Mor'Grumaar - Orcish Stronghold Roleplay - Rebuilt and Reforged

Rykoth · December 2018

"There are three absolute truths... the stronghold, the grudge, and the fury of Malacath."

"There was a time when our clan would do the work of the Covenant. We swallowed the foul taste of calling ourselves allies with our traditional enemies in order to guarantee Orsinium would rise again. We followed Kurog. We were misled. We were deceived. We were nearly destroyed by keeping our eyes in the distance and never looking at what was right in front of us. An old grudge festered and by all rights we should be dust... but we aren't. We are Orsimer. We do not die so easily. And so we have not. Mor'Grumaar rises again and this time we stand for ourselves.... Clan Grumaar. We stand for our people... for the Orsimer. We stand for our home... for Wrothgar and for Mor'Grumaar! Let no one think that they can best us, for surely cannot!"

Founded in the months prior to the Elder Scrolls Online's launch, Mor'Grumaar was one of the first Orcish Roleplay Guilds to thrive in this community. For the longest time the guild went dormant as members left and went to other games or pursued other interests within ESO. Years later Mor'Grumaar was revived under the Orcs of Tamriel Hub Guild, but ultimately it has been decided that there is too much potential, and so Mor'Grumaar as a guild rises again!

We are first and foremost a roleplaying guild centered around a clan of Orsimer people. Make no mistake, we follow the lore of a traditional stronghold with a number of important changes to better facilitate a functional guild where its members can embrace their creativity and storytelling. Elements of our lore involve a chieftain who is far more open minded about families being allowed in his stronghold outside of his own, an embracing of all orcs and not just the most traditional. While the leadership in RP may expect the clan's members to gradually learn the ways of their people, we are not against bringing Orsimer that come from atraditional backgrounds such as city orcs or even those who follow the likes of Trinimac. Of course that comes with a caveat, and that is that choices and consequences - whether simple background stories or choices in guild RP - matter.

At it's heart, Mor'Grumaar is here to provide an immersive backdrop for its members - a living breathing stronghold that will have stories told about its members from the newest of new bloods to the chieftain himself. Everyone has a role to play, and everyone who joins us will get to experience a guild that has years of history behind it.

Our goals are as follows:

To foster a heavy and lore appropriate roleplaying atmosphere for those who play Orsimer of a traditional origin. While there are some changes to the traditional stronghold within the clan, it is largely kept in the spirit of what we know about the Orcs via questing in Wrothgar and even in TES5 (albeit without the history!)
To provide a sanctuary for those that wish to roleplay a barbaric character and may not have many options outside the traditional "everyone bands together" fare or the mercenary companies.
To provide a unique experience for the member base that cannot be found anywhere else. In a sea of noble houses of both man and mer, of monstrous vampire dens and criminal underworlds, we are going to provide a place where those who want to embrace their inner orc and immersive themselves in the culture of this proud warrior race.

The guild is in a full rebuilding phase. A new enjin site is on the way, and we have a discord server. If you are interested, first you should be aware of exactly what we are looking for:

Orc Roleplayers. We want you if you play an Orc and want to join a clan. We are not going to be accepting other races at this time. Right now the stronghold is engaged in a build stage in which they are looking to bolster their numbers with strong Orcish Arms. Fully traditional Orcs are not required so long as players understand that their character may be regarded as different by his or her peers.
Activity as a must. We are going to host many RP nights, Events, Content Nights, and casual unplanned get togethers every month. Alt characters are expected to attend at least three of these in a given month while main characters are expected at least four. We understand that not everyone can attend everything, nor do we expect it, but we highly encourage players to participate and embrace everything we will be offering!
Maturity. We will not allow anyone under 18, and we ask that all members remember that they are adults. OOC drama will not be tolerated, while IC drama will be welcomed! Folks should come to the officers if they have any problems with other members and handle any OOC conflicts with maturity.

Here is who to contact:
@Rykoth (in game,) Rykoth#4587 (discord)
@dastardlygentleman (in game,) DapperOrc#7182 (discord)
@Athryie (in game,) Athyrie#8690 (discord.)

Rykoth · January 2019

Before we came into the new year Mor'Grumaar was threatened with a bold enemy that is far more threatening than any troll, elf, daedra, vampire, or werewolf could pose: inactivity. It is the greatest threat to not only our guild but to all Orc guilds! We're not going to let that stop us. In the words of many a warrior: nobody bests an Orc! And so the guild has acted and cut down that foe with one mighty swing.

How?

