Qarroshy Tribe

Overview

The Qarroshy Tribe is a fierce, nomadic warrior society that roams the Redsands Plains, eternally at war with the orcish Khazk Horde. Like other tribes, they maintain no great cities or strongholds—only watchpoints along the southern frontier and mobile military camps that shift with the tides of battle. Known for their impulsive nature and martial discipline, they see themselves as the unyielding shield of the desert. Yet, for all the blood they spill in its defense, they feel unrecognized by the rest of the tribes—resented, envied, and overlooked.

Origins & Legacy

The Qarroshy were born in the shadow of conflict. Long ago, the desert was far more contested, with orcish warbands spread across much of the land. It was the human tribes—foremost among them the Qarroshy—who slowly pushed the orcs southward, driving them into the harsh wastes of the Orcish Reaches.

For the Qarroshy, this victory forged their identity: they are the eternal guardians of the southern frontier, the tribe that ensures the orcs never reclaim the desert. But with this duty came envy—the belief that other human tribes live easier lives, while it is the Qarroshy who bleed the most for all.

Culture & Leadership

The Qarroshy value strength, valor, and loyalty above all else. They are hot-blooded, prone to settling disputes with violence or duels, but they do so within a rigid military hierarchy. At the head of the tribe stands the High Warchief, a single leader who commands the respect of all clans and directs the ongoing war against the orcs. Beneath them, individual warchiefs lead their bands in raids, patrols, and frontier battles.

While they share bonds of kinship with other human tribes, these bonds are often strained. The Qarroshy harbor a quiet bitterness: they believe they sacrifice endlessly for the desert, yet their importance is undervalued, their losses unrecognized. This sense of envy feeds their pride and shapes their dealings with allies.

Weaponry & Craftsmanship

Renowned for their martial skill, the Qarroshy craft exceptional weapons and armor from ores mined in the Scorched Peaks. Their blacksmiths forge blades as sharp as volcanic glass and spears tough enough to shatter orcish shields. These weapons are not only tools of war but also symbols of identity, each inscribed with the marks of the warrior who wields them.

Many Qarroshy warriors bear ritual red tattoos and ash markings, said to bind their souls to the desert and honor their ancestors’ battles.

Military Tradition

The Qarroshy are unmatched in mobile desert warfare. Their warbands strike swiftly, hitting orcish encampments and vanishing into the dunes before retaliation arrives. They are famed riders of giant lizardbacks, massive reptilian beasts armored for war, which carry warriors into battle with devastating speed and force.

Before battle, the Qarroshy paint their skin with red volcanic dust, believing it grants them the desert’s fire. Their battle lines are fearsome: swift lizardback cavalry charging first, followed by disciplined infantry that fight with spear, sword and shield, crushing enemies with sheer force and resolve.

Relations with Others

  • Khazk Horde – Their eternal enemies. The Redsands Plains are soaked with the blood of their endless war.

  • Ashken Tribe – A mix of rivalry and respect. The Ashken wield political power, while the Qarroshy bleed for the frontier.

  • Shishan Tribe – Tolerated, but often scorned as weak profiteers who thrive in safety while others fight.

  • Other Human Tribes – Relations are cordial tense. Though they are kin, the Qarroshy feel neglected and underappreciated, fostering envy and resentment.

  • Indaks Tribe – They have a mutual respect relation, as they see the Dune Dwarves as another honorable fighter society.

  • Other factions – They rarely have direct contact with them because of the distance.

Appearance & Identity

The Qarroshy are Desertborne Humans, adapted through generations to survive where others would wither. Their sun-browned skin withstands the desert’s relentless heat, while their bodies naturally retain water, granting them endurance in the harshest conditions. Many warriors mark themselves with red ochre paint or scarification, symbols of their devotion to the desert and its spirits. Their amber and dark brown eyes are sharp with vigilance, trained to catch the movement of enemies across the dunes.

To allies, they are protectors—proud, if difficult. To enemies, they are the desert’s fire given form, a war-tribe that never retreats, never forgives, and never forgets.