"The first father was Akhrosh. At that time, shortly after light was separated from darkness by the All-Father and All-Mother, he appeared on Tirakan. He was called the Unborn because he had no father and no mother. From himself and the clay of the earth he created Kchtuh, his companion. Together they hunted the then living creatures of the earth and bore many children"... by Edi's Elven friend, anthropologist to Yavon, ca.300 EC
Thus begins the prosaic adaptation of the Song of Akhrosh published by the ethnologist Edis Elbenfreund. Since there were probably never more than a handful of human and elven (not to mention the Dwarves and other races of Tirakan) scholars who could speak Old Orcish, this form is the only tangible one of the Orc creation myth. The orally handed down folklore of the black furs makes the source situation even more difficult. The identity of the All-Father and the All-Mother can be established by the existence of a priesthood of Rogal and Zyral among the Kroto'Chim. However, no orc will confirm this to a non-orc. Much more important than these "god cults", however, is the ancestor cult, and in these the god Akhrosch is most important as the first orc, but also god. The Katora, however, limit themselves to this as well, besides worshipping supposedly dark powerful spirits, and so some of their shamans claim that the identification with the two Titans mentioned is based on confusion by human missionaries.
More stories about Akhrosch
Around the campfire, not only the shamans but actually all Orcs, no matter which tribe or clan, tell legends about the first one. It is said that Akhrosch was the first to tame the wild bulls of the steppe with muscle power by running several thousand miles around the race and that the animals, impressed by his strength and toughness, accepted him as their master. He also learned in a trance the secret of brewing and burning, and to this day it is said that no creature in the world has ever equalled his skills. His companion Kchtuh is said to have been the first to sing the shamanic songs of the Orcs. For despite the at first sight rough stature of the Orcs, there are very good singers among them, some of them can even sing with 2 different voices.
But the most important story for all Orcs is the one about the fight with Aragni, the great dragon who ruled the steppe. It is said that some of Akhrosh's children were once captured by the dragon. Akhrosch was full of grief about this event and followed the trail. When he arrived at the dragon's lair, he saw that servants of the dragon, now mistaken by many Orcs for Morgalas, were guarding it. Alone, armed only with a spear, the three-step tall Akhrosch went into the caves and after slaying 1000 Dwarves he met the dragon. The fight is said to have been cruel and bloody and after several hours of hard wrestling the Unborn was able to defeat the Lindworm. But he found his children already strangled. Out of rage he swore eternal revenge and most traditional Orcs still have a deep hatred for all Morgalas in their souls. His tears fell on the corpses of his children. As these were the tears of a god, they miraculously came back to life. These children were later also worshipped as the progenitors of the original clans of the two tribes, they are also called "The twice-born" because of their resurrection. Their names are never spoken and it is said that only the shamans really know them and give them some of the power they can command.
Akhrosh's revenge was terrible. Together with the strongest of his sons and daughters, they killed all the Morgalas they could get their hands on, whether man, woman or child. Only a few clans of the cursed dark Dwarves escaped with the help of their dark goddess. This series of campaigns, burnt into the collective consciousness of the Orcs as "the cleansing river of blood", is still the model for the manhood and womanhood of many Orcs today. For one should not forget, even in quite civilised seeming clans such as the Kroto'chim, that hatred runs deep and many young Orcs, even if they are actually peasants, are only considered adults when they carry a skull of a cursed Fraxut home.
Akhrosch himself never died. After the death of his companion, he left his family, and to this day, Orcs still tell stories of how they were saved in dangerous situations by an old, giant orc. He has also been seen by members of other races who never knew who was standing in their way or helping them. But he never interfered in political matters again. His kingdom was and is not of this world. But that could change when he sees that it is a matter of survival for his children, whom he still loves above all else.
The Spear of Akhrosh
Probably the most powerful relic of Akhrosh is his spear. Even after several thousand years, it is said to show no signs of any ageing process. The last bearer of this sacred weapon was the two-headed Katora Marduhr, king of all Orcs, who was slain by his son Muhar in 512EC. But Muhar did not find the spear and shortly afterwards became himself a victim of the not uncommon violent political disputes between the dozens and dozens of different factions of the Orcs. The wise successor as all-king of all Orcs, Ashnuuk, a Kroto'Chim, is said to have brought it far away and it is said that only when an orc proves himself worthy and the Orcs' need is greatest, this mighty weapon, which can even kill Dragons despite its simple appearance, will be recovered. Then all tribes and all clans will once again run together against the enemy, whoever that may be. And then, so say the reclusive J'hranar, for example, Akhrosh will stand in the first line and lead his children to glory and honour.
The Horn of Akhrosh
This artefact is kept in Mur'Kahr. It is a horn of a Nahrz'gu and, according to Kchtuh lore, was made from the first animal killed by Akhrosh. When the horn is blown, no sound comes out for the non-orc. But all those who share even a part of Akhrosch's blood (including half-orcs and people with orcish ancestors, who are said to exist mainly in Hadewald) hear the call of the blood over a distance of 200 miles. For Kchtuh this was very practical when she wanted to call her many children - it is reported that she gave birth to 5 dozen - to the camp.