Messages

Hey there Goredrak! Thanks for showing interest in joining our merry, little band of orcs!

Though a bit on the short side, your application seems to be perfectly in order! Hopefully this time around, you'll get a bit more time to play your own character rather than an NPC, for one. And enjoy it, at that! Your application along with a recommendation of one of our members is more than enough convincing that I need, so go on ahead and contact any of our representatives in-game for your IC interview whenever is most convenient for you! See you in-game!

Hello there and welcome, Dra'nunk! Great to see you giving our merry, little band a try! I hope you'll enjoy your stay!

Though a little on the short side, your application seems to be in order just fine. I dare say you may be one of the first few newly-arrived Mag'har that we welcome, so that should certainly prove interesting! Whenever you feel is most appropriate to you, go on ahead and contact any of our contacts in-game to set up an IC meeting to see whether you fit in! See you in-game!

[Aka'Vrull]

Aka'Vrull

Aka'Vrull, War's Blessing or Blessing of Vrull, marks the end of the agricultural season for those few clans who actively practice the art of culturating land. More importantly to most other clans however, it also marks the traditional end of military campaigns as the weather grows too unfavourable to maintain active military efforts. As a result, tribute is paid to any spirits or patrons of war for the victories won that year. This is often done by sacrificing animals or trophies of the defeated enemies. Or, aeons ago, sacrificing captives of the enemies themselves...

October's newsletter is out! Read all about the Kosh'harg and any other upcoming plans here!

[Part 12: All Hands Hoay!]

Part 12: All Hands Hoay!
25th of September

Kul Tiras had been as intriguing as it was dangerous to its orcish guests. Ever since the first day the orcs had washed ashore, they didn't know what to expect, but it's safe to say that any possible expectations were certainly exceeded by this point. With the help of Captain Climidea Curtsy, the orcs had gotten to safety and had now finally gotten themselves a brand new ship to boot. Now all that remained was to set sail back to Kalimdor.

As Captain Curtsy led the orcs to their new ship, which had been entirely repaired, cleaned and even received a few upgrades ever since the orcs last saw it in its cursed state, he couldn't help but part with the orcs with a few final gifts. In addition to the upgrades made to the ship, the captain offered a chest full of fanciful hats to the orcs, free for the choosing for each of them, and finally a whole list of suggestions for the ship's new name. Though none of them seemed particularly helpful, the pirate seemed all too eager to one day meet with the orcs once more. For now, his own adventures would take him elsewhere, however. With a final courteous bow, the Captain departed from the deck, giving the orcs leave to depart for familiar shores.

Though the Captain soon disappeared out of view, memories of this swashbuckling adventure would no doubt remain with the orcs for a while to come. After all, what will the consequences be from all that has happened as of late? Will this be the last they'll have seen of any pirates? What of Climidea Curtsy and his daughter, Tabitha? Or his malicious ex-wife hag? And that's not to mention the Alliance High Captain who was responsible for this whole detour to begin with, or Commander Korak Skullsunder who is still in the dark in regards to what happened between the orcs and the subordinate he sent them off to meet with. Additionally, just who was the mysterious orc that the orcs briefly met on the ship, only to disappear? And is the ship they now commandeer truly rid of any curses or evil presences? The orcs may certainly hope so. Surely that chiming of the bell they heard below deck was merely the wind, after all...

One way or another, Kul Tiras now laid behind them... but a whole world at war still waited ahead of them.

[Part 11: Lair of the Leviathan]

Part 11: Lair of the Leviathan
23rd of September

The time had finally come. After the many promises upheld, bargains fulfilled and preparations made, the orcs were finally about to be led to what would become their new, very own ship from here on out! The only problem? It had been moored by the Shrine of the Storm for the past couple of weeks, its fate unknown as those few who dared venture out to it were not seen again... Even so, it was there for the taking, so clearly it was the most obvious target for Captain Climidea Curtsy. What could possibly go wrong?

It was with this reassurance in mind that the good captain ferried the orcs across the strait to the mysterious ship that laid dormant by the Shrine of the Storm. One by one, the orcs climbed atop the main deck and found the ship to be... abandoned. Nothing but the chilled wind could be heard as various objects ranging from tools to barrels and lost personal artefacts laid scattered upon the deck, making the fate of its crew a mystery to be sure. Further exploration of the deck and the captain's quarters hardly revealed anything more, until a faint chiming sound could be heard... a ship's bell. It radiated from a doorway that led down to the lower decks of the ship.

Seeing no other way but down into the ship's bowels, the orcs gathered up and ventured down. There, too, the ship appeared desolate and eerily quiet. Dark and dank corridors stretched out in front of them, but there was something undeniably and inherently wrong with the ship's interior. And the further they ventured their way inside it, the more wrongness presented itself. At first the walls simply appeared to be wet, its surface carrying a reflective sheen as if the entire ship had taken water. Then the walls began to be clawed up as if by some ferocious beast. What's more, the ship bell was found... and could be seen swinging ever so gently, despite seeing no one nearby. Even more disturbing than that however, mysterious markings were drawn upon the ship's walls, floors and even ceilings further within. They were covered with images of strange looking marine creatures, immense claws snapping humans in half and tentacles wrapping themselves around shattered galleons. The deeper they ventured into the guts of the ship, the more unnerving things became... and the higher the water level went as well. The only signs of former occupancy the orcs found were the shriveled remains of a human crewman, but he appeared to have died from suicide judging by the pistol by his side. Something - or someone - drove him to such lengths as to take his own life... but what was it?

