Apostles of Doom

“I do not see how the orcs can have had a viable prophesy about the return of Orcus without a god to see it through. Orcs are notoriously godless heathens,” Danu said. “Orcus was one of the closest beings they had to a god, and you assured us that there was no trace of him left on Etterdam.”

“Indeed, I am very confident of that,” Nét agreed.

“So what god managed this prophecy?”

“Not an orc god — a demon god.”

“A demon god?” Danu had to suppress a laugh at such an absurd concept. “Demons have no gods; they even hold their nominal rulers in contempt.”

“Ah, but there is the Demon All-Father,” Nét stated.

“The Concordenax? That is a myth. I know of no one who has ever met this theoretical being.”

“I am not so certain of that,” Nét told her. “This being would have to be the trickiest of all demon kind. He, or she, would be very easy to overlook.”

Danu shook her head. “I shall not even try to argue on that point. Regardless of how the prophecy came to pass, I agreed with you millennia ago that we cannot allow the Tartarvardenennead to continue with their prison.”

“It did take me some time to convince you,” Nét reminded her with a small, tight smile.

“Only about fifty thousand years. As you said, first they came for the Titans, and we did nothing, then they came for the other gods, and — well — it was time to do something.” Danu shook her head. “As you said, the Tartarvardenennead are true atheists, the greatest threat to the Godhead in millions of years. It is only a matter of time before they imprison all of the gods.”

Appendix IV: Orc Social Structure

By Oskavus Tiratus, Scholar of Orkthropology

Mount Doom Shamanic Studies Program: Cultural Studies

Orc social structure is often quite confusing to outsiders. At the highest level, it is relatively straightforward. However, at the daily level it all comes down to interpersonal bonds of family, friends and allies. From a scholarly point of view, it comes down to trust networks. The social structure all comes down to whom can one trust.

One thing that makes things difficult for travelers is that in different places, in particular upon different worlds, not all levels of the social structure are in place. This is typically due to historical reasons.

The principal social units are described below (the larger the organization, the lower level of trust between groups):

• Nation: A nation is the largest social structure and it represents a collection of hordes that have sworn to work together under an agreed-upon command structure. Binding agreements are usually formal.

• Horde: A horde is a collection of tribes that are sworn to work together under an agreed-upon command structure. Binding agreements are often formal, at least initially. Over time, on some worlds, large, long-surviving hordes behave more like giant tribes.

• Tribe: A tribe is a collection of families that are closely joined based on where they live and their joint history. There is a well-established command structure under the tribal chief and a council of elders.

• Clan: A clan is a family of orcs with well-known/established genealogical inks.

• Family: An orc's family consists of his or her immediate family members out to one degree. Beyond this they are clan mates.

Mother/father

Brother/sister

Aunt/uncle

First cousins

• Band: A band is not so much a social group as a physical group of orcs that travel and live together.

Technically/traditionally, it is a subdivision of a tribe, or in some cases a horde.

Bands are defined by geographical location, and/or traveling and living together.

Band members may change as individuals may choose (or be ordered) to travel with another band within the same tribe/clan/family. A band may be of a single clan or multiple clans. In the case of a horde band, there may be members of multiple tribes.

There will be a designated band leader, often a band chief and his/her elders/commanders.

Band loyalty is perhaps the most intense trust connection because the survival of the group depends on trusting each other.

The loyalty of the band, or more importantly, the lack thereof, as one would expect, tends to be the area of greatest drama, as it is susceptible to treachery, particularly when loyalty to one's other social groups conflicts with loyalty to the band.

• Shield-mate: A shield-mate is a person, mutually chosen and sworn upon in front of others, who represents the most intimate bond of trust on a military/combat level.

Shield-mates are optional. When agreed upon, formal bonds of friendship and loyalty are sworn.

Shield-mate agreements may be terminated.

Shield-mates, in times of combat, come before spouse and children.

Shield-mates are expected to defend each other to the death if need be.

Shield-mates can be of the same or opposite genders.

Shield-mates may or may not share physical intimacy, and doing so is not considered a breach of marriage vows.

Chapter 130

Astlan, Crooked Stick Camp: DOA + 8, Dawn