101,290 SC (Sunrise Cycle)

Ter-Nuk was filling a pail of water at the well, when he heard the booming roar of a war horn. The sound filled him with an abject terror he hadn’t felt since he fought in the Battle of Teivena. Ter-Nuk was an old soldier, a veteran of the first War of Extermination. He was a sorcerer who used all of the major magical forces, from Dektoin to Saon. The war was in the past, but a new one was just beginning. He knew the damage that war caused to the minds’ and bodies of those who fought in them, but to him, most importantly, the wounds inflicted upon the civilian population who would be afflicted with massacres, starvation, rape, and torture. Vleia and Adna had been making raids on the borders of Ge-lak for years, ever since the end of the first War of Extermination, but there had never been raids this deep into Orc held territory. He knew what those horns meant, for his life, for his family, his friends, his clansmen, and all of his fellow Orcs that lived throughout the homeland, and throughout the orcish diaspora. It meant that those things were never going to be the same, that much of what he knew would be destroyed. There was little time to react to the deafening sound of the horn and to react to what it signaled. The guards and the garrison filled the city streets, knocking Ter-Nuk to the ground as they rushed past him to the armory and palisade battlements. The humans and elves had grown more bold in their raids, and war seemed imminent. Everyone knew peace would not last, or perhaps that it never truly existed, but everyone thought that there would be more time to prepare for a full scale invasion. There wasn’t any more time, though, war was upon them.

Talikver was a minor city between Alk and Corcon. Ter-Nuk thought that if an invasion was imminent, that those major cities would be hit first, and that they would be forewarned by refugees fleeing the destruction of those cities, or alternatively by messengers sent by the cities, but no such warnings came. Perhaps they had been totally annihilated. Ter-Nuk ran to his household, through the streets full of fearful citizens, and equally fearful soldiers, as he began to look for his family. He found his family in his house. His wife Jeywa, a beautiful Orcish woman with long, black braided hair and big brown eyes. Her heart was special, she treated even those who treated her poorly with compassion. He also found his daughter, Silvaki. Silvaki was at the tender age of five, incredibly astute, a quick learner, someone who showed great potential as a fighter or a battle sorcerer. Ter-Nuk was distressed to find that his youngest son, Janrin, who was only twelve years old, was missing. Janrin was wise beyond his years, curious and filled with a desire to absorb the world around him. His eldest son, Tarvin, was a brave soul. He showed valor in combat, honor in life, he put family first, and he was quite a suave bastard. Tarvin had been impressed into the garrison because there was a shortage of manpower due to most of the cities’ of Ge-lak’s garrisons being called to protect the border from raids and possible invasion; it was a poor strategy in Ter-Nuk’s mind. The strategy of Adna and Vleia was brute force; the smaller country of Ge-lak did not have enough soldiers to hold the line. Ter-Nuk worried for his son, and he knew, no matter how brave he truly was, no matter how strong his arm, no matter how sharp his spear, that it was incredibly likely that he would be killed in the assault on the city if he were up on the palisades.

Ter-Nuk went looking for Janrin, he searched everywhere he would usually be, the longhouse and the market, but he could not find him. Then he remembered, Janrin was out fishing in the Edito River that lies beyond the city walls, fishing for Tuk fish. He quickly ran to the palisades, but found that the garrison commander, Vwekin, would not allow him to go up onto the battlements.

“Civilians are not permitted atop the battlements, leave before you are forcefully removed.”

“My son is missing!” - he cried out - “I need to see if I can see him from up there.”

Vwekin called for two soldiers, “Ready your spears! If he tries to make his way up here, run him through.”

The soldiers readied their spears, aiming them right at Ter-Nuk.

“You cowards. You won't even help an old man find his young child? I hope you feel great shame.”

The soldiers did not waver; Ter-Nuk raised his hand and gave them the hand, and he left.

