Vaeldrin's Mark Lore - Ogres

Long ago during the primal stages of the world, the gigantic ogres cultivated a vast empire in the sands of the Orkenen Desert. Twice the size of giants and three times as powerful with magic, the ogres built up a civilization of emperors and sorcerers. Their cities and fortresses dotted the landscape and the size of the creatures instilled fear in the hearts of the few unlucky humans to encounter them. The capital of Okrillin lay in the centre of the desert and it was there that the ogre lords held gladiator tournaments and sat upon their mountains of riches. They enslaved men, elves, and dwarves alike and fought many smaller skirmishes with the primitive northern giants. They ruled Vaeldrin with an iron fist long before Rom and Argunheim rose up. However, salvation was just over the horizon for the slaves of the ogre empire. Fresh from their exile, the shamanistic tribe of giants known as the Onok crossed the sea to find refuge in the harsh deserts of Orkenen. They clashed with the ogres on occasion but did not wish to create a lasting conflict. The dark spirits that called Orkenen their home foresaw their freedom in these giants and turned them into pawns to do their bidding. The orcs were born and the once peaceful shamans of Clan Onok became the onokhanis. Now more warlike than even the ogres, the bloodthirsty orcs made it their mission to snuff out the flame that was the ogre civilization. The ogres could only watch as their vast empire crumbled under the might of the orcish hordes. Okrillin fell within months and the one time slavers became the slaves in one swift stroke. The few ogres that remain on this world live out their lives as expendable labour and machines of war for the orcs. They have devolved to a state of utter stupidity, a far cry from the wisdom of the ogre magi of old. The legacy of the ogres is a testament to one simple fact, that even great empires are more frail than they seem. The orcs are a true threat to Vaeldrin, and humans and giants alike must tread carefully for they peer over the edge of oblivion. If even the mighty ogres could not hold the orcs back, who else could hope to stand against them.