HISTORY - GORBAD IRONCLAW
Imperial Year 1705 to 1715

Defeat of da Broken Toof (1705 to 1707)
Gorbad Ironclaw rose to power deep in the Badlands where his tribe, the Ironclaws, held the fortress known as Iron Rock. The Ironclaw Orcs lived around the Iron Rock for many years, and their fortunes rose and fell with the accustomed regularity of Orc tribes. The Ironclaw's chief rival was the Broken Tooth tribe, whose leader was the notoriously huge and brutal Crusher Zogoth. The Broken Tooths were currently in possession of Black Crag, the old Dwarf hold to the south. In a lightning raid Gorbad moved his army through the ancient Dwarf tunnels and smashed the Broken Tooth tribe before they relised what was happening. Crusher Zogoth escaped into the old Dwarf tunnels threatening revenge and Gorbad sent wild Cave Squigs afte him. The squealing of the Cave Squigs echoed through the passages of Black crag for several days, and Night Goblin Squig Hunters were sent in to retrieve them. Neither Squigs nor Goblins ever returned.

The Broken Tooths readily accepted Gorbad as their leader, as is the fashion of Orcs who know when they are beaten and would mush sooner be on the winning side. With the Broken Tooths under his thumb Gorbad soon conquered the surrounding Goblin and Night Goblin tribes. Waaagh Gorbad had begun! From all over the Badland tribes of Orcs and Goblins rushed to join the huge army as it gradually moved north.

As the growing Waaagh moved past Mad Dog Pass it was joined by the Goblin tribes that lived along its tunnel-strewn length. As the army swung westwards by the forest below the Dwarf Hold of Everpeak it was joined Forest Goblin tribes riding giant spiders and whooping their savage war cries.

The Pillage of Averland (1707)
Gorbad took the old Dwarf road through Averland looting and destroying the farms and small towns along its path. The Orc army made camp at the Three Towers, the ancient Elf ruins on the borders of the Moot. Here ther Orcs feasted and fought amongst themselves while their loot lasted , and after three days of drunken brawling readied to invade the Moot. Forewarned of the Orc advance, the Halflings gathered to defend themselves, and the Count of Averland sent troops to support them. It was a futile gesture. Gorbad struck north through the Tower Hills and caught the Halflings and their allies on the Aver Down, the range of low hills in teh southern Moot. The Halflings were cut down to a man, and only a few Knight Panthers escaped to warn the Emperor Sigismund of the impending approach of the Orc horde.

The Orcs spent two more days looting the Moot and drinking the contents of its many inns. Halfling refugees poured down the river Aver in a convoy of boats, barges, and improvised rafts, and eventually took refuge in Nuln. Meanwhile, the Orcs advanced upon Averheim. Orc war machines battered the city's gates and broke its walls, and soon the Waaagh was inside the city itself, burning and destroying while the helpless citizens fled to hills.

By the time Gorbad Ironclaw's reputation had spread amongst all the Orc and Goblin tribes of the Great Forest, and many more green-skinned warriors flocked pillage in their usual fashion, but Gorbad had other plans. On his orders, the Ironclaw Big'uns prowled the burning streets gathering up the half drunken Orcs and dragging the Goblins back into the battlelines. This caused much grumbling and many heads were knocked together just to remind everybody who was boss.

Seige of Nuln (1707)
Nuln was next to feel the power of the Waaagh. Gorbad advanced towards the city from the east, roughly following the line of the river Aver. Nuln was already crammed with Halfing refugees and people from eastern Averland who had taken shelter from the Orc horde. The Orcs barely slowed their pace at the town walls, but poured over the city gates destroying and killing in a repetiton of the slaughter at Averheim. Brutus Leidorf, the Count of Averland, ordered a retreat over the great bridge and rallied his troops in the western half of the city.

The Count ordered the center section of the bridge to be raised as the Orcs approached, cutting of the Orc advance. However it was to no avail: the Orcs swarmed across the river floating on broken timber beams and other debris. At first the Orcs were beaten back and many drowned in the blood-filled river, but in the end sheer numbers prevailed and the Orcs gained a firm foot-hold on the western bank. By nightfall the whole city was burning and the few survivors were fleeing northwards towards Altdorf.

The Battle of Sollands Crown (1707)

The destruction of Nuln was a great blow to the Emperor Sigismund and a mighty victory for Gorbad Ironclaw. The Empire army was so weakened by by the loss of its forces that Sigismund could do nothing but watch and wait while the Orc horde devastated the surrounding lands. The whole of Solland and Wissenland were plundered and burned after the defeat of another army led by Count Eldred of Solland in what came to be known as the Battle of Solland's Crown. Count Eldred was slain in personal combat by Gorbad and the Solland sword, the Runefang of Solland given to Sigmar's heirs by the Dwarfs, was taken by the Orcs. According to legend, Gorbad tore the crown of Solland from the Count's head and placed it upon his own, and wore it thereafter as a token of his victory. The orcs rampaged through Solland for weeks, burning and looting, until turning north once more towards Altdorf.