Just when there couldn't possibly be any more questions in addition to those already in existence, twisted and seemingly physically impossible forms rose up from the water that had now begun to reach as far up as the orcs' knees. Though there was something vaguely humanoid about the monstrosities, they were covered in viscous slime, shifting scales and had a sickly white flesh. Rusty blades and tools were held in their webbed hands as they began to shamble towards the orcs, seeking to cut them down. Though normally such foes would not be particularly troublesome to the battle-hardened orcs, the tight quarters of the ship's interior made it difficult for the orcs to maneuver... especially when it almost seemed as if the walls continued to close in around them in an attempt to swallow them up. A chaotic battle ensued as some orcs threatened to lose their minds to the cruel shape of the enemies and the increasingly claustrophobic circumstances. Yet somehow, the orcs managed to cut down their enemies to the last. As the last one fell however, a terrifying and haunting shriek echoed through the ship, boring itself into the orcs' skull and almost threatening to render them mad if it hadn't suddenly stopped a minute later. Its source was completely unknown, but a shadow shifted on the glistening walls further ahead. Upon close inspection, the shadow moved towards a door frame that did not previously appear to be there... and then suddenly appeared to take the form of an actual, physical orc.

The orc, clad in what appeared to be a quite elaborate yet traditionally orcish dress, simply stared at the orcs in absolute silence. His features were hidden, shrouded underneath the guise of a wolf mask that seemed to stare at the orcs in the orc's stead with blank, piercing eyes. Though some orcs were compelled to attack the mysterious and eerie orc, others were intrigued by it... another, like Siyah'gosh, even revered it for whatever strange reason. The orc then turned down the stairway he was stood in front of however, and vanished. The orcs, compelled to follow the stranger, followed down the stairs into an even darker and more waterlogged room. A brig, judging by the desk and iron bars that were found in the room. And at the end of it, a strangely shaped idol that pulsated with dark energies...

Though some orcs such as Zal'garr Firefist attempted to make sense of the nature of the idol, it quickly appeared to be of a most malignant nature. Something writhed within, as if something was struggling to escape... and escape, it did. Nightmarish, writing limbs arose from underneath it as flesh of horrendous proportions rose from the rippling surface around the idol, forming a mass of tentacles. Inhuman, red eyes gleamed behind them, pulsating like a heart. The orcs fought and clung on for dear life as the tentacles furiously smashed all around them, threatening to take the ship down to the sea floor with every tentacle that smashed into the already fragile hull. Meanwhile, the water kept rising and rising as orcs continued to be tossed around like ragdolls, splashing into the depths of the water. The orcs refused to go down without, however, even in the face of such horrifying adversity. One by one, the tentacles were being chopped off as the orcs deftly attempted to avoid the flailing limbs and fought their way to the very heart of the monstrosity. Through determination, will and a little bit of luck, they finally managed to hack their weapons down into the abomination... which erupted in yet another ear-deafening cry that attempted to pierce down into the orcs' very souls before it was cut off entirely.

A gaping hole was left where the idol stood, revealing nothing but a maw of blackness within... and the faint image of a colossal, tentacled being fading into the depths of it. Whatever held the ship in place was now removed, as the orcs could feel the ship shifting and even responding to the lapping of the waves around them once more. The ship had been freed from the vile influence that held sway over it... even if the ship itself had not been saved yet. A creative solution in the form of a jury-rigged table was found for the hole, while the ship was being steered into calm waters where it could be picked up by Captain Curtsy and his crew. With the captain's solemn promise that he knew nothing of the curse but would do everything in his ability to get the ship clean and in shape for travel as swiftly as possible, the orcs were returned to shore where they might recuperate from their nightmarish adventure. The clan had a ship once more... even if some orcs were none too tempted to ever set foot upon a ship that carried such haunting memories ever again. One way or another however, they had earned their ticket off of Kul Tiras.

Greetings unto Kiel Man'ar,

You pose an interesting perspective. With the Burning Legion defeated, there are few who are yet concerned with what few dae'mon ilk that yet roam our lands. Sure enough, there may yet be some left among us, but we have had little reason to believe that heightened security may prove necessary to remedy them. One dare say they have reason to be - as you choose to call it - complacent, and to instead focus their efforts with more pressing concerns.

Even so, we welcome your concern and offer for support. As it stands at present however, we have not yet made permanent plans in regards to any upcoming Kosh'harg festivals yet. They may well soon come, so we shall keep you informed of so. Even if we were to announce it however, we would rather know whom it is we are making arrangements of security with before committing to any such an accord. Should you truly wish to aid us once announcements have been made, you are welcome to seek us out and discuss these matters in person, so we may get to better know you and your intent. After that, I am certain we may come to any necessary arrangements.

With respect,

Kozgugore Feraleye
Chieftain of the Red Blade Clan.

