'The Dark Continent'

A Flintloque Background Article by Danny O'Hara

The various islands off the coast of Aegypte are actually inhabited by Satyres. Long regarded as beasts, it is now becoming apparent that they are in fact the degenerated survivors of a once advanced culture.

~

The quiet of the felt was disturbed only by the 24th Mountain Orc Regiment as they prepared their rations in the ramshackle camp below the brooding mountain of Iguana. The Orcs had marched up through the stifling heat of the Nutull summer to crush some petty Halfling chief. So far there had been no real contact with the foe, but a rumour of troops massing to the east had sent Lord Chelmsforc (the C-in-C) and his main force rushing to the attack. Left behind at Iguana was Colonel Fullsteam with the 2nd Battalion, 24th Regiment, together with some Xharfooti levy and a few Boor scouts. These were later joined by Colonel Darnforc with his Bastoato horse and a rocket battery of the Royal Artillery.

In the low hills above the camp, a diminutive figure in headdress and loincloth stood up to his full height of three feet six and thrust his little assegai spear forward with a cry of "Veruka!". Almost as one, the hillside erupted into Stomps of Halfling warriors, echoing their feared warcry. The startled Orcs, together with their allies, looked on in stunned amazement as the black mass of miniature warriors swept down towards them...

When Lord Chelmsforc's column returned to the camp, they found a burning hectatomb. No Orc was left alive, and the Boors and Xharfooti were dead or had fled away across the felt. With a bellow of rage, the Orc commander made a vow:

"I want that b***ard Halfling dead! I want 'is family dead! I want 'is kraal burned to the ground!".

The rest, as they say, is history...

~

Krapptown, and Krapp Colony

The Bay of Krapp was initially "discovered" by the Al-Garvey Goblins, who established a minor trading post there, and then allowed it to decline. The abandoned Goblins gradually interbred with the Xharfooti tribes of Halflings, forming the yellow-skinned "Grippa" tribe. When the Niederland Gnomes landed years later, these Grippa formed a natural link between the Gnome colonists and the Halfling tribes. The Gnomes founded a colony which they named "Krappburg", and settled in the vicinity to farm, hunt and trade. Some time after this, a group of discontented Gnomes known as the Hugenoses came to Krappburg in search of land to call their own. Prefering the more rough-and-ready lifestyle of the colony to the "fussy" Niederlands, they joined the hunter/farmer community. As this colonial culture developed, the rural Gnomes became known as "Boors" (for their bad manners) while the urban Gnomes were termed "Buggers" (for other reasons). Both groups despised and enslaved the relatively peaceful Halfling tribes of the coast (the Xharfooti, Baboombangi and smaller tribes), and hunted the primitive Lizardmen almost to extinction. Some Boors and Buggers mated with Grippa and Halfling women, adding Gnomish blood to the half-breeds.

Niederland cavalry had traditionally ridden ponies, but in the harsh land of Krapp Colony these sickened and died. Therefore, the Gnomes began to catch, domesticate and ride the zebra of the felt. In particular, the Boors developed great skill in catching and keeping zebra. With the introduction of Black Powder weapons, the Gnomes gained an advantage over their Halfling neighbours. Riding their zebras, and armed with muskets, the Boors could hunt and fight more effectively.

With the invasion of Niederland by the Ferach, the Gnomes of Krappburg and its' environs became subjects of Mordred. On this pretext (but largely because they wanted the colony), the Orcs of Albion invaded Krapp Colony and declared it to be part of His Monstrosity's lands. The Gnomes could do little about this, and resigned (in typically dour fashion) to being subjects of yet another crown.

But many of the Boors disliked the overbearing rule of the haughty Albion Orcs. These Grooinecks ("Green-necks") knew nothing about life in the Dark Continent, and their taxes were too high, etc, etc.

Groups of like-minded Boors gathered under leaders such as Johannes Kirk, Jean-Luc Pikaard and Piet Spock, to plan escape from Orcish rule. Amongst the Gnomes they became known as "Trekkies", and they set out into the wild felt beyond the Jaffa River, to seek land and liberty. Families of bearded Gnomes in colourful wagons, Boor and Grippa scouts on zebra-back, and native Halfling porter/labourers on foot. The Orcs wished them good riddance.

~

The Coastal Tribes

The Gnomes enslaved or eradicated most of the tribes between the Jaffa and Fishy rivers and the sea, but beyond these limits lay various peoples. The largest of the coastal tribes are the Baboombangi, beyond the Jaffa, and the Xharfooti who reside between the Fishy River and Lake Tango. Both tribes, while warlike compared to the Halflings previously encountered by the Gnomes, were no match for the Niederlanders. The Xharfooti in particular waged a low-intensity war against their Gnomish neighbours but generally lived and traded peaceably with them. It was with tribes like this in mind that the Trekkies set out into the wilds. They were to be somewhat surprised by their actual experiences.

~

The Great Trek (or "To Boldly Go...")

