To make the Ash-Forge Hegemony feel distinct from generic villains, give their military structure a unique, dark cultural lore.
The Lore: Orc captains and engineers from the Iron Reach do not wear traditional military medals. Instead, when they successfully raid an Adenor port or conquer a coastal territory, they melt down a weapon or relic from that conquered foe and forge it directly into their own armor or the hull of their Ironclad ship. This is called a Scrap-Iron Oath.
The Impact: When the players fight the Orc Infiltration Team in Session 1, they might find that the leader’s breastplate is made from repurposed, crude iron mixed with unmistakable, polished high-elven silver-steel or northern starmetal. This visually tells the players exactly who this captain has killed in the past.