Province of Bonehammer

The lands of Bonehammer start in the hills approaching the forests of Dree, and run south through the plains, along the River of Ofsgokk, as far west as the Uefwah Lake, through the southern forests of Nirfuhlg, and then to the ocean-side south cliffs. The human tribes of north Bonehammer are called the Eurik. The orcs who live south of the river and lakes are simply the Orcs of Bonehammer. The people of Bonehammer (orcs and Eurik), have different ideologies they live by which is also a part of their religion. They are a polytheistic people, and single people worship many different gods simultaneously.

The forests of western Bonehammer are thick, gnarled trees and dense forests. Rising into some mountainous terrain, the land is overgrown and covered in thick foliage.

The roads that run to Dravens, to the north, are semi-traveled but not well patrolled. The orcs who live in south Bonehammer are not as bloodthirsty as their cousins in other realms, but are not particularly friendly either. Their clans often fight against each other, and often bring together war parties to raid existing settlements in the mountains, or to hire themselves as mercenaries to go fight in the wars of other realms.

The forests themselves are dark and foreboding. The orcs who live there still subscribe to nature magics, and encourage the proliferation of sylvan creatures. Unseelie creatures are common, as are some of the darker forest denizens.

Further to the south are cliffs of southern bonehammer, which stretch down thousands of feet overlooking the ocean.

In west-central Bonehammer are the Kiernard mountains. Once the Kingdom of Kiernard, when the kingdom the people of Bonehammer rose to claim some of the mountains as their own. The orcs control Vogt’s Mercy, an ancient dwarf fortress that was taken by the orcs shortly after the fall of Kiernard. It is, by far, their most well built structure and over the last 50 years has become the capital of the youngest generations of Bonehammer orcs. To the north, the Eurik established the village of Kaeshure, the new primary home of the Eurik Stone Titans Tribe.

The central part of Bonehammer are the plains and lakes. The lakes are Northlake and Eastlake, each with a Eurik settlement named for the lake. The plains themselves run below large, looming mountains. The plains themselves have some livestock, and lots of game which are nurtured and protected by the Eurik who use them as a foodsource. The lakes are an important resource for the Eurik, who have settlements on both the north and the south sides, although the orcs control most of the lands outside of the plains.

To the northwest are the mountain plains of Bonehammer, with more wooded areas where spirits and the restless dead are more prevalent.

People of Bonehammer

The people of Bonehammer include predominantly Eurik and orcs.

The Ways of Life

Most people of bonehammer do not worship a single god or goddess, instead they worship many gods based upon the lifestyle they choose, called the “Ways of Life”. Usually, one of the gods described in their “Way” is their primary patron, but it is not uncommon for them to show homage to the others as well. Each deity represents an aspect of the totem animal they worship/idolize.

Way of the Bison

The bison are respected by both the Eurik, and Orc of Bonehammer. Strong, durable, and destructive when angered, the bison roam together in herds with the strongest watching out for the weak. Followers of Bison most often worship Torm for his nobility, Tempus for his strength, and Talos for his raw anger. Followers of Bison are most often warriors, leaders, elders, and warchiefs. Those truly dedicated to Bison easily find the admiration of the people of Bonehammer.

• Torm, god of courage/self sacrifice, LG
• Tempus, god of war, N
• Talos, god of storms, CE

Credit: VegeraVV

Way of the Owl

Owls are as respected by the people of Bonehammer for their intelligence, beauty, and deadliness. Creatures of the night, many people believe that owls see beyond the thresholds of the mortal plane into the planes beyond. When hunting, few creatures more quick and deadly than the owl. Followers of Owl have a tendency to be sages, scouts, and hunters.

• Selune, goddess of the moon, CG
• Savras, god of divination and fate, LN
• Malar, god of the hunt, CE

Way of the Snake, Way of the Coin

The Way of the Snake, started out as a way of insulting outsiders in Bonehammer lands. The indigenous people of Bonehammer who describe outsiders as “wealthy because of luck, lazy, deceptive, and shallow.” A few outsiders who stayed in Bonehammer began following those tenants, and over a few hundred years a small group of followers of Snake still exist in Bonehammer. Due to the possibility of being mistaken as Yuan-Ti or followers of the ancient serpent gods, most refer to themselves as the Followers of the Coin, but the ideologies remain the same: reap good fortune when you have it, deceive others as you must, lie as is needed. Followers of Snake/Coin are often gamblers, entertainers, and thieves.