We've begun our January 2019 Recruitment Drive!

What is this you speak of?

This is an effort to spark some new life into the guild and hopefully into Orsimer Roleplayers. This is an effort to spark interest in those who do not currently play Orsimer! There will be ample RP opportunities for Orcs and non Orcs alike (though Orcs are what can join Mor'Grumaar, non Orcs can RP with us, but we're hoping once you RP with us you'll want your own little tusker!)

What will you do exactly in this recruitment drive?

Recruit! Nah, in all seriousness our drive will be more than that. We'll be posting on discord, in zone chat, and anywhere else where it makes sense! Our efforts will be based around luring people to apply, and on top of that we'll be having random RP nights. Maybe it'll just be me, maybe it will be the active core that have weathered the elements of the holidays! But there will be RP centered around... well... the stronghold seeking able bodied Orsimer! There will be opportunity for RP-PVE style things, mini DM-ed events, and so much more!

Is there anything special about joining at this time?

Yes! Absolutely! As you RP you may find your character being made privy to a number of rumors - many of these rumors will be RP hooks that are building into our first fully realized guild campaign: The Cruel Winter. This campaign will be powered by the stories of those who join us and those who remain and will center around a brutal winter that has taken its toll - and an enemy on the horizon who seeks to take advantage of what he sees as weakness.

The stronghold will be undergoing a power shift, and while I can't elaborate more there will be a chance for new members to come into positions that would otherwise take a longer time to achieve under normal circumstances!

There will also be incentives!

Incentives?

One of the worst feelings as a guild leader as many can attest to is putting in all the effort and looking at a guild roster that seems to be doing anything but partaking! Sometimes it is on the guild leader for not providing, and sometimes it isn't! There are many different reasons why a guild may find their member base apathetic to the guild. To prevent that we are offering incentives.

After the drive is over we will be putting in a new activity plan: all members will be required to participate in guild happenings three times a month bare minimum, but there will be incentives for those who do far more! These incentives can be something as small as a crafted set of gear, to something as big as having their own personal Hammerdeath Bungalow (Orcish Player Housing that can be used to represent an interior space within the stronghold) funded for them to many other potential prizes and bonuses! The more active you play the more rewarded you will feel and the more appreciation will be shown! This will also be retroactive for current members!

When does this drive start?

NOW.

Rykoth · October 2019

Been awhile since I've updated this thread or bumped it. So allow me to announce something that's obviously in full swing since it IS already towards the end of the month!

"The Chieftain ordered us to Elsweyr. Imperials, a whole lot of them had dared to lay siege on our stronghold. We endured that and forced a retreat... but Thrusk was determined to gain vengeance. Word reached us that the Imperials we sought were joining the Euraxian forces in the southern lands. We moved. We road south and we came upon the strange land of the Khajiiti people... but it was for naught. A dragon appeared out of nowhere and burned most of our supplies and took the lives of many of our labor hands and workers.

After regrouping it was decided that we were to return to Wrothgar. This is a set back we won't soon forget... or forgive. The Grumaari must endure, and so we return home with stories of strange lands, mighty beasts, and a grudge yet unfulfilled. Mark my words, our chief will not let this go... but for now we must grow. We must get stronger. We will."

How will this recruitment drive be different?

When we had our January Drive we simply posted in zone chat, we advertised here on ESO-RP and on the discord, and we left it at that. This time we'll be adding a new wrinkle into the mix. The Orsimer of Mor'Grumaar will be actively recruiting In-Character as much as Out-of-Character. While we'll have the traditional methods in play, the Grumaari will be found out in the wilds of Wrothgar, in Orsinium, and even in other related lands where Orcs have something of a presence. Perhaps a few Grumaari will be found in Stormhaven, Bangkorai, even Glenumbra. Maybe we'll even turn up in Skyrim on occasion.

The Grumaari will be looking for any Orc who wants to live in a stronghold that honors tradition while making the necessary changes to survive in an ever-evolving landscape. City Orcs, even heretics may be given a chance if they can prove themselves (and if they can avoid getting killed for spouting outright heresy in the presence of our most fanatical of Malacath adherents!)

How long will this recruitment drive last?

While it's officially named the Orctober Recruitment Drive, we will go for a full month, ending around this same time in November, on the 12th! We recognize that coming up will likely be another slow down - after all, Thanksgiving and then soon after that the winter holidays will be upon us. We seek to bolster our numbers and make the next couple months enjoyable! Following this we will likely prepare a follow up recruitment drive after the holidays pass!

