Tribes of the Hold of Belkzen
The orcs of the Hold of Belkzen congregate in tribes, which is the extent to which they are organized into any semblance of order. These tribes may be comprised of more than just orcs and often include slaves or even fully accepted members of other races including giants, ettins, and ogres. An unstable hierarchy and constant warfare maintain the balance of power between the tribes, and alliances and feuds rarely last long. Many tribes commission battle menageries (cages full of monsters to be loosed onto the battlefield) and siege engines, when engaged in frequent warfare with other tribes.1 The names selected for these tribes are designed to frighten those who find themselves facing them across the battlefield.[citation needed]
Prominent Tribes
- Bearslayer: A newly formed tribe which began raiding Trunau's outer holdings in 4713 AR.2
- Black Sun: The original tribe of Belkzen himself, this tribe is still significant today.3
- Blood Trail
- Broken Spine: This tribe is ruled by Chief Kroghut. Their standard is an orc skull with a spine surrounding it from 6 o'clock, to 4 o'clock.4
- Burning Sun5
- Cleft Head: Orcs of the Cleft Head tribe are well known for being cowards, waiting for the other tribes to engage in battle, then picking off stragglers. They also have the reputation of being the easiest tribe to scare off the battlefield.6 The tribe is led by a particularly fat orc named K'zaard the Drover.7
- Closed Fist: Not a tribe per se, the Closed Fist was Great Chief Grask Uldeth's police force led by Ardax the White-Hair. After Uldeth's demise, Ardax is now the overlord of all the tribes of the Hold of Belkzen.89
- Dead Eye
- Death's Head
- Defiled Corpse: Considered crazy by the other orc tribes, Defiled Corpse orcs are among the more dangerous inhabitants of Belkzen.1
- Empty Hand: Led by Grask Uldeth, the Empty Hand tribe currently controls the fortress of Urgir and are the de facto ruling tribe of Belkzen.6
- Gutspear : The Gutspear tribe of orcs dwells in the caves of the Kodar Mountains.3
- Haskodar: Led by Tulluk Clovenface,10 the Haskodar orcs share rule of Blisterwell with the One Eye tribe.11
- Open Barrow12
- Mangled Limb: Known allies of the fearsome orc alchemist Mother Chot, they dwell in the eastern reaches of the Kodar Mountains.13
- Murdered Child: The leader of the Murdered Child clan is Hundux Half-Man, the only half-orc tribal chief. They control the fortress of Wyvernsting14 and the Dirt Sea.11
- One Eye: The One Eye tribe, along with the Haskodar clan, rule Blisterwell.11
- Severed Hand: The most well-known orc tribe of the Menador Mountains.3
- Shattered Fang: Known for their ferocity but also for keeping their oaths. They live in the Menador Mountains.15
- Skittering Ravagers: A tribe of orcs that plagued the Skittermounds. They were wiped out soon after conquering Skull Hill.16
- Skull Eater
- Steel Eaters: The Steel Eaters are a group of mad, 'tribeless' orc engineers and weaponsmiths who remain neutral, allowing them to sell siege engines to all of the tribes. These twisted scientists control the Foundry and no tribe will risk displeasing them.17
- Twisted Nail
- Wingripper
Tribal Banners
Each of the tribes of the Hold of Belkzen has a battle standard that is carried with them wherever they go. The tribe's symbol or namesake is depicted on the standard, and it is normally hung from a long spear decorated with the trophies of past battles. This flag never leaves the chief's side in battle (although it is generally carried by a subordinate), and is immensely important to the tribe's morale. Most of these standards are very old, and sometimes magical, and hold nearly religious significance to a tribe's members. If a standard is lost in battle, a chief will do anything to get it back.18
References
For additional as-yet unincorporated sources about this subject, see the Meta page.
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Richard Pett. (2008). The Storm Breaks (Pathfinder's Journal). A History of Ashes, p. 77. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-093-3
- ↑ Judy Bauer, Logan Bonner, Nicolas Logue, and Matt Vancil. (2013). Towns of the Inner Sea, p. 62. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-576-1
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Steve Kenson, Rob McCreary, Richard Pett, et al. (2010). Orcs of Golarion, p. 15. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-256-2
- ↑ James L. Sutter. (2008). Pathfinder's Journal: "A Friend in Need". Skeletons of Scarwall, p. 74. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-099-5
- ↑ Tyler Beck, Jason Garrett, Alex Greenshields, and David Schwartz. (2015). "Adventuring in Belkzen". Belkzen, Hold of the Orc Hordes, p. 33. Paizo Inc. ISBN 978-1-60125-710-9
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Richard Pett. (2008). The Storm Breaks (Pathfinder's Journal). A History of Ashes, p. 75. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-093-3
- ↑ Richard Pett. (2008). The Storm Breaks (Pathfinder's Journal). A History of Ashes, p. 76. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-093-3
- ↑ Tyler Beck, Jason Garrett, Alex Greenshields, and David Schwartz. (2015). "Belkzen Gazetteer". Belkzen, Hold of the Orc Hordes, p. 21. Paizo Inc. ISBN 978-1-60125-710-9
- ↑ Alexander Augunas et al. (2020). Legends, p. 16. Paizo Inc. ISBN 978-1-64078-254-9
- ↑ James L. Sutter. (2008). Pathfinder's Journal: "A Friend in Need". Skeletons of Scarwall, p. 75. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-099-5
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 James L. Sutter. (2008). The Hold of Belkzen. Skeletons of Scarwall, p. 59. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-099-5
- ↑ Tyler Beck, Jason Garrett, Alex Greenshields, and David Schwartz. (2015). "Adventuring in Belkzen". Belkzen, Hold of the Orc Hordes, p. 36. Paizo Inc. ISBN 978-1-60125-710-9
- ↑ Tyler Beck, Jason Garrett, Alex Greenshields, and David Schwartz. (2015). Belkzen, Hold of the Orc Hordes, p. 44–45. Paizo Inc. ISBN 978-1-60125-710-9
- ↑ James L. Sutter. (2008). The Hold of Belkzen. Skeletons of Scarwall, p. 63. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-099-5
- ↑ Tineke Bolleman. (2019). Trailblazer's Bounty, p. 4. Paizo Inc.
- ↑ Joshua J. Frost. (2009). The Prisoner of Skull Hill, p. 7. Paizo Publishing, LLC.
- ↑ James L. Sutter. (2008). The Hold of Belkzen. Skeletons of Scarwall, p. 61. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-099-5
- ↑ James Jacobs et al. (2011). "The Inner Sea". The Inner Sea World Guide, p. 47. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-269-2