• Tymora, goddess of good fortune, CG
• Mask, god of thieves, N
• Cyric, god of lies, CE

Way of the Stag

While many of the Orcs aren’t as reverent of the stage as the Eurik, many of the people of Bonehammer consider themselves followers of the stag. A creature of beauty and wild, it’s population has been hunted down due to the overabundance of hunters in the kingdom. Still, in the forest of Bonehammer the stag still endures. Followers of Stag can be just about anyone, but specifically those with an eye for beauty and reverence for the wild. Those who’ve found themselves on hard times also often follow Stag.

• Selune, goddess of love and beauty, CG
• Silvanus, god of wild nature, N
• Beshaba, goddess of misfortune, CE

Way of the Rabbit

The thought of following the Rabbit seems a bit strange to outsiders, considering the perception outsiders have of the people of Bonehammer. The strapping barbarian/tribesfolk wield spears and battle axes, the proud orc warrior wielding a battle maul, but the reality is that not everyone in everyone is meant to fight. Far from being relegated to just the timid, the majority of Bonehammer’s people follow the Way of the Rabbit. Followers of Rabbit respect Rabbits ability to reproduce, rabbit’s speed, and of course the way rabbit tastes when cooked over a fire. Followers of Rabbit can be of almost trade or occupation, although most actively avoid the military. Most followers of rabbit are laborers, farmers, traders, and artisans.

• Lathander, god of birth and renewel, NG
• Waukeen, goddess of trade, N
• Loviatar, goddess of pain, LE

Way of Man, Way of the Dagger

The Way of Man is followed almost exclusively by the Orcs of Bonehammer, although some Eurik follow a similar path called the Way of the Dagger. Followers of Man accept the ruthlessness of more advanced human societies, maybe not to the extent of the Dree but they have respect for the human capacity to overcome adversity, and rise to power through any means necessary, even murder. Followers of man respect the dead, as they believe their ancestors, and the mistakes of their ancestors, are important lessons to learn in order to conquer one’s own fate. Followers of Man look down upon orcs who follow the old ways and the orc gods, considering them to be weak failures and lesser creatures. The Orcish followers of Man are both respected and mistrusted amongst the orc clans, who believe they’ve sold out their own blood.

• Ilmater, god of endurance, LG
• Kelemvor, god of the dead, LN
• Bhaal, god of murder, NE

Other Ways

The ways of Bonehammer peoples are not exhaustive, and many make up their own ways. Dozens of different ways exist, although the standard ones are the most common and show some of the more popular deities worshipped in the lands.

Eurik Tribes

The Eurik consist of dozens of tribes, each with their own slightly different version of the Eurik language. Around the castle of Bonehammer, and in the major metropolitan areas (of which there are few), members of all tribes can be found co-mingling. Most of the larger villages will have multiple tribes present, while the smaller villages will usually consist of a single tribe that controls the village, with a few members of other tribes who might live there also. The tribes are all Eurik, but they follow different ways and have different views of life in general.

First Wing Tribe

Followers of Owl, the First Wing are considered leader of the Eurik people. While the Stone Titan Tribe and the Last Hunter Tribe are warriors, the First Wing serve as sages, hunters, and leaders of the Eurik. They can be identified by the cloaks they wear, which are made up of rabbits, mice, gophers, snakes, and the other creatures that owl considers prey. While a bit aloof, those of the First Wing Tribe can seem a bit strange to others at first, not being the noble, big chested warriors of those who follow Bison and Bear.

Stone Titan Tribe

Followers of Bear (almost the same as Bison), the Stone Titans hail from the areas of the Kiernard mountains now protected by the Eurik. They always lived towards the base of the mountains, but when the Kingdom of Kiernard fell, the Stone Titans moved further up in the mountains to protect Bonehammer territories. Larger than average humans, even the smallest of them are larger than normal humans (option to use Goliath stats). The Stone Titans claim a direct lineage to the giant ancestors of the Eurik people. Most only speak Eurik and Giant.

Last Hunt Tribe

Followers of Bison, the Last Hunt warriors are the stereotypical tribal warriors that people think of when they think of the Eurik. Trained to hunt, ride horses, and fight from birth the Last Hunt Tribe can be found roaming the Bonehammer countryside. Most of their major settlements are on the X River, where they can guard against hostile orc incursion. Last Hunt Tribe members are often soldiers, hunters, and livestock farmers.

