Gorshak Ironhide

Gorshak Ironhide is the orc chieftain of the Karok-Nultar tribe, respected for his cunning as well as his strength and prowess in battle.

A hulking figure, broad and strong, with broken tusks, a ripped ear, and skin scarred with the marks of hundreds of battles, Gorshak’s savage appearance belies his insight and wisdom. He urges peace as often as conflict, trade as often as war. Since becoming chieftain, Gorshak has led his people from strength to strength and he is well loved by the tribe.

Gorshak, Ayleth and Grishnak
When Gorshak was a young warrior, he took part in the custom of kraal-osh and entered into the service of a human wizard known as Fendrel the Wise.

Though he was well respected and gave the appearance of being a simple scholar of magic, Fendrel was a cruel master. As well as Gorshak, Fendrel had other servants and slaves pressed into his service. Among these was a tenebrim woman named Ayleth who Fendrel had managed to bind into his service, keeping her from returning to her home in the shadow realm. Struck by her fragile beauty, Gorshak helped Ayleth to escape and returned to his tribe. Thrown together by fate, the two became lovers and before long bore a child. The pregnancy was difficult and the birth even more so. Ayleth, weakened by her continued presence in the prime material plane and driven wild with pain opened a gate to the shadow realm, leaving her son behind. Assuming she had perished and stricken with grief, Gorshak resolved to raise the son alone, naming him Grishnak.

Grishnak, the strange, half breed child was seen as a bad omen by many members of the tribe. A rival warrior, Rakaar took the opportunity to strike against Gorshak and called for the child to be killed. Gorshak fled with the child into the wilds and lived as best he could. Eventually he made his way to the human lands where he was forced to take to scavenging and stealing to survive. Not content with exile, Rakaar sent warriors to track down Gorshak and kill him. They trailed Gorshak for days and weeks. Though he fought them off time and time again, tired and weak with hunger, Gorshak knew he would be unable to protect his son. Reluctantly he took the infant to the human town of Arnook, leaving him in the care of an orphanage before returning to the Karok-Nultar confront Rakaar.