think she will not do so soon. None of the warlords has
stepped up to prove his worth to the aspiring shaman and some believe the shaman aspires to
become a warlord herself, a feat unheard of in orc society.
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 The various factions of the horde are detailed here.

Warlord: Aganir Thak.

Affiliated Shaman: Helag.
Number of Orcs in Command: 3,200.
Auxiliary Troops: 12 trolls, 150 goblins, 2 catapults, 2 pitch throwers and 1 attack sled.
Plots and Intrigues: Thak is the horde’s Warmaster and his troops are primarily veterans of
previous actions. Although Bakka Grimlir commands a force of similar size, Thak’s troops are
far superior and his allegiance with the troll clan who push his attack sled makes him a feared
and respected leader.

Aganir Thak also commands the home force, although this is only a nominal position since he is
rarely present in Skaar itself. His loyal servant, Grogan Thral, carries out his commands within
the city. Thak does not share his faithful lieutenant’s hatred of Cylus Groon but is wary because
of Groon’s connection to Grimlir, his main rival. At some point he may have to remove Grimlir
in order to maintain the status quo within Skaar.

Warlord: Bakka Grimlir.

Affiliated Shaman: Ghaudrik.
Number of Orcs in Command: 2,400.
Auxiliary Troops: 40 goblins, 1 battering ram, 1 catapult and 1 pitch thrower.
Plots and Intrigues: Grimlir’s rise was a quick one and it caused much contention and jealousy
in the lesser ranks of warlords as he was but a minor leader under the command of Agramm
Schuul when he struck up a working relationship with Cylus Groon. His men would smuggle
horde booty into the city and be paid handsomely by the fat City Master. Soon Groon recognised
that having a powerful ally in the horde would be necessary for his own survival, particularly in
light of the growing rivalry between he and Grogan Thral, whose patron was the arch warlord
of the horde.

Grimlir does not consider himself beholden to Groon for any of his success but is shrewd
enough to recognise the benefits of their relationship. Unknown to the other warlords, Grimlir
sometimes diverts his troops to some purpose Groon has given him. These excursions have made
him quite rich but they are starting to cause friction with his shaman, Ghaudrik. It could be that
soon Ghaudrik makes a move on Grimlir in a bid to lead the horde himself. No one knows what
such disruption would mean for the horde overall, or whether or not other warlords will even
allow such a large force to be commanded by a shaman.

Warlord: Korrang Val.

Affiliated Shaman: Drekken.
Number of Orcs in Command: 1,500.
Auxiliary Troops: 50 goblins and 1 battering ram.
Plots and Intrigues: Korrang Val tries to keep himself and his troops out of the political
intrigues of the warlords. He can often be found separated from the main body of the horde
and is currently resting his troops within Skaar. Rumours abound that he has found some great
resource but as yet has not told any of the other warlords what it might be.

Warlord: Agramm Schuul.

Affiliated Shaman: Sharrik.
Number of Orcs in Command: 420.
Auxiliary Troops: 160 goblins.
Plots and Intrigues: Schuul has the weakest personality of any of the warlords and most assume
that his troops are actually controlled by the shaman Sharrik. In his laziness, Schuul has failed to

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Alex Greene (order #3583073) 7
 notice his command becoming increasingly alienated from the rest of the horde. His troops were
significantly diminished by the defection of Bakka Grimlir but still he sits inactive whilst Sharrik
drives his troops on. Sharrik knows that the dispersal or defeat of Schuul’s troops would likely
mean his death and he is desperately trying to hang on to what they have. He has taken note of
the increased presence of messengers from both warmaster Thak and warlord Grimlir as this does
not bode well for their survival, for both warlords seem to be sizing up Schuul’s commitment to
his troops for a possible take-over.

Warlord: Cartag Reiga.

Affiliated Shaman: Krick.
Number of Orcs in Command: 260.
Auxiliary Troops: 60 goblins.
Plots and Intrigues: Reiga’s troops were nearly decimated after an unsuccessful siege several
months ago. He spent nearly two months back in Skaar trying to raise more troops but a combined
plot by Groon and Grimlir kept him from being successful. Grimlir is taking advantage of Reiga’s
weakness by offering him a position with his troops but so far Reiga has held out, knowing full
well the cruelty with which Grimlir treats his troops. If Reiga did not enjoy a special relationship
with Warmaster Thak he would have already been assimilated into Grimlir’s command by force.
Reiga is desperately searching for a way to dig himself out of his weakened position and is trying
to forge an alliance with Korrang Val, who he knows is plotting for his own gain. So far Val
has rebuffed these attempts but he may take the lesser warlord into his camp if it means subtly
putting a roadblock in the way of Grimlir’s ambition.

Shaman: Esteria.
Number of Orcs in Command: 40.
Plots and Intrigues: Esteria is one of the most intriguing characters in the horde, being neither
warlord nor affiliated with one. She trails the horde of Warmaster Thak, providing support whilst
trying not to overstep into the duties of his shaman, Helag. Helag does not consider her a major
threat, because she has no affiliated army and because she is female, and she has little interest of
vying for his position. Esteria merely sees the advantage in being near the largest and most well
commanded of the hordes and is biding her time for opportunity to arise elsewhere. Contrary
to popular belief, Esteria has no desire to become a warlord herself, as she learned well from the
example of Akrilla of what happens to a female shaman who oversteps their bounds.

On the Home Front

The warlords leave a regular presence in Skaar to perform a number of duties in support of the
massive horde. This home force, under the watchful eye of the Hordemaster, helps to construct
new war machines for use in besieging towns and cities, and also repairs damaged machines
brought back to the city. Warlords who treat Hordemaster Rathak Kell with some measure of
respect (and the only measure Kell truly cares about is in ounces of gold) get their machines
and men tended to more quickly, thus keeping a stronger force in the field at all times. A bad
relationship with the Hordemaster has been the downfall of many a warlord in the past.

The group oversees the upkeep of the fences and ditches the orcs have built to protect their
city from outside invasion. Most of these are built on the sloping edges of the Hearth Plain,
effectively barring entry by any large invasion force. The heavy storms that regularly pound the
city have an adverse effect on these defences and so require near constant attention. The warlord’s
effort to keep these defences in high standard has paid off for Skaar, which has never had to repel
an invasion from the outside.

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 Cylus Groon often hires idle orcs from the Hordemaster’s stable to work his foundries. Skilled
orcs also help the Ugreckt tribe forge weapons and armour for the city. This provides a chance
for the orcs to intermingle with the citizens of Skaar. When they roam the city they are generally
regarded with nervous admiration and tend to take what they want from the city without
complaint. It also helps that Cylus Groon and Hordemaster Kell enjoy a friendly relationship,
meaning that any indiscretions by the Hordemaster’s troops are likely to be overlooked.

The Loyal Guard

The other main body of defence for the city of Skaar is the Home Force, led by a cunning and
loyal lieutenant of warlord Akanar, named Grogan Thral.

This force roams the Hearth Plain, looking for trouble in Skaar and keeping tabs on the various
agents of Thral’s enemy, Cylus Groon. Their primary responsibilities include keeping track
of who enters and leaves the city and monitoring the activities of any non-orcs within Skaar,
whether residents or visitors. They tend to closely monitor the activities of the Ugreckt tribe
in particular, as Thral distrusts the hobgoblin leaders. He believes their tribal loyalty and close
relationship with Cylus Groon make them dangerous to the city and is currently investigating
claims that the Ugreckt are hatching a plan to take over the city with the help of allies in the area.

Defences
Orcs are well known for using siege engines in their quest to destroy that which they do not own.
Some say their knowledge of such complex destructive machinery must come directly from their
gods, since orcs are unable to master other engineering techniques considered rudimentary by
the standards of other races. Dwarves contend that the secret to such weaponry was stolen from
their god by an orc deity thousands of years ago.

How they came about this knowledge matters little to the victims of an orc siege. Defenders
examine the weapons orcs bring, so that a proper response can be planned. Below is a study of
the most common siege engines used by the orc horde within Skaar.

Battering Ram

Catapult, light and heavy

Pitch Thrower – The pitch thrower is a device resembling a trebuchet using a specially treated
cloth to hurl flaming balls of pitch at the orcs’ enemies. These balls of pitch explode on contact
with any surface, showering the area with a sticky, burning substance. All those within four
metres of the impact point take 2d6 fire damage and must make an Athletics Skill Test at –10%
or catch on fire. The rules for firing a pitch thrower are identical to those for aiming a catapult,
requiring three crewmembers six melee rounds to load and aim the device. It takes a minimum
of two crew to man the pitch thrower. Cost: 750 gp.

Attack Sled – This unique device is made for attacking walled fortifications such as fence lines
and the walls of a castle or city. It takes the appearance of a 100 foot long covered sled on which
up to 40 orcs may hide, granting them full cover from attacks. The machine is usually pushed
by two lines of 10 large creatures, such as ogres or trolls, who are allied with the attacking army.
These creatures line up on either end of the sled and are only given half cover from attacks. Trolls
make excellent choices as they are hard to bring down with normal missile fire and are strong
enough to push the sleds for over a mile over rough ground without resting. Cost: 450 gp.

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 This, of course, often brings the guard into direct conflict with Cylus Groon, who cultivates his
relationships with the hobgoblins of the Ugreckt tribe as well as the trolls he employs. Groon has
personally debunked Thral’s theory about the Ugreckt, although he privately has concerns that it
may hold some measure of truth. For now, however, he is using his own resources to discover the
veracity of the claim, whilst at the same time sabotaging Thral’s investigations. If such a plot were
ever discovered it could mean the end to Groon’s reign, so he is most interested in uncovering
it before anyone else. He could then use the plot to his advantage, executing the hobgoblins
responsible and reinforcing his position as City Master.

Guard Patrols
Visitors to the city who take one of the two main roads into town will be met by a force of orcs
and their business with the city demanded. If a satisfactory answer is not given immediately, or if
the orc in charge is in a particularly foul mood, parties will be stripped of arms and marched to
the outpost to meet with Thral or one of his underlings. The larger or more dangerous-looking
the group, the more likely this course of action will be taken. Resistance to this procedure is met
with force of arms with one of the orcs blowing a large horn to alert Skaar entire to the danger
whilst the others attempt to slay the attackers.

A typical orc patrol will be made up of seven city guardsmen and one lieutenant. The lieutenant
will tend to do all the talking whilst the others mill about with axes drawn. One of the guard orcs
will hold a ram’s horn, which he will blow to alert the city of trouble in case of imminent battle.

Grogan Thral’s men also man the cliff forts that were built by the orcs to survey the surrounding
land for signs of an invading army. Four such forts sprout from the cliffside that surveys the
valleys below the Hearth Plain, built in the last several years as the main body of the horde ranged
further and further from Skaar. Advance warning of any large-scale invasion became a necessity
since it would likely take the horde up to a fortnight to receive any message to return home and
another to make it back to the city.

A giant eagle colony rests atop the cliff face, several hundred feet above the highest fort. These eagles
enjoy fun at the expense of the orcs stationed in the cliff forts – specifically, they love to dive down
and snatch equipment off the fort’s walls, sometimes even snatching the helmet off an unsuspecting
orc’s head. Although the orcs often lose valuable equipment in this way, including several spyglasses,
they have yet to find a way to scale the cliffs and drive off the intelligent birds. It is only considered
a minor nuisance, however, and no formal plan to eradicate the eagles has been enacted.

Skaar’s Spellcasters
Over the decades of the orcs’ domination of Skaar, orcish spellcasters have developed a number
of unique and powerful spells to aid them in the defence of Skaar, as well as bolster the fighting
effectiveness of the horde when they are forced to march alongside warriors to battle. Adepts,
shamans, wizards and sorcerers of all types within Skaar may be found unleashing such spells at
their enemies.