[Part 10: Battening the Hatches]

Part 10: Battening the Hatches
21st of September

With Diretusk Hollow now taken over by the Horde, the orcs of the Red Blade Clan had no choice but to make do with their new neighbours. The conflict in Stormsong Valley was gaining momentum as the Horde sought to expand further inland, increasing activity around the old smuggling den... which was not particularly welcome for the pirate host Captain Climidea Curtsy, as there were surprisingly few signs of him over the past two days other than to come and retrieve what little remained of his stash, to instead find a different place to hoard his smuggled goods.

With Climidea otherwise occupied, the orcs could do nothing but bide their time as they prepared to be led to their future ship... But one of their new neighbours, Commander Korak Skullsunder, was not going to just let them sit idle. As he came to seek out the Red Blade Clan, he informed them of a renewed offensive against Brennadam and formally came to request their aid in supporting the Horde's efforts. With little reason to refuse the orc, they grudgingly agreed and were assigned to a subordinate of the Commander just to the east. Upon arrival however, that subordinate turned out to be no orc, but a Forsaken in charge of a platoon of Deathguards and Deathstalkers. The subordinate, Executor Clifford, instructed the orcs to assault the east flank of the joint Kul Tiran and Alliance defensive line as the Forsaken themselves pushed further west. Though some orcs were suspicious of the Forsaken's intent, having become quite familiar with their ways and strategies over the recent months, they agreed to join the assault.

Despite facing constant cannon- and gunfire from the defensive lines, the orcs were surprisingly efficient in pushing through the Kul Tiran and Alliance ranks. Routing several of their squads, the orcs eventually managed to force their way through, refusing to let any fleeing humans be a hindrance as they ignored them and instead pushed on to the cannon emplacements. The humans made a valiant last stand upon the approach to Brennadam, but even that was not enough to turn back to Red Blades in their assault. With the remainder of their forces routed, the orcs secured their appointed hill... with nothing remaining upon it but a human trapped in a particularly fetid outhouse.

Though some orcs were strangely obsessed with the outhouse, going through such lengths as to even topple it over and attempt to get whoever was inside of it out, the more perceptive orcs among them noticed the Forsaken forces amassing on the top of the hill nearby. A small crowd was gathering, and some of the orcs went up to investigate. Once there, it turned out that the Executor, too, had seized his objective, but in addition to that managed to capture three Alliance officers as well. It seemed quite clear what his intent for them was, as he proclaimed himself how useful the three of them might be in service of the Horde. One of them in particular was of interest to him, as he was apparently none other than the uncle of a particular High Captain. If the uncle were to be turned, it would not only be an incredibly demoralizing blow, but it might also provide valuable information to the town's defenses as well as the High Captain's whereabouts.

This stratagem did not sit well with the orcs, however. In an attempt to dissuade Executor Clifford from his plan, they sought to reason with him about the Horde and even Warchief's morals. The Executor was unflinching in his beliefs however, instead bent on turning this favourable situation to their advantage instead. When he gave the orcs one final chance to either walk away or to submit, it was Rrosh-tul Nosh'marak Ironclaw who refused to budge. Though his first attempt was aimed at simply taking down the human prisoner so that he may not be used in the Executor's schemes, a Deathguard fell instead. Tension immediately reached a boiling point as the orcs began to cross blades with the Forsaken as a result. The orcs swiftly cut down the Forsaken ranks in order to get to Clifford and his prisoners, who attempted to strike down the Rrosh-tul but had his strike parried and subsequently broken when the Great Spirit of Vrull himself appeared in the form of a spectral wolf above the Rrosh-tul to bite into the Forsaken's neck, severing it entirely.

With the Forsaken dispatched, a commotion next broke out among the orcs present. Some questioned the Rrosh-tul's decision, even opted that they should have walked away instead, but the Rrosh-tul refused to bend the knee or turn a blind eye to such injustices any longer. He gave the human captives leave to go, on the condition they would not ever end up meeting the orcs on the battlefield ever again. The undead remains were then dispatched of, filled with gunshots, burned or thrown down the cliff in hopes of ensuring their demise would not be traced back to the orcs' blades instead. What happened here was, after all, a grave violation in the Horde's eyes. Even if the Forsaken's actions themselves were against any Code of Honor. It was a topic many orcs were still left to discuss among themselves, up until they returned to Diretusk Hollow and would not speak of it any further as to ensure word of it would never spread. After all, if word of this night's events were ever to spread to the Horde's leadership, it may well mean the end of the Red Blade Clan...

[Part 9: Transportation Husbandry]

Part 9: Transportation Husbandry
18th of September

The Red Blade Clan was getting closer and closer to their ticket home. Captain Curtsy claimed he had found a ship just off the coast, but all it needed was several essential (in his eyes) parts to make it seaworthy. So, in order to make it just that, the orcs set out to see what they could reap from the surrounding industrial areas that the Captain had made them familiar with. Led by Thur'ruk Kogra Windwatcher and Rrosh-tul Nosh'marak Ironclaw, the clan split up in two to cover as much ground as they could.

Thur'ruk Windwatcher's group set out for the lumberyards first, where thankfully little resistance was met. A distraction with Kai'gron Ripclaw's wolf Koba was enough to lure the workers away in order to quietly dispatch them one after another. It was there that the orcs found not only a transportation barge with which they could move the various useful goods they found, but also a particularly fine figurehead of a lady that belonged to a ship called the Wavecaller. Filling up the barge with all the goods they had found thus far, they moved on to their next target, a nearby shipyard. There, Zul'garr sneaked around between the various armed patrols to 'borrow' various valuable items such as a ship bell, and Kai'gron explored the supply shed, where he managed to sneak several barrels through to the orcs by a crack in the wall. Now carrying ample supplies, the group returned back to the barge to load the rest of the goods upon it, before setting out to retrieve Rrosh-tul Ironclaw's group on the other side of the isle...