As he was leaving, feeling absolutely dejected and downtrodden, he found Tarvin arming up in the garrison which is right by this area of the palisades, “Tarvin! Your brother is beyond the city’s palisades. I’m too old to fight, I need your help getting to him.”

“Shit!” Tarvin yelled.

“If I leave, they’ll consider me a deserter and I’ll be hung, beheaded, or quartered, I can’t go,” he said as he was putting on the chainmail shirt over his padded tunic.

“Tarvin, you will likely die anyway. It's your little brother. He’s only ten, I would have done anything to protect my brother if I could have during the war, but I was in Teivan. I couldn't save him, and I will regret it to my dying breath. You have a chance to avoid that heartache, and possibly dying in battle, if you just come with me and your family to find a way out.”

Tarvin picked up a shield and spear from the rack, put his hand to his face and muttered, “Fine.”

“Thank you, son, I’ll forever be in your debt.”

Tarvin and Ter-Nuk blended into the crowd while leaving the armory, Ter-Nuk gave Tarvin a black cloak to hide his chainmail, and they headed to their household to gather the rest of their family.

They reached the house, Tarvin’s face was hidden beneath the cloak.

Ter-Nuk said, “Jeywa, my love, Janrin is out of the city walls fishing. I don't know what will happen if we don't get to him.”

Jeywa's facial expression turned from one of relief, for having seen her husband, then to fearful resolve, “We must get him.”

“We are, and Tarvin is coming with us, he’ll protect us all.”

Tarvin lowered his hood so that his face was visible, and Jeywa let out a sigh of relief, her entire body seemed to come to peace and a state of readiness. She gave Tarvin a hug like she had never given him before.

From another room came a squeaky, sweet little voice,

“Mom! Why are they making those horn noises? Is it a drill?” Silvaki said as she came out of her room, rubbing her eyes free of the crust that gathered on the corner of her eyes as she slept.

“Honey, bad people are coming to hurt us, we need to leave so that we’re safe.”

“Bad people? Why do they want to hurt us?”

“Because we’re Orcs, the first of this world, and they’re jealous of all that we have. They want it for themselves.”

“Well, can I fight them?”

“Not now, honey. You’re too young, but your brother will protect us.”

At that moment she saw Tarvin, ran up to him and tightly hugged his legs “Tarvy! I missed you so bad.”

“I missed you too, Silvy. I will keep you safe, I’ll keep all of us safe. Go grab your stuff and we’ll be headed to the walls.”

“Ok, I’ll grab my toys.”

“Be sure to grab a lot of clothes.”

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“I will.”

Everyone hurried about the house, gathering everything they could fit into the burlap bags they used to gather fruits, herbs, and vegetables. The house, once clean, was now torn apart by the search for everything of value, sentimental or otherwise.

Everyone gathered at the entrance of the house, “Ok, let’s get going.”

They made their way through the streets. The streets were crowded with people trying to get out of the city, just like them. They ran along the edge of the palisades until they came upon some people who were gathered around a particular spot along the palisades. Ter-Nuk beckoned his family, “Maybe there’s a way out through there.”

They gathered there and one of the men stood up and said, “Quick! A dog must have dug a hole under the walls - wait a minute, what is a soldier doing here?”

“I’m here to assist in the evacuation. Commander Vwekin ordered a general evacuation, and put me in charge of it,” Tarvin lied, he was certainly going to assist in evacuating these people, but no such order was given. The garrison commander and clan leaders would rather let the people of the city burn to the ground with it before they would let who they viewed as ‘their people’ escape to safety. This was a common sentiment amongst the elite in Ge-lak. They thought death was better than surrender or fleeing. Needless to say, most of the common folk did not share this sentiment.

“They wouldn’t allow that. You need not lie, son. In my eyes you’re more heroic for helping the city folk leave than for dying over lost ground,” the man said.

“Alright, I’ll gather as many people as I can.”

“Everyone! To here! There’s a way out here!”

