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RRD5 Ruglud's Armoured Orcs - Spike-Can Commandos

Designed by Kev Adams and released in November 1987, this is a confusingly named regiment, the leader is actually Gudruk, Ruglud is only the Champion.

The Story of Ruglud's Armoured Orcs

The Crooked Eye Orcs had travelled many miles westward to the Old World, suffering the sniping of mountain Goblins, incessant rain, and the endless whining of Bambrag, their incontinent shaman.

Once, they skirted a ruined Dwarfhold. Fear of spirits kept them from sheltering inside, but, a single Orc Hero named Ruglud had dared to enter. He returned unharmed, but had not spoken since, and stated blankly into space.

The Orcs huddled in the rain before a rough stone wall across a narrow pass, while Chief Gudruk Bonechewer yelled at a figure on the battlements.

'Stoopid!', he screamed, 'Do we look like Chaos boys?'

'Zog off!' echoed the reply.

Gudruk returned to the tribe, dodging the hall of stones and garbage that accompanied this witty riposte.

'Lissen,' he said. 'Them kak-'ead Gobboes reckon the Chaos boys took ev'ryfink over. They ain't comin' out an' they ain't lettin' nuffink through. They got bows an' rocks an' spears an' stuff - if we was to try and get 'em, they'd crump us to bits.' He thought for a while.

'We needs volunteers', he announced at length. His warriors developed a sudden and compelling interest in the ground at their feet.

'Or armour', whined Bambrag, 'Couldn't touch us if we 'ad cans like real Chaos boys.'

'We ain't got cans, 'ave we, Trickle-legs?' snarled Gudruk.

'Cans... jus' lyin' where they dropped... all black an' spiky.'

It was Ruglud who spoke. Gudruk gave him a good shake to speed the recovery of his senses, and he continued dreamily.

'Down this Stunty-hole... lotsa rooms ... lost... big room... big enough to stand up in ... big pile of bones an' gear... spiky Stunties an' reg'lar ones... wiped each uvver out...'

'Yerrrss!' cried Gudruk, 'We'll 'ave some o' that! Come on, boys - it's Goblin-gizzard for supper!'.

A swift expedition returned to the Dwarfhold. The ill-fitting plates were roughly hammered into shape and held

together with whatever came to hand. By nightfall, a small unit of armoured warriors was ready.

As the gear's discoverer and the bravest, meanest and certainly the most stupid Orc, Ruglud was made leader, At Gudruk's suggestion, Bambrag became the regimental musician on the Xylobone, a traditional Orcish instrument, and Maggot - Gudruk's youngest and most irritating whelp - joined the ranks as standard-bearer.

The tribe feasted upon Goblin-flesh long into the night - all except for Ruglud, who couldn't get his helmet off, and was reduced to sucking broth through a straw.

Battlecry - The most frequent battlecry is a repetitive chant of 'Gobbo fer tea, Gobbo fer tea, Gobbo, Gobbo, Gobbo fer tea!', with 'Stunty', "Uman' and so on being substituted for 'Gobbo' as appropriate.

Deeds - The Commandos' first victory led to many more as they pushed across the Worlds' Mountains towards the old World. Most of these were over isolated Goblin strongholds, and are remembered only in the stories and drinking songs of the Crooked Eye Orcs - and then in versions which are probably wildly exaggerated. one confirmed exploit was the storming of Karak-Bazik, an outlier to the great Dwarven settlement of Zhufbar, when the Dwarfs were obliged to abandon the Dwarfhold and cave in a series of connecting tunnels to cover their retreat.

Uniforms - There is no uniform as such; the commandoes are dressed in a wide and miscellaneous range of armour.

Shields - The Commandos never bothered to re-paint their shields to a standard design, so this varies widely.

Notes - The regiment is equipped with heavy armour, shields, swords, crossbows and iron-hafted Dwarven halberds. Note that shields provide no protection when fighting two-handed.

Saving Throw: 4, 5, 6 or 5, 6 when using halberds or crossbows.

Profiles - 3rd edition

 MWSBSSTWIALdIntClWPPoints
Gudruk Bonechewer
- Level 10 Orc Hero
3.554452338+157771
Gudruk is equipped with heavy armour and a two-handed sword. Saving Throw: 5, 6
Ruglud
Level 5 Orc Hero
34444132757738
Ruglud is equipped with heavy armour, a shield and is armed with two swords. Note that the shield provides no protection when fighting two-handed.
Saving Throw: 4, 5, 6 or 5, 6 when using both swords.
Armoured Orc Warrior33334121757712.5
Extra for standard 24
Extra for musician 24

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Last modified: Tue Mar 12 2024 by Orclord