The Maps of Myrist

The Crushbone Orcs are a very strong force within the Greater Faydark and have been waging wars against elf races for decades. Their citadel, located off the cliffs that frame the Greater Faydark Forest, is large and well fortified. Within the citadel, the Crushbone clan operates a mine from which they obtain the raw materials to make their weapons of war, including the dreaded orc war wagon. Orcish patrols have standing orders to kill most other creatures on sight. Emperor Crush, the Crushbone Patriarch, has ordered small bands of orcs to raid villages and towns of the Fier`Dal and dwarves, where they capture many of these races' children to be raised as slaves and miners.

A sturdy wall carved out of the mountains themselves, protects the village. Within the walls, there is a large complex of buildings and grounds, including a granite castle in the center. Lookouts are maintained by the orc guards to watch for invading enemy armies, usually the elves.

The orcs worship Bertoxxulous, the Plaguebringer, ruler of the Plane of Disease. A temple to him sits on the grounds of the orc village. Some crude steps have been carved into the rock, leading up to a naturally formed cave entrance. The temple is dark, dimly lit by torches sparsely spread throughout the caverns, jammed into natural crevasses and cracks in the walls. Inside, the Bleeding Stone Altar is a naturally formed black rock with a concave top, overflowing with the dark red blood shed in the orcs' rituals. The walls are decorated with crude murals, painted with the Bleeding Stone's blood. Behind a locked, wood door is the chamber of the high priest who, with the help of his servants, protects the temple. When presiding over ceremonies, the priest rests on a large throne, carved from rough chunks of stone behind which is a small hidden room that stores his valuables.

Various buildings are scattered around the grounds, serving as workshops for many different needs – a refinery, tannery, metal-working shop and more. Some of these shops work the ore mined by the orcs from the hills.

The orcs of Crushbone have recently secured a treaty with the Teir`Dal elves of Neriak. What either race has to benefit from such a pact is unknown, and extremely worrisome to the native races of Faydwer.