The War of the Mountains or How The Orcs Left Skyrim

  • The War of the Mountains or How The Orcs Left Skyrim

    By Urag gro-Shub

     

    I write the following in remembrance. After the Civil War ended in Skyrim the Nords set about bloody work. Under the command of the new High King they systematically began taking back any territory they had once laid claim, as well as hunting any Imperialists or their sympathisers. It was only a matter of time until the question of the Orcs was raised. Some say they came for us because many of our number were once centurions and gladiators in the Imperial Legions. Others say they came because once the fires of revolution start, it will burn till nothing is left. It matters very little now. For the Nords came for us just like they came for the rest. The following is my account of the final battle in what has become known as the War of the Mountains. I witnessed this first hand as Winterhold has become a prison for scholars and I refused to be caged. The ending of the war was heralded by three words.

     

    It took place in the shadow of the Velothi Mountains. The remaining Orc Clans had come to Narzulbur, the last stronghold in Skyrim. The Army of the Spurned faced across the slopes the combined forces of the Nine Holds led by the Bear of Markarth. Chief Mauhulakh, whose home was Narzulbur, stood at the front of the Spurned. Clad in armour of the ancient Orcs inspired by the Men of the East. He bellowed to the Nords:

     

    Ulfric! UUULFRIC! You come for the Orcs now, do you?You chased the Imperials out like dogs and hung any who supported them.You dragged the Dunmer out of their homes at night. Any who escaped your long knives fled across the Sea of Ghosts.Do you think you will be able to do the same to the gold skins when they come? Heh you are mistaken boy, nothing will escape their songs of denial when they come a singing. But that's the future, this is the now. You face not men or elves here boy, but Orcs! We paid the price for this land long before your ancestors ever set foot here. Any land where the blood of the ostracised has fallen is ours by the divine right of Lord Malacath! What say you to that Ulfric son-of-Hoag?”

     

    At that, the High King of the Nords strode forward. Regaled in the carved Nordic armour carrying a war-axe in one hand. Grey streaks now covered his hair and beard. In reply he uttered three words.

     

    Fus. Ro. DAH!”

     

    All who was assembled felt not just the earth move, but reality itself. It stretched and shook and Chief Mauhulakh was smote from the mountainside. The sounds of the Orcish War Horns echoed across the tundra and the Velothi Orcs charged. First were the Wild Orcs, draped in the skins of bear and daggerback with curses on their lips came roaring upon the Nords, followed by the methodical advance of the heavily armoured warriors. Showing the grim efficiency only the Orcs posses. The battle lasted not just days but weeks and months.

     

    On the second week Dushnamub son-of-Mauhulakh bled out on the snow after loosing an arm but not before he ripped out the throat of Galmar Stone-Fist with his own tusks.

     

    On the tenth week the horsemen of Whiterun tried to flank the Army of the Spurned but were fought off by Orc rough riders on Etchatere.

     

    On the thirtieth week the Orcs were pushed back to the walls of Narzulbur. The Last Siege commences.

     

    On the thirty-second week an unnamed Wise Woman repels the Nordic advance buy throwing noxious alchemical bombs that melt armour into their ranks.

     

    On the forty-third week Alga the She-Wolf wounds Ulfric Stormcloak with a bow. He is returned to Windhelm for treatment.

     

    On week seventy the Clan Chiefs declare that the war is lost. However Orcs do not surrender nor do they break and flee. The Chiefs, who were the oldest of us, volunteer to fight til the death so that those who remain can begin the long retreat out of Skyrim.

     

    The long retreat to the Dragontail Mountains has now become known as the Grudge March. The trail of Orcs was long and resembled a great armoured snake as it wound its way across Skyrim, harried all the way by the horsemen of Whiterun. The march itself was led by Forge-Mother Gharol who by the time we had reached the mountain pass had become known as Gharol the Breaker of Men. She stood guard until the last of our people had fled into the Dragontails as Jarl Vignar and his men watched from a ways off. As a last farewell to the Rim of the World, Forge-Mother Gharol turned, spat, and heaved her hammer so hard that it flew from her hand and crushed the Jarl of Whiteruns head with one hit, she was then brought down by arrows. And thus was the last Orc to leave Skyrim.

     

    I write this now as the blood on my hands still dry. Like my kin, I make my way through the Dragontail Mountains in search of a new home. Many will travel to Nova Orsinium. Others will set up new strongholds in the wilds. But I travel to Elinhir, City of Mages. I write this in remembrance, not of the Orcs who died, that are no doubt toiling in Malacath's Ashen Forge tempering the next generation of Orcs. But as a reminder to all the people of Tamriel, that there is not one patch of dirt on this land that the Orcs have not bled on.

     

     

     

Comments

9 Comments   |   Tenebrous and 6 others like this.
  • The Sunflower Manual
    The Sunflower Manual   ·  November 11, 2016
    Heh heh heh. Thus ends Vignar of Clan Gray-mane.

    I never liked him much.
  • Sotek
    Sotek   ·  November 11, 2016
    Nicely done Veloth. The Orc spirit bends but is never truly broken.
  • The Long-Chapper
    The Long-Chapper   ·  November 11, 2016
    Ha, he finally did it! Well met, Ulfric, and not surprising. Now, it's time for the Aldmeri Dominion and if they're this inept, then Ulfric will be Emperor in no time. 


    I think Urag gro-Shub, I hope that Urag gro-Shub would have ...  more
    • Veloth the Prophet
      Veloth the Prophet
      The Long-Chapper
      The Long-Chapper
      The Long-Chapper
      Ha, he finally did it! Well met, Ulfric, and not surprising. Now, it's time for the Aldmeri Dominion and if they're this inept, then Ulfric will be Emperor in no time. 


      I think Urag gro-Shub, I hope that Urag gro-Shub would have been smart enough ...  more
        ·  November 11, 2016
      They were in Nazulbur because it was the last stronghold left. They got to the Dragontails by marching across Skyrim, like I said.
      • The Long-Chapper
        The Long-Chapper
        Veloth the Prophet
        Veloth the Prophet
        Veloth the Prophet
        They were in Nazulbur because it was the last stronghold left. They got to the Dragontails by marching across Skyrim, like I said.
          ·  November 11, 2016
        And Ulfric won because they made that critical error. They should have thrown their chips to the West of the province, not the east. :) I'm shocked Orcs made such a decision! LOL
  • Karver the Lorc
    Karver the Lorc   ·  November 11, 2016
    Nice, Orcs kicking Nordic arse. 


    Just one thing. If Narzulbur was under siege, where the hell did they retreat to  (from a siege) and how did they get to Dragontail from there? 
    • Veloth the Prophet
      Veloth the Prophet
      Karver the Lorc
      Karver the Lorc
      Karver the Lorc
      Nice, Orcs kicking Nordic arse. 


      Just one thing. If Narzulbur was under siege, where the hell did they retreat to  (from a siege) and how did they get to Dragontail from there? 
        ·  November 11, 2016
      Eh I'm sure they found a way.
  • A-Pocky-Hah!
    A-Pocky-Hah!   ·  November 11, 2016
    I feel like this letter came from the future. Also etchateres! :D
  • Tenebrous
    Tenebrous   ·  November 11, 2016
    A cool story! Very Orcish, too. Kudos!