The following list of spells from the Legend Core Rulebook are exactly the types used by Skaar
Spellcasters.

Common Magic – Bestial Enhancement, Fanaticism, Strength

Divine Magic – Berserk, True (Weapon)
Sorcery – Damage Enhancement, Regenerate, Wrack

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 Grogan Thral
The leader of the Home Force is both charismatic and cunning, relying on his warrior’s instincts
to protect the interests of his patron whilst throwing obstacles in the path of Cylus Groon. He
plays a very active role in the city, contrary to his rival, but like Groon he employs a number
of underlings and henchmen to carry out the day-to-day activities necessary to maintain his
authority in Skaar.

He is beginning to fear the sheer size of his command structure is weakening his position,
however, and is reluctant to spread forces too thin lest he lose control. He is secretly planning a
purge that he hopes to combine with a blow to Groon’s organisation, thus ridding himself of two
problems in one stroke. The plan is perhaps far too ambitious for any orc to succeed in but thus
far is progressing as envisioned.

Ultimately, Thral would like to become City Master himself. With the might of the greatest
orcish warlord behind him, he believes the various factions and alliances in Skaar can indeed be
unified. What he requires is an enemy, one that threatens the city’s very existence. That enemy,
he believes, is the hobgoblin tribe. Thral’s agents have been working with the tribal chieftain of
the hobgoblins under the guise of orc merchants to establish trade with the other hobgoblins in
the area. This has been done clandestinely, even avoiding the prying eyes of Cylus Groon and his
cohorts. When the time comes, Thral’s agents intend to set up a large shipment of weapons and
armour that will subsequently be discovered by the city guard. Evidence found incriminating
Cylus Groon in a plot to take total control of the city will enable Thral’s forces to ride in and
save the day against a surprised and off-guard Groon. Until this plan comes to fruition, however,
Grogan is content collecting information via his plants in Groon’s organisation and supervising
the defence of the city he feels destined to rule.

The Lake Guard

This group of orcs, led by an insane overlord named Grezius Bosh, defend the cavern complex
surrounding Lake Craddush. Bosh is technically under the auspices of Grogan Thral but the
difficulty of dealing with the insane orc and Thral’s own machinations on the surface have slowly
eroded their relationship to the point where Thral now leaves the mad orc to his task, only
getting involved when disputes or emergencies arise.

The guard roster fluctuates between 150 and 200 orcs at any one time and is always manned
by experienced warriors. Three shamans also appear in the ranks of the Lake Guard, which is a
departure from the normal practice of excluding shamans from participating in the guard. In
addition, several members of the cult of the Asphibyiex have made their way into the Lake Guard
to help further their own goals. The dangers of the undercity are numerous and ever present,
and the Lake Guard is a duty that brings both large rewards and great danger. Aside from the
usual subterranean dangers such as umber hulks, darkmantles and troglodytes, the Lake Guard
battles the constant attempts of the nearby dwarves to poison the water supply and sabotage the
orcish city. The orcs have become intimately familiar with their foes over the past 100 years and
consider the ongoing battle a matter of pride.

Lake Guard patrols consist of five orcs, one leader and four warriors, all trained to work and
fight underground. They monitor the caverns constantly and summon others when they note a
suspicious trail or item. Aware their darkvision is not the advantage down here that it is on the
surface, the Lake Guard carry numerous light sources in the hope the cave dwelling creatures
they encounter will be more irritated by it than they.

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 The other function of the Lake Guard is to ration the city’s water, guarding the stock of ration
chips and seeing they are distributed in a manner consistent with the wishes of Cylus Groon.
These chips are a valuable resource and another reason the Lake Guard is manned with reliable
and experienced orcs. The Lake Guard also man the booths where ration chips are collected and
exchanged, often hiring outside mercenaries or off duty orcs from Hordemaster Kell to transport
and defend both water and chips. That said, the black market for these commodities is large in
the city and more than one orc in the guard has been known to participate for his own gain. The
punishment for being caught in such endeavours is execution on the spot, so such activities are
usually limited and hidden. The disciples of the Asphyibyiex have actually convinced Bosh that
drowning is an appropriate punishment for such a crime and they happily collect the bodies of
such victims to use in their rituals.

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 tour of the city

Skaar is a large city housing over 25,000 orcs. Split into two halves, many spend their entire
lives on the Hearth Plain, scratching out an existence whilst trying to avoid the attentions of
the various factions vying for total control of Skaar. The majority, however exist within the
mountain, within the old caverns of Ironhallow Hall, the original dwarven settlement. Although
poverty, strife and death is never far away for the weak and helpless, those that manage to move
to the undercity tend to have a far higher life expectancy than those exposed to the elements
outside the great stone archway.

Government House
This building was once the centre of trade in the Ironhallow settlement. It was built by the
dwarves of Ironhallow as a place to meet and respect those of other races and cultures, all the
while engaging in the trade that had become the lifeblood of the settlement. As such, it features
a variety of architectural influences meant to make other races feel at home during their stay on
the Hearth Plain. It is the only building in the city to use imported white marble as a building
material and this sturdy stone was one of the reasons the building was spared during both the
initial orc invasion and the great storm 75 years later.

The dwarves built the structure on an artificial hillock in order to allow for three-dimensional
architectural design, as well as to create areas that would feel comfortable to the occasional
halfling contingent of traders and explorers. One of the hillsides is flat and a pipe that runs
through the hill funnels water caught in storm drains into a waterfall, which splashes into an
intricately carved basin at the hill’s bottom. Here travellers of all races took their lunches in the
open air, viewing the underground atrium through an enormous glass wall built directly into
the hillside. Without the purifying spells of the dwarven clerics, however, this pool has become
tainted and stagnant, only cleaning itself after a long rain. Garbage and muck fills the bottom of
the basin and a group of goblins that works for Cylus Groon has claimed the area as their own.

The once grand doors to the establishment were destroyed during the siege and have since been
rebuilt with wooden replacements that do not quite reach the top of the frame. The doors lead
into the entry hall, which was once a grand, vaulted room but now lies in a state of semi-ruin.
Members of the Silver Tusks can be found here lounging at all times of the day and the place
stinks of faeces and rotting fish due to an old fountain now used as a latrine and garbage bin. All
of the interior doorways have been cleared and the side rooms are filled with heaps of junk. Food,
beer and other daily requirements are also stored in the rooms and a fire pit has been arranged in
one of the rooms to cook the fresh meat Groon’s minions bring each day.

The building contains several underground rooms, built into the artificial hillock and even deeper
into the earth. This is where Groon spends many of his waking hours, plotting and managing
to add to his riches and power. The deepest rooms are his private sanctum, guarded by layers of
traps and loyal minions, while the middle rooms near the surface hold much of his accumulated
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 wealth and the living quarters of his most trusted allies. Breaching this area would be a fantastically
difficult task and since the time of the dwarves these chambers have remained inviolate.

There are rumours of hidden caches of gold and gems located throughout the hillock that would
have been used by the merchants of Ironhallow Hall but none have ever been found and Groon
continually denies their existence to keep thieves and opportunists from constantly ransacking
the place. Although few, if any, of these thieves would be able to bypass Cylus’s defences, it is a
headache that he does not wish to add to his list.

Temple of Alodai
The temple of Alodai is one of the few structures in the city that was not rebuilt or converted
from the time of the dwarves. It dates back only 20 years to the time just after the great storm
that ravaged the city. At that time the shaman Akrilla was the leader of the Mended Ones and her
expulsion from the city and subsequent disgrace brought suspicion onto the remaining leaders
of the faith.

They lived with this distrust for several years and many of their number were killed by fearful
and superstitious orcs. Then came Grum Preddor, a powerful and influential shaman who
distinguished himself on the field of battle whilst travelling with the First Horde. Preddor came
to the Mended Ones and called them into a retreat for prayer and reflection. When they emerged
from the small, wooden church building near the Shrine of Circles they seemed to resonate with
focus and direction. The church leaders were all wearing black masks and they proclaimed from
that day forth their identities would remain secret.

Their first action after this new revelation was to commission the construction of a new
headquarters, one that could house them in secrecy and allow them to conduct church business
without distraction. A hundred orcs and goblins worked night and day to complete the structure,
which can still be seen on the spot of the old church building, some 50 yards from the site of
the Shrine of Circles.

The building is made completely of native orangewood and it stands out against the harsh
grey cliff face that reaches skyward from the Hearth Plain. The outside of the structure is
architecturally complex, with many small rooftops, landings and balconies placed throughout.
It appears awkward to outside observers and perfectly reflects the chaotic nature of those who
built it and those who live within. The Mended Ones can often be seen overlooking the Hearth
Plain from these various perches, their draping robes and dark masks presenting a grim site to
those who tarry to watch.

The inside of the structure is far less chaotic than the outer shell, housing several large rooms
on the first floor and living quarters on the second and above. The top floor is one large room,
a private worship area for the Mended Ones to commune with Alodai and learn his wishes.
Screams of agony can often be heard echoing across the plain from this private shrine as the high
priests of Alodai submit themselves, and others, to painful and agonising rituals.

The living quarters on the second floor are more conventional, with each room being equally
furnished with a bed, chest, desk and chair. These rooms also have openings to the balconies and
landings visible from the exterior. These open doorways are often decorated with strings of beads
or painted animal skin. The balconies and landings are often higher than the rooms themselves
and are accessible by stairs that hug the building’s outer walls. Although the Mended Ones have
servants that attend to their needs, they are never seen on these balconies, which are considered
the private areas of the individual priests and off limits to all uninvited trespassers.

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 The bottom floor is divided into three large rooms, each having several closets, cubby-holes and
storage bins built into the walls. The first is the temple of Alodai itself and this covers nearly the
entire front half of the building. It is the only place in the structure where all orcs are permitted and
also the only room in which there are windows to the outside. The room is covered by blood soaked
rugs, most made from the skin of both surface and subterranean animals, and crude paintings
depicting scenes from the doctrine of Alodai cover the walls of the room. Most of the paintings show
great historical battles in which a shaman has played a decisive role or orcs submitting themselves
to the rituals and trials demanded by their faith. One wall carved in bas-relief is devoted to the
battle between Alodai and Kharkus. It depicts a victorious Alodai, his lifeblood draining from his
wounded hand, standing over the beaten demon lord as he cringes in fear.

The faithful are expected to pay monetary tribute to Alodai for which they receive a righteous
beating at the hands of one of the lesser priests. After enduring their worship, the faithful are
granted food and drink, then sent on their way. Most orcs in Skaar muster the strength to
worship here at least once each month, although the truly committed come here as often as they
can. At least one Mended One along with several lesser priests, guards and servants tend to the
faithful here at all times.

The second room, reached through a door to the right of the main altar, is a kitchen and pantry
area where servants of the Maimed Lord prepare food for the faithful and priests. A large fire pit
stands in the centre of the room and it is not unheard of for an unhappy priest to throw a servant
in with the evening’s fare.

The third room on the bottom floor of the temple acts as quarters for the temple’s servants. It is
not a happy retreat, because of a ghost that haunts the room. The apparition appears randomly,
causing a chill in the room and causing flames in the room to either flare up or snuff out. So far
the ghost has not harmed any of the servants but it does cause a lot of lost sleep.

Market Cave
This large cavern stands as a lasting tribute to the artistic and engineering genius of the dwarves
who built the original city. It was once a large amphitheatre where dwarven bards and storytellers
would sing songs telling of their ancestors’ great deeds. The ridged half-dome behind the stage is
carved completely from the rock of the cavern and the rest of the cave is decorated with statues
depicting heroes of dwarven legend. Most of these statues have been vandalised over the last 100
years, broken and covered with all manner of disgusting things. Two of the statues resisted this
vandalism and eventually the orcs tired of trying to destroy them.

