FR: Silver Marches, Orcus, & Orc Invasion

[Felon]

I'm trying to kick-start my FR campaign in the Silver Marches. Most characters are around 4th-6th level. Supposedly, the Silver Marches are plagued by hordes of orcs building up until they vomit forth from the mountains and raid the human and dwarf holdings. So, I figure a big orc invasion might make for a good kick-start.

But orcs aren't that a huge a threat--too chaotic and disorganized, and not particularly challenging once a party learns fireball. So I figure I'll work some giants into the invasion too (another major monstrous element in the Marches). Now, pursuant to getting some use out of my Aspect of Orcus minis, I've read up on Orcus recently in the Book of Vile Darkness, and apparently he's worshipped by both orcs and giants, so I thought I might work him into the mix as a head honcho.

I don't know Orcus all that well though. Anything not covered in the BoVD? It does say that orcs who worship Orcus are shunned by their own, so is it feasible for Orcus to be part of a full-scale invasion, what with all the Grumsh-revering orcs out there who would be outraged? To that ends, I'm considering an internal war betwen orc clans. The Silver Marches residents can just basically be strategic assets that just happen to be located between the mountains.

Any thoughts or suggestions are welcome.

 

[smootrk]

Whether or not if you like Drizzt, the latest trilogy is set within the Silver Marches and entails Orcish Hordes wreaking havok, as well as Giant and Drow involvements. If you have time to stop by the library and pick up those books, you may find some inspiration in how they handle an Orc Horde Invasion.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Orcs, per se, may not be too big of a threat post-fireball, but surely there are exceptional orc adventurers (i.e. commandos, assassins, whatever) who can become a recurrent thorn in the heroes' side. After all, if adventurers can sneak into an orc encampment and kill a powerful lieutenant, turnabout is fair play.

And if you've read "A Song of Ice and Fire" (which every DM should), you know that even an alliance united against an overwhelming threat is only one assassin away from turning against each other, at least in a passive-aggressive way that will make things easier for the enemy.

If those orc adventurers (heck, throw in a kobold sorcerer, too, since they're so damn cool) are directed by a powerful orcish seer, they can know how to hit hard at precisely the right point, thus becoming a very real threat for the heroes to combat.

And that diviner is, of course, merely acting as the agent of a more powerful orc, and on up the line ...

 

[Patman21967]

The new series, Thousand Orcs, Lone Drow and Two Swords, I think, would make a hell of a game. I am not a big Drizzt fan, but I really like many of the other characters, and ideas presented in the series, and it seems to be 100% in line with what you want to do.

 

[Ryltar]

I don't know Orcus all that well though. Anything not covered in the BoVD? It does say that orcs who worship Orcus are shunned by their own, so is it feasible for Orcus to be part of a full-scale invasion, what with all the Grumsh-revering orcs out there who would be outraged? To that ends, I'm considering an internal war betwen orc clans. The Silver Marches residents can just basically be strategic assets that just happen to be located between the mountains.

Well ... unless you were planning on a campaign arc that heavily includes undead, I think you'd best leave Orcus out of this. I don't think he would care about Orcs who are just about to build their own kingdom in the Marches, especially with Gruumsh meddling . You might consider using the rest of the Orc pantheon, though (confer DDG), or throw some other war / destruction oriented god into the mix - maybe the Reaver would work.

 

[philreed]

Instead of straight orcs, try using orcs controlled by some newly-arrived planar threat. A lawful evil, parasitic hive mind that has latched onto the orcs could make for a fun series of adventures. Have the entity spread to other races until its army consists of a vast number of creatures that normally do not work together. To make the threat more exciting have it assume control of some of the friendly supporting characters the PCs frequently rely on.

 

[JoeGKushner]

Whether or not if you like Drizzt, the latest trilogy is set within the Silver Marches and entails Orcish Hordes wreaking havok, as well as Giant and Drow involvements. If you have time to stop by the library and pick up those books, you may find some inspiration in how they handle an Orc Horde Invasion.

First book was good and then it went fairly downhill with a new Orc Nation being created pretty much in the center of the whole land right on the doorstep of Mitrhal Hall.

SPOILER

Spoiler

The best part of the last book is Drizzt bound and determined to kill the king and then after he thinks he does it (but their seperated by some Earthquake spell or something) and then finds out latter the king is still alive, is like, "It's cool." Ugh!

 

[glass]

The Bloodstone series of (1e?) adventures was set in the FR and featured Orcus. I think you can get them on RPGnow quite cheaply, so they might be worth a look for inspiration.


glass.

 

[Inconsequenti-AL]

Orcus was the chief deity of the orc tribes we fought in Morrus's game. The ruling elite were all orcish undead. Basically a really tough 'adventuring party': Blackguard Death Knight, couple of mages, an assasin and some archers. They each had an oversized undead wyvern to ride around on. Felt rather 'Nazgul' and scared the heck out of us players!

Never did manage to kill off the death knight. The thought of running into that horror again is not a good one!

 

[Felon]

Whether or not if you like Drizzt, the latest trilogy is set within the Silver Marches and entails Orcish Hordes wreaking havok, as well as Giant and Drow involvements. If you have time to stop by the library and pick up those books, you may find some inspiration in how they handle an Orc Horde Invasion.

Well, I may have to check that out, but this info kind of pisses me off (don't that as shooting at the messenger though heh). The whole point of the Silver Marches was supposed to be that it was a frontier without the benefit of high-level heroes running aroound fixing everything. It was supposed to be a place where relatively sub-tenth-level characters could shine.

The new series, Thousand Orcs, Lone Drow and Two Swords, I think, would make a hell of a game. I am not a big Drizzt fan, but I really like many of the other characters, and ideas presented in the series, and it seems to be 100% in line with what you want to do.

Well, see above, but you're both right. I should check it out. Any chance that whole Lolth's silence business is resolved yet? A spoiler on the cause would be welcome.

Well ... unless you were planning on a campaign arc that heavily includes undead, I think you'd best leave Orcus out of this. I don't think he would care about Orcs who are just about to build their own kingdom in the Marches, especially with Gruumsh meddling .

Well, according to the BoVD, Orcus is the demon closest to ascending to godhood. Mass sacrifices of humans and dwarves might put him over the top.