There, Nosh'marak's group had been quite industrious themselves. They started off by infiltrating the Brineworks as it was shutting down for the night, which left little more but guard patrols. Avoiding the patrols, they began to load various goods such as cannons and an anchor in to a cart they had found. Kyrazha Throatrender's wolf, Timur, provided the distractions necessary by attempting to play with the guard patrols, throwing the humans off guard and allowing them to be jumped and subsequently taken down by the orcs. Upon extraction, however, the goblin who had accompanied the group accidentally blew up a handful of bombs next to the horses dragging the carriage, killing them and forcing the orcs to find a new set of horses. Upon retrieval, the orcs hid in the carriage along with the cannons and the remaining goods, with Shrika driving it disguised as a shipyard delivery woman all the way to the rigging company, where she convinced the workers to load mast parts and rigging on to the carriage under the guise that it was a delivery to the shipyard. It was there, upon the docks of the rigging company, that they were retrieved by Kogra's group aboard her barge.

Despite a brief navigational error made by the ever so sea-unworthy orcs, they eventually managed to make their way back to the mainland's shore. Delivering all of the unloaded goods proved to be a task that might well take all night, but they certainly had obtained all the goods necessary from Climidea's long shopping list. Now all that remained was a ship... or so they thought! Upon the orcs' return to Climidea's smuggling den, there appeared to be a surprising number of orc grunts stationed outside, flanked by Horde flags. As it turned out, the Commander the orcs had previously run into, Korak Skullsunder, had sent scouts after the orcs to investigate their progress. Upon finding the well-hidden cave, he decided to take the initiative and turn Diretusk Hollow into a fully fledged Horde encampment. There did not seem to be much the orcs could do to overrule the decision, despite Climidea's visible distress at the loss of his supply cache. At the very least the Commander was pleased with the orcs' progress... even if the Captain wasn't.

[Member Spotlight: Kozgugore]

Member Spotlight: Kozgugore

Made by Eepox

Though he's attempted to escape opening up his soul to the public for the past few months, he's finally given into the pressure: this month's Member Spotlight features none other than the Chief himself, Kozgugore Feraleye! Though he's been with us for nigh twelve years now, there may still be a few secrets regarding his time with the guild that he's not yet unveiled until now! We asked you to submit your questions, and here are the answers!

How is it that you've been able to keep up motivation for playing the game, let alone leading the guild so intensively, for so many years?
It wasn't always easy, I can tell you! I won't deny that even I have had my ups and downs when it comes to motivation to host events or even just play the game, and there were in fact a couple of occasions that I forced myself to take a step back and take a break - be it long or short. In the end though, there's just something about WoW - and the orcish race in particular - that keeps drawing me back in. Perhaps when you've stuck with it for such a long time - both the game as well as the race - it becomes a part of you that becomes very difficult to shake off. Especially when you're someone like me who needs to have a creative outlet for all that pent up creative energy that's swirling around in the head. I think above all else though, it's the people and the community that continue to bring me back into the fold. The first time I quit WoW a little more prominently was when I wanted to try out some other MMOs instead (Age of Conan at the time), but members staying in touch with me is what eventually brought me back. After that, the next time I would quit wouldn't be until some six or so years later when I was in a bit of a hard place and couldn't bring up the motivation to consistently play WoW for a while. Once again though, it were certain individuals that stayed in touch with me or who contacted me eventually that made me come back more permanently in the end.

I admit that it can still be a bit tempting to just drop all manner of responsibility and approach the game and the guild a little more casually as time moves on and real life priorities begin to shift, but I still very much enjoy what I do and enjoy the people that I get to play with even more! Perhaps when a 'worthy successor' presents itself at some point, I'll be able to find myself taking a step back without worrying too much about the consequences. But for now, I'm perfectly content with gently steering the ship where necessary. Granted, this past month has been a little taxing given the big campaign that I had planned (entirely my own fault, and I may have underestimated the amount of time that needs to go into it) and I may take it a little easier once it's over, but I look forward too much to what might happen in the future to suddenly vanish now!

Give us one of your most fond memories from all the years you've been in the guild! Seeing you're our longest standing member, there must be something that stood out above other things.
Arguably the hardest question in here! There are so many memories to choose from, after all. Perhaps I should write down a ridiculously comprehensive list at some point, but I'll try and narrow it down to a top three (though in no particular order and probably closely followed by some other, similarly memorable events).