Many people in the streets began to look in their direction and rush over, “Tell everyone you see to come this way. Get everyone you can!” Tarvin shouted.

People began to go throughout the streets, telling other people to gather at that exit that an adventurous dog must have made.

Within ten minutes hundreds had gathered at the spot. People began to crawl their way through the narrow passage. Some were too large to get through, so they deepened the gap with trowels, shovels, and their hands. Eventually it was large enough for five people to go through at a time. As they did, they began to hear the war cries of Orcs, Humans, and Elves. They were all very distinct. The Orcs’ warcry was more deep and guttural, the Humans’ was similar, but not as guttural and was more highly pitched, the Elves’ war cry was even higher pitched sound, and it sounded other worldly. The war cries were getting closer and closer, and the Orcs’ fewer and fewer. There was the sound of spells being cast, elemental crepitations of electricity and fire. Everyone looked back and saw that the battle had moved to the streets and was coming towards the site of the evacuation.

Houses were ablaze, the sound of people crying in fear and agony could be heard from throughout the city. As the battle moved towards the only egress that the people of the city had, people grew more and more desperate. Tarvin yelled, “Hurry! They’re getting closer!

People hurried through, many were already through, but they were getting closer and more aggressive. The Orc garrison had their backs to the people trying to escape, they fought as hard as they could, many civilians got through in time, as did some of the garrison, but the sounds of slaughter could be heard from the opposite side of that terrible scene.

Ter-Nuk had gotten most of his family out to the other side of the palisades, everyone but Tarvin. Tarvin was on the inside of the palisade, parrying blows from many swords. He found an opportunity to flee through the crawl hole, when an Elvish sword came down on his arm. It immediately separated from his body, he cried out in agony, but he was through. Bleeding profusely, he, with his family, and the survivors of Talikver, ran. They reached the bank of the Edito River, Tarvin was as pale as a ghost and hardly able to stand. Ter-Nuk was a trained Saon (life magic) sorcerer, so he took his son’s stump and told him, “Son, my brave son, you must hold on. These words will heal you and bring you life.”

Ter-Nuk began chanting in that oldest of tongues, Saon, and writing runes in Tarvin’s body with the deep blue magical energy emanating from his fingers. Tarvin breathed heavily and quickly, like they were his dying breaths, but once the breathing slowed, a peace came over his face. He smiled at his father, “You haven’t lost your touch, even over all of these years.”

“The magic never leaves you, son, it merely hibernates, only to be awoken when the challenge you face is great, even seemingly insurmountable. We all have this power within us.”

Tarvin slowly rose up to his feet, his father had been carrying his spear and shield for him. Tarvin gestured for his father to give them to him, “I can take them, father. Your magic healed me enough that I’m ready to give a bit of fight back to those dentak.”

Ter-Nuk gives him the spear and shield.

“I understand, son. Now we must find your brother, he’s probably further upstream, where he usually fishes.”

“There will probably be enemies up there, we’re going to need everyone who’s in fighting condition to come with us to get him back,” Ter-Nuk said.

“I don’t think they’d be willing to do that. They’re looking out for themselves and their own families. These people have probably lost entire generations of family members and clansfolk. They’re not going to be willing to put their lives and those of their families' on the line to save one boy, no matter how important he is to our own family.”

“Well, it’s worth trying to convince a few.”

“If you think it’s possible.”

Ter-Nuk came to the group of refugees and raised his arms, “Listen! I need a few soldiers to come with me to help me retrieve my son. He’s likely further up stream, we need at least five able bodied warriors. We must save every Orc life we can, and that includes my son.”

A few people came to the front and said that they were willing to come and assist in bringing back Ter-Nuk’s son, more than he expected, eight to be exact.

“Alright, we’ve got to hurry. He’s likely hidden amongst the rocks along the river bank, so we may have a little more time. Most of the enemy’s forces were focused on taking the city, looting and burning it. They will send out patrols soon, though, so be ready for anything.”

