They are the Clan that shared borders with the Vorrakyn family and by extension, the Azgarath Empire. They are one of the Clans that dominated the Highland country as the ’kingdom’ of the barbarians are usually called.
Once upon a time, the Highland was united under the command of a warlord. All the Clans were brought under him, and he put an end to the warring of his kinsmen and focused on expanding the Highland, so much so that the Azgarath Empire felt the threat and they went to war.
But during Vacuse’s grandfather’s days, the warlord died and the Highland fell into chaos. But unlike before, it was more controlled. Five High Clans rose among them, and they’ve divided the Highland between themselves, eyeing each other wearily.
The Warbines Clans are among the High Clans.
Vacuse watched the approaching warriors with a calm look as he began speculating. There was only one place that they could be headed, and that was to Kragthar, the seat of the Dragon Lord.
"That’s right. There was a dispute that Drenvar has with the Clan and Father invited them for the festival that usually surrounds the second rites. It should be the heir of the Clan coming on a diplomatic mission."
Vacuse weighed his options, then he sighed and came out of his hiding place.
The elite warriors of the Clans noticed him immediately, and with just a few words, they closed ranks in the middle, and those in the front moved their mounts towards him, the beasts growling, yellow hungry eyes fixed on him.
The barbarians themselves stared down coldly at Vacuse, four pairs of eyes that radiated coldness and murderous intent. Hands on their weapons.
Vacuse stared back without a hint of fear, and his mouth curled as he muttered silently, "Orcs."
The barbarians are Orcs.
Some thousands of years ago, a Soulbearer that was bent on dominating the world had the idea of making some monsters more intelligent than they are. He bred a few to match and even, in some cases, surpass the intelligence of humans.
One of those monsters are Orcs and beastmen.
In the end, the mad Soulbearer failed, and his experiments dragged the world into the war of the Fallen Crusade.
They are huge, bigger than the tallest humans, with thick limbs and grey skin that is tough as leather. Their eyes are flat and black, and two of their teeth grow outside their mouths, curling upward.
"Who are you, human!" one of them spat, the word meant as a slur, but it only rolled off the person it was intended for.
Vacuse sighed gently. He reminded himself that the Bone Riders are an elite force that he was not in any way capable of taking on.
They, like the other species that aren’t human, practice the Bloodline magic, and the elites of the Warbines are one of the best.
Even standing close to them, Vacuse could feel the pressure that was coming off them and the danger that clung to them like old blood.
Vacuse raised his two hands. "I was attacked by bandits on my way to Kragthar. Are you going that way by any chance?"
Vacuse tried his best at a smile, but he must have looked like a wolf showing its teeth, because their hands only tightened on their weapons and their killing aura increased.
"Are you stupid? The road is only going to go one way, and you are here asking us if we are going to Kragthar!" one of them said.
"Kill him. He’s likely an assassin!"
Vacuse stopped smiling, and his eyes sharpened into a glare. "Are you afraid of a human? I didn’t know Bone Riders are this type of weakling!"
Instantly, their aura doubled, so much so that red light appeared above their bodies, and their dark eyes took on a red glow. They raised their weapons, and their mounts went deadly still, ready to pounce.
Vacuse’s heart skipped a beat. ’....did I go too far?...’
Just then, before the warriors cut him down and Vacuse regretted his actions too much, the reason he provoked them was shown as a clear, cold voice cut through.
"What’s going on here?"
Their aura was cut short in an instant, and they returned their weapons. They saluted. "Captain Valka!"
The captain was a young man. Of course, Orcs have a longer lifespan, so they don’t age quickly, and handsome by Orcs’ standard.
Vacuse’s eyes lit up when he saw him. Valka. The Dragon Killer.
In his past life, during the war between the Warbines and the Vorrakyns, Valka was the one that killed the most of the Soulbearers with the red eyes of the Dragon family, and so he was nicknamed the Dragon Killer.
Also, the man had a complicated past and future that he didn’t know about yet.
"This human asked us if we were going to Kragthar because he was attacked by bandits."
"He is suspicious. We should kill him."
Valka turned to him, and Vacuse met his eyes. "He’s a human force user. He poses no threat to us. And with those eyes... we’ll let Lord Ragna make the decision."
They led him between the ranks of warriors, and their aura nearly suffocated him. And then they reached the carriage.
"Lord Ragna..." Valka began, but the carriage door was already opened and an Orc was standing there.
He smiled down at Vacuse, who returned the smile.
Lord Ragna Warbines. The heir of the High Clan of Warbines and the one that will cause the war between the families which would greatly weaken the Vorrakyn in the future.
He was a slender young Orc with a curious face. The animal fur he wore was of the highest luxury, and jewellery decorated his hands and ears. He leaned close. "That red eyes. It’s very familiar."
Vacuse knew what a schemer Ragna was.
Vacuse smiled. "It’s the eyes of a Dragon."