This stone-ridden cavern is where the orcs meet to trade and do all manner of business. There
are only a few orcs here that make a living at trade and the majority of those make just enough
to rent their space from Groon. These destitute traders usually sleep in the cavern when business
is scarce and feed themselves by catching electrical cave rats, or flaggs. One orc, Garkyon, has
managed to carve out a decent living merely by trading here in the market. His wooden stand
deals mainly with tools and other items for everyday living but as with everything in Skaar his
success has a hidden tale.

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 Statue Properties
The two undefiled statues were warded against aging and damage with powerful dwarven magic.
The orcs lack the magical knowledge to decipher the magic and so leave the statues intact in the
marketplace as a reminder of who they conquered. There are rumours that these statues are the
inert forms of legendary dwarven warriors who will reclaim the city when the time arrives. These
stories are dismissed by the shamans of Skaar as idiotic fancy.

Flagg
These diminutive vermin are fleet footed annoyances that are notoriously curious and fearless.
Flaggs would likely be considered to be cute to those who first see them; an opinion that rapidly
changes as they begin to electrify whatever has their attention at the moment. The tiny magical
rodents are stark white, with sparkling blue eyes that glow candescently from within. Their velvety
white fur crackles with potential energy, arcing outward occasionally as a small spark or popping
line. Flaggs might seem like any other subterranean rodent at first look but that illusion is cast aside
as soon as they get agitated and tiny bolts of lightning begin to burn holes everywhere.

Everything is interesting to a flagg. They want to smell, touch and feel everything under their tiny
little paws. This would be normal and less worrisome for any normal rodent but the electricity
that a flagg generates is not always under its control. Metallic objects that get too near to a flagg
gather minor shocks, which might bring about loud noises and aggression. Such responses are
sure to work a flagg into a fearful frenzy of hurled bolts of lightning and frantic bites, neither of
which will be beneficial toward calming the situation.

Dice Average 1D20 Hit Location AP/HP

STR 1D3 2 1–3 Right Hind Leg –/2
CON 2D6+1 8 4–6 Left Hind Leg –/2
SIZ 1D2 1 7–9 Hindquarters –/3
DEX 6D6+10 31 10–12 Forequarters –/3
INT 4 4 13–15 Right Front Leg –/2
POW 4D6 15 16–18 Left Front Leg –/2
CHA 4 4 19–20 Head –/2

Combat Actions 5 Typical Armour: None

Damage Modifier +0
Magic Points – Traits: Immune to Electricity
Movement 6m
Strike Rank +6 Skills: Athletics 35%, Dodge 80%, Stealth 75%
Weapons
Weapon Skill Damage
Bite 30% 1D2–1D8
Shock 95% 1D4 electricity

Notes: Flaggs can only use their Shock attack once every other Combat Action. It ignores AP
from metallic forms of protection and has a range of 2m.

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 Garkyon is the cousin of Cylus Groon. Although such familial distinctions are all but meaningless
in orc society, he was able to use Groon’s name where others would have been killed for doing so.
He approached the Silver Tusks and offered to make their jobs a little easier in return for protection
from the collections they made. He offered to be their eyes and ears in the caverns below, dealing
information whilst selling goods to the orcs of Skaar. In order to protect Garkyon’s burgeoning
business, the Silver Tusks declared the market to be off limits to bullies, thugs and thieves. This is
the only area in the city with an official prohibition against such activities (for otherwise the Silver
Tusks’ own activities would be quite inhibited). They visit the ruined cavern frequently and often
employ work crews to transport goods to and from Garkyon’s subterranean shop. Other orcs are
safer here from the predations of the Silver Tusks and other criminals than anywhere else in the
city. This makes trade here brisk and orcs are not afraid to bring their hard earned or stolen gold.
Sometimes orcs even barter their goods to the traders but doing so fetches abysmally low prices.

There are close to two dozen other vendors and dealers in the market, and new arrivals appear in place
of failures on a regular basis. Visiting traders and merchants can rent floor space in the cavern by the
day for a fee of three silver pieces, payable to any Silver Tusk or to Cylus Groon at Government House.
Hunters will often bring extra game here to sell to those who are unable to catch their own and one
of the regular traders sells nuts, roots and berries gathered from the surrounding wilderness. Inferior
cloths can be found here, most of them obviously heavily used or stolen for sale at the market but
orcs do not personally value silks and other fine materials beyond the price they can fetch in human
markets. Any tools or adventuring gear found here is likely to be of inferior quality and stands a good
chance of failing when used under less than optimal conditions.

The Choked Pit

There are a hundred small places within Skaar where orcs meet to drink and blow off aggression
but few of them offer the service of the Choked Pit. Built into an old barracks house near
the entrance to the caverns, this tavern plays host to a variety of clients from both above and
below ground. There is even a separate room where brave non-orc residents of Skaar can mingle
without being mobbed by drunken orc warriors. The Choked Pit is a rough place but an orc can
at least be assured of hot food and decent spirits. If an orc keeps his head down and his axe at the
ready, he may just find a break from the ever-present violence of life in Skaar.

The owner and barkeep is an old orc named Gireous Phlog. Phlog is nasty and brutish, even by
orc standards, and it is said that working for him is worse than being thrown into the work pits.
Even so, he never has a shortage of females to carry drinks and cook food in his establishment.
This is one of the few places in Skaar that a female is paid for her work and there is ample side
business to be gleaned by accompanying more generous patrons home at the end of a shift.

The establishment is open 24 hours a day and those who frequent it swear Phlog never stops
manning the bar. In reality, he is only around about half the day but enjoys the reputation he
has for working non-stop so he employs various tactics to maintain the illusion. The menu is the
same day and night, although cooks can sometimes create something different depending on the
availability of ingredients. The usual fare is a thick stew with meat whose origins are better left
unknown. Orcs do not bake bread but will add grain directly to the stew when it is available. An
orc that speaks to the cooks privately can even get special orders made, although asking Phlog
himself is liable to get an orc thrown out of the establishment.

The Choked Pit serves all types of drinks as they are available. The horde’s raiding parties ensure
a constant flow of ale and wine into the city and a good portion of it ends up in the private cellars
of the Choked Pit. The tavern’s speciality, as one might expect, is grokk. They make their own

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 special blend of grokk and its reputation is mostly responsible for the tavern’s present success. A
mug costs a mere silver piece, making it one of the rare affordable luxuries in Skaar. Phlog has
considered the idea of recruiting a Silver Tusk to run the business. The popularity of his tavern
is going to force his hand soon, and there is competition amongst the Silver Tusks to see who
will get the opportunity.

The Field
This is the largest single cavern in the complex beneath the Hearth Plain and its floor was cleared
of stalagmites and debris in the time of Ironhallow Hall. The orcs use it much as the dwarves did,
as a common area where sports and combat practice take place alongside casual meetings and
secretive business dealings. Roaring crowds of orcs can be found at all times watching combat
trials and pit fights, sometimes against dangerous creatures dragged from deep in the earth. This
is not a place for infants or outsiders as it stands for the most dangerous and violent aspects of
orcish culture and mindset.

The pit fights started almost immediately after the orcs invaded as a way for off duty soldiers to
blow off steam and direct their unspent rage. It went this way for decades and the pit masters that
arose to arrange fights for the appreciative crowds gained great wealth and prestige. One such
pit master was a fat orc named Cylus Groon, whose exotic fights and reputation for pleasing the
crowds soon vaulted him to the top of the scene. After the devastation of the Fury of the Maimed
Lord, he used this popularity to help solidify his position as City Master.

Fighting away from the pit is common in the Field as well. Business dealings gone sour and poor
sportsmanship are typical reasons for such violence, which can often turn as deadly as those in
the pit. When such fights break out, crowds will often ring around them, looking for interesting
side action away from the pits. The regular authorities in Skaar stay away from the Field and the
unstated law is anything goes. If the fights get too big, however, a force of guards will be called in
to prevent wholesale rioting and destruction. Orcs are rowdy and hot-blooded and neither Groon
nor Thral wish to preside over a city full of enraged warriors. Any involved in such massive brawls
is generally executed on the spot, although some survivors may be thrown onto a work crew.

In addition to the constant fighting, shady business dealings of all sorts take place across the
Field. This is the centre of the black market in Skaar, if an orc knows where to look and who to
ask. The black market here functions like that in any major city, although there is no one power
in control of it and most of the groups in Skaar have an interest in these quiet dealings.

The Cult of Kharkus sells its secrets and small portions of its power to entice new followers into
the fold. They track potential recruits, sometimes for weeks, to gauge if they are likely to join the

Pit Fights
The most common types of fights in these pits are one-on-one, one-on-many, chain gang, beasts and
monsters, and total blood baths.

The most commonly used beasts are wolves and other animals from their surroundings but
occasionally the orcs find something more exotic such as a captured centaur. A particularly nasty
match that is a true orc favourite places several gladiators in a wooden ring into which several
sacks of ravenous rats are poured.

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 cult or would report to Groon or Thral in hopes of a reward. When a potential mark is found,
the cult sends an agent out to the Field in order to make contact. This usually involves some
discussion of religion or philosophy, as well as an attempt to gauge the ambition of the orc in
question. If the recruit is receptive to the initial overtures, more senior members of the cult will
approach the orc on his next visit to the Field. They are fond of offering minor magic potions
or small tokens charged with demonic power in exchange for a favour from the recruit. At this
point the cult sits back and waits for the recruit to come back for more, knowing that when the
orc returns they have hooked another initiate.

The orcs that worship the mysterious being known as the Asphibyiex also take advantage of
the relative freedom of the Field. Here they trade for items needed to perform their grisly rites,
paying primarily with the ration tokens they have acquired and looking for incense and a large
quantity of black onyx gems that would create suspicion if they were acquired openly. The
disciples of the Asphibyiex also attempt to make contact with new followers in the Field but they
use the lure of extra ration chips to recruit their followers. If they suspect one of their contacts is
going to the authorities with information about the cult, they will track the orc until he is alone
and kill him, taking the corpse to be sacrificed to their unknown god.

Even Groon and Thral utilise the field to perform operations and acquire goods in a manner that
will not implicate them or their underlings. Groon usually sends a group of goblin servants into
the Field to deliver or acquire messages and goods in order to avoid risking the lives of his more
valued men and the goblins become convenient scapegoats should a mission run afoul. Groon
has considered getting involved in the ample drug trade but thus far he has chosen to keep his
hands clean. That said, several of the Silver Tusks are involved in distributing drugs they buy
through handlers in the Field, simply not involving Groon in their business.

Thral’s men watch from a distance, only entering the Field in the case of an emergency. He is
most interested in implicating the Silver Tusks or Groon’s goblin lackeys in illegal activities but,
unfortunately, the orcs Thral has assigned to the Field are far from loyal to him. Instead, they are
paid by most of the rival factions to conceal what they learn and the accumulated bribes are more
than enough to guarantee silence. It is through these traitors that the disciples of the Asphibyiex
managed to infiltrate the ranks of the Lake Guard, as enough gold and ration tokens can buy an
orc’s way anywhere in Skaar if he knows who to bribe.

As dangerous as it is, the Field is where many of the orcs of Skaar come to relax when they are
not scraping for survival. A variety of sports are played on the Field, including skrat, a game
whose object is to kick a newly separated horse’s head into the opposing team’s goal. The game
lasts until the horse’s head is literally torn apart by the rough treatment, at which time the goal
with the most gore is declared the loser. Another popular game is agger, in which each orc takes a
greatclub and smashes it against other combatants until only one orc is able to swing the club.

