That's perfectly plausible, though the company prides itself on discipline, and an important part of discipline is to know when to fold your cards.
That's why I find the concept interesting, because from what I've read of the plot Orcs are inherently warlike and undisciplined, it would be an interesting contradiction for us to be fighting for undisciplined 'Orcish' reasons without even realising while maintaining the illusion of being changed 'men' so to speak in the Order, and in the end looking back and realising none of us had really changed at all.
That's why I find the concept interesting, because from what I've read of the plot Orcs are inherently warlike and undisciplined, it would be an interesting contradiction for us to be fighting for undisciplined 'Orcish' reasons without even realising while maintaining the illusion of being changed 'men' so to speak in the Order, and in the end looking back and realising none of us had really changed at all.
I like that. The conflicts such a thing could cause in the Company itself could also be an interesting story arc.
I suppose, there's definitely space for the Orc honour and revenge motive to fit in though, picture us working for the big bad, do a job, get fucked over, given the opportunity to work for someone who would -pay- us to fuck over the person who fucked us over? Maybe human mercenaries would shrug their shoulders after getting shafted and move on, but would Orcs? Screw the cause, as long as it pays us to kill the bastard we want to kill? Just a thought anyway.
I agree with @MelonHead's analysis. Orcs, even the regimented and outcast Orcs of Nar Mat Kordh-Ishi, are not going to appreciate being used in a manner that taints their reputation. Perhaps the siege is laughably easy, and the Orcs find the heir/claimant inside relatively defenseless, leaving them in a situation where they (as Orcs) have to address the fact that they've basically been hired as executioners to do the dirty work of killing the heir in order to avoid him/her being a problem later.
Getting an Orc mercenary group to do it gives the employer/faction who hired Nar Mat Kordh-Ishi plausible deniability that "they never meant to have him/her killed... it was those brutish orcs that kill everything in sight, blame them". Thus, the Orcs are being framed as unreliable and brutal and likely being set up to be disposed of later if they follow through on what the employer asked of them.
I agree with @MelonHead's analysis. Orcs, even the regimented and outcast Orcs of Nar Mat Kordh-Ishi, are not going to appreciate being used in a manner that taints their reputation. Perhaps the siege is laughably easy, and the Orcs find the heir/claimant inside relatively defenseless, leaving them in a situation where they (as Orcs) have to address the fact that they've basically been hired as executioners to do the dirty work of killing the heir in order to avoid him/her being a problem later.
Getting an Orc mercenary group to do it gives the employer/faction who hired Nar Mat Kordh-Ishi plausible deniability that "they never meant to have him/her killed... it was those brutish orcs that kill everything in sight, blame them". Thus, the Orcs are being framed as unreliable and brutal and likely being set up to be disposed of later if they follow through on what the employer asked of them.
Something like that sound appealing?
I can understand that, but if you ask me, it's actually good reputation for a Mercenary company to be able to delve in atrocity when asked. No employer wants goody-two-shoes mercenaries, they want people who do exactly as they say.
I can understand that, but if you ask me, it's actually good reputation for a Mercenary company to be able to delve in atrocity when asked. No employer wants goody-two-shoes mercenaries, they want people who do exactly as they say.
I understand that, which is why they'd be stuck (for a while) with the heir that they were supposed to kill. The story starts off with them either having a reputation AS unreliable due to the lies of their employer (and the hatred of lots of people who might support the heir), or not following through and thus losing some potential face as well. Sort of puts them between a rock and a hard place.
EDIT:
Basically, I just want to see how Orcs handle moral dilemmas. Not JUST Orcs who are perfect stereotypes, even though we want some or a lot of the stereotype to remain in the culture of the company.
I understand that, which is why they'd be stuck (for a while) with the heir that they were supposed to kill. The story starts off with them either having a reputation AS unreliable due to the lies of their employer (and the hatred of lots of people who might support the heir), or not following through and thus losing some potential face as well. Sort of puts them between a rock and a hard place.
EDIT:
Basically, I just want to see how Orcs handle moral dilemmas. Not JUST Orcs who are perfect stereotypes, even though we want some or a lot of the stereotype to remain in the culture of the company.
That's perfectly plausible, though the company prides itself on discipline, and an important part of discipline is to know when to fold your cards.
The company is also eager to prove itself not something one just casually messes with and the plot will involve putting their backs to the wall in the process of trying to leave them holding the bag for killing an heir to the throne.
