Quick Q! When was Lar invaded by Orcs?

[Stephen_Zuckerman]

Yeah... In what year was Lar invaded by that big orcish army?

[Acacea]

I believe that it was in 1391 but someone who attended should check their logs.

[Stephen_Zuckerman]

1389, actually, according to the date of the first session (8/8/2005).

Thanks for the help, though (I ended up finding out from Daeron).

[Acacea]

Considering that there is a substantial difference in "when was the first session of..." and "when was the final culmination in a big attack in..." I think the time gap is not unsurprising. I could tell you the exact day of the first session of Angel's Tear, which is extremely different from the answer to, "When did the party enter Saida?"

[Stephen_Zuckerman]

Heheheh, you have a very good point, but the series kicked off with them repelling an attack on Lar, at least as I understood what Daeron told me.

That was a pretty long-running series, though. Three or four months.

[Acacea]

I'm pretty sure the series ended with them repelling an attack on Lar, as I thought that was the whole goal of the hordes. Regardless... I bow to the power of logs in the name of An Accurate Timeline, and if 8/8 says Lar and not High Forest then I happily concede.

[Stephen_Zuckerman]

http://layonaraonline.com/forums/calendar/event-view.asp?eventid=1146&year=2005&month=8

Apparently the invasion force was camped in the High Forest, but they were attacking Lar via underground tunnels.

According to Daeron, the tunnels to the surface were sealed by Baron Blacklung after the initial attack... In the end, it was Ayla singing to the orcish commander and taking his sword (or whatever it was) to destroy his power. Infiltration and such.

Either way, for the purposes I needed (a source for my hungry little half-orc), I've got the info. Thanks!

Wow, it's been a while, though. Really wow.

[Acacea]

I didn't doubt that it was the start of the series, merely the attack's placement within it (kick-off vs climax, can be a large difference sometimes). I'm not trying to be argumentative for giggles here, and if the general time is good enough for you that's fine. I just think it could be added to the timeline or 'history,' and as such an accurate date would be nice.

[Stephen_Zuckerman]

That would be very nice, and would require someone who actually knows - I don't have anything more than vague hearsay.  Could have been two attacks. *Shrugs.* I honestly don't know. If anyone who DOES know stumbles across this, I implore them to please enlighten everyone.

[Filatus]

Doh! Yes, wrong session.

They all look alike though.

If you don't want to use the calandar, Harlas is the man to ask.

[Harlas Ravelkione]

*points to himself* I am the man to ask!

If you play an orc and wish to use this story for his background you should probably consider how the orcs tell this story and how the heroes of Mistone tell this story. The orcs will probably see things in a different light

[lonnarin]

Send me a PM on this, Harlas.  As Kor, and my lifelong buddy C.Pooser/Rak Ramhorn are the ONLY recent & active fully-orc players on the server, we are in the need-to-know status of how orcs would percieve what that transpired in this quest series.

[Serissa]

I have some of Ayla's old papers, though not all of the dates and writing are clear.  It looks like she wrote "Orcish Lullaby" on
Seplar 10, 1407.  She said she used the song to lull Corash, the orcish leader, to sleep so that the party could share in his dream.  The date on her more important work, "Song of Corash" is unreadable.  It would not have been too many months after the date of the Lullaby, though.  It used the information gained in the dream, and by other means, to distract Corash so he could be disarmed.  The battle for Lar followed that victory immediately.

As for orcish attitudes, I can only direct you to the song itself, and to a comment in Ayla's private notes:
"I remember becoming an orc and learning that even orcs think and have feelings—love, desire, pride, anger…  I gained insight into Aeridin’s love for all creatures.  After a long, long time and a terrible battle, we succeeded in disarming the leader of the orc army and capturing him, but only with the help of an orc shaman.  I wrote a beautiful song about Corash, the orc.  It would be nice to sing it again.  I did love to sing."

[Serissa]

Song of Corash

A hunter proud stood on a hill, both happy and content.
His skill fed all his growing tribe.  His elders honor sent.
The maidens looked at him with awe, and one was special, too.
A life of hunting, love and babes stretched out before his view.

But on a hunt he was struck down, not by his prey at all.
And not in battle hon’rable was he content to fall.
A band of war-bent mercenaries slew him as he stood
And chopped at his poor corpse as though ‘twere made of only wood.

No chance had he to even fight, against the Vorax-crazed.
No time to grasp a weapon tight and strike a blow that dazed.
No growing child would look to him for pattern for its life
Nor would the Orcs call Corash’ shade to keep them safe from strife.

And yet, and yet, One saw the rout and thought to use it well.
He snatched the dead unto himself in very depths of hell.
An orc, great orc, enormous grown, in hate and power strong,
‘Twas Grand himself, betrayed himself, who sought to use this wrong.

Red Raven then, Grand named the dead, and brought it back to life,
To life, but only for revenge, tied to a dreadful knife.
The blade glowed red, Red Raven blade, imbued with all Grand’s hate
Red Ravens both, they drank Grand’s blood, accepting then their fate.

Still Corash did not know that fate, the deaths that lay in store.
He went, he thought, to get revenge from one of Vorax’s spore.
A dwarf he found in distant Hlint, and challenged him to fight,
Skullcracker proved his name that day, though others helped his might.

In agony Corash arose, no peace for him in death.
Again he strove, again he lost, again he had no breath.
In agony Corash arose, death could not ease his pain.
But now he seemed to understand he’d die and die again.

“Vorax!” he screamed. “Vorax betrays!  In this fight you serve Grand!”
With skill that rose as fighters closed, he fought with blade in hand.
His god’s red drink empowered him.  He fought with verve and dash,
And yet again, a Vorax win, he died of Skull’s fell bash.

Again he drank the evil blood; again he rose from clay,
But now Corash more thoughtful seemed, “You’ve helped me on this day.”
“Stand back.  I’ll go, for now,” he said.  “Stand back or I will kill.”
With measured tread he left the town; he’d made it know his will.

Bound tight to Grand with ties of blood, Red Raven rules his kin.
He pushes them to Grand’s designs upon the world of men.
And yet, and yet, does Corash live within that stern domain?
Does Corash mourn the hunt, the love, the maiden without claim?

Could Corash still put down the blade and take his spear anew?
Or is he now Red Raven just Grand’s weapon thru and thru?
Does Corash mourn the hunt, the love, the maiden left behind?
Or is he just Red Raven, and a blade that kills, that’s blind?

And THEN, oh then the shaman STRUCK and broke the dreadful blade
With spell so strong it smote them both and took a hand in trade.
We healed them both, but only one arose from that black hell—
Poor Corash slept, his self sleeps still in Aeridin’s fair dell.

Will hunter ever proudly stand upon a hill content?
Will mate and child live by his skill, and honor fill his tent?
As gods have spoiled, so gods may save, and folk may help his plight.
We wait the will of Aeridin to aid us in the fight.