Artists’ Caves
This small cluster of caves is where some of the orcs of Skaar gather to play music, tell stories
and engage in various other amusements. Most of Skaar’s citizens have little interest in engaging
in such frivolous activities but more refined and civilised orcs do exist. They engage in artistic
endeavours ranging from painting to music and the only real written records of life in Skaar can
be found in the rucksacks and scroll tubes of a few of these orcs.

As one might expect, orcs that spend time in these caves are the object of ridicule and bullying
by a majority of Skaar’s population. Because of this, the community of artists has become a close
knit group, aiding one another and living a communal lifestyle within these caves. They return

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 the derision they receive from other orcs in kind and would like nothing better than to be able to
leave Skaar altogether. Unfortunately they realise that without the protection of the other orcs,
they would most likely be killed in the wilderness simply for their race and appearance. Thus
they remain in Skaar, losing themselves in their work in order to forget their daily trials.

These orcs brave the city at large in order to sell some of their handiwork, which is appreciated
by many orcs in the city even if the creators are not. The irony of this is not lost on the artists
but they endure what they must to make a living. Despite constant badgering these orcs do not
hold ill feeling toward their race as a whole and would certainly not aid any outsider attempting
to undermine or destroy the city. They might, however, sell their wares to such interested parties,
possibly providing a good route to get inside help infiltrating the city, since the artists would aid
in the smuggling of their pieces and would likely help an outsider secretly gain access to Skaar.

There is one popular cavern amongst these caves, called the musicians’ corner. Here one can find
orcs playing drums and a variety of other percussion instruments for amusement and profit. The
orcs almost exclusively play percussion instruments, as other types tend to be too delicate for the
orcs to handle and stringed instruments, especially those requiring plucking such as harps and
dulcimers, irritate orcs beyond reason. Music is the only art form taken seriously by the orcs, who
love to dance and scream wildly to the beat of hollow shells and flagg-skin drums. Sometimes
a storyteller will pair with a drummer, realising his art will never be taken seriously outside of a
musical context. He rarely gains more respect, however, as none of the whooping and hollering
orcs stop to pay attention to what is being said.

Ugreckt Tribal Grounds

The Ugreckt tribe sprung up around the initial group of hobgoblins Cylus Groon hired to help
rebuild the city. Their main task was metalworking and defence, and to this end Groon ordered
a large smithy built for them, around which they now live. The smithy and the tribe have both
grown in the past 20 years and the hobgoblins now claim nearly the entire eastern edge of the
Hearth Plain as their home. At the insistence of Grogan Thral their expansion has been curbed in
the last few years and the tribal chieftain, a powerful hobgoblin warrior named Tallarak Vressun,
keeps tight control over the number of hobgoblins living on the plain. Although distrustful
of both their numbers and race, Thral understands the defensive benefits of having the tribe
situated where they are and he has not made a case for their dissolution.

In addition to the fences and ditches surrounding the entire Hearth Plain, the Ugreckt chieftain
has ordered the construction of several other defensive structures to aid the hobgoblin tribe.
The first of these is a log wall built using wood hauled up the mountain from the forest below.
These three foot high walls are designed to slow an invading army while still allowing for the
use of javelins and other ranged weapons against the tribe’s foes. The hobgoblins have also built
several large ballistae to counter flying invaders and dissuade attackers from approaching the
compound. A lookout tower rises above the rest of the hobgoblin encampment, from which
the hobgoblins monitor the mountainside as well as the city of Skaar itself. They keep watch on
movement outside the city and give such information to Cylus Groon, who is always interested
in the extracurricular activities of Grogan Thral’s scouting units.

The hobgoblin tribe now numbers over 200 warriors, as well as 150 females and children, not
enough to seriously challenge Skaar as a whole but enough to prevent them from being abused
like the goblins of the city. Tallarak Vressun, is the only surviving member of the group that
made the agreement with Cylus Groon 25 years ago and is a cunning hobgoblin who leverages
his relationship with Groon to its fullest potential, granting him privileges of movement and
protection not enjoyed by any other outsider. He often travels around the city with a powerful

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 retinue of guards in order to buy goods, make business and other arrangements, as well as gather
information.

Unbeknownst to either Groon or Thral, the hobgoblins have dug an escape tunnel leading from
their compound to an unwatched portion of the mountain slopes. They have been using this
route to secretly engage in talks with a large hobgoblin tribe living several miles from the city.
The nature and outcome of these talks is unknown but is unlikely to be beneficial to the orcs.
Thral believes the hobgoblins are planning something but he cannot be sure and their close
relationship with Groon makes him cautious about confronting the chieftain.

Goblin Warrens
This area was where the bulk of the hordes rested after the first day of the invasion of Ironhallow
Hall. It quickly became uninhabitable, a bowl-shaped depression full of waste and rot. When the
orcs completed their conquest of the area, this portion of the Hearth Plain was vacated. It was
used primarily as a dump and waste disposal area until the goblin population in the city started
to exceed the land the orcs had given them. At that time all goblins of the city were forced to
move into this area, which had abundant tunnels underneath small hills that dotted the area.

Since that time this area has become the goblins’ own, the trash and waste the orcs dumped here
having been cleaned out for the most part, although the goblins add more of their own every
day. Carrion beasts have been driven further into the Hearth Plain to feast on the discards of the
multitude of orcs that make camp there and a tunnel has been dug that leads out of the city onto
a hillside near the mountain. Some of the patrols know about this hidden entrance but no action
has been taken to close it. The goblins exit the city frequently, always leaving enough of their
number in the warrens to ensure no one knows they are moving. Goblins are much too erratic to
sit in one place for long without direction and being outside the confines of Skaar means being
away from the abuse and work they endure on a constant basis.

Much like the hobgoblins, the goblins of Skaar have also contacted a goblin tribe outside the
city and trade goods and information with them on a regular basis. These dealings are hidden
from the orcs within the city, who would immediately become suspicious of such behaviour. The
goblins do not have any plots brewing and are generally satisfied with their rather poor lot in life.
Most know they are lucky to have the protection of a large city and do not consider relocating
to live with the other tribe.

The goblins of Skaar are not organised and there is no chieftain to oversee their affairs as a whole.
They govern themselves and individuals are held responsible for their own actions. Any goblin
who is caught doing anything that could anger the orcs is dealt with harshly as none wish to bring
the inevitable retribution down upon themselves. The goblins are too content with their lifestyle
to desire change, even if they get thrown on the work crews for the slightest of infractions.

The closest thing to an organisation within the goblins of Skaar is the group of thieving goblins
that co-ordinate with each other. Other goblins detest this group and are always on the lookout
for a reason to turn them in to their orcish taskmasters, although to do so is to risk retribution
from the tight knit group of rogues.

Lake Craddush
This enormous underground lake once fed an entire ecosystem beneath the Hearth Plain but
since the dwarves claimed Ironhallow several hundred years ago, it has been a tightly controlled

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 water supply. Some of the creatures that lived close to water were slaughtered to near extinction
whilst others moved on to safer territories. It is not known what became of the troglodyte clan
that warred with Ironhallow Hall – perhaps they were obliterated by the dwarves or maybe
they too went off in search of darker pastures. They were gone by the time the orcs conquered
Ironhallow Hall and named this lake after their Warmaster of the time, Craddush.

Many of the more aggressive species stayed, as did those who did not rely on the water supply for
their very survival. This makes the large cavern that contains the lake an incredibly dangerous
place, which is why the orcs keep it so heavily guarded. Displacer beast attacks are common near
the lake and a colony of owlbears continues to visit in order to feed even though their traditional
food sources were driven out over 100 years ago.

As if this was not enough for the Lake Guard to control, the dwarves of the resistance, led by
Darius Stonereaver, harass the orcs in this cavern, where they are most vulnerable. The dwarves
strike in teams designed to kill a few orcs and sabotage a cavern before retreating into the caves,
foiling any determined pursuit or reaction. Thral is incredibly frustrated with these attacks
and the inability of his orcs to track these guerrilla warriors back to their lair. He understands
that fighting in caves leaves his troops at a disadvantage but he cannot simply leave the lake
undefended. Although he has a distaste for magic, Thral is considering consulting the oracles
amongst the Mended Ones for guidance in this situation. It is likely Alodai knows the truth but
his willingness to share the information with Skaar may depend on Thral’s ability to root out the
growing number of followers of Kharkus in the city.

One of the most dangerous natural features of the cavern is a blue moss that grows on the shores
of the lake in large patches. Bluemoss is not harmful unless disturbed, at which time it releases a
cloud of spores that infects all creatures nearby. The bluemoss is resistant to fire and the orcs have
yet to discover how to rid themselves of this annoyance, although in day-to-day life it does not
hinder them much. The Lake Guard would be greatly interested in discovering a way to cultivate
the bluemoss so they could block certain passages into the city but this is not likely to happen
given the orcs’ primitive knowledge of such things.

Dungeon Hazard
Bluemoss
This leafy moss grows on the shores of Lake Craddush in large patches that are difficult to see
in the dark cavern. The dark blue moss blends with the rocks surrounding the lake, so the only
warning is the crude signs posted by the Lake Guard to protect their patrols. Bluemoss is also
used in the creation of lake zombie but only the cult of the Asphibyiex knows of this dire use.

Anyone wandering into a patch of bluemoss will cause a release of spores into the air. All creatures
within three metres of the bluemoss must make a Persistence Skill Test (–15%) or be compelled
to walk into the lake, where they drown unless rescued. They will not resist any rescue attempts
but if left unattended, once again try to walk back into the lake. Furthermore, a Resilience Skill
Test must be made each day or one point of temporary CON damage will be dealt as their lungs
fill with fluid, until two consecutive tests are made or magical healing is applied.

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 Aerie
Situated near the peak of the mountain that rises above the Hearth Plain, this shallow cave
is home to nearly two dozen giant eagles. This group made contact with the dwarves of the
resistance a few years ago and since that time have endeavoured to help them reclaim their lost
city. In addition to harassing the orcs stationed in the cliffside forts, the eagles also scout the
surrounding land, keep track of horde movements and direct good-natured strangers away from
Skaar itself and on to the dwarves. The aerie holds close to four full families of eagles and is not
practically accessible by any means except flight.

Cliffside Forts
These wooden structures are built high on the cliff face that overlooks the Hearth Plain and from
these vantage points, orcs can view all approaches to the city for several miles, providing a great
deal of information and tactical aid to Skaar. At least three orcs man each of the forts at all times,
rotating shifts every four days and wooden hand and footholds afford an easy climb up the nearly
65 metre stretch to the forts. The orcs are armed with crossbows and battle axes to ward off
attackers and each fort has a spyglass affixed to one of the crossbeams. The duty here is so routine
and boring that orcs often leave their post to pursue other interests during their shift.

The giant eagles have fun harassing the orcs on these stations, diving in to snatch their weapons
or food and dropping them several hundred feet to the ground below. So far the orcs have not
managed to kill one of the great creatures, but hate them terribly and often dream of cooking an
eagle carcasses over an open flame.

Caves of the Resistance

These caverns are hidden deep in the earth beneath the Hearth Plain and into the mountain
that now teems with orcs. They lie well beyond Lake Craddush and are therefore outside the
boundaries of Skaar. This ensures the dwarves are not bothered by orc raiding parties or minions
bent on the destruction of the last remnant of Ironhallow Hall.

The resistance is quite well placed. They have a runoff stream from the lake that feeds them fresh
water and several exit caverns to the outside world provide them with a means of replenishing food
stores and travelling beyond the confines of the city and its environs. The dwarves have used their
mastery of stone to hide these entrances from all but the most scrutinous eyes. They are so well
hidden, in fact, that only a dwarf can readily tell them apart from the normal crags and ditches of
the mountainous terrain. If an orc ever found one of these entrances and lived to tell of its existence,
it would surely mean the end of the dwarven resistance effort forever. These caves have little or no
light and the dwarves being content to utilise their natural ability to see in the dark for everyday life
for this also helps keep any intruders that rely on light from posing a serious threat. The dwarves
have set up various stonework traps and trick doors to further insure their safety.

