The Slasha' Tribes are a collection of loosely allied Orc warbands that have carved out their dominion along the coastal cliffs of The Barren Badlands, just east of the narrow sea strait that separates them from their hated rivals, the Krusha' Tribe. These orcs are known for their ruthless cunning, their preference for speed and agility over brute force, and their absolute love of the "art of slashing"—favoring jagged, serrated blades, curved cleavers, and wickedly hooked axes in combat.
While once part of the same ancestral lineage as the Krusha' Tribe and Basha' Tribe, the Slasha' Tribes have long since splintered from their kin, forming their own hierarchy of loosely connected warbands, each ruled by a dominant warchief. These warbands rarely cooperate unless there is a direct and pressing threat, as constant infighting is seen as a necessary means of maintaining strength and ensuring only the fiercest warriors lead.
Culture & Warfare
Unlike the Krusha' Tribe, who revel in the sheer force of crushing blows, the Slasha' Tribes prize speed and precision in battle. They train relentlessly to outmaneuver and overwhelm their enemies with savage, coordinated attacks. Slasha' warriors prefer ambushes, coastal raids, and quick skirmishes over prolonged engagements. Their weapons are often adorned with serrated edges, designed to tear flesh apart with every strike, and they take great pride in their craftsmanship, passing down bloodstained blades through generations.
Their warbands frequently raid passing ships along the rocky coastline, dragging captured victims to their bone-strewn camps to either be sacrificed in frenzied rites or enslaved to work the land. The Slasha' Tribes are fiercely territorial, treating any intrusion into their hunting grounds as a personal affront that demands bloodshed.
Blood Feud with the Krusha' Tribe
The Slasha' Tribes have been engaged in a centuries-long blood feud with the Krusha' Tribe. While the origins of this war have long been forgotten by most, its intensity has not waned. To the Slasha’ orcs, the Krusha' warriors are seen as brainless brutes, incapable of strategy beyond swinging oversized clubs like simple-minded ogres. Meanwhile, the Krusha' Tribe views the Slasha' warriors as cowardly whelps, too afraid to fight head-on.
This war has defined much of their history, with battles constantly being waged along the jagged cliffside battlefields and across the narrow sea strait that separates their lands. Raiding parties frequently launch brutal assaults on one another’s strongholds, seeking to wipe their rivals from existence once and for all.
The Coastal Strongholds
The Slasha' Tribes have built crude fortresses along the rocky cliffs and deep coves of the Barren Badlands, using sharpened stakes, driftwood, and scavenged bones to reinforce their defenses. They prefer lightweight armor made from salvaged shipwrecks, allowing them to move freely in battle. Their warriors also employ crude grappling hooks to scale the cliffs and board enemy vessels with terrifying efficiency.
The Slasha' warbands claim dominion over many hidden caves and inlets, using the natural geography of the cliffs to their advantage. This makes their settlements difficult to locate, let alone destroy. However, their proximity to the Mist Drake Miavryar's hunting grounds has proven a constant struggle, with many Slasha' raiders being plucked from the cliffs by the ancient drake’s powerful talons.
Leadership & Warlords
Each Slasha’ warband is led by a dominant warlord, who maintains control through brute strength, fear, and cunning. However, power is never stable for long—ambitious warriors constantly challenge their leaders in brutal duels, hoping to seize control of the warband for themselves.
The most feared of these warlords is Varok One-Eye, an orc with a crimson-slashed eyepatch and a pair of massive hooked axes said to be dipped in the venom of sea serpents. He leads the largest of the Slasha' warbands, "The Bloodcoast Butchers," whose warriors have been responsible for some of the most brutal raids against both the Krusha' Tribe and unsuspecting coastal settlements.
The Outside World
The Slasha' Tribes have little interest in diplomacy, viewing all outsiders as either prey to be hunted or enemies to be slain. However, some of their warbands have been known to ally with pirate factions, trading captives for weapons and supplies. The Blackwake Corsairs, a notorious pirate fleet, are rumored to have a long-standing agreement with the Slasha' orcs, exchanging captured merchants and nobles for weapons, armor, and plundered goods.
Despite their savagery, some warlords have begun to take notice of the greater wars brewing across Osira, questioning whether it may be time for the Slasha' Tribes to unite and carve out a more permanent dominion beyond the cliffs. Whether or not this fractured society can overcome its internal conflicts remains to be seen.
The Slasha' Tribes are a terrifying force along the coastal cliffs of the Barren Badlands, striking fear into the hearts of sailors, settlers, and rival orcs alike. Defined by centuries of blood feuds, brutal ambushes, and relentless raids, they remain an ever-present danger to those who dare to tread too close to their domain. As their war against the Krusha' Tribe rages on and tensions rise with the outside world, the Slasha' orcs may yet become an even greater threat than ever before.