• Cheating a little bit here, but a great many RP-PvP campaigns were very memorable. Perhaps that isn't necessarily because they were pivotal in any way, but they are always a unique case that require a very different approach to the usual events or campaigns. Be it our many campaigns back in Defias Brotherhood, or even ones held in a more 'controlled' environment here on Argent Dawn. Despite some of the stress it brought with it, even the recent Drums of War campaign was quite memorable simply because of the people it allowed us to interact with, both Horde and Alliance. If I were to choose one in particular though, it would without a doubt be the first Anniversary War on DB that I organized, back in 2007. We would have some of the biggest, most unique battles I've seen to date just to celebrate the anniversary of DB as a server, the ultimate high point of which being the battle at the Path of Glory in Hellfire Peninsula. We fought back and forth all night and had some great RP in between all the chaotic fun, with Seiken (Krogon/Okiba's human warrior at the time) being Koz's ultimate rival.
• The Orcs of the Red Blade reunion campaign that we held last year in order to bring the guild back together. Though I organized plenty of campaigns previously, this was kind of a turning point for me where I tried very hard to make the campaigns' stories and events as intriguing and engaging as I could make them. What's more important though, is that it brought the guild back together, stronger than ever before I dare say, after nearly an entire year long hiatus. It was very impressive and even quite heartwarming to see basically the entire, old community coming back together again and picking up where they left off, as if nothing happened. I feel it really goes to show the strength of our guild's community and how tightly knit they all are. I won't deny that it made me a little proud deep inside to be a part of such a movement, and to have helped get it back on track.
• The plot leading into the Warlords of Draenor expansion, for several personal reasons. Certainly, the campaign was very impressive in and of itself, what with the big event to kick off the expansion by fighting the Iron Horde in the Blasted Lands, assaulting the Dark Portal and the ensuing plot to bring the orcs back together after they had gotten separated on Draenor. But it was also the time when some very important developments happened for Kozgugore as well as me as a person. Koz regained his title of Chieftain and was even heralded as a 'Wolfking' by some orcs following the ongoing plot, but it was also a time when I met Sinami in the process. Of course that was an important event IC as she became Koz's mate, but it also resulted in me meeting her in real life and hooking up with her there as well. We're still very happily together and even moved in with one another after some time! Who said WoW can't be any good for your social life?

How do you look at the way that the guild has evolved over time? Are there any specific things that are really different compared to when you joined?
I think I can safely say that the guild has changed quite a bit since I first joined it. Back then, I feel things may have been a little less 'serious' in the sense that there wasn't a very specific direction that the guild was intended to head in to. There were no overarching plot lines or consistent tones between events or members. It was all a bit of a potpourri of lots of different, crazy orcs doing their own thing. Events were more sporadic and more focused on social RP, such as tournaments, camp fires, tribe meetings, completely random attacks on Alliance settlements 'just because', etc. RP has become a little more 'sensible' in the sense that we now require a reason to attack an Alliance settlement, or don't just decide to spontaneously start dancing naked around a camp fire because 'it's fun' (I'm not counting Razaron here, because he's a very special case). What's more, there's no one screaming 'WAAAGH!' any more nowadays. You would be surprised at how that was totally okay back in the days.

Though I would explain all that as the guild and its concept having matured over time, I believe it's RP in WoW itself that has matured a bit as well. Intricately planned events and campaigns slowly became more common as people began to explore the possibilities of the game's RP, and even WoW itself slowly evolved from a more 'open playground' feeling to a bigger focus on storytelling and ongoing plots. I can see exactly the same kind of developments in the guild. Events slowly became more meticulously planned out and our event schedule more consistent. We went from casually raiding Astranaar after a random guild meeting to having plot-heavy campaigns that have yet another overarching plot connecting those campaigns together. I'm sure that there may be some who might actually prefer the 'old ways' and going about things a little less serious and more casual. Personally though, I feel it's a positive development when you look at all the many amazing events and memorable moments that it brought with it.

Did Kozgugore as a character in any way change over the past several years that you've been playing him?
There are definitely some very big changes that Kozgugore underwent as a character. Some of that is of course due to me maturing and 'wising up' over the span of the twelve years that I played him, but it's certainly because of in-game developments as well. When I first started out with him as a concept, I actually intended for him to become a shaman because I found the class appealing and felt it would suit his concept of a veteran of the Horde who had seen Draenor in its heydays before everything went south. Because the guild I had planned to join then (Sons of Draenor, sort of the predecessor to Orcs of the Red Blade as Akesha was briefly in it as well) had so many shamans in it already though, I decided to change him to a hunter while keeping some of the shamanistic traits. It's a decision that I feel has turned out for the better to this very day, as it has quite coincidentally become a part of the very core concept of his persona.

Whereas he started out as a pretty run-off-the-mill orc character with his occasional bouts of blood rage, drunken moments, lust for glory and a healthy amount of pride, he slowly became a more grounded and sober orc over time. Part of that was of course due to him suddenly gaining a great amount of responsibility after his explosive rise through the ranks of the Red Blade and eventually becoming Chieftain, but also due to a more personal journey. The history of the Warcraft orcs is without a doubt one of the most interesting story lines I had dabbled in, so I wanted it to be reflected in Koz's history and behaviour. Thus, the two became interlocked in the sense that Kozgugore's history is tied to that of the orcs'. First there is pride, lots of wanton blood and glory, but then there is defeat, falling from grace and then a subsequent return to shamanism and an attempt to pick up the pieces of a lost history and a return to humility. I feel Koz made a similar development over the years, having had his piece of glory, falling from grace after feeling like he lost everything when Morgeth disappeared from his life, and then returning as Chieftain and attempting to pick up the pieces again. Especially with the plot line that seems to be brewing in Battle for Azeroth, where the honour of the Horde and its orcs is being put to the test, seems like a particularly interesting time to see how that will develop further. Speaking of which...