The Warriors of the Nine are headquartered in these caverns and use them to launch their forays
into the city. These raids are a major source of food and supplies for the resistance and always
manage to slay a few orcs for good measure. Their leader is a dwarf named Darius Stonereaver,
one of the oldest remaining in the resistance movement. Despite his age, he is still a formidable
fighter and would never let a major action go forward without personally leading his troops. The
Warriors of the Nine have a heavily guarded cavern from which they call upon their ancestral
images to scout their next mission. These warriors are the spiritual leaders of the resistance and
others naturally look to them for command and direction.

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 The Horde Encampment
This area was put aside for members of the horde after several incidences between them and
the citizen orcs of Skaar. Warmaster Thak decided to keep the two groups separate and issued
an order that orcs visiting Skaar for healing or repair not enter the city proper unless given
authorisation by Hordemaster Kell. Nevertheless, orcs manage to find ways into the city proper,
whether it be through stealth or a bribe paid to the Hordemaster. Money is the Hordemaster’s
great weakness and his open policy of accepting bribes for nearly any service or boon has made
him a wealthy orc. If the situation gets too far out of hand, however, the warlords will make sure
he does not live to spend it.

A wooden fence surrounds the entire encampment. Two gates break the fence, one to the south
and another to the east. Guards are posted at these gates constantly and they are under standing
orders to let none enter or leave without the Hordemaster’s express permission. The area on the
western end of the Hearth Plain is rocky and has been cleared of any shrubs or small trees that
may have once grown here. Small holes and caves dot the area, many of which are used by the
visiting horde orcs for shelter, stealth and privacy.

There is a low, saucer-shaped depression in the encampment that orcs use as a makeshift hospital.
While few have any skill in healing or basic medicine, the hobgoblin shaman has been teaching
some of the older orcs to use plants from the area to aid in the recuperation process. The state
of the encampment is not conducive for healing; so many orcs simply come here to live well
before they die. Prostitution, drinking and gambling are just some of the vices that wounded orcs
enjoy here. All of this is run by the Silver Tusks, with a portion of the proceeds going directly to
Hordemaster Kell.

The other task of the Hordemaster is to oversee repairs on the various siege engines used by the
orcs when they rampage across the surrounding region. A group of very skilled orcs from the
Blackmuck tribe live in the encampment and their sole job is the repair and salvage of the horde’s
engines of destruction. They sometimes collaborate with the Ugreckt on large projects and
generally admire the hobgoblins for their metalworking skills. Some have accused the Blackmuck
of favouring the company of hobgoblins to other orcs and in some cases this has proved to be
true. The Blackmuck have built a solid structure in which they live and many of the orcs of Skaar
look upon it with jealousy and greed. It is only their reputation for extreme skill in both combat
and craft that has kept them safe from the predations of their own kind.

There is a fenced area where the wardogs used by the horde are bred and trained, an incredibly
dangerous place for any except the trainers and most orcs steer clear of it at all times. Wardogs
are an integral part of the orcs’ horde tactics and there are three full wardog units within Skaar at
all times. The fearsome orcs that control and direct these dogs are feared by even the toughest of
orcs and are almost always covered by numerous scars from the bites and mauls they suffer over
the years from dealing with these dangerous creatures, although the wardog trainer views these as
marks of pride rather than regrettable mementoes of training gone bad. The wardog training area
is double fenced, an extra precaution taken by the nervous orcs in the horde encampment.

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 Orcish Wardog
Aggressive breeds such as giant pit bulls and rottweillers are often used as war dogs by orc tribes
who unleash them upon unsuspecting enemies as a prelude to the orcs’ own attack.
Dice Average 1D20 Hit Location AP/HP
STR 4D6 15 1–2 Right Hind Leg 2/7
CON 3D6+6 17 3–4 Left Hind Leg 2/7
SIZ 3D6+3 14 5–7 Hindquarters 2/8
DEX 3D6 11 8–10 Forequarters 2/8
INT 5 5 11–13 Right Front Leg 2/7
POW 3D6 11 14–16 Left Front Leg 2/7
CHA 6 6 17–20 Head 2/7

Combat Actions 2 Typical Armour: Hide (AP 2, no Skill Penalty)

Damage Modifier +0
Magic Points – Traits: Night Sight
Movement 5m
Strike Rank +8 Skills: Athletics 85%, Dodge 45%, Perception 55%,
Resilience 45%, Stealth 50%, Survival 45%, Tracking 55%

Weapons
Type Weapon skill Damage
Bite 65% 1D8+2+1D2
Claw 40% 1D6+1D2

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 movers and shakers
This section is devoted to the Non-Player Characters of Skaar. Most of the named characters
in the book are detailed here and a variety of templates are given so that Games Masters may
quickly generate a group of foes with which to challenge his players. The Non-Player Characters
are all presented in a standard stat block format. Only magical possessions are listed, as individual
Games Masters should outfit the Non-Player Characters with whatever mundane equipment he
thinks is necessary for a given encounter.

The following Non-Player Characters described in this sourcebook are fully detailed in this
chapter:

Cylus Groon
Warmaster Thak
Grogan Thral
Hordemaster Kell
Tallarak Vressun
Akrilla the Witch
Garkyon
Gireous Phlog
Darius Stonereaver

The demon lord Kharkus is also included, for use in higher-powered adventures where
Adventurers have managed to penetrate the city of Skaar and unwittingly become embroiled in
the eternal struggle between the two principle deities of the orcs.

In addition, several examples of the various type of common orc are also provided in order to
allow a Games Master to portray such encounters quickly and easily, with the minimum of
preparation.

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 Cylus Groon
Value 1D20 Hit Location AP/HP
STR 19 1–3 Right Leg 2/8
CON 18 4–6 Left Leg 2/8
SIZ 19 7–9 Abdomen 8/9
INT 14 10–12 Chest 8/10
POW 12 13–15 Right Arm 2/7
DEX 14 16–18 Left Arm 2/7
CHA 14 19–20 Head 2/8

Combat Actions 3 Typical Armour: Breastplate; Hard leather trews, vambraces

Damage Modifier +1D6 and cowl. –4 Armour Penalty
Magic Points 12
Movement 11m
Strike Rank +12

Common Skills
Athletics 110%, Brawn 84%, Common Magic 70%, Culture (Skaar) 92%, Dance 42%, Drive
58%, Evade 45%, Evaluate 48%, First Aid 48%, Influence 70%, Insight 50%, Lore (Regional)
80%, Perception 70%, Persistence 85%, Resilience 80%, Riding 120%, Sing 36%, Sleight 40%,
Stealth 44%, Swim 42%, Unarmed 102%

Advanced Skills
Courtesy 35%, Disguise 35%, Language (Common) 65%, Language (Orc) 95%, Spirit Binding
50%, Spirit Walking 68%, Streetwise 65%, Survival 82%, Track 70%

Common Magic (70%)

Beast Call, Bestial Enhancement 3, Pierce 2, Protection 2

Traits
Night Sight

Heroic Abilities
Born to the Saddle, Brutal, Defiant Leap

Weapons
Weapon Damage Size Reach Manoeuvre AP/HP
Cleavehelder (Cylus’ Axe) 2D6+3 Large Long 8/15
Longspear 1D10+3 Large Very Long Impale 4/10
Target Shield 1D6 Large Short Impale 4/12
Orcish Bow 2D6 Huge 150m Impale 4/8

Combat Styles
Battleaxe 110%, Bow 105%, Spear and Shield 96%, Thrown Spear 86%

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Alex Greene (order #3583073) 7
 Warmaster Thak
Value 1D20 Hit Location AP/HP
STR 24 1–3 Right Leg 4/8
CON 16 4–6 Left Leg 4/8
SIZ 22 7–9 Abdomen 8/9
INT 10 10–12 Chest 8/10
POW 8 13–15 Right Arm 4/7
DEX 11 16–18 Left Arm 4/7
CHA 10 19–20 Head 3/8

Combat Actions 2 Typical Armour: Natural Thick Hide; Leather greaves

Damage Modifier +1D10 and breastplate. –4 Armour Penalty
Magic Points 4
Movement 6m
Strike Rank +12

Common Skills
Athletics 88%, Brawn 78%, Common Magic 35%, Culture (Orc) 85%, Dance 30%, Drive
33%, Evade 48%, Evaluate 40%, First Aid 30%, Influence 44%, Insight 36%, Lore (Skaar)
72%, Perception 58%, Persistence 62%, Resilience 74%, Riding 55%, Sing 32%, Sleight 30%,
Stealth 18%, Swim 31%, Unarmed 72%

Advanced Skills
Language (Orc) 95%, Language (Common) 50%, Lore (Orc) 84%, Lore (Demons) 42%, Lore
(Dwarves) 32%, Survival 68%, Tracking 40%

Common Magic (35%)

Bestial Enhancement 2, Thunder’s Voice 2

Traits
Night Sight

Heroic Abilities
Battle Fury, Brutal

Weapons
Weapon Damage Size Reach Manoeuvre AP/HP
Dusk of Dwarves 1D6+1/1D8+1 Medium Medium Bleed, Sunder (2H) 4/8
(Battleaxe)
Short Spear 1D8+1 Medium Long Impale 4/5

Combat Styles
Axe 90%, Spear 78%, Thrown Spear 62%

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Alex Greene (order #3583073) 7
 Grogan Thral
Value 1D20 Hit Location AP/HP
STR 21 1–3 Right Leg 2/8
CON 18 4–6 Left Leg 2/8
SIZ 18 7–9 Abdomen 4/9
INT 14 10–12 Chest 4/10
POW 12 13–15 Right Arm 4/7
DEX 14 16–18 Left Arm 4/7
CHA 15 19–20 Head 2/8

Combat Actions 3 Typical Armour: Chain shirt; Hard leather trews,

Damage Modifier +1D6 vambraces and cowl. –4 Armour Penalty
Magic Points 12
Movement 11m
Strike Rank +12

Common Skills
Athletics 90%, Brawn 78%, Common Magic 60%, Culture (Skaar) 76%, Dance 38%, Drive
55%, Evade 40%, Evaluate 51%, First Aid 43%, Influence 60%, Insight 44%, Lore (Regional)
76%, Perception 66%, Persistence 75%, Resilience 76%, Riding 70%, Sing 44%, Sleight 42%,
Stealth 42%, Swim 38%, Unarmed 88%

Advanced Skills
Language (Common) 68%, Language (Orc) 95%, Streetwise 68%, Survival 78%, Track 66%

Common Magic (60%)

Firearrow 1, Pierce 2, Protection 2

Traits
Night Sight

Heroic Abilities
Mighty Blow

Weapons
Weapon Damage Range Size Reach Manoeuvre AP/HP
Heavy 2D8+3 Large Long 8/18
Cleaver
Longspear 1D10+3 Large Very Long Impale 4/10
Orcish Bow 2D6 150m Huge Impale 4/8

Combat Styles
Battleaxe 91%, Bow 95%, Thrown Spear 76%

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Alex Greene (order #3583073) 7
 Hordemaster Kell
Value 1D20 Hit Location AP/HP
STR 17 1–3 Right Leg 2/8
CON 18 4–6 Left Leg 2/8
SIZ 16 7–9 Abdomen 2/9
INT 14 10–12 Chest 2/10
POW 12 13–15 Right Arm 2/7
DEX 16 16–18 Left Arm 2/7
CHA 14 19–20 Head 2/8

