In the
Demon Spawn War, the demon lord
Hezxis sought to carve out territory for himself on the world
Kriav. Opposing him, was the supreme commander of Kriav's military operations, the archangel
Corellon. In a bold gamble, Hezxis sought to surprise and overwhelm the forces at a
Covenant Holy Bastion named
Liamenor. Hezxis, never one to lead from the front, sent nearly all his forces through the
Hezxis Pocket with himself remaining behind in his Abyssal hold Una'gah. Corellon's spies, some even say a demon traitor lured by finery and precious stones, gave up information on this planned attack. While Hezxis's forces were besieging Liamenor, Corellon sent an elite unit to attack Una'gah and take out their leader. The elite unit was the
Maeraddyth Brigade. Its leader a crafty and charismatic figure named General Maeraddyth. They stormed the place, beating down a token defense and trapping Hezxis with magic preventing the use of inter-dimensional escape. This all happened while the demon forces back on Kriav were close to breaching the walls of what was thought to be an impregnable bastion of good. Hezxis's head was taken back to Liamenor and displayed from high atop the battlements. This caused such confusion in the demon ranks that they broke-up the siege and began to quarrel over who would now lead the army and enjoy the piles of loot rumored to be in Una'gah's vaults. Those that escaped the wrath of Corellon's forces went back through the Hezxis Pocket and headed home. Along the way, they ran into the Maeraddyth Brigade which were hastily trying to make it back the Hezxis Pocket and home to Liamenor. In the fighting, the demons outnumbered their foes by two to one, had the advantage of mobility with many that could fly, and 1:1 on the demons were far superior to most mortal elven soldiers, with only the celestials able to go toe-to-toe, but they were only about 10% of the unit's composition. The demons captured all that they could, tortured them to no end, and then infused them with
demoniac energy. This transformed the captives into something with only a vague resemblance to an elf, creating what is now known as the
orc race. They were instilled with a hatred of elves that often supersedes other enmities. General Maeraddyth ditched his elven name, thereafter calling himself
Gruumsh. The Maeraddyth Brigade ceased to exist, its soldiers divided out to various demon commanders. In the Demon Spawn War, they were taken to various war theaters, scattered across Prime worlds serving the demons until they could escape and even turning on them when given the chance. When it suited them, some allied with
Covenant forces, but never to those answering to Corellon.
At Liamenor the actions of the Maeraddyth Brigade are honored with a memorial. At
Aphalur, can be found a plaque expressing Corellon's grief of what happened to them.
If I could have helped General Maeraddyth and his men I would have done so. Kriav was being assailed by demons in great numbers, so to risk opening a rift and going to the Abyss was not something I could afford. They succeeded in killing a demon lord, saved Liamenor, but suffered a terrible price. They became twisted and malevolent and having a hatred for elves that only the demons could have conceived. When he became an orc, my old friend Maeraddyth changed his name, becoming my arch-enemy Gruumsh.
- Corellon, from a Plaque of Aphalur - "Maeraddyth Brigade"
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