Where do you see the see guild going over the next few years? And when you look back at your tenure so far, how do you want to be remembered?
Now that's pretty hard to tell! After all, if you would have asked me this question a couple of years ago, I wouldn't have been able to guess that we would still be around in 2018. Then again, it would have been just as unlikely for me to guess that 2017 might have been the year of our permanent end, as it briefly seemed to be, for that matter! So with that in mind, it's a little strange to imagine that the guild might just as well be gone again in one or two years' time, but who knows it might always be a possibility. As we saw last time, people lose their interest in the game or their characters every now and then, or simply need a break from things. I do feel the guild has enough potential and a big enough core player base to stay around for a while longer to come. But personally speaking, I do feel that might depend a little on its leadership as well. The guild has always had a bit of a challenge when it comes to having plenty of active officers who are willing to put their back into keeping the show running. I've always enjoyed organizing things for others in that sense and would happily continue to do so, but even I have my limits, of course! Ideally speaking though, I hope the guild will see many more years to come and might even end up having an interesting story line to play through with the tone that's being set in BfA! In fact, should I be able to stick it out for that long myself, I already have a bit of a road map written out when it comes to the guild's overarching story line. Remember what I said about that creative energy that needs to keep on flowing? Well, that's what you get... along with an unhealthy dose of over-ambition!

Looking back at the times we've had so far though, I feel it's a strange road that I (or we, as the road that the guild's taken is in a way interlocked with my own) have taken. There's definitely a sort of pride when I think of the amount of time that I've been able to keep things together and kept people entertained for so long (with the help of all the other individuals that were involved along the way as well, of course). On the other hand, I sometimes do think to myself "Has it really been twelve years? What am I still doing here? I should be putting my creative energies in home decoration or gardening with how much older I am now!" Then I think of all the things I've obtained from all of it along the way though. I wouldn't have met the many friends I made (and still am making!) through the game and the guild, I wouldn't have learned certain valuable life lessons that I indirectly learned through my interaction in WoW and the people I met in it and I certainly wouldn't have met my other half for that matter either! And each of those things are things I would never want to trade in for anything else for the life of me. WoW and ORB have both been an incredibly integral part of my youth, upbringing and social network. And unlike what some people have tried to make me believe in the past, that's totally okay. So with that in mind, I can only hope that I will be remembered as someone who has tried to give back as much as he has received from the community that's played an ever so important role in his life. Even if the guild were to one day disappear, my primary hope is that the community would still stay together and cherish the many bonds that have been formed through this wonderful medium. If that were to happen, I'm sure I'll be remembered the way I want to be: one of many friends that have been made through WoW and ORB.

Kozgugore in his full HD glory, pretty much entirely as I like to imagine him to be! Made by the amazing Manata/Eepox/Acrona and gifted to me by the just as amazing and sweet Razaron! <3 Feeling the love so very much!

Hey there Braxgar! Thanks for showing interest in our humble, little guild!

As you pointed out yourself, it is admittedly a fairly short application that you've posted here. As a result, it's fairly short on details on the kind of orc that you plan on introducing, but you seem to at the very least have a very base premise of what you have in mind. So that's always better to start off with than nothing at all! And there's certainly nothing wrong with wanting to explore your character through in-game interaction instead. So just to give it a chance and see how well you take off with the rest of our orcs, feel free to give any of our contacts a poke in-game to see about setting up a time and place for an IC interview. Do bear in mind that we're still located in Kul Tiras for now, so you may want to find an IC excuse for your orc to be there, unless you're willing to wait for a week! (No need to worry about the OOC means - we can summon you if need be)

[Part 8: Not So Clear-Cut]

Part 8: Not So Clear-Cut
16th of September

The orcs had found a place to lay low in a valley that was as rife with conflict as it was with enemies. At the same time however, with the Horde having arrived to Kul Tiras, they may just as well find themselves some unexpected allies apart from the questionable pirate that had accompanied them up to this point.

Even so, Captain Climidea Curtsy stayed true to his word thus far. With the orcs holed up in one of his old smuggling dens, little stood in their way to begin making preparations for their journey home. Captain Curtsy reported of an unguarded ship lying just off the Stormsong coast, ripe for the taking. The only problem, however, was that it was an unfinished ship. Before the orcs could go out to 'commandeer' it, they needed the spare parts necessary to make it seaworthy. As luck would have it, the necessary resources were exactly within range, as Stormsong Valley counted a number of industries for the shipbuilding business.

Unfortunately for the orcs, their plans would be cut short. Just as Climidea was about to unveil his plan, the sounds of battle could be heard from beyond the safety of their camp. When the orcs went to investigate, it turned out that orc raiders were being pursued and surrounded by Kul Tiran and Alliance soldiers. Though they were likely a part of the advance Horde forces laying waste to Brennadam and its civilians the other day, the orcs were compelled to aid them in their plight. This had the unfortunate side effect that they invited more Alliance reinforcements to pursue the Red Blades as well, however! Together with the surviving wolf riders, the orcs were soon forced to withdraw along the road.