Combat Actions 3 Typical Armour: Hard leather shirt; Hard leather trews,
Damage Modifier +1D6 vambraces and cowl. –2 Armour Penalty
Magic Points 12
Movement 10m
Strike Rank +15

Common Skills
Athletics 80%, Brawn 64%, Common Magic 65%, Culture (Skaar) 88%, Dance 51%, Drive
46%, Evade 55%, Evaluate 54%, First Aid 62%, Influence 66%, Insight 60%, Lore (Regional)
75%, Perception 68%, Persistence 68%, Resilience 80%, Riding 77%, Sing 46%, Sleight 50%,
Stealth 62%, Swim 40%, Unarmed 65%

Advanced Skills
Language (Common) 75%, Language (Orc) 95%, Streetwise 70%, Survival 68%

Common Magic (65%)

Firearrow 3, Pierce 2, Protection 1

Traits
Night Sight

Heroic Abilities
Dead Eye

Weapons
Weapon Damage Range Size Reach Manoeuvre AP/HP
Orcish Blade 1D8+3 Large Medium 8/12
Longspear 1D10+3 Large Very Long Impale 4/10
Target Shield 1D6 Large Short Impale 4/12
Orc Crossbow 2D8 120m Huge Impale 4/10

Combat Styles
1H Sword 70%, Crossbow 85%, Spear and Shield 72%

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Alex Greene (order #3583073) 7
 Tallarak Vressun
Value 1D20 Hit Location AP/HP
STR 11 1–3 Right Leg 5/5
CON 15 4–6 Left Leg 5/5
SIZ 10 7–9 Abdomen 2/6
INT 16 10–12 Chest 2/7
POW 12 13–15 Right Arm 2/4
DEX 14 16–18 Left Arm 2/4
CHA 14 19–20 Head 2/5

Combat Actions 3 Typical Armour: Heavy leather shirt and cap;

Damage Modifier +0 Chainmail skirt. –4 Armour Penalty
Magic Points 9
Movement 8m
Strike Rank +12

Common Skills
Athletics 65%, Brawn 44%, Common Magic 45%, Culture (Orc) 72%, Dance 62%, Drive
52%, Evade 62%, Evaluate 50%, First Aid 60%, Influence 48%, Insight 42%, Lore (Regional)
68%, Perception 70%, Persistence 54%, Resilience 80%, Riding 55%, Sing 44%, Sleight 55%,
Stealth 62%, Swim 60%, Unarmed 42%

Advanced Skills
Culture (Hobgoblin) 85%, Culture (Orc) 55%, Language (Goblin) 95%, Language (Common)
82%, Language (Orc) 81%, Language (Giant) 68%, Lore (Ancient Orc History) 50%, Survival
60%, Track 68%

Common Magic (45%)

Bandit’s Cloak 3, Thunder’s Voice 2, Understanding 2

Traits
Night Sight

Heroic Abilities
Linguist, Poison Immunity

Weapons
Weapon Damage Range Size Reach Manoeuvre AP/HP
Goblin Blade 1D4+1 Small Short Bleed 4/6
Short Spear 1D8+1 Medium Long Impale 4/5
Recurve Bow 1D8 175m Huge Impale 4/8

Combat Styles
Dagger 64%, Bow 72%, Spear 64%, Thrown Spear 40%

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 Akrilla the Witch
Value 1D20 Hit Location AP/HP
STR 13 1–3 Right Leg 2/6
CON 15 4–6 Left Leg 2/6
SIZ 13 7–9 Abdomen 3/7
INT 15 10–12 Chest 3/8
POW 16 13–15 Right Arm 3/5
DEX 13 16–18 Left Arm 3/5
CHA 14 19–20 Head 2/6

Combat Actions 3 Typical Armour: Ringmail shirt, Hard leather trews and
Damage Modifier +1D2 cap. –4 Armour Penalty
Magic Points 16
Movement 8m
Strike Rank +10

Common Skills
Athletics 55%, Brawn 38%, Common Magic 75%, Culture (Orc) 80%, Dance 64%, Drive
36%, Evade 44%, Evaluate 56%, First Aid 50%, Influence 78%, Insight 70%, Lore (Regional)
62%, Perception 64%, Persistence 62%, Resilience 75%, Riding 45%, Sing 42%, Sleight 38%,
Stealth 45%, Swim 35%, Unarmed 45%

Advanced Skills
Culture (Orc) 72%, Language (Orc) 95%, Language (Common) 60%, Language (Dwarven)
44%, Lore (Arcane) 62%, Sorcery: Manipulation 65%, Streetwise 54%, Survival 50%

Common Magic (75%)

Beast Call 2, Countermagic Shield 3, Detect Magic, Fanaticism

Sorcery (Witchcraft) (60%)

Banish, Damage Enhancement, Dominate (Dwarf ), Mystic Vision, Wrack

Traits
Night Sight

Weapons
Weapon Damage Size Reach Manoeuvre AP/HP
Orcish 1D6 Medium Short Bleed 4/6
Shortblade

Combat Styles
1H Sword 70%

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 Garkyon
Value 1D20 Hit Location AP/HP
STR 17 1–3 Right Leg 2/8
CON 18 4–6 Left Leg 2/8
SIZ 17 7–9 Abdomen 4/9
INT 12 10–12 Chest 4/10
POW 10 13–15 Right Arm 4/7
DEX 13 16–18 Left Arm 4/7
CHA 11 19–20 Head 2/8

Combat Actions 3 Typical Armour: Leather and chain shirt, vambraces

Damage Modifier +1D6 and cowl. –4 Armour Penalty
Magic Points 10
Movement 8m
Strike Rank +12

Common Skills
Athletics 70%, Brawn 72%, Culture (Skaar) 78%, Dance 38%, Drive 64%, Evade 38%,
Evaluate 42%, First Aid 36%, Influence 70%, Insight 42%, Lore (Regional) 65%, Perception
60%, Persistence 52%, Resilience 68%, Riding 72%, Sing 44%, Sleight 38%, Stealth 52%,
Swim 45%, Unarmed 66%

Advanced Skills
Language (Common) 44%, Language (Orc) 95%, Streetwise 58%, Survival 77%, Track 65%

Traits
Night Sight

Heroic Abilities
Brutal, Mighty Blow

Weapons
Weapon Damage Range Size Reach Manoeuvre AP/HP
Ender (battleaxe) 2D6+3 Large Long 6/12
Longspear 1D10+3 Large Very Long Impale 4/10
Target Shield 1D6 Large Short Impale 4/12
Orcish Bow 2D6 150m Huge Impale 4/8

Combat Styles
Battleaxe 90%, Bow 75%, Spear and Shield 66%

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 Gireous Phlog
Value 1D20 Hit Location AP/HP
STR 17 1–3 Right Leg 2/8
CON 18 4–6 Left Leg 2/8
SIZ 18 7–9 Abdomen 2/9
INT 13 10–12 Chest 2/10
POW 11 13–15 Right Arm 2/7
DEX 14 16–18 Left Arm 2/7
CHA 13 19–20 Head -/8

Combat Actions 3 Typical Armour: Leather chain shirt, and vambraces.

Damage Modifier +1D6 –2 Armour Penalty
Magic Points 11
Movement 8m
Strike Rank +13

Common Skills
Athletics 72%, Brawn 66%, Culture (Skaar) 68%, Dance 36%, Drive 48%, Evade 40%,
Evaluate 48%, First Aid 40%, Influence 55%, Insight 38%, Lore (Regional) 60%, Perception
55%, Persistence 50%, Resilience 56%, Riding 68%, Sing 40%, Sleight 42%, Stealth 45%,
Swim 35%, Unarmed 58%

Advanced Skills
Language (Orc) 95%, Streetwise 52%, Survival 67%

Combat Styles
Bow 65%, Spear and Shield 56%

Traits
Night Sight

Heroic Abilities
None

Weapons
Weapon Damage Range Size Reach Manoeuvre AP/HP
Longspear 1D10+3 Large Very Long Impale 4/10
Orcish Bow 2D6 150m Huge Impale 4/8

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 Darius Stonereaver
Value 1D20 Hit Location AP/HP
STR 16 1–3 Right Leg 5/6
CON 19 4–6 Left Leg 5/6
SIZ 8 7–9 Abdomen 6/7
INT 13 10–12 Chest 6/8
POW 14 13–15 Right Arm 6/5
DEX 8 16–18 Left Arm 6/5
CHA 12 19–20 Head 6/6

Combat Actions 2 Typical Armour: Breastplate, full helm and

Damage Modifier +0 vambraces; Chainmail skirt. –8 Armour Penalty
Magic Points 14
Movement 6m
Strike Rank +2

Common Skills
Athletics 68%, Brawn 72%, Common Magic 55%, Culture (Dwarves) 70%, Drive 40%, Evade
42%, Evaluate 58%, First Aid 48%, Influence 60%, Insight 62%, Lore (Skaar Region) 65%,
Perception 66%, Persistence 85%, Resilience 70%, Riding 32%, Sing 44%, Sleight 30%, Stealth
25%, Swim 42%, Unarmed 66%

Advanced Skills
Craft (Building) 80%, Craft (Armoursmith) 80%, Engineering 42%, Streetwise 38%

Common Magic (55%)

Bladesharp 2, Bludgeon 2, Heal 2, Protection 2

Heroic Abilities
Warrior of the Nine

Weapons
Weapon Damage Size Reach Manoeuvre AP/HP
Orcbane 1D10+3 Huge Long Stun Location, Sunder 4/10
War sword 1D8 Medium Medium Bleed, Impale 6/10

Combat Styles
Great Hammer 92%, War sword 80%

Kharkus
Kharkus is lord of a middle layer of a hellish Abyss. His realm is gruesome, a place where even
the clouds are laced with thin razors that cut and tear at visitors and denizens alike. He was once
ambitious and sought to replace the god Alodai as lord of pain and suffering. The cruel god
defeated him in battle, however, and confined him to his prison for millennia. That was over 900
years ago and his bonds have become weakened in the past few years. He has reached out to the
orcs that worship him and through demonic thralls and allies has managed to make contact with
the most powerful of them. As his power and that of his followers grows, he once again dreams
of usurping Alodai’s power but this time he is liable to recruit tens of thousands of his followers
to wage war in the material world as well.

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Alex Greene (order #3583073) 7
 Kharkus wades into combat with gleeful abandon, wielding his two whips with savage accuracy
and power. He is always accompanied by a troupe of servants, and will always summon more
demons (see Monster of Legend) to aid him if necessary. Very few individuals can survive a
meeting with the demon lord, especially on his home plane.

Value 1D20 Hit Location AP/HP

STR 33 1–3 Right Leg 10/9
CON 18 4–6 Left Leg 10/9
SIZ 36 7–9 Abdomen 10/10
INT 28 10–12 Chest 10/11
POW 33 13–15 Right Arm 10/8
DEX 7 16–18 Left Arm 10/8
CHA 22 19–20 Head 12/9

Combat Actions 2 Typical Armour: Knobby Demonic Flesh. No

Damage Modifier +2D6 Armour Penalty
Magic Points 33
Movement 8m
Strike Rank +17

Common Skills
Athletics 75%, Brawn 110%, Common Magic 90%, Culture (Demonic) 88%, Drive 64%,
Evade 22%, Evaluate 58%, Influence 75%, Insight 80%, Lore (Demons) 90%, Perception 70%,
Persistence 85%, Resilience 70%, Unarmed 88%

Advanced Skills
Craft (Torturer) 60%, Language (All) 75%, Spirit Binding 60%, Spirit Walking 72%, Survival
60%, Track 70%

Common Magic (90%)

Beast Call, Bestial Enhancement 3

Traits
Fire Breath (6D6, 20m), Immunity to Fire, Night Sight

Weapons
Weapon Damage Size Reach Manoeuvre AP/HP
Kharkus’ Whips 1D8+2D6 Huge Very Long — 5/10
Bite 1D4+1+2D6 N/A Medium — —
Kick 1D8+2D6 N/A Long Sunder —
Horns 1D6+ 2D6 N/A Long Impale —

Notes: Kharkus’ whips magically burn with a fiery acidic poison from within, allowing their
strikes to ignore any armour that has not been blessed by a holy clergy member opposed to
demons in some way.