The Battle of Grunberg (1707)
The Imperial capital itself now lies in the path of the Waaagh! Altdorf needed time to prepare for the seige. With this in mind the Emperor Sigismund gathered his finest generals at a council of war. He would send a fast moving force to intercept the Orc horde. The force was to be led by the Reiksmarshall and Elector Count of Wissenland, Erich Adolphus. Their mission was to slow down the Orc horde and buy Altdorf some more time.

The army made rapid progress following the Reik river south. The column of march then turned west following the north bank of the fast flowing River Teufel, seraching for fording points. The Kislev Horse Archers reported that Goblin Wolf Riders had been spotted operating in the Hagercrybs, a range of hills north of Reikwald forest. Adolphus pushed on.

What Adolphus did not know was that the Goblin Wolf Riders had already reported the Empires movements to Gorbad. Gorbad welcomed the news and gathered his fastest troops and forming them into a vangaurd to meet the Empire head on.

Meanwhile, Adolphus had made a very risky crossing of the river Teufel. It took all day to make the crossing safly. Adolphus then turned back east making for the town of Grunberg, where they cound rest and re-supply.

It took less than a day for Gorbad to reach Grunberg, but without his seige equipment and massive horde of Boyz he could not assult the town. Instead he cammped outside the town walls and waited for futher reports from his Wolf Rider scouts. By the morning he heard reports that the humans had crossed the river and were moving towards Grunberg. Leaving a small force at Grunberg, he raced to meet the humans, swinging south in order to trap them against the river.

That day the Kislevites and Wolf Riders resumed their running battle in the forest as the two armies closed. The Empire force camped that night on the river bank, their pickets keeping watch deep in the forest. As they began their march towards the safty of Grunberg the Orc army rushed them from the tree line.

Adolphus quickly organised his men. The Empire forces were trapped against the uncrossable River Teufeland had been outmanoeuvered by the Orc's fast moving force. Adolphus sets up a command post in a nearby abandoned homestead, long since looted by Goblins. Here he also hid his baggage trains full of vital supplies for the coming campaign. Out of the tree line galloped the Orcs and Goblins, banners flying and war drums beating, raucously chanting of their coming victory. Gorbad himself led the way riding a might chariot pulled by three giant wolves, the Crown of Solland rested on his brow, the mighty axe Morgor the Mangler raised high in his clenched fist.

The battle had begun. First came a screen of swift Wolf Riders, their arrows sending the skirmishing Kislevite Horse Archers fleeing towards the irver. Desperate to escape the oncoming horde, many attempted to swim the fast flowing river and were drowned. Lacking the room to manoeuvre Adoolphus ordered the advance. He would attempt to smash the Orcs aside with an almighty charge. The Reikgaurds in the centre brushed aside the lightly armed Wolf Rider screen, as the Knights of the White Wolf plunged forward in support calling upon Ulric to grant them victory. Gorbad responded in kind. Savage Orc Boar Boyz charged forward, as more Wolf Riders appeared from the forests on the Orcs' left flank, galloping quickly to outflank the advancing Empire cavalry. In the center a massive meleee of flailing horses, lances, swords and clubs swirled out of control. A volly of short ranged fire from the Pistoliers ordered to intercept the outflankers sent the Wolf Riders fleeing, only for the Pistoliers to be massacred by Forest Goblin Spider Riders.

Seeing the battle swinging in his favour Gorbad ordered his Chariots forward. Racing down from a hillock on the Orcs' right, this secound wave sent the Empire cavalry reeling, as the glorious Knights of the Blazing Sun where cut down beneath the wheel scythes of the charging chariots. Adolphus was forced to commit his reserved and he led the Knight Panters personally directly for Gorbad. Adolphus knew that killing the Warlord would send the rest of the Orcs running. But his advance left his valuble supply train vulnerable. The few brave defenders of the baggage train were slaughtered to a man by Orc Boar Boyz and the supplies were looted.