Credit: Jedi-Art-Trick (DeviantArt)

Diamond Eye Tribe

Once followers of Phoenix, a way that is no longer followed by the people of Bonehammer, the Diamond Eye Tribe are Followers of the Coin. They are often merchants, money lenders, traders, and artisans. They represent the “Modern” way of doing things. They often consider the other tribes to be archaic and anachronistic, often allying themselves with the Orc Clans who are Followers of Man.

Strong Arrow Tribe

Primarily Followers of Stag, the Strong Arrow tribe are renowned archers and hunters. They used to be followers of Owl, seers, and leaders of the Eurik people. Then, hundreds of years ago one of their most powerful seers, a young man, betrayed his people. Their bloodlines was summarily cursed, and not a single person in their bloodline has had the gift of foresight since then. While they are no longer leaders of the Eurik, they are still honorable and strong. They keep some small villages towards the outskirts of Eurik civilization, and their archers, hunters, and guides can be found in most major cities.

Credit: Kyounghwan Kim

Arcane Bone Tribe

Followers of Rabbit, this tribe is a conglomeration of many smaller tribes who all banded together for protection in numbers. Living in the plains, the forests to the northeast, or in the cities of the Eurik lands, the Arcane Bone tribe are a major tribe simply because they aren’t selective. Many of the other major tribes call them “bastards” or “the nameless”.

Minor Eurik Tribes

Hidden Phoenix, Quiet Arrow, Dark Hunt, Big Scar, Infamous Stag, Murky Bones, Long Finger, Pure Fox, Light Raven, Rabid Demon, Arcane Snake, Infamous Hunt.

Eurik Names

Little Leaf In The Wind, Light As A Feather, Lost And Found Again, Stronger One, First To Walk, Eyes Bright As The Sun, Always Running, Teeth Like A Wolf, Like A Blue Sky, Marked By War, Touched By Magic, Handsome One, Like A Star At Night, Makes A Lot Of Noise, Hard As A Rock, Turtle Dove, Little Bumblebee, Little Pebble, Patient One, and Like The Wind

Eurik Player Characters

The Eurik people are often seen as just hunters and warriors. They have their own language, Eurik-in, the written form is a variety of dwarvish. Roughly 30% of the Eurik population, those who live closest to the river in the central plains only speak Orc and Eurik. Eurik tend towards neutral good and true neutral alignments. Human variants are recommended the following:

• Alignment: Neutral Good or Neutral, few evil.
• Strength +1, Wisdom +1
• Proficiency in Nature or Animal Handling
• Common Feats: Athlete, Mobile, Mounted Combatant, or Savage Attacker
• Languages: Eurik and Common OR Eurik and Orc
• Recommended classes include barbarian, ranger, fighter, cleric, sorcerers (see below) druid (rare) bard, (rare) rogue (rare), paladin (rare), monk (rare), warlock (very rare), wizard (very rare).

Devotees of “The Way”: Divine Soul

Because the way that the people of Bonehammer worship, they have few organized temples towards individual gods. Because of this, they have few paladins and clerics in their number. The gods simply do not place their favor in many Euriks. However, some do become touched by a god through their devotion to their practices. These are the sorcerers of the Eurik people, who are Divine Soul sorcerers. They are typically touched by good, neutral and chaotic gods. Few evil and law gods bless the Eurik people.

Orc Clans

The orc clans are less stable than the Eurik tribes, although both are relatively unstable compared to royal families and the institutions of other lands.

Sagafang

With some irony, most powerful clan of Bonehammer orcs follower the Path of the Stag. According to legends, the Great Green Beauty was an orc shaman and matron who brought led the orcs to Bonehammer. It was she who learned from the Eurik, and she who convinced her family to abandoned the old ways and learn to follow the “Ways of Life”.

Her clan still endures to this day, although their position of power among the orcs has been waning over the last couple of centuries, and significantly in the last two decades. The orcs of Sagafang are no less fierce than their other kind, but have a respect for love and nature that other orcs find, somewhat alien.

However, their care for the lands of Bonehammer, ability to negotiate peace among clans, and pragmatic wisdom has done well for the Orcs of Bonehammer over the centuries. Members of their clan are often rangers, scouts, druids, and barbarians.

Gagokaxe

Followers of Bison, the Gagokaxe are fearless warriors. They’ve been one of the major orc clans for several hundred years, and almost every orc war party or army has many of the Gragokaxe both in their rank and file, but also leadership.