Combat Styles
Whip 95%, Natural Weapons 80%

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 Common Skaar Orcs
Aside from numerous orcs of various power levels created using the basic orc found in Monsters of
Legend, there are hundreds of individual personalities within the city. The following types of orcs
may be used buy the Games Master to represent any minor Non-Player Characters the players
come across, without requiring him to spend time generating new orcs to fully populate Skaar.

Value 1D20 Hit Location AP/HP

STR 4D6(14) 1–3 Right Leg 2/6
CON 3D6(11) 4–6 Left Leg 2/6
SIZ 3D6(11) 7–9 Abdomen 2/7
INT 3D6(11) 10–12 Chest 2/8
POW 2D6+3(10) 13–15 Right Arm 2/5
DEX 4D6(14) 16–18 Left Arm 2/5
CHA 2D6+2(9) 19–20 Head 2/6

Combat Actions 3 Typical Armour: Hard leather trews, vambraces

Damage Modifier +1D4 and cowl. –2 Armour Penalty
Magic Points 10
Movement 8m
Strike Rank +12

Common Skills
Athletics 40%, Brawn 44%, Common Magic 35%, Culture (Skaar) 44%, Dance 35%, Drive
28%, Evade 33%, Evaluate 40%, First Aid 25%, Influence 28%, Insight 32%, Lore (Regional)
35%, Perception 40%, Persistence 30%, Resilience 45%, Riding 33%, Sing 22%, Sleight 30%,
Stealth 32%, Swim 36%, Unarmed 44%

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 Advanced Skills
Language (Orc) 95%, Streetwise 50%, Survival 45%

Combat Styles
Axe 45%, Bow 40%, Thrown Spear 35%

Common Magic (35%)

Protection 1 or Strength 1

Traits
Night Sight

Weapons
Weapon Damage Range Size Reach Manoeuvre AP/HP
Orcish Axe 2D6+3 Large Long 6/12
Spear 1D8+3 Large Very Long Impale 4/8
Orcish Bow 2D6 150m Huge Impale 4/8

The Blackmuck Tribe

The Blackmucks are a recent addition to the city, having arrived after a meeting with Warmaster
Thak and his troops. They realised there was a great opportunity for the tribe to showcase its
talents by keeping the city’s siege engines in good repair and, in return for this service, they are
granted the run of the city and have many privileges other orcs do not. They come from superior
stock to their brethren and their haughty attitudes never allow ordinary orcs of Skaar forget it.
Although most of the orcs in the city resent the favoured, the Blackmucks’ safety is ensured by
the vital job they do. They understand the politics and society of Skaar very well and make sure
to keep on good terms with leaders in every corner of the political map.

Value 1D20 Hit Location AP/HP

STR 5D6(17) 1–3 Right Leg 2/7
CON 4D6(14) 4–6 Left Leg 2/7
SIZ 4D6(14) 7–9 Abdomen 4/8
INT 3D6(11) 10–12 Chest 4/9
POW 2D6+3(10) 13–15 Right Arm 4/6
DEX 3D6(11) 16–18 Left Arm 4/6
CHA 2D6+2(9) 19–20 Head 2/7

Combat Actions 3 Typical Armour: Chain shirt, hard leather trews

Damage Modifier +1D6 and cowl. –4 Armour Penalty
Magic Points 10
Movement 10m
Strike Rank +11

Common Skills
Athletics 50%, Brawn 54%, Common Magic 35%, Culture (Skaar) 50%, Dance 30%, Drive
32%, Evade 33%, Evaluate 40%, First Aid 30%, Influence 34%, Insight 32%, Lore (Regional)
40%, Perception 40%, Persistence 35%, Resilience 55%, Riding 38%, Sing 22%, Sleight 30%,
Stealth 28%, Swim 36%, Unarmed 52%

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 Advanced Skills
Language (Orc) 95%, Streetwise 55%, Survival 50%

Combat Styles
Axe 55%, Bow 45%, Spear and Shield 45%, Thrown Spear 40%

Common Magic (35%)

Protection 1 or Strength 2

Traits
Night Sight

Weapons
Weapon Damage Range Size Reach Manoeuvre AP/HP
Orcish Axe 2D6+3 Large Long 6/12
Longspear 1D10+3 Large Very Long Impale 4/8
Target Shield 1D6 Large Short Impale 4/12
Orcish Bow 2D6 150m Huge Impale 4/8

New Heroic Ability

Brutal
Prerequisites: CHA 11; Influence 65%
Hero Points: 6
Duration: A number of melee rounds equal to STR plus CON.

You are exceptionally tough and violent. You may add your Strength score as a positive modifier
for all Influence checks for intimidation or browbeating.

The Silver Tusks

This group of orcs is fanatically loyal to Cylus Groon and are in charge of running his day-
to-day operations. They move about the city, cowing and intimidating all who do not pay the
proper respect (and gold) to Groon’s cause. Protection, racketeering, gambling, prostitution and
smuggling are some of their better known business interests. The initiation process for this group
is brutal, consisting of a series of tests and tasks designed to insure devotion to Cylus Groon
above all else. This rule has been broken only once, when a particularly useful half-orc candidate
murdered his human mother to prove loyalty to the organisation. Each member gets a set of
silver caps to put over his lower tusks upon acceptance and from that day forward he is regarded
as a full member of the organisation.

There are currently 18 Silver Tusks in Skaar and their number has never risen above four dozen
for Groon prefers to keep the group small so he can manage their loyalty and operations more

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 effectively. Although the Silver Tusks roam in packs, they tend to be very individualistic. Several
powerful members have been found dead after gaining the loyalty of other Tusks, so most are
careful about breeding friendships and alliances. Groon prefers his minions loyal to him alone.

Value 1D20 Hit Location AP/HP

STR 4D6+2(16) 1–3 Right Leg 2/6
CON 3D6(11) 4–6 Left Leg 2/6
SIZ 3D6(11) 7–9 Abdomen 6/7
INT 4D6(14) 10–12 Chest 6/8
POW 2D6+3(10) 13–15 Right Arm 6/5
DEX 4D6(14) 16–18 Left Arm 6/5
CHA 3D6(11) 19–20 Head 4/6

Combat Actions 3 Typical Armour: Scale shirt, hard leather trews

Damage Modifier +1D4 and helm. –6 Armour Penalty
Magic Points 10
Movement 8m
Strike Rank +12

Common Skills
Athletics 55%, Brawn 50%, Common Magic 40%, Culture (Skaar) 55%, Dance 35%, Drive
33%, Evade 38%, Evaluate 45%, First Aid 32%, Influence 66%, Insight 35%, Lore (Regional)
55%, Perception 42%, Persistence 40%, Resilience 55%, Riding 38%, Sing 30%, Sleight 44%,
Stealth 44%, Swim 36%, Unarmed 50%

Advanced Skills
Language (Orc) 95%, Language (Common) 30%, Streetwise 60%, Survival 50%, Track 35%

Common Magic (40%)

Demoralise 2, Fanaticism 2, Fireblade 3

Traits
Night Sight

Weapons
Weapon Damage Range Size Reach Manoeuvre AP/HP
Orcish Blade 1D8+3 — Large Medium — 8/12
Orcish Axe 2D6+3 — Large Long — 6/12
Spear 1D8+3 — Large Very Long Impale 4/8
Orcish Bow 2D6 150m Huge — Impale 4/8

Combat Styles
1H Sword 65%, Axe 50%, Bow 45%, Thrown Spear 40%

Heroic Abilities
Brutal

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 skaar in your campaign

Skaar is designed as a complete city to be dropped into any campaign world and Games Masters
may place it in any mountainous wilderness region at least 100 miles from civilisation. It can be
used to varying degrees, whether as a mythical city, a base for orcs in the north or perhaps having
it spring up closer to the players’ home land, causing orc raids and horde activity to increase
dramatically. Games Masters are encouraged to make Skaar a living, breathing city just as they
would a human or elven settlement.

While the orcs of Skaar do not engage in trade as other races, they will still provide a very
important key to any region’s economy. They will cause existing trade routes to be more heavily
guarded and alter the paths of newly planned routes to trading partners across the land and the
constant raids and horde movements will create a more war-weary people in the surrounding
lands. Warriors and rangers take on a much greater role in these lands and the governmental
structure of existing territories can be slowly affected as powerful warlords who can defend their
people supplant bureaucracies and other more benign forms of government.

The orcs use a great deal of fuel and natural resources, and forests for miles around the city are
apt to be over-hunted and over-logged. In addition, these forests become places of great danger as
orc hunting and raiding parties infest them in great numbers. For this reason, frontiersmen of the
region tend to study and hate orcs, making them a natural choice as a favoured enemy. Druidic
nature types also despise the wasteful and disrespectful orcs and often work with settlements and
towns to defeat any such threats. Overall, this creates a region where outdoor warrior-types are
far more common than holy knights and other urban cultish warriors. Wizards often eschew
such areas, favouring more peaceful and secluded areas not troubled by constant bands of orc
raiders. Students of sorcery are much more common around Skaar, where natural instinct and
survival skills become favoured traits over long study and laborious research.

Campaign and Scenario Ideas

Most campaigns centred around the city will probably focus on survival skills and wilderness life
rather than the opulence of a magistrate’s court and urban intrigue. The orcs live in a violent
region and their brutality affects all around them. Still, several different options are available
for Games Masters to choose from when integrating Skaar with their games, a few of which are
presented here.

1. Survival in the Wilderness

This idea is great for low magic, low powered campaigns where the players have the opportunity
to make a large impact on their community and environment. The focus here is not on saving
the world but on surviving to the next day and ensuring those around the characters are able
do the same. Tracking small groups of orcs and cutting their supply lines when possible will be
key strategies. Guerrilla tactics should be favoured over brute force in this type of campaign

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 and it should give players ample opportunity to steer their own futures. There will not be much
research into hidden artefacts or interaction with the strange leader of the local thieves’ guild as
finding veteran rangers and druids with knowledge of the orcs and the time before they came will
be of greater importance, as will finding a way in and out of Skaar without discovery.

The players will most likely come from a small town or fortified area such as a mine or distant
outpost and likely have never travelled much or been outside the immediate region. The presence
of Skaar has made an already wild and dangerous frontier even more so, and the people have no
doubt that one day they will have to face the mighty hordes that spread destruction across the
land. They live on resigned to this fact, having neither the means nor the will to try to stop this
inevitable catastrophe. The time is ripe for a new band of heroes to emerge, either to halt the orcs
from expanding their influence or to put an end to their threat forever.

Example Scenario: The Heroes of Fowler’s Creek

Set Up: Fowler’s Creek is a small town built around a nearby copper mine that has all but
dried up in the past few years. There is still enough copper in the mines to keep the settlement
from becoming a ghost town but since the nearby dwarven trading post of Ironhallow Hall was
overrun by orcs there have not been many traders with which to leverage the town’s resources.
Little more than a frontier town, there are no real organisations within Fowler’s Creek. Even local
religion centres around just a few shrines the townsfolk visit with little real direction. There is a
small mill on Fowler’s Creek run by a hard man in his mid 50s named Angus Mcgreeley and the
water is just deep enough to float logs to a larger river some miles away and then on to the nearest
city for sale and barter. It is from this environment the Adventurers come.

