Waiting
After Aden was destroyed, the grand alliance fell apart without a common purpose. Misanthropy was delighted to have claimed Bere Linn, the Weaponsmith of Aden to make a clan weapon of unprecedented quality. Harmony and Circle of Fire made pacts of non aggression with the Orc, acknowledging their claims over the city’s ruins. Harmony in particular, claimed that they would not attack the city as long as the Orcs did not sway from the path of justice. Some resistance, however, remained with the Blue Sashes remaining active from Prexion. Its first general was slain and Rigo was instead appointed as its commander, with Dargo of the Ravens and Gyrath as heads of Divisions. Many felt their cause was doomed, and the initial response to their recruitment was slow. A widow from Aden appeared on the scene and persuaded some of the women of the city to nag their men into participating. Others joined out of their own interest. Concolos and Nyah of the Circle and Taren of Misanthropy showed support for the Blue Sash.
The Orcs too were hit hard by the destruction of Aden. General Korgan went into a period of mourning for the fallen (Orc and non Orc alike) refusing food and drink for several days. While he remained in seclusion, a split appeared in the Orc army ranks with some feeling he had gone soft on the “weaker races” and “outsiders”, betraying the ultimate goals. Korgan declared an amnesty to all refugees returning to Aden, but the convoy was ambushed and the returnees killed. A personal apology was issued by the General and Gamolk, later of the Order of the Grey, given Praetorian powers to investigate the murders. The existence of rogue bands of deserters from the Orc Legions emerged lurking in the forests off Uruk-Zaahof. Within the Legions, some murders of those loyal to the General happened by the hands of those who held an Orc supremacist view. Polarization of opinions happened among the Orc and non Orc alike. With Gamolk’s passing, the responsibility of doing so was passed to Correus, Leader of the Clan Misantrophy.
Korgan appointed Phrez, a demon of Apostasy and his former agent, to finish the city walls
of Uruk. Having completed this mission, he volunteered to act as ambassador to the Demons
of the Dread Army. Simultaneously, Dargo also tried to talk the General of the Dread Army
into allying with the Sashes. Dargo offered control over Celoran and payment in gold "for
the widows and orphans fund". Phrez, on behalf of the Orc, offered quarters within the city
of Uruk, a share of the city economy, an alliance and withdrawal of the troops from Celoran
and Dread Army Camp. While these terms were being discussed, an assassination attempt was
made at the Dread Army General, but failed. He decided to stay neutral in this conflict,
with the incentive to support the Orcs too high, but his heart bent to support the patriots.
Blue Sash and Orcs fought across Celoran and the Dread Army Camp. As the Orcs withdraw under
orders, Taren drove away the Orcs. The Dread Army Camp was liberated. Streff of Misanthropy
reported that threats against the General were taking place, with Dargo apparently looking
guilty.
Blue Sashes laid a blockade around Uruk, trying to attack the food convoys and ensuring that food did not enter the city. Rasnevic, using his earlier friendship with Korgan, entered into consultation with Korgan to bypass the blockage. While these negotiations were on, Gyrath was lost in battle and Concolos of the Circle appointed to take charge of a Blue Sash brigade. Murders of the Orcs happened with increased frequency within in the city, with some person or persons waging their own private campaign of vengeance. Explosions rocked the city. As time went, however, the resistance to the orc faded as people accepted their presence in the centre of the realms.
News came that a column of the Orcs lead by their Imperator had moved from their base camp in distant unknown parts. Firm knowledge was replaced by rumour. The legion has perished. The Imperator is about to arrive. In Uruk. In Arnath. No, they are about to attack Prexion. There never was an Imperator. The entire legion seemed to have been swallowed into mist. Months passed and events continued. The city of Arnath was racked by Civil War. Seeing the continued absence of the Imperator and the possibility of events in Uruk Zaahof spilling in Uruk, Korgan assumed the title of Imperator as Korgan I.