Grothlyn Zor

Character overview

An orc berserker representing the Gutspear Hold at Torrentmoot, Grothlyn Zor, also known as Grothlin.
Grothlin is a tall, muscular orc woman with teeth and tusks. She has a tent at Torrentmoot and is often seen splitting logs with a maul. Blunt and outwardly indifferent to politics, she cares little for diplomatic niceties, values practicality, competition, and impressive or useful physical effort, and dislikes the smell of cities.
As a battle leader for her clan, Grothlin has survived hundreds of battles. Others consider her dim, allowing her to notice what they discuss around her while she maintains that image. At Torrentmoot, she was found reading before Vaska approached; she hurriedly hid the material, seized an axe, and pretended to act tough by splitting already-split logs. She claimed the papers belonged to someone else and winked. She had been taking notes on those present and noted that Vaska and her companions were attracting attention, particularly from Ardax. When Dergram approached, she asked whether he would help or merely stand there. After Klein and Vaska finished the remaining wood, Grothlin introduced herself, ignored Dergram’s attempt to introduce himself, thanked Klein and Vaska, flirted with Klein, and asked both for their names. She had heard of Vaska’s Drunken Klashe in Urgir but had never visited it. Grothlin said previous attempts to unite The Orc Holds had failed, bringing foreigners was a terrible idea, and Ardax had overstepped and would likely pay a price. She described Ardax’s difficult Puzzle Box, concluding that at least two people had to work on it simultaneously and that Ardax was trying to teach the orcs cooperation. She agreed that the puzzle box called for intelligence and unfamiliar powers alongside orcish might. She said nobody became a berserker and survived hundreds of battles without learning many things. She later called Vaska’s husband’s sacrifice a good death and expressed hope for a similar end, though she intended to survive while killing undead and would prefer to die bloodied by a blade. She accepted Vaska’s invitation to spar, was easily dropped, and praised Vaska’s skill, remarking that tavern work had not weakened her. Vaska later challenged her to arm-wrestle and defeated her after a long contest.
On Vaska’s visit, Grothlin was drawing openly with pigments made from animal blood and dirt. Her map showed Torrentmoot’s locations and where people usually stayed; she hoped to keep it as a keepsake before the deluge or perhaps give it to a friend. She asked Vaska about her adventures and advised striking enemies when they were weakest. She agreed that quarrelling could leave Torrentmoot vulnerable to Tarbaphon’s undead. She told Vaska that orcs considered her a desirable prize and that The Boy often spoke of her strength. With Vaska’s permission, Grothlin swung her Storm Skewer Maul and called it a fine weapon with powerful magic. She shared saved fermented milk with Vaska and agreed to a bout on condition that Vaska keep the maul sheathed. Before Vaska left, Grothlin showed her a hatchet that always returned when thrown and asked her to see whether her friends could break the effect; Vaska took it. During the undead bear attack, Grothlin ran across the battlefield covered in blood and viscera, struck a bear, winked at Vaska, and disappeared toward other fighting in camp.
At Torrentmoot, Grothlin barked orders to attendees to load supplies as they prepared to flee. The next morning, she directed the caravan’s more cumbersome and awkward portions, shouting and frightening people into obedience. Unable to manage everyone herself, she asked the party to find a safe ford.

• She split logs with a maul and swung the Storm Skewer Maul, which she described as having powerful magic.
• She survived hundreds of battles and struck an undead bear during the attack.
• She analyzed Ardax’s Puzzle Box, saying at least two people had to work on it simultaneously.
• She was easily dropped by Vaska in a spar and later lost a long arm-wrestling contest.
• She took notes on those present and made a map of Torrentmoot’s locations and usual places of stay.
• She discussed the unity of The Orc Holds, Ardax’s intentions, and the danger Tarbaphon’s undead posed if Torrentmoot quarrelled.
• She sparred with Vaska and arm-wrestled her, and asked Vaska to test whether her friends could break the returning hatchet’s effect.
• She directed the loading of supplies and the caravan, then asked the party to find a safe ford.