Characters: Since Fowler’s Creek is so small and isolated, holy folk are virtually unknown in
the city. Also, there have not been any wizards travelling through the town in nearly 20 years.
Barbarian types are common but most non-orc tribes and villages have been stamped out long
ago. Basic martial mentality is what truly gains the most prestige here.

Unless the game is based within Skaar, Adventurers may be of any species except orc and half-
orc, who would not be tolerated by the townsfolk or wilderness folk. Dwarves and elves are an
interesting choice, as they may be distantly related to one who stood in defence of Ironhallow
Hall. Humans should be the most prevalent race chosen, as over 90% of the townsfolk are of that
stock. Half-elves are also likely to be accepted this far out into the frontier.

It is likely that most of the Adventurers will have a mentor of sorts, whether or not he shares
the Adventurer’s profession. The mentor of a ranger or druid would be especially important
to the campaign’s development, and would probably belong to some loose organisation in the
wilderness whose purpose was to fight off the orcs.

Equipment: Nothing above 50 gp value can be procured at the beginning of the campaign and
the town’s total resources only come to about 1,500 gp.

Adventures and Goals: A dwarven emissary from a group referring to themselves as the
Resistance recently visited Fowler’s Creek. They believe the leaders of Skaar have discovered
the nearby copper mines and will soon be sending a large force to take them. The imminent
destruction of the town and subsequent loss of the mines has finally prompted the townsfolk
to action and the players have answered the call to arms. The dwarves have informed them that
there is an isolated orc warlord who currently holds the information on the mines and he has
not sent this information to any of the other orc leaders for fear of losing out on his rightful
share. If the Adventurers can locate this warlord and destroy him before he reveals what he

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 knows then the threat to their town will be over. The dwarves do not know which warlord has
the information, nor do they know his current location. The only clue they have is the name
of an allied shaman who resides in a cave near the orc city of Skaar. If the heroes can infiltrate
her lair, they are likely to find the information they need to go after the warlord, including his
identity and location.

A group of frontiersmen dedicated to saving the wilderness from the depredations of the orcs can
be of great help to the heroes. In order to gain their trust, however, the heroes must first prove
their worth to the organisation by retrieving an ancient scroll that can be used to restore an ailing
ally to health. They believe the scroll has been stolen by a group of goblins that live in the city of
Skaar but who venture into the wilderness regularly.

2. The Rules of Trade

This campaign is better suited to a higher magic and more involved setting. The hordes have
overrun a great deal of the wilderness surrounding the mountains and trade routes between two
of the land’s largest cities are in danger of being cut. The heroes are probably already celebrated
for their exploits and have been on several successful adventures. They may be adventuring at
the behest of a rich and powerful patron, or perhaps they have curried some favour with the city
leaders. Whatever the case, the people of both cities look to these heroes as defenders and expect
them to sally forth and destroy the orc menace.

This campaign centres around heroes well on their way to becoming regional legends and
their exploits are likely to be told in taverns and inns across the land as they happen. Even if a
chronicler is not present within the party, one will likely attempt to follow them and track their
exploits. The heroes will probably have access to a great deal of wealth and resources, being able
to find whatever equipment they need, given time. The challenge in this case is the sheer number
of orcs that must be dealt with and the necessity of gaining the alliance of outside forces to help
defeat the horde.

Example Scenario: The Caves of Dran Hannar

Set Up: Dran Hannar is an abandoned drow stronghold recently discovered by an errant warlord
from the hordes of Skaar. After he realised what he had stumbled upon, he scrambled to deliver
the news to the other warlords and an expeditionary force was sent below ground to survey
the extent of the tunnels and caves. It was found that the caves extended for miles into the
neighbouring lands and were an excellent route to infiltrate deeper than the orcs ever had in
the past. Using this new route, the horde was able to practically shut down trade along two
main roads and now threatens a third path by laying siege to the important crossroads city of
Glencove.

Characters: There are no limitations to the available Adventurers in this type of campaign, as the
pool of talent the players have to draw upon is cosmopolitan and diverse. The party can even be
affiliated with large organisations such as a thieves’ guild or city watch and may be driven onward
by the righteous fervour of a holy man.

Equipment: Again, the players have myriad options here as their available resources are incredibly
high and it is easy to find items they need. It may take some time to find more exotic items but
with a little foresight the Adventurers should never be wanting for adventuring gear or magic.
Once they enter the caves of Dran Hannar things may get a little tougher but replenishing
supplies under the surface may not be as difficult as it first sounds.

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 Adventures and Goals: The Adventurers have been tasked to find out what route the orcs
are taking to effectively ambush and raid the merchant caravans along Wayfinder’s Road. The
raiding parties are attacking and disappearing with seemingly supernatural speed. Lord Rencault
asks the players to accompany his daughter on her trip to the city of Alananta and look for clues
to the orcs’ success. The players will first encounter an orc raiding party, led by a mysterious
shaman who flees before the orcs can be destroyed. The players can follow her trail to a series of
caves, where they will find evidence of large orc movements leading deeper into the earth. It is at
this point that they enter the caves of Dran Hannar.

Within the caves the players must track orcs whilst avoiding surface-bound raiding parties.
They will meet interesting characters like Arkanios, a deep gnome trader with some strange
obsessions, and Al’ Kzahar, a repentant minotaur monk who lets the Adventurers use his maze
as a shortcut to the mythical city of Dran Hannar. After exploring the ruined city for some time
the Adventurers will be contacted by the ghost of an elven warrior. He asks the party’s help in
fulfilling the final steps of an ancient prophecy, one that will destroy Dran Hannar forever and
possibly provide the key to bringing down Skaar forever.

3. Reclamation of Our Home

In this unusual campaign, the players will take on the role of dwarves active in the resistance
movement near Skaar. They will start out as newcomers to the resistance movement, either being
born of parents who are embroiled in the fight or as one of the Dispossessed looking to avenge
the loss of their fathers. The campaign centres around the dwarves’ efforts to retake their ancestral
home and enact vengeance upon those who destroyed the sacred caverns of Ironhallow Hall.

The dwarves have their work cut out for them, as their numbers are few and their task
monumental. It is incumbent upon them to find help where they can, such as their strange
alliance with the family of giant eagles that live in an eerie high above the city of orcs. They spend
their time attempting to reconcile the current architecture of the city with that of the original
Ironhallow and looking for hidden caverns that were protected by the sacrifice and foresight of
their ancestors. Within these caverns lay weapons and sources of power now fabled in dwarven
communities across the land and if the Resistance can tap into enough of these artefacts they may
just convince an army of dwarves to rally to their cause.

Example Scenario: The Legend of White Steel

Set Up: A group of resistance fighters has been assembled in the caverns outside Skaar to
investigate an old legend, one proclaiming that a vein of white steel ran beneath the Hearth
Plain and those who discovered it would be destined to lead their kin to victory. The dwarves
are scrambling to find out if the legend is true and if so are ready to devote all their energy and
resources to finding the vein before the orcs.

Characters: Players can conceivably be from any background for this campaign, although there
will probably be a heavy emphasis on warriors, especially those of holy upbringing. Most of the
Adventurers will be dwarves, fighting for the resistance in their quest to restore Ironhallow Hall
to its former glory. There is room for other races, save half-orcs, as the dwarves may have help
from many strange quarters.

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 Equipment: The dwarves of the resistance have access to most mundane goods and magical
weapons and armour are relatively easy to find. Most of the other magical items they have focus
on survival or divination, as the priests that aid the Warriors of the Nine make good use of
scrying to aid their holy warriors.

Adventures and Goals: The Adventurers are a group of newer resistance fighters, young and
eager to help in any way they can. They have heard of the legend of the white steel and latched
onto it as a new hope for achieving their goals. While the elders among them feel it unwise to
go on such a reckless search so close to the city, they cannot deny the enthusiasm of the young
dwarves and their cohorts that sparks hope within the resistance. With hesitant approval from
the elders, the players go off in search of the legendary vein.

Their first clues are to be found in an old scroll, which leads them to what they believe is a buried
dwarven temple deep within the mountain. When they arrive, however, they find that they were
tragically mistaken. Their excavations awaken a great monster within the earth and they must
stop it from unleashing its fury upon their brethren above. From this they go on to search for a
reclusive tribe of centaurs, rumoured to have weapons made of the white steel of legend. They
find the quiet creatures but the only white steel exists in a spear tip now kept as an artefact from
days past. Still, the players will have confirmed the existence of the white steel.

Returning to their caverns, they once again resume the search for the legendary vein. As they
fight their way deeper and deeper into the mountain, they start to find clues that lead them to
believe they are on the right track. First the caverns seem to be full of low levels of electricity, a
property attributed to large quantities of the metal. They also find shattered bits and pieces of
very old goods made of white steel. Eventually they come to the hidden mines but find them
guarded by an ancient and legendary beast. They must face their most dire challenge to give their
people the greatest treasure of all – hope.

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Alex Greene (order #3583073) 7
 Traveller Core Rulebook
£29.99 / $39.95
MGP3800
Author:Gareth Hanrahan

Alien Module 2: Vargr

£24.99 / $34.99
MGP3825
Author: Simon Beal

Judge Dredd
£34.99 / $49.99
MGP10000
Author: Lawrence Whitaker

TRY TRAVELLER FROM MONGOOSE

W W W.MONGOOSEPUBLISH I N G . C O M

Alex Greene (order #3583073) 7

 Legend & Open Content
Here at Mongoose Publishing, we want what we truly believe to be one of the best fantasy
RPGs on the market to be easy to use and modify. We have therefore made this rulebook
Open Content, in conjunction with the Open Game Licence.

All the text of this book is designated as Open Content – this means you are free to use
the Open Game Licence (overleaf ) to reproduce this text and build upon it with your own
scenarios and mechanics. You can even print and sell such work, if that is your desire (and we
would wish you the very best of luck if you choose to do this!).

By using the Open Content of this book, you also have permission to download the Legend
Compatible logo from our web site (on the Legend product pages), and use that on any Leg-
end work you publish, to demonstrate your material is part of the wider Legend family.

Please note that the artwork in this book is not Open Content.

All books in the core Legend range (those whose titles have the word ‘Legend’ in them) will
also be designated as Open Content, allowing you to expand your own games in many differ-
ent directions, while maintaining a solid root that everyone will be familiar with.

For example, you might be using Legend to produce your own gaming world. If you wanted
to add some high seas action, you can simply and quickly bring over the Open Content rules
we produce in, say, Pirates of Legend, knowing that everyone who plays Legend will at least
be familiar with those rules.

Alex Greene (order #3583073) 7

 OPEN GAME LICENSE Version 1.0a
The following text is the property of Wizards of the Coast, Inc. and is Copyright 2000 Wizards of the Coast, Inc
(‘Wizards’). All Rights Reserved.
1. Definitions: (a)’Contributors’ means the copyright and/or trademark owners who have contributed Open Game
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such content does not embody the Product Identity and is an enhancement over the prior art and any additional
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15. COPYRIGHT NOTICE
Open Game License v 1.0a Copyright 2000, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.
Legend Core Rulebook, Copyright 2011, Mongoose Publishing Ltd
Cities of Legend - Skarr: City of Orcs, Copyright 2012, Mongoose Publishing Ltd

Alex Greene (order #3583073) 7

 legend
cities of
cities of
legend

Home to over 25,000 rampaging Orcs, Skarr is a city of pure brutality, a place of
nightmare that even the bravest Adventurer will fear to tread. Built from the ruins
of an ancient dwarven stronghold the Orcs themselves destroyed, the hordes of Skarr
range for miles in every direction, bringing slaughter and misery to any community
unfortunate enough to be within range of their predations.
skarr: city of orcs

MGP 8310 US$19.99

skarr: city of orcs

Alex Greene (order #3583073) 78.144.81.132