I agree with @MelonHead's analysis. Orcs, even the regimented and outcast Orcs of Nar Mat Kordh-Ishi, are not going to appreciate being used in a manner that taints their reputation. Perhaps the siege is laughably easy, and the Orcs find the heir/claimant inside relatively defenseless, leaving them in a situation where they (as Orcs) have to address the fact that they've basically been hired as executioners to do the dirty work of killing the heir in order to avoid him/her being a problem later.
Getting an Orc mercenary group to do it gives the employer/faction who hired Nar Mat Kordh-Ishi plausible deniability that "they never meant to have him/her killed... it was those brutish orcs that kill everything in sight, blame them". Thus, the Orcs are being framed as unreliable and brutal and likely being set up to be disposed of later if they follow through on what the employer asked of them.
Something like that sound appealing?
Actually, you pretty much nailed the twist. These orcs don't act quite according to the script. Whoops.
Anyway, it's a little late for me tonight, but I'll try to fill in the blanks and have something up tomorrow -- I'd like to get the factions and their goals named and maybe even a rough map (or idea of a map) for the nation they're in.
Factionally, I have: - One group with a strong monetary claim that will have initially hired Nar Mat Kordh-Ishi - One 'sullied' bloodline claim that will be the person that was supposed to die in a brutal castle sacking. - A couple other claimants for flavor -- and they will have made their deals with the devil. - A variety of different nobles and we can add as we see fit, but definitely one group that is in favor of a reform akin to the Magna Carta. - And several different groups with agendas that aren't nobility.
Mostly, I intend to simply name things. I think we can even go generic fantasy and have at it. My brain is fried for creativity right now and that's why I want to defer until tomorrow for name ideas, unless someone else gets the ball rolling.
What if we combine both suggestions? Siege carried out when an employer stiffs us after we deliver said claimant (The one in need of rescue) When the castle falls the would-be King/Queen makes a plea for their life and freedom by way of a job offer--We've already given one hell of an audition by this point.
Also, glad to see this back from the old boards. Had a bit of a suggestion, if you're fine with us bouncing ideas off of you. What if the older an orc gets the darker green their skin turns? Just a small bit of character I remember reading somewhere else as lore, there could even be associated slang (Dark boys as veterans, 'ripe' being used to say something's matured.) Worth thinking about I think.
Here are a few potential more specific factions (Just spit balling. Wouldn't be offended if you wanted to change things)-
Ozwald- A nobleman with a reputation as an incredibly talented magician. Everyone believes that he can easily destroy an entire army. In actuality, they either can't use magic at all, or only know a few simple and useless spells (Like fireworks or something). Not to mention that they have never been in battle once. Maybe they shouldn't technically be the next one to be sitting in the throne, but not much stands in this "magician's" way.
The Sharpened Blade- A group of rival non-orc mercenaries. Maybe slightly weaker, smaller, or less skilled, but far more trustworthy.
Thomas- The son of the king. No doubt about it, this guy should rule. Only one problem. He's dead. It was obvious that he was murdered, but nobody knows who the guilty party is.
Isabella- Thomas's sister that is technically next in line for the throne, however, many deem her unfit. She is mute and very young. (Maybe the person the Orcs are supposed to kill? This might make some of the orcs debate whether or not they should execute her- She's just a little girl.)
Archduke Jacob- The most likely to get the crown. The former king's brother. (Maybe the person the Orcs are supposed to kill if nobody likes the Isabella idea. Maybe not a character at all.)
"Slick"- Slick is a conman. He runs multiple illegal underground organizations and has more money than he knows what to do with. However, he's extremely greedy. He would do anything to get more money. Or power. He's very good at deceiving people, however, since most people are familiar with his reputation, they tend to be wary of him. Anyone that knows him well knows that he is a selfish jerk.
@HeySeuss: so I was in the mood to write a bit and I threw what follows together on a whim, perhaps to serve as a bit of inspiration for the setting and as a possible intro for the character I'm thinking of playing. Feel free to use what you like and disregard what you don't! I'm not particularly attached to any of it, so if it's incompatible with what you had in mind, no problem. I just sometimes think through lore better by writing and seeing what happens.
He arrived just as he sun was setting over the Whiteclaws, the sky painted in brilliant swirls of orange and gold. The pearlescent spires of Castle Castaigne glowed pink as they caught the last rays of the dying day, and he stopped his horse atop a rise overlooking his master's lands. Silver mist lay like a blanket over the hilly sea of merrow and tea plantations all around, and the air rang with the songs and calls of the harvesters as they finished their picking.
