Warlord Rakbar Urslak

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Warlord Rakbar Urslak is known for assembling an orkish horde--the likes of which had seldom been seen in the history of Igala--and leading a raid of Theice. The history of Gwa'aag records only that the great horde left the country and never returned from the Wastes; today, the orks regard the Theician penninsula as a barren waste, cursed by gods and spirits alike.

Theicians are happy enough with the orks holding this belief, not particularly eager for an encore performance of Urslak's little military maneuver. As little as any civilized vampire would like to admit it, the warlord's campaign took a toll on the country. If it were not for the intervention of the dracolich Igunza, things would have turned out much the worse for the reclusive nation.

The campaign

Theice's existence was revealed to the orcish warlord Urslak by the Theician exile Selwyn. Selwyn had plotted to overthrow the Patriarch but, due to family connections, was allowed to live out his nights in exile rather than being killed. It was a mistake which was to prove costly indeed. Thwarted in his ambitions, Selwyn turned his thoughts to vengeance, and turned to the one power who might be persuaded to do his bidding. Although initially dubious of Selwyn, Urslak was soon won over by his tales of glory and loot to be had in his distant homeland, and assembled a horde the likes of which had seldom been seen in the history of Gwa'aag.

The horde swept into the Waste with no warning, shrugging aside raids by the Legion aimed at slowing it and sapping its strength. In the end, the Legion made their stand in the hills outside the city itself as the citizenry armed themselves and prepared for a final confrontation. Knowing that the vampires preferred to fight at night, Urslak nevertheless chose to launch his attack at this time, feeling that his many of his foes would find themselves forced to retreat at dawn, rather than having the living reinforced at dusk.

No quarter was asked or given in the battle which followed. Although initially the Theicians' defensive position meant that they inflicted fearsome casualties, over time the orcs' numbers began to tell, along with the lack of skill of the skeletal elements of the Legion. Nevertheless, the vampires were able to blunt any breakthroughs, fighting tirelessly and with the experience of centuries. The battle ground into a bloody stalemate. Then, as Urslak knew it would, dawn came. The vampires were forced to abandon their positions and seek shelter from the burning rays of the sun. The orcs seized their advantage, driving the Legion back.

It was at this time, when all seemed lost, that the dracolich Igunza intervened. Over the centuries, he had constructed an army of his own, consisting of mindless constructs and esoteric forms of undead. Rather than see Theice reduced to rubble by a savage horde of orcs, he chose to act. Being struck in the flank by a thus far unseen force, right when they seemed on the edge of victory caused the orcish horde's morale to plummet. Though the battle dragged on for many more hours, the orc horde was overextended and tired from a hard night's fighting. Some were able to retreat, but they were hunted down the following night. None made it out of the wastes. Urslak himself was devoured by Igunza, and died cursing Selwyn. Of the vampire who had instigated the invasion, there was no sign. Some say he endures still, plotting his vengeance against Theice.