Ultimate Galek

Galek was born into a legacy of war and bloodshed, and while he may have rejected the worse aggressions of his forebears, such darkness never truly leaves. Had he chosen to embrace his legacy of violence, the path that awaited him would have been a very different one indeed. Galek's father, Artak, was an Orc warlord of vicious temperament. The son of the chieftain Turan, he had witnessed first-hand the treachery of those who wished nothing but death and destruction on his people. Turan had sought to deal with the Humans of the Kingdom of Kaerok, leading the warriors of his clan to battle for one of the Banner Lords against his rival, in exchange for a place within his territory they could settle in peacefully once their service was complete. But the Human noble betrayed Turan, and the persecution continued. Disgusted by such treachery as well as his father's perceived weakness, Artak retaliated. He rallied the Orc clans and led them on a campaign that ravaged parts of Kaerok. Galek, Artak's only child, fought at his father's side and led the attack on the Free City of Delanos, capturing the gatehouse and allowing Artak and his warriors to storm the city. In the aftermath, Artak tested Galek by ordering him to execute a captured Human family. Galek hesitated but, fired by his father's recital of all the wrongs his people had suffered and reminded that they had to do whatever it took to survive, he struck the fatal blows. Such brutality may have repaid old injustices, but it inevitably spawned fresh ones. Outrage over the massacre at Delanos caused the forces of Kaerok to rally. They engaged the Orc host in a great battle at Nearhaven where the Orcs were driven back, retreating into Nearhaven's castle, which they had earlier captured. During the fighting Artak himself was seized. Galek could only look on from Nearhaven's ramparts as his father was brought forth and beheaded by the vengeful Humans. Knowing that they would not survive a siege, a number of the remaining senior members of the clan convinced Galek to lead a breakout that night. They also pointed out that it was unlikely the clan's noncombatants would make it out. Knowing they would slow the retreat, Galek begrudgingly agreed to leave them behind. As darkness fell, the surviving clan warriors hacked their way free. As they made their escape Nearhaven was stormed, the fires of its destruction lighting the night sky, and the wailing of those abandoned haunting those still able to escape. After that desperate day, Galek and his hardened band of survivors stalked Kaerok, acting as guerrillas who raided and harried the Banner Lords and the Free Cities from areas of dense woodland, marshes, or wastes. Galek's sacrifices had hardened and embittered him, and left no survivors in his attacks. Whenever his judgment was questioned he reminded his remaining kin of his father's words – these lands would be reclaimed, whatever it took. Galek hoped that his ongoing resistance would draw more Orcs to his banner, and slowly he would be able to rebuild his strength until he was in a position to strike properly at Kaerok once more. When that time came, he swore he would show no hesitation, and no mercy. As far as Galek was concerned, only the extermination of the Banner Lords could guarantee his people's peace, though in truth it seemed Galek had forgotten the very meaning of the word. He was a warlord in every sense, and his only ambition was to succeed where his father and grandfather both failed.