Meanwhile the Elector Count, brandishing his Runefang charged into the melee seeking Gorbad. Gorbad had seen Adolphus' advance and spurred his Wolf Chariot towards the Elector Count. Before his irresistible charge many Knight Panters fell to the Chariot's wheel scythes. The three giant wolves, directed by Gorbad, lept at Adolphus, but with one mighty swing his Runefang decapitated all three of the slavering beasts. The chariot came crashing to a halt, flinging Gorbad to the ground at Adolphus' feet. Leaping from his saddle and clasping his bloody Runefang in both hands, the Elector Count thrust his blade deep into Gorbad's chest. Roaring with pain the might Orc leader lased out with Morgor the Mangler. The blow sent the Elector Count reeling in pain, his helmet buckled on his head, the Crown of Wissenland cleaved in two. The remaining Knight Panters rushed to the aid of their injured master, as did the Orc Boar Boyz. In the maelstorm of carnage that followed the two commanders where dragged apart. The battle raged on bloodily until sundown.

As night fell the remaining Knights withdrew back along the River Teufel. Persued by Wolf Riders they made their way to the ford, carrying the badly wounded Adolphus with them. Without the leadership of Gorbad the Goblins' pursuit was disorganied and most survivors escaped across the river, eventually making their way back to Altdorf. The battle had been lost by the Empire, but not in vain. With Gorbad terribly wounded and many of their fastest troops destroyed or fleeing the Orcs' adavnce was slowed. Grunberg subsequently fell to Gorbads forces and was over run.

Seige of Altdorf (1708)
In Altdorf the Emperor prepared for the Orc inavasion by fortifying the city's walls and gathering in the harvests. After every man, woman and beast within fgifty miles was safely enclosed within the capital he ordered the lands about to be devastated. When the Orcs arrived they found field burned, wells poisoned and inns empty. The Orc army therefore lost no time in its usual pillaging, but launched straight into its attack. The first assault was thrown back from Altdorf's tall walls with the loss of many Orc and Goblin warriors. The marshes around Altdorf made it difficult for the Orcs to group for the assault, and several mobs of Orcs disappeared forever when they strayed into the marshes.

Gorbad halted the attack and prepared for a long seige. At first his huge rock lobbers pounded the walls and dropped stones within the city, causing considerable damage. In response the cit's cannons were trained against the Orcs and soon the rock lobbers were silenced. Gorbad, still weak from the wound suffered at Grunberg, was unprepared for a frontal assault. He began to collect together an aerial force to attack the city. Four wyverns from the World Edge Mountains took to the air, swooping and marauding within the city while Goblin Doom Divers rained down causing panic and consternation. During the height of the fighting Sigismund was slain as he led a regiment of archers out to defend the place against wyvern attack. Two wyverns fell on the same might and after the Emperor's death the aerial attacks graduallly subsided and the siege settled down into a protracted stalemate.

As time ebbed away the wound inflicted by the Count of Wissenland did not heal but began to trouble the might Warlord more and more. For days he would rage in fevered pain, screaminbg at his minions and cursing his underlings for failing to deliver Altdorf into his hands. Gradually his horde dissipated, the power of the Waaagh lost its impetus, and the tribes returned to the forests and mountains. Eventually even Gorbad had to give up, Altdorf had defeated him and the Waaagh was over.

The Fall of Gorbad (1710)
The Ironclaws and the Broken Tooths were all that was left of the countless Orc tribes that had flocked to Gorbad's banner. There were more Goblin tribes still loyal or too afraid to desert, but even they were few compared to the great days of conquest. Gorbad withdrew to the east, following the river Reik back to the World Edge Mounatins. As his depleated army made its way home it was harried by Dwarfs and Men, and even attacked by Orc tribes that had once fought as part of the Waaagh. There was to be only one more pitched battle the Battle of Blood Peak.

The Battle of Blood Peak (1711)
The battle was fought in the shadow of the notorious red-coloured mountains south of the Black Fire Pass. It was here that the Orc horde was confronted by a large Dwarf army led by the Lord of Karaz-a-Karak. During his first march into the west Gorbad broke into may Dwarf tombs and stole the ancestrol weapons they contained, an act of desecration that enraged the Dwarfs but they were powerless to prevent at the time. As Gorbad headed back east the Dwarfs saw their chance at revenge. They prepared a trap for the retreating Orc army. Although encircled by the Dwarfs, half starved and weary from the march the Orcs gave a good account of themselves by fighting their way out of the trap and out-distancing the Dwarfs. Gorbad survived but his army was cattered. Divided into many small bands, the Orcs made their way east out of the Old World and recorded history.

Death of Gorbad (1712)
Gorbad Ironclaw eventually dies after reaching the Iron Rock. To the Orcs he will be remebered as the greatest warlord of all time whose spirit stands beside the gods Gork and Mork. To the Men of the Old World he is a reminder of the terrifying destructive power of the Waaagh!

The remanents of Gorbad Ironclaw's army continue to fight in the Old World for many years. In 1715 they invade Bretonnia from the Empire and are slain by the Bretonnian army.

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