The Gagokaxe seem much more like the standard orc to outsiders, and their members are often angry and bloodthirsty. But also in their ranks are the more honorable orcs, and those are the ones who maintain control. Following Torm and Tempus more than Talos, the leadership of Gagokaxe consider themselves and honorable and noble bloodline.

Spearsmasher

Also followers of Bison, the Spearsmasher are an up and coming clan. Once a small clan, youngsters from Gagokaxe who considered themselves more followers of Talos and Tempus than Torm broke off from their parent clan and aggressively took over a smaller clan by force. Over the last hundred years, they have been growing massively, recruiting brash, bloodthirsty warriors from other clans and pursuing violent takeovers of smaller clans to gain territory. While not politically the most powerful, the Spearsmasher are the currently the most populous of the orc clans.

Kramuk Toktooth

Followers of Owl, the Kramuk Toktooth are hunters, but also visionaries in their own right. They live in small, nomadic groups and in some ancient abandoned fortresses in the mountains. They rarely travel in large numbers and during the day. They have some type of strange alliance with the Goleborn clan, but neither speak of it often and especially not to outsiders. It is rumored that the Kramuk Toktooth are the assassins of the Bonehammer clans, eliminating threats to the other clans from the inside as necessary to keep the nation strong. Kramuk Toktooth orcs often wear darker hides and clothing, and prefer to move about at night.

Sahiva

The Sahiva follow the Way of Man, and serve as the largest group of that way. For the last few hundred years, they have been trying to guide the Orcs of Bonehammer to embrace the modern way of humanity, including knowledge, enlightenment, and technology. While meeting some resistance, the Sahiva have come a long way over the last hundred years. They actively work with other followers of Man and followers of the Dagger to achieve their political goals.

Goleborn

The Goleborn claim to follow none of the ways of Bonehammer. Their leader X, proclaims that he follows the “Way of Self”. While not bookish, the clansfolk of the Goleborn are constantly looking for knowledge in everything they do. A secretive clan, the Goleborn are savage warriors on the battlefield.

They maintain the largest known repository of artifacts and magic items in the lands of Eurik, as well as an extensive library (possibly the only known orc library). They claim to have divined the bloodlines of hundreds of orc clans, and claim to know about orc ancestry than any other orc.

Although, most orcs just simply don’t give a shit. Several in their number follow and ancient being, older than the gods, who teaches them ancient secrets.

Credit: lithriel (DeviantArt)

Minor Orc Clans

Mamok Uguuktooth, Thodungeater, Kramuk Toktooth, Skulltooth, Crugang Thrukax, Tuggakfang, Skullcrusher, G'gungtooth, Skullaxe, Spearsmasher, Orcfang, Sagakfang, Skulltooth, Graguk Goktooth, Gugguktooth, Caveeater, Dogbone, Kruggukclaw, and Bearaxe.

Lawless Clans

Despite generations of breeding and teaching, the call of Gruumsh is inevitable for some. Clans often become claimed by visions from Gruumsh, rejecting reason and the orc society of Bonehammer. These orcs are either killed, or escape into the wilderness. While they may come from normal backgrounds, they behavior otherwise like normal orcs.

Orc Player Characters

Orc Player Characters use the Orc rules from VGtM.

• Alignment: Tend towards neutral alignments.
• Languages: Orc and Common OR Orc and Eurik.
• Recommended classes include barbarian (see below), fighter, rogue, druid (rare), ranger (rare), warlock (rare), sorcerer (rare), all others very rare.

Half-Orc Player Characters

Half Orcs from Bonehammer are more common than in many other realms.

• Alignment: Any, depend upon their chosen Way.
• Proficiencies: Can substitute History for Intimidation
• Languages: Orc and Common OR Orc and Eurik.
• Recommended classes include barbarian (see below), fighter, rogue, druid, ranger, warlock (rare), sorcerer (rare), all others very rare.

Credit: lithriel (DeviantArt)

Devotees of “The Way”: Path of the Zealot

While clerics and paladins from Bonehammer are all but unheard of, their warriors in the battlefield will occasionally find themselves touched by the divine. These use the Path of the Zealot Barbarian subclass.

Royal Families of Bonehammer

Every couple hundred years, a tribe and a clan will be so large and/or so powerful that their might threatens to dominate the rest of the Eurik tribes and/or Orc clans. It is during these times that the existing Royal Families will arrange a marriage between the most powerful of the Eurik tribes and the most powerful of the Orc clans. In an ancient ceremony, the tribe and clansfolk from both are brought to Castle Bonehammer, where the clan and tribe are merged into a single family. The family and extended family then remain at Castle Bonehammer, in the surrounding city. Any family members from the clan or tribe too prideful to join as one and take up residence in Bonehammer are either exiled, or killed by the other clans and tribesfolk.

