The dawn of the Orcs

After the oath was taken by all of them, Drumdra left under the mockery of the other gods. When he was finally alone, he got to work on crafting his own race. A strong and durable race of proud warriors and hunters. He named them 'Orcs' and gifted them... gifted them... he sighed. The other gods had already divided all available land between the three of them. "I can't gift you any land, so you will be nomadic. There is one gift however, that I can give you.", he mumbled mostly to himself. He gave them the ability to tap into his fury in a time of need.

Thus the nomadic tribes of strong green-skins were created. They wandered the lands of the other races, avoiding them at every turn. Over the next decade, their lack of a home turned out to be a decided advantage. While the dwarves, elves and humans got used to the comforts of their preferred regions and ways of life, the orcs struggled in all areas of the planet. From glaciers, high in the mountains, to murky swamps, filled with hostile wildlife, they struggled and struggled. They developed not only their strength, but also their cunning and their instincts. They worshipped their creator reluctantly at first, but it turned into a silent gratitude over time. They accepted their hard lives as what made them strong and thanked their god for the gift of his endless rage, which had saved almost every single orc at least a couple of times over the course of their life.

While Drumdra gleefully watched his creation grow and prosper, the other gods looked at the orcs with envy. They felt Drumdras power increasing, soon he would be as strong as they were. Galvan, Sheyla and Theik gathered secretly one day to discuss the matter. "My elves have grown complacent and few strive to develop their magic.", Sheyla complained. "My dwarves have slowed their digging, building and crafting. Luxury has made them lethargic.", Theik stated. "The same goes for my humans. Their progress has slowed and they think of me less.", Galvan agreed before adding, "The orcs, meanwhile, are thriving.". Anger flashed on Sheylas normally flawlessly calm facade, she had a particular distaste for the brutish creatures, "These disgusting savages do nothing but wade through mud, ice and shit. Each day is a fight for survival for them, they should just give in and die.". "But they won't.", Galvan interrupted, "They refuse to give up, just like a certain pathetic immortal we know.". Slience befell them.

Finally Sheyla came up with an idea, "What if we crushed them?". "Fool.", Theik immediately responded, "Have you so soon forgotten your oath?". "I don't intend to break my oath...", Sheyla continued unperturbed, "What if we pushed our creations, no gently nuged them, to crush the disgusting orc threat trespassing on their lands.", a faint smile now on her face. Understanding showed on the faces of the other two gods. "We never made an oath not to influence the mortals through, say, a dream, did we?", Galvan raised the question with a healthy dose of sarcasm. "Indeed we did not.", Theik nodded. "It is agreed then?", Sheyla asked, "We send our children to war, to crush the orcs, to slaughter them, to humiliate them, to enslave them!". Galvan nodded. Theik nodded. "We will end them, and our foolish brother with them.", Galvan grimly stated. "Oh absolutely, but killing Drumdra will be difficult.", Sheyla raised, "Why don't you boys leave him to me once his race is defeated and he is powerless.", she cooed, "I will take good care of him.". Galvan looked confused for the first time, "What will you do with him?". "That is none of your concern, dear brother.", she hummed. Galvan considered his options for a moment, but then decided it won't be any harm, "Fine, not like he is of any use to me.". "No issue here", said Theik.

Uneasy dreams invaded the minds of dwarves, humans and elves that night and all nights thereafter. Soon animosity towards the orcs grew and festered which turned to harted and hostility. The seeds of a great war had been sown.