Orcs. Nothing as fundamentally simple or cunningly brutal as the Orc.

They make great warriors, albeit a little lacking in discipline, but their savagery and commitment to the cause cannot be questioned. Those that run away in an Orc Waaaaghh (or horde to translate from the Orcish) are eaten. Incentive enough.

When a town is struck by a Waaagh, usually nothing survives. The green plague consumes everything like a swarm of locusts on the harvest. The waves and waves of unending greenskins demoralises many human and demihuman resistors, doing half their job for them.

Darken Vos Wiggen, ruler of Kurth had little time to consider options when the first wave hit the town. The warnings were given too late, the messengers slain by black arrows riding back to town, headless on the back of their horses gave the Kurthian's just enough time to muster their militia.

It was not enough.

Kurth fell to the invading Orc Waaagh, Darken was one of the last to stand. As brutal and bloodthirsty soliders as they are, Orcs generally have little time for true military strategy. Their leader, Gorbad Ironclaw, was a smart orc, but even he didnt have the time nor patience to sort the city out after he took it.

So they left, well most of them.. a few stragglers remained, to rape the remaining women that were hiding and to drain the last of the alcohol in the stores. The main food was swept up and taken along with the bulwark of the army.

It was these stragglers that fell to the soldiers of the reinforcing troops from Kings Reach. The Orcs are a fearsome presence in numbers, and they breed so fast, their numbers replenish so quickly it can seem like you are fighting forever. With the main army moved on, however, Nijel Vos Wiggen's cavalry despatched the stragglers and started to survey the damage.

His uncle was given a proper funeral, falling as he did in defence of the town. The remaining townsfolk that hadn't been brutalised to death or taken as slaves were comissioned to start rebuilding as soon as possible. This is the way of the Moonsea, this is how people get things done.

*The bearded, heavy set soldier sat down with an agitated sigh. He had put off his correspondances for too long. He withdrew a long goose-feather quill and dipped it in the ink*

Governor Vos Wiggen,

First, comiserations on your loss, your uncle was a fine leader. I am sure Bane holds him tightly in his grip now.

Congratulations on securing Kurth, though I had little doubts it would be re-taken with a minimum of fuss. Your military understanding and governship skills are praised throughout the Moonsea brother, you would be wise to not keep such a high profile in these uncertain times.

The Orcs have moved on then? There were no survivors? It is unfortunate to know they are on the rampage with little indication as to which way their warband was headed. It could be advantageous to us if we could somehow direct their assault towards our enemies and awy from our own holdings.

I am pleased Amortigalani is faring well. The harvest here has been impressive since she arrived and I am envious and somewhat disappointed she would not stay in King's Reach while you completed this expedition. Am I reading the tone of your letters correctly? You are planning to stay in that shithole of a so-called town? Brother, Bane enforce your senses.. this task is monumentous and somewhat impractical... The Dark Lord be praised should you manage to pull it off.

Good luck on clearing the greenskin jobs away from the area.. our ancestors have been doing that since time immemorial and we are no further on millenia down the line. The damn fuckers breed to quickly to properly commit a true genocidal campaign in the name of the Black Hand.

*The writer then takes a moment, scratching his rough, black beard with his quill*

And.. what of any tribute? Did you find anything of value in Kurth worthy? I am sure you have not forgotten our arrangement of ten points (percent) to kick up to me for the men I lent to you. We must all follow the rules of the game, brother. If you want more aid, you must show some loyalty.. a total of twenty points should be sufficient. Correspend quickly to this missive and I will send the men you require.

I hear Zerander is arriving shortly with a dwarven smith.. one old mage and a single dwarf to construct a mage school? You know me brother, wizard's have their uses and all but I am unsure about this course of action you are to undertake.

Assuming we are set on terms, I will send you Grathor, (half-orc, Ran 7) he is my most trusted lieutenant and an able horseman. Your new cavalry will need someone capable to lead them.

For the Power and Glory of the Moonsea, Bane's Grip direct us all.

Arbiter Janderson, King's Reach.

*Tipping some fine sand on the ink he shakes the parchment and summoned Grathor to his study.*

"Take this to Kurth and send a courier with his reply. You stay there and assist in this rebuild of the town, keep your eyes open for me Grathor. I will send the artisans he requires if he agrees to my terms. Inform me of any artifacts or recoverables that he forgets to mention."

*With a hand, he dismissed the quiet half-orc and began to rifle through his mountain of letters he needed to work through with an audible groan*

"I fucking hate administration."