Now pursued and harassed by swift cavalrymen, the orcs were forced to continuously halt their retreat and cover their flanks, as to ensure they would not be overrun. Though Nag'Ogar Lom'rak Steelskull attempted to take charge of the orcs, lacking any elders, the chaos proved too much to maintain much of an organized line. Felling pursuing horseriders wherever they could, the Red Blades followed the wolf riders up a hill in an attempt to find safety... where at the top of it, a valley stretched out before them - including an imposing Horde military camp! The Horde hadn't just arrived at Kul Tiras with an advance force. They had arrived with an army!

With the Alliance still on their heels and unaware of the Horde presence, Shrika rode ahead to fetch for aid. As if fate designed it so, she arrived back with reinforcements and one of the garrison's Commanders just in time to charge straight past the winded Red Blades and straight into the Alliance's ranks! What followed was a brief but bloody battle as the fatigued Alliance forces were outnumbered and outmatched, cut down to the last man. Surprised at finding another Horde force here, the Commander soon turned to the Red Blades to demand their intent here. With the present Red Blades still wary of the Horde's intention following the hapless slaughter at Brennadam, the orcs chose to answer with caution towards the Commander who introduced himself as Korak Skullsunder. In fact, though he invited them to stay over at his camp, the orcs were compelled to refuse on the grounds of their moral standings in this war, combined with the presence of Captain Curtsy, who might not be received with a particularly warm welcome amidst the Horde camp. With the services he had provided them thus far, the orcs - surprisingly enough - chose to remain with him in his humble cave rather than to find refuge at the newly erected Warfang Hold. So it was that the orcs were back to where they started this day, albeit with the knowledge of a large Horde camp nearby. Perhaps at the very best, it might prove useful for the sake of providing supplies, rather than to live off the wilds. Now they just need to hope the Horde's presence in these lands will not stir any additional unwelcome trouble after tonight...

Hey there Prachanda! Sorry to hear that you'll be leaving your previous Red Blade behind, but nice to see that you still plan to stick around in spite of that! It should go without saying that you're very welcome, so go ahead and give any of us a poke IC in-game when you find the chance!

[Part 7: In Her Majesty's Service]

Part 7: In Her Majesty's Service
14th of September

With Climidea's 'treasure' safe and secure thanks to the orcs' help, it was now time for him to return the favour. As promised, the means were quickly provided to ensure the orcs could begin to resume they journey home. The first order of business? Getting into Stormsong Valley, where they might find themselves a seaworthy ship. In order to get there however, some creativity was required. After all, the way from the orcs' location to Stormsong Valley was fraught with Kul Tiran presence, none of which most likely particularly enticed by the idea of letting orcs further into their mainland. So it was that Climidea's old friend and smuggler contact, Squid Lips Sid, provided the boat to smuggle the orcs across the Tiragarde Sound... in barrels.

After the orcs had chosen a barrel of their own to hide in, some were more fortunate than others with the kind of goods their barrel was filled up with. While some ended up being loaded up with grapes, wheat or salt, some less fortunate orcs had to settle for coal and particularly pungent fish. It was a necessary price to pay, for the smuggler's ship passed by a guard post along the river where his ship was inspected. Thankfully enough for the orcs, nothing happened that raised any of the guards' suspicion (in part due to Yallra Keeneyes' forehead being mistaken for a melon) and they were able to resume their way. Before too long, the boat reached the other end of the Sound, where the orcs could disembark and shake off the smell of fish and salty taste from themselves.

By remaining off the major roads and avoiding any guard presence in the north of Tiragarde Sound, the clan was able to traverse the mountain range that separated Tiragarde Sound from Stormsong Valley... which welcomed them with an impressive view with its rolling hills and well-maintained farm fields as far as the eye could see. It certainly looked like a place the orcs could get used to living in, even if it was as outlaws in a human world. They were no strangers to such an existence, after all. Something happened as they passed through the wheat fields that changed that entire perspective, however. The humming of engines could be heard in the distance, soon to be followed by the sight of approaching zeppelins... bearing the colours and insignia of the Horde! It was not the orcs they were headed for, however. It was the town of Brennadam, which the orcs were seeking to circle around. Their arrival was heralded with the dropping of large bombs upon the town's structures, instantly leveling some of them. Swiftly thereafter, a charge of wolf riders followed in order to pursue and kill civilians that were attempting to flee the town.

The orcs had to make a choice. Would they aid the Horde and find their chances at a ship home with them? Or would they continue to follow Climidea in search of a way home of their own? Or better yet... would they aid the Kul Tiran civilians who were being hunted down like cattle by the Horde raiders, considering the attackers were breaking the clan's Code of Honor? A difficult decision to be made, and one that was not without a certain amount of discussion and disagreement among the orcs. The decision was eventually made to remain neutral in the conflict for the time being, however. The orcs would continue to follow Climidea to safety, as he had an abandoned smuggler's cave awaiting the clan not too far from the town. Upon arrival there, it was clear some orcs were still not too certain what to make of the Horde's dishonorable attack upon unarmed civilians. Did they make the right choice? Was there more they should have done to help the humans? Or should they have instead helped the Horde? Perhaps a question that is just as worthwhile to ask is, was this the last they will have seen of this conflict during their stay in these lands, now that the war has reached Kul Tiras?