He sat there, quite still, for some time, features hidden under a dark and hooded cloak, until the sunset faded into crimson twilight and the air grew cold.
-
"You're expected," the seneschal told him, after he had entered through pale, vaulted gates to Castle Castaigne, "His Radiance is taking the air in his private garden. I have instructions to show you to him immediately."
He swung off his horse, heavy boots meeting flagstones with a thud, and the seneschal waved a plump hand at some stable boys to attend the animal. "This way, please," the seneschal said, and led him through a maze of vaulted halls, echoing chambers, and courtyards open to the stars. Guards and servants stepped aside at his approach, bowing and doffing caps and helmets. He was known here, and feared.
They found His Radiance deep in the castle, seated at a stone table in a courtyard run riot with bloodflower vines. He was reading a slender book by the flickering light of a lantern, a decanter of wine at his elbow. Tall, broad chested, with a thick head of raven hair just starting to grey at the temples- middle age well suited Odysseus Cavendor, Archduke of Castaigne and Master of the High Marches.
"Nagath," said the Archduke, looking up from his book, emerald eyes flashing, "What have you found?"
"The daughter, Your Radiance," he said with a bow, stepping from a shadowed doorway into the moonlit garden. He pulled his dark hood back, revealing himself at last. He was that rarest and most reviled of breeds- elf and orc- his skin pale and tinged only lightly green, his features strong and handsome...at least, on the right side of his face. The left of his face was something out a nightmare. Skinless, reddened scar tissue stretched taut over the contours of his skull, studded with patches of bare bone. The expression frozen in a lipless sneer, teeth stretching back to the jaw. His left eyelid had been burned away with everything else, leaving only a bloodshot orb staring from a gnarled socket.
"Isabella lives?" said the duke, unmoved by his companion's grisly visage.
"She was hidden away at Ravenstein Keep after the King's death. The garrison are loyalist holdouts under Lyser Verigott."
The Archduke sipped his wine. "Who else knows of this?"
Nagath cleared his throat and said, "Lord Ozwald, at least, and he's already moving. He's contracted with sellswords to take the fortress."
"Slippery fucking wizard," the Archduke said quietly, "Which company?"
"The orcs." Nagath replied.
"He wants her dead then, not captured." sighed the duke.
I didn't say we should help those who can't pay us... I was more referring to not not getting into situations that would stain the company reputation.
The only situation that stains a mercenary company's reputation is not obeying the contract. If the contract says to commit genocide, you commit genocide so hard Hitler would be proud. Refraining from committing said atrocity is what will stain your reputation.
The only situation that stains a mercenary company's reputation is not obeying the contract. If the contract says to commit genocide, you commit genocide so hard Hitler would be proud. Refraining from committing said atrocity is what will stain your reputation.
Well along those lines usually mercenaries that switch sides mid battle are the kind of things that can give a company a bad rep. You should check out the mercenary companies of Italy during the middle ages.
Also you can say no to a contract, that won't give you bad rep, hard to agree to literal suicide in my mind...
I don't think it would be all that useful to apply historical mercenary groups to this Orcish one. The most renowned Mercenary group of the middle ages was only known as such because they refrained from running away from every single fight, though the majority of the time they sat in the middle of a bidding war without fighting anyone. The main difference here is that although we would definitely be after gold, Orcs -like- to fight, unlike the vast majority of humans. So our motives and values are going to be a lot different. Humans may be perfectly happy to slaughter a village of defenceless peasants for free easy gold, but would Orcs? Not necessarily.
I don't think it would be all that useful to apply historical mercenary groups to this Orcish one. The most renowned Mercenary group of the middle ages was only known as such because they refrained from running away from every single fight, though the majority of the time they sat in the middle of a bidding war without fighting anyone. The main difference here is that although we would definitely be after gold, Orcs -like- to fight, unlike the vast majority of humans. So our motives and values are going to be a lot different. Humans may be perfectly happy to slaughter a village of defenceless peasants for free easy gold, but would Orcs? Not necessarily.
Well along those lines usually mercenaries that switch sides mid battle are the kind of things that can give a company a bad rep. You should check out the mercenary companies of Italy during the middle ages.
Also you can say no to a contract, that won't give you bad rep, hard to agree to literal suicide in my mind...