The party went upstream, running as fast as they could upon its rocky surface. They ran for roughly two miles until they reached the spot where Janrin usually fished. They searched amongst the rocks. When they saw a human patrol standing over Janrin’s body lying there, slumped backwards over a rock. The orcs charged the humans, stabbing at them with their spears, eviscerating them with their blades, lobbing their heads’ off with axes. When the dust settled, Ter-Nuk and Tarvin came to Janrin. His eyes were open, yet glassy. His breathing was heavy, and he had a massive gash across his torso, it was deep, severing arteries and other blood vessels. Worst of all, his heart was exposed and his ribcage broken. Ter-Nuk let out a horrendously pained screams, they took Janrin and held him in their arms. “Son, we’re here, we’re with you.”

“Papa? I’m cold, those humans- theu cut me really bad. Really really bad.”

“Son, you are going to the Sunrise. You’re going to become something great.”

“I’m dying, aren’t I, daddy?”

“Yes you are, but you will be ok,” he said with tears streaming down his face. Tears fell from Janrin’s cheeks to the sand and rock below. Tarvin held onto his brother’s hands tightly, squeezing them as hard as he could, crying profusely.

“I’m going to use a special type of magic on you, son. It’s” - he stifled a sob - “it’s what we do to bring peace to people who are dying, like you are.”

Ter-Nuk began to chant, in words much like the ones that he used to heal his son, but they were different, almost backwards. He inscribed, once again, similar runes to the Saon sigils, but upside down, and instead of emanating a deep blue light, a dark purple light emanated from the runes and from his fingers.

“This is Dektoin, son, it’s death magic.”

Janrin’s face softened, and he smiled as the magic took hold, “Oh, I think I understand. I see something, I don’t know what it is. It looks like” - he smiled widely - “it looks like a sunrise.”

The moment that he said that, he slipped away. His father and brother bellowed out in unimaginable pain. The people that came with them looked on mournfully. One of the women in the group said, “My son, he died in the siege. He was with the garrison. He died protecting me, and many others. These deaths will not go unanswered for. The people who committed these atrocities will be brought to justice, once the time comes.”

Ter-Nuk took Janrin’s body and hoisted him over his shoulder. The posse walked back to the place they came from by the bank, a stranded cart they found along the way was used to put the Janrin's body in. They carried on, towards the capital city of Canna.

The trip took a day and a night, the death magic that Ter-Nuk used on Janrin’s body also preserved it, so there was no odor. They saw in the distance a burning city, the capital city of Canna was destroyed too.

In the distance, large war ships were heading from the Waikara coast westward. The shoreline was packed with refugees. People who had lost everything in the invasion. The captains of these ships sent out a whole host of large canoes, called verin, to retrieve the refugees. They even took the bodies of the dead, to honor them with burials on the new land that they were sailing to, the Inguish archipelago, where the Reg-Kal Confederacy had offered asylum and a new land to the decimated Orcish population, uninhabited by people. Ter-Nuk and his family settled on a homestead on the Inguish archipelago, where they buried Janrin’s body. Ter-Nuk, after settling into his new home, began to advocate for Inguish representation in the Reg-Kal Confederacy.

Tarvin became a prominent covert agent for the Inguish government's military and intelligence body, encouraging oppressed races to rise up across the whole of Kaidaga. He advocated for a return to Ge-Lak once the corrupted magic subsided in the land, and to fight the Adnai and Vleian presence in Ge-Lak.

The Orcish people still inhabit the Inguish archipelago. The war that annihilated much of the Orcish population strengthened the resolve of the Reg-Kal and Inguish Orcs to fight against the hegemony of Adna and Vleia, human and elf respectively.

Ten years have passed since the Second War of Extermination. Only time will tell what the fate of the Orcs of Kaidaga - and Kaidaga itself - for dark forces are rising throughout the whole of the world.