I don't have an Orc but I'm interested, but I'm intimidated at the same time. Halp!

We don't bite, I promise. Despite what you may have heard, most of us in Mor'Grumaar are friendly. Our characters may be gruff, rough, and occasionally outright nasty and mean we're all good folks looking to tell good stories and write for characters who occasionally are challenging and brutal. If you want to learn don't hesitate to reach out to me!

And lastly...

I've heard orc guilds are just harem guilds. I won't take part in that.

While no doubt there have been orc guilds that ended up that way, this is not the case, has never been the case, and will never be the case with Mor'Grumaar. Our story reflects that as well - the clan allows its members to find their happiness with another despite what tradition says. We'll never be the kind of guild that restricts its players so much that they can't RP themes that they enjoy (provided those themes don't break the ToS.)

Furthermore, while in lore the chief can and does take multiple wives this is not the focus of the guild. As I put in the opening post of the thread, this is not the Chieftain Show. We are not a 'harem' guild or an 'ERP guild,' and I'm not, and never will force female characters to take on roles they are not comfortable with, which is part of why our story involves being slightly more forward thinking on that front! Our focus is on battle, on glory, and on fulfilling the Sworn Oath and Bloody Curse of Malacath!

~ ~ ~

Alright folks, that's that for our Orctober Recruitment Announcement! Remember, the Orsimer will never be defeated entirely!

Rykoth · November 2019

While Orctober is technically at an end, our recruitment drive is only just beginning!

Coming up, we have a number of events taking place...

On Tuesday November 5th we will be holding a public RP night in Stormhaven. The Grumaari, uncertain about their future, return to their past by visiting an old ruin that was once 'home' in the Stormhaven Region. Will there be answers found to help make vital decisions about the clan's future?

On Thursday November 7th the clan returns to its stronghold with the intent of making a final decision. Do they remain in their mountain holdfast that shows signs of structural instability, or do they look for a new place to call home? What happens when signs point to an old foe returning?

And on Saturday November 9th the clan comes face to face with an enemy long believed dead. What does this mean for Mor'Grumaar's future? Can they overcome this latest struggle in a long series of struggles?

Stay Tuned!

Rykoth · November 2019

The Chieftain Has Fallen

It started with a whisper. A rumor on the road. Thrusk gro-Bogroth had been informed that Morthog the Cruel, the Hircine worshipping warlord from last winter had returned. It couldn't be though. He watched as one of his clansmen had ripped the head off the wild dog's neck. He had it spiked for all to see. It had to be a cruel joke... or worse. It could have been Morthog's son. Restraint could not be afforded... winter was on its way and the Grumaari live high in the mountains where the winter's bite is most cruel.

And so the Grumaari rode out. Kaldrog one of the most experienced of the clan. Bar'aka, the blacksmith. Uglarog, the former Huntsmaster. Garron, the scrappy mage. Lum, the Orsimer Healer. Urshoz, a relative newcomer and heretic. They rode out to confront this impostor who posed as Morthog... but what they found was something entirely different. Arrows rained down on them as they came across a mountain pass. Mounts were wounded. Thrusk was thrown off his warbear Grudgeclaw as the beast suffered and succumbed to its wounds. Several armed warriors came charging down.

These were not ordinary Orcs. Their tusks had been removed and they fought with a singular fury. The Grumaari dispatched of their foes only to find that their Chieftain was fallen. An arrow pierced his throat and his life's blood had spilled out too quickly into the grass. The chieftain was dead and immediately the stronghold's world was shattered. Yet the Tuskless came with a renewed vigor, held back by a band of black armored Orcs led by Gorthal Blackforge. With the opportunity given, the Grumaari escaped to the stronghold.

Without a chieftain the arrangements were made. Word was sent out as Orcs from both in the clan and outside came to pay respects to the fallen Goltragga. The battlemage Brekkt performed the funeral ritual and later in the dead of night his body burned at the great forge, his ashes to be forged into the weapons and armor of the Grumaari as Thrusk himself would have wanted.

Yet this is not the end. The troubles are only just beginning. A would be assassin tried to slay Kaldrog gro-Dushlug, but was stopped by Gorthal Blackforge and the ice magic of Bar'aka. Having come not just to pay respects but to offer an alliance, Gorthal warned the Grumaari of not just the Tuskless threat, but of the threat of another marauding band of Orcs who would no doubt look to feast on the vulnerability of Mor'Grumaar.

Without a Chief, the Grumaari must fight to survive so that their future can be decided...