Long ago The Weeper’s daughter was part of a raid that wiped out the warriors of an orcish encampment west of the Titan’s Skull (33.00). In the battle’s aftermath the orcish children remained and she faced down a fanatic who sought to put them to the sword and a cutthroat who sought to sell them to the dwarven mines.
She arranged instead for them to be cared for in a secluded mountain valley (13.01) within the Winterjarl’s marche (14.00).
The generations of orcs, and some half-orcs, who have lived there have now become the Skullcrusher Orcs. Although their benefactor has now disappeared, they still remember her and what she has taught them. These orcs do not attack intelligent creatures, although they will defend themselves if attacked. But even then they attempt to smash the limbs of their attackers with the hammers that they customarily carry rather than kill and do not kill children. But orcs (or at least half-orcs) they remain and those who are unable to calm to heat of their blood and commit murder are exiled forever.
Some of these orcs view their orcish ancestry as a curse and bear no children but instead adopt orphaned and abandoned orcs (and in some cases other children as well) in order to honor the memory of their people’s original savior. Others among the Skullcrushers are of a more pragmatic bent, including the new chieftain, a great muscular half-orc by the name of Goram, who left the previous chief in the mountains with a pair of broken kneecaps after a disagreement over who had killed the deer they were both hunting.
These orcs have no gift for farming and are mediocre hunters, but the Weeper’s daughter taught their ancestors something of woodwork and they are skillful carpenters and their furniture, although it has none of the artistry of elven work, is sturdily-made and has a certain simple elegance.
Connections
- Skullcrusher orcs are currently at work building Farnsfall for its new Baron whose daughter is considering running off with the orcs (11.03).
- One of the members of this tribe drowned in far-off Thring (16.16.06).
Hooks
- If the Skullcrusher Orcs are pacifists (at least by orcish standards) why are they called “Skullcrusher?”
- Is the old clan chief still alive? What is Goram planning next?
- Have any of the orcs adopted any interesting non-orc orphans?
- Who would pay the Skullcrusher orcs for their carpentry?
- What happened to the Weeper’s daughter anyway? Who was she? See 46.10 for a story that might be about her.