THE STORY OF THE SHADOWCLAN
Upon the plains of inner Mordor lies Yewfurt, an Orc
stronghold known for the savage fierceness of the tribe that dwells there - the
Orcs of the Shadowclan. Bearing the emblem of the Lidless Eye againt the
background of a
One moonless night, a dark messenger arrives at the gates of Yewfurt
bearing an urgent summons. Immediately the Goths of Shadowclan gather the tribe
before a roaring fire in the center of the hold where stands an enormous statue
of the Dark Lord carved from volcanic rock. The slow beat of a drum is heard.
Then the heavy tramp of iron-shod feet. Trolls come into view bearing a
palanquin on which sits a shrouded hunched figure. All the orcs immediately
kneel, a sense of dread spreading through their ranks as they realize what
reclines upon the litter.
The drums beat wildly, then stop. All is quiet as the hunched figure
slowly rises from his bone-carved chair. There is a slow hiss of intaken
breadth. Then the figure raises a iron-gauntleted hand in salute.
"Hail Sauron!" the shrouded figure wheezes.
"HOOWAH!" comes the thunderous return shout of the Shadowclan
warriors.
The WarGoth of the Shadowclan, without daring to look directly at the
shrouded figure, then growls in a loud voice: "Uz bubhosh honored! Wat am
da urdurz ub da Grate Aye?"
The shrouded figure is quiet for a long while. Then, the wheezing voice
comes again. The words are in the High Black Speech, known to few outside
Mordor.
"Gather thine strongest and to Angmar march," hisses the
figure. "By Angmar shall ye be governed." With a ring of steel, the
hooded shape draws a long pale sword and raises it high. "Spread the
teachings of the Eye. Gather the chosen as you go. Slay all who resist."
"HOOWAH!" shout the orcs.
The orcs slowly relax as the shape of the Nazgul atop the troll-borne
palanquin recedes into the distance beyond the gate.
"UKI!" shouts the Shadowclan WarGoth. "LATZ LINEUB! WEEZ
HABIN A KLOMP RITE NUW TA SEE WHU AM BUBHOSH ENUFF FER DIZ MISHUN!" The
WarGoth turned to another orc standing nearby. "Lat mak shure ta bring da
cidur!" he commanded.
Three months later, the gate guards at Gramsfoot in Ettenmoors report
the advance of a strange column from the east. Some of the newcomers are orcs
bearing the token of Barad-Dur. Others, no less fierce-looking, wear the tokens
of orc tribes from Dol Guldur in Mirkwood and Gundabad in the
The WarGoth of Gramsfoot steps forward with a sneer and bars the path
of the column as it reaches the gate. On his shield is the token of the Iron
Crown of Angmar. "Hold here you rabble!" he bellows at the newcomers.
"No one gets in without orders!"
The column halts. There is a loud snarl and an enormous Shadowclan Orc
steps forward.
"Here am uz urdurz!" shouts the Shadowclan Wargoth. A huge
battleaxe swings through the air and there is a flash of red light. The
Gramsfoot commander falls with cloven head. The rest of the garrison grabs for
their weapons and begins shouting. All-out battle seems imminent.
There is the sound of loud laughter. All halt and turn to see the
Corruptor of Gramsfoot step forward. "Hold!" commands the servant of
Angmar. The Gramsfoot garrison steps back in sullen obedience.
The Corruptor looks toward the Shadowclan Wargoth, a grin spreading
across his evil features. "Welcome to Gramsfoot!" says the Corruptor
in Black Speech. "What took you so long?"
The Shadowclan Wargoth gestures at the large cart behind him.
"Cidur waggin am sluw," he shrugs.