[Part 6: Battle of the Gate]

Part 6: Battle of the Gate
11th of September

The time had come to put the plan of the pirates of Freehold into action. With the crews assembled, the weaponry prepared and the ships outfitted, the pirate fleet had begun to assemble for the decisive assault upon Daelin's Gate in order to gain permanent access into the Tiragarde Sound. Captain Climidea Curtsy, too, was a part of the fleet. And it was he who offered the orcs of the Red Blade a special place amidst his crew, on his flagship the Lusty Tuskarr Maid. Despite the name however, the ship was certainly no pushover. Crates filled with countless of Azerite-powered cannonballs littered the deck as the anchor was raised to link up with the rest of the fleet. Though it seemed rather excessive to bring this much firepower along, it turned out to be no exaggeration: Daelin's Gate certainly lived up to its name, and then some. The gate was a colossal piece of architecture that blocked off the entire Sound from any access of unwanted visitors.

With a signal from the main ship at the fore of the fleet, the pirate fleet opened fire upon the gate. A thunderous volley of cannon blasts followed as each ship present peppered the gate with Azerite ammunition, reducing the gate to rubble in mere seconds! As the gate fell and the neighboring fortress laid exposed, the landing boats were manned and the assault was put in motion. Though the remaining cannons from the fortress had begun to return fire and even managed to destroy some of the encroaching landing boats, the orcs' vessels made it ashore in one piece. A long and hard battle awaited however, as the remaining Kul Tiran garrison sought to fight tooth and nail to defend their land!

Thankfully, the recruitment in Freehold had proven to pay off. Amidst the other pirate crews landing ashore and engaging the enemy, Climidea's bolstered crew and allies joined the fray along with the orcs. Hozen, Vulperan, even Quillboar and a Goblin pretending to be an Orc joined the assault on the fortress. Though pirates may not be the greatest of fighters the world has ever seen, it was certainly a battle of great proportions that could have easily gone the other way. Even some of the orcs were on their last legs as they suffered several injuries following the heavy battle. It was not until the fortress was taken when the cannons there could be turned to fire upon the remaining garrison that laid in the town and outpost beyond... which is where the orcs found a harsh truth: these were not just guards they were attacking, but civilians that lived beyond the gate as well. Several pirate crews were already hard at work to loot and plunder whatever they could find, even if it meant ignoring their fellow pirates who were still locked in battle with the Kul Tirans. Though stirred by this sight and thought, the orcs were forced to return their attention to the matter at hand as another host of guards came charging at them. Besides, it was not the town's treasures that Climidea had an interest in...

The captain led the orcs through the fray as they pushed through the town, aided in turn by the recruited Parroteers and a portion of the Blacktooth Brawlers. Where was the captain leading them, however? The more they advanced inland, the more they were being removed from the main battle. All the captain continued to refer to, was his so-called "treasure". They eventually even pushed behind enemy lines, until they came across outlying farmland that was being attacked by an advance force of the pirate fleet, among which the Parroteers. The captain raced past even that, until the orcs came to a halt in front of what looked like nothing more but a humble cottage...

It was there that Captain Curtsy unveiled his master plan. The "treasure" he referred to, was none other than an old woman's daughter in the cottage that laid ahead. When questioned about this, it turned out that the daughter was no older than fourteen years... and none other than his very own daughter, and the so-called "hag" that lived with her his ex-wife! Along with the very thought of kidnapping a civilian in the midst of a war, the orcs were outraged at Climidea's intentions and abuse of their trust, which was already short in supply. Many of the orcs refused to provide any further assistance, but that did not keep Zouyo Rainclaw from approaching the mob of farmers who were gathered outside the cottage wearing nothing more but pitchforks, shovels and other makeshift weaponry to defend their farm from the impending pirate attack. Negotiations with the farmers proved to be surprisingly futile, however. On their guard and stirred by the pirate attack, they began to chase Zouyo after Razaron Madeye had made an appearance as well, alarming the farmers to the orcs' presence.

When the situation escalated and the orcs were forced to defend themselves against the farmers, others such as Shrika and Karnna Blackfeather sneaked into the back of the house to see whether word of the old pirate was true. True enough, there was a young girl reading and an older woman who was gazing out the window to observe the ongoing commotion outside, distracted. Taking their chance, they silently took away the girl in order to allow her to make her own choice in the domestic matter... when the orcs finally realized the truth of the matter. In his conversation with Climidea, Siyah'Gosh realized that the pirate wasn't just speaking ill of his ex-wife by referring to her as a "hag"; he literally meant that she was a witch all along! At that moment, a terrifying shriek was heard from the cottage when the old woman noticed the girl missing, and turned into a raven to escape from Karnna's assassination attempt.

With the outraged farmers, which were quite likely hexed by the old lady, knocked out cold, the girl now known as Tabitha was able to meet up with her father in a happy reunion. Taken completely by surprise at the pirate's sincere intent, some of the orcs even took it upon themselves to apologize to the scheming pirate lord. A rare sight indeed! Even so, with the orcs having come through on their end, Captain Curtsy now intended to live up to his own end of the bargain. With his daughter in hand, he escorted the orcs across the river to a small cottage, where a friend of his known as Squid Lips Sid would prepare to smuggle them further into the mainland. It would be there where their journey would continue, and their search for a seaworthy ship would soon commence...