While it seems a bit barbaric, this practice returns balance to both the Eurik and orc societies by removing those who would/could cause civil war (or upset the balance of power between the humans and the orcs).

The last time a Bonehammer family was created was over two hundred years ago. In their recorded history of 2,000 years, this process has not had to happen many times. Even now, few of the ancient families still exist. But some do.

Unlike the rest of Bonehammer, the royal families don’t follow the ideological “ways” of their past. Instead, they follow codes. In addition to the Bonehammer bloodline, a few other bloodlines exist, remnants of previous incarnations of the kingdom. While no longer ruling houses, it would be possible for one of them to take power or if something were to happen to the Bonehammer family, there are three other possible lines of succession.

Creatures of Bonehammer

With plains, forests, mountains, a huge river, two rivers, and a coastline, Bonehammer has a variety of creatures. The Eurik settlements patrol the best they can, with dozens of horseback riders and hunters constantly patrolling and hunting. The orcs to the southwest favor slightly less well, as they are more worried about each other than keeping their lands clean of potential enemies. Creatures of the forests of Bonehammer are well aware of the orcs’ existence, and typically steer clear of orc bands. Other creatures, however, favor slightly less well.

Uklethok: The Great Worm

Every few generations or so, a burrowing creature awakens below the plains of the Eurik. It always awakens to either the north or south side, never both. From there it tends to swallow up livestock, attack travelers, and basically makes a nuisance of itself for a few seasons. After a time, it usually disappears until the word of mouth accounts of it become stories, which become fables, which become legends. And then it comes back.

The orcs used to berate the Eurik about their legendary creature, until it showed up in their forests after a particular rough series of storms in the spring, which felled some of the ancient trees that just fell over (roots and all). Later in the summer, attacks began being reported until one tay the Uklethok attacked an orc village, devouring most of the populace. Surviving orcs haven’t laughed about the legend since.

Wolki-Natt: Souls of the Dead

The Eurik who live close to the Kingdom of Dree, do so understanding the Dree relationship with the undead. Over time, those Eurik have begun to understand and feel more comfortable around the dead than the rest. Often floating in their forests and mountains are glowing orbs, which the Eurik do not bother, but rather talk to and occasionally engage in conversation. They have bartered something to these orbs, which help protect their lands even against invading Dree undead.

Bogeen-Kree: Horse People

In the foothills of the Kiernard mountains, and in the mountains themselves there is talk of a people who are half-horse, half human. There are only a handful left, and they actively avoid the people of Bonehammer but will occasionally greet particularly kind and heroic Eurik.

Inga-Doke: Earth Sharks

In the mountain foothills, the plains, and even the forests are the occasional Inga-Doke. The “Earth Sharks” are vicious creatures with thick hides and a mean temperament. While respected by the Eurik and the orcs, there has been no attempt to hunt them to extinction. Their hide is valuable, their claws are strong, and the teeth of them is used by master hunters to show their mettle in battle. A single arena in the newly acquired fortress of Vogt’s Mercy has a breeding pit for these creatures, and they have some adolescent and even an adult Earth Shark than can be used to test the mettle of any warrior or squad who thinks they have what it takes.

Wyverns

Wyverns occasionally patrol the mountains of Kiernard. Eurik and Orc alike have attempted to tame them for their own purposes, but thus far neither have been successful. In the meantime, the wyverns continue to be a distraction, but their venom is highly prized by the orcs and are hunted on a regular basis (but not to the point of extinction). Orcs and Eurik both respect the beasts for one reason or another.

Credit: lithriel (DeviantArt)

Fomorians

Deep in the woods of the orcs, the feywild is not touched by the orcs who follow the tenets of the Green Beauty. The orcs there actively keep much of nature unspoiled, letting it overgrow and it has become a deterrent from the marauders and thieves from Dravens getting into their lands. Amidst these wilds, fomorians do exist according to local sightings. This isn’t a legend. They fey-giants have a few dens in the area.

Girallon

There are is a band of Girallons in the forest of the orcs, ruled by a Girallon king. The creatures were dumped or brought there decades ago, and the orcs have since been unable to capture, kill, or drive them away. The orcs mostly just let them stay, but will occasionally send their young warriors in the forest to harass them.