Orcs. Known to many as savage, mindless and blood thirsty. They would rather smash their way through a problem, than try to solve it. Though it is not the case, at least not entirely. Orcs are of course the first and last lines of defense in many of the Dark Lords legions, however years of war, defeat, raiding, the rise and fall of tribes, have made them more than just mindless drones for the purpose of war.
The Orc tribes of the North, have known defeat, and war for many years. Though they have known victory aswell. Gundabad was once a mountain sacred to the dwarves, and was conquered by orcs during the Second age, cleansed after Sauron lost the Ring, it was reclaimed by orcs out of Angmar, to reclaim it as their own, earning eternal hatred from the Dwarves.
That aside, it just goes to show that if these orcs, who are always seen as inferior, can manage to hold a mountain known as a sacred site to the dwarves...We all know the fearsome strength of the stocky warriors, and know it is no small feat to repel them. Taking us forward, when the Dwarves lost Erebor to Smaug, they attempted to reclaim Moria from the orcs that occupied it, and failed, again, no small feat.
Now let us take a look upon the four major tribes that occupy Gundabad and Gram.
Tarkrips, the largest, however also the weakest of the tribes that occupy the territories of Angmar. Their numbers are the true strength, and source for their victories, however rather than using the terrain, and tactics to their advantage, the Tarkrips sheer numbers plow through enemy forces. Due to their number(and the other contending tribes) arms and armour are scarce, and so they use what they can, which wind up being...not as great as they'd like. The Tarkrip orcs number to about nine thousand, eight of which are in the North Downs, fortifying their camp in the Southern most hills, the rest are in Angmar.
Warlord, and notable Chieftains: Warlord Bortug, Chief Lunel, Chief Fruk, Chief Borbog(Slain), Chief Saulk.
Ongburz, the most cunning of the tribes, they have known battle and are much more better equipped than their Tarkrip brethren. Though still, they lack the smiths, and scavengers to decently arm their horde, deciding to equip the best of their orcs with the best of their equipment. They display slighty more advanced tactics, knowing when they should leave, should they suffer a rout. The Ongburz number to about eight thousands, seven of which occupy the great camp of Dol Dinen, and another, Gurzlum(shared with some Tarkrips) in Kingsfell.
Warlord, and notable Chieftains: Warlord Thrazug, Chief Dombri, Chief Zaukul, Chief Torzog(Slain by Torchanar in a recent skirmish) Chief Nilrog
Blogmal, the more formidable of the tribes. The Blogmal orcs are all armed and armoured in decent iron mined from their territories. They are the second eldest tribe, and focus more so upon the quality of their warriors, unlike their Ongburz and Tarkrip counterparts. The chieftains and Warlord of the Blogmal displays a certain knowledge of Warfare, the Warlord himself among the surviving Remnant that defended Gram when pushed to the defensive. The Blogmal orcs are the only tribe to have organized units of pikes, and halbrieders, though their line infantry are not to be trifled with either. The Blogmals are also the only tribe of the four to make use of archers, aswell as excell in knowledge of engineering. For such reasons, the Blogmals were tasked to hold Fornost, fortifying the old ruin. They number at about seven thousand, six of which defend Fornost.
Warlord, and notable Chieftains: Warlord Gashingher, Chief Yagzag, Chief Lotg, Chief Gharl
Krahjarn, the strongest of the four tribes. The Krahjarn tribe is known for its larger orcs(Not Uruks), and their brutal nature. Not brutal as in soft in the head, but rather brutal, as though fighting with them, is a large deal. They rose into prominence when their first Warlord, Jurg, took Carn Dum as his own. From then on the Krahjarn rose from the lowest of the tribes, to the feircest. Warfare, battle, glory is all the Krahjarn orcs care for, leaving the lesser tribes(Tarkrips and Ongburz) to deal with the petty matters. For many years, the Blogmal and Krahjarn would fight wars for supremacy, to be Tribe of Tribes, to control them all. But the tactics of Blogmal defeated those of Krahjarn, and Krahjarn might barreled through. Times would arise when the Tribes would form a loose sort of confederation, for raiding, though they would never last long. The Krahjarn are mostly armed and armoured in crude iron plate, and preferring the use of cleaver like swords, used by the elite within the elite. Unlike the other tribes, the Krahjarn tribe will fight to the death. They number five thousand, four of which have gone to Annuminas, to try to conquer the old city, though they've met stiff resistance.
Warlord, and notable Chieftains: Warlord Zaukul, Chief Maurad, Chief Burzag, Chief Burz, Chief Shurk
