When the Orcs first came to the mountains there were many dragons already
there. The Orcs tried to steal their treasure but as you can imagine it
generally worked the other way round with the dragons looting many orc-holds. In
addition to the conflict with the dragons there was much fighting between the
various orc tribes for the best holds. One of the fiercest orc tribes, the
Demonspawn, made an alliance with Scareg the Red the mightiest dragon in the
area and they terrorised and enslaved many other tribes. The Demonspawn were
truly evil, eating even their own imps and keeping their own as well as
captured females in large breeding pits.
Kulag Half-tusk was the leader of the Broken Claw tribe. While he was away
exploring in the mountains looking for a better home for his people, the
Demonspawn came against his hold and with the aid of Scareg enslaved his entire
tribe including his beloved consort Magwa. Kulag was distraught; he now had no
warriors and the other tribes would not help him for the Demonspawn had put a
price on his head. In desperation he went into the mountains and sought out
Boshzanak the only other dragon powerful enough to contest the air with Scareg.
In return for his help Boshzanak (‘The Deliverer’ in Orcish) demanded the
allegiance of Kulag and his tribe. Kulag swore an oath that bound him and his
descendants to Boshzanak and in doing so became the first tribal leader to
renounce Gruumsh.
Boshzanak fought and killed Scareg in a legendary duel above the mountain
peaks and the following year aided Kulag, who now had a following among the
less powerful tribes, to storm the Demonspawn citadel and release his people.
Many other Orcs flocked to Kulag who renamed his enlarged tribe the DragonTooth
tribe in honour of its holy relic, one of Boshzanak’s own teeth recovered from
the body of Scareg.
Many Orcs, however, were unwilling to worship Boshzanak and moved out on to
the plains becoming in time the other Northern Plains tribes. For a long time the Dragon
Tooth tribe were acknowledged as the most powerful of the Orc tribes and many
of the other tribes sent tribute. After a time, however, the tribe mainly
became traders and miners and lacked the desire to send raiding parties to
enforce their pre-eminence. Boshzanak has not been seen for centuries and many
believe he must be dead although others point out that some being must be answer
ing the prayers of his clerics. The secret of Boshzanak’s lair was allegedly
passed from father to son among Kulag’s descendants. During the time of
Darretta’s influence among the tribes, however, Zodag the Brave was kidnapped
by her henchman and tortured to reveal this secret. He died without revealing
it and Relig, the current chief, avenged his death when Krug Bloodaxe returned
to power. Many believe, however, that Zodag had not passed the secret on before
he died.