Ragnor

In the training yards of the Founders Academy, Ragnor's imposing figure draws immediate attention. Standing nearly eight feet tall, his massive frame adorned with intricately crafted armor that bears the scars of a thousand battles, the ancient orc moves with the fluid grace of one who has spent centuries mastering the art of war. His green skin, crossed with old battle scars, seems to glow with an inner vitality that speaks to Gorath's curse—or gift—of immortality.

The Curse of Immortality

The weight of his destiny was laid upon him centuries ago, when Gorath decreed that Ragnor would not know death's peace until he had led the orc hordes to complete dominion over the Eastern Continent. It was meant as a blessing, a divine mandate to achieve what no orc warlord had managed before. Instead, it became an education in the true cost of endless warfare.

In his early years, Ragnor embraced his role with savage enthusiasm. He led war band after war band against human settlements, elven forests, and dwarven strongholds. His tactical innovations during this period—the use of multiple smaller raiding parties to tie down larger forces, the development of siege tactics specifically designed to counter dwarven defenses—are still studied in military academies today, though few know their true origin.

The Change

But immortality carries a peculiar burden. With each battle, with each victory, Ragnor was forced to watch generation after generation of his warriors fall while he remained. The faces of young orcs eager for glory began to blur together across the centuries, all ending the same way—broken bodies on blood-soaked fields, their final expressions a mixture of surprise and betrayal as death claimed them while their leader fought on.

The change began subtly. Ragnor started positioning himself on hilltops above the battles, ostensibly to better direct his forces. In truth, he found he could no longer bear to see the light fade from young eyes up close. From these vantage points, he began to see patterns in the flow of combat that had escaped him at ground level. He started developing strategies that minimized casualties while maximizing tactical advantage.

The Breaking Point

The breaking point came during what should have been his greatest victory. Having developed revolutionary tactics that combined traditional orcish strength with sophisticated strategy, Ragnor led a massive army against the human city of Iron Keep. The battle was progressing exactly as planned until he looked down from his command position and saw not military units and tactical objectives, but thousands of lives being spent like copper coins. Something in him snapped.

Today, in his role as The Cabal's master of military instruction, Ragnor teaches more than just tactics and weapon use. His lessons encompass the full scope of warfare—from the psychological impact of combat to the logistical challenges of maintaining an army in the field. He places particular emphasis on the responsibility commanders bear for the lives under their control.

The curse that once drove him to seek continental dominion now serves a different purpose. Periodically, Ragnor returns to the orc clans, moving among them like a ghost of legend. He watches, evaluates, and then selects the most promising young warriors—those who show not just martial prowess but the potential for leadership and wisdom. These chosen few find themselves spirited away to the Founders' Academy for five years of intensive training, not just in combat but in strategy, leadership, and the true responsibilities of power.

When they return to their clans, they carry with them not just new skills but a deeper understanding of warfare's true nature—not as a path to glory, but as a solemn responsibility that requires wisdom, restraint, and deep understanding of its costs. Through these carefully selected and trained leaders, Ragnor works to elevate his people through education rather than conquest.

• Cursed with immortality by Gorath until orc hordes achieve dominion over the Eastern Continent
• Led countless war bands in his early years, developing revolutionary tactical innovations
• Witnessed generations of warriors fall while he remained immortal, changing his perspective on war
• Experienced a breaking point at the Battle of Iron Keep, seeing war as the spending of lives
• Transformed from seeking conquest to teaching wisdom and responsibility
• Teaches military instruction at the Founders Academy, emphasizing the cost of war
• Selects and trains promising orc warriors, teaching them leadership and ethics
• Maintains a memorial garden, adding names of fallen warriors as a reminder of war's cost
• Works to elevate orc society through education rather than conquest