Under their various leaders, the Trekkies headed across the Jaffa and into unknown territory. Some headed into Nutull, into land ruled by the great Shaka baGinza, others into the Fuzzi Felt where the fierce Fuzzis contested their passage. But the first group to encounter real resistance was that led by Johannes Kirk. Following the branch of the Jaffa leading towards the Dragonsbreath Mountains, Kirk's group became slowed down by an area of sandy desert. At this point, a meeting of the Trekkies split into "pro" and "anti" Kirk factions. Piet Spock led the anti-Kirkers, who decided to head for Nutull and the famously rich land of Shaka baGinza. In the pro-Kirk group, there was still some grumbling, as from the Joccian Trekkie - "Scotty" - who complained that "the wagons cannae take it!". Incensed at this criticism of his command, Kirk and a few zebra-riders decided to scout ahead for better land, while Scotty and the rest followed on with the wagons. Only a few hours ahead, the outriders found firm pastureland teaming with game and showing signs of some native habitation. Kirk, smugly, turned back to inform his detractors - and found only a battered remnant of his party!

While Kirk was riding ahead, the struggling Trekkie wagons were suddenly attacked by fierce, organised bodies of Halfling warriors. These Halflings fought in a manner totally unlike the Xharfooti and baBoombangi of the coast, who skirmished and sniped from a distance, avoiding combat. These Halflings formed into mobs and charged in, screaming, with spear and shield. Scotty, with some experience of the similar Highland Ratmen, tried to form the wagons into a circular "fort", but was only half successful. Many Boors, together with almost all the Xharfooti porters and Grippas, were slaughtered by the rampaging Halflings. Kirk, distraught at finding this, set out once more with his outriders - this time to find these fierce Halflings and pay them back!

It was then that Kirk and his comrades found a wounded Halfling warrior heading back to his people, apparently straggling. Kirk captured him and (with some language difficulties) tortured some information from him. The new Halfling tribe were the people of Merrysillykazi, a prince of Nutull who had broken away from Shaka and headed for the Dragonsbreath Mountains. They had spotted Kirk's company and attacked while these were struggling through the sand. Merrysillykazi's kraal (Bullywayo) was situated upriver, and contained a large number of warriors with cattle, booty, etc. Kirk decided to call a visit on Merrysillykazi!

Gathering all the menfolk of his battered command, Kirk formed a Kommando of zebra-riding riflemen. They first grouped the remaining wagons into a circle, with women, children, cattle and the wounded inside. Then the Boors (Scotty was left behind as Kommandant of the camp) rode off into their enemy's land. Arriving outside Bullywayo at dusk, Kirk and his Kommando surrounded the kraal in a loose ring, each Gnome dismounting and setting himself up in a firing position outside the booma hedge to await the sunrise. At this point, with the sleepy Halflings beginning to move around, the relentless Boors poured fire into the huts. Startled, the Halfling began to rush about looking for their wargear, then attempted to discover who was attacking them. Deciding that the enemy was firing these lightning bolts from outside the kraal, the warriors rushed out in fierce Stomps to meet a hail of gunfire. Even when they reached the Gnomish positions, the Boors had already pulled back on their swift zebras to shoot again at the confused Halflings. After some hours of this, with many warriors lost and the enemy hardly even seen, the Halflings fled upriver. Merrysillykazi, who was renowned as a war chief to make even Shaka wary, watched in disbelief as his tribe melted away. Then, by a quirk of fate, he found himself alone in a sandpit, facing the wrath of Johannes Kirk!

Kirk developed a knack of finding himself in such situations, and was famous for his one-on-one battles with Halfling chieftains. This time, Kirk had an unloaded rifle, and Merrysillykazi's assegai had broken. Both engaged in an unarmed fistfight. After a brief, but vicious, combat, Kirk was knocked unconscious by his Halfling foe. Merrysillykazi, more concerned about his fleeing tribe, loped off into the felt. Kirk had a lucky escape, but the world had not heard the last of Merrysillykazi!

After this, Kirk's people occupied the abandoned kraal, collected the scattered cattle and belongings of Merrysillykazi's tribe, and gradually rebuilt the settlement. In honour of their leader, the Boors named the new town Oonterneming ("Enterprise"). More Boor settlers moved in later, swelling the town's population, and as it sat on the borders of Fuzziland and Nutull, it formed a trading station and buffer between these two. It also acted as a "springing off point" for further settlement into the hinterland.

Meanwhile, Piet Spock's group was thought by Kirk to have been destroyed by Merrysillykazi, but in fact these crossed into Nutull without incident (though watched by Shaka's scouts). As they entered Nutull proper, they were greeted by a delegation of Halflings, from the great Shaka himself, who politely enquired after the group, their destination and intentions. Spock, having told the Halflings that he was looking for land for his people, was invited to the court of Shaka. The baGinza delegates assured him that Shaka was a friend of the famous Boors, and wished to remain at peace with them. As the group was small, and Nutull was vast, then surely the great Shaka would give his friend some land in return for help against his many enemies?

Reassured, Spock and his leading comrades rode off to meet Shaka - and straight into a trap! As the Boors rode into Shaka's kraal at Mkelodelvinga, everything appeared peaceful. There were few warriors visible, and the Boors had their rifles unloaded. But, suddenly the huts disgorged hordes of warriors who quickly slew the Gnomes. Shaka was true to his word in some respects - he gave the Boors land (a burial pit) and they helped him against his enemies (by defeating them, he proved himself better than Merrysillykazi, and he intended to use their rifles). The bloodthirsty Halflings set off across the felt to slaughter the rest of Spock's unfortunate party as they camped awaiting the return of their leaders.

The third major group of Trekkies, led by the redoubtable Jean-Luc Pikaard, headed up the edge of baGinza territory to found the settlement of Dourbain. Unlike Kirk and Spock, Pikaard was much more cautious and always formed his wagons into an encampment at night. Thus, creeping their way up-country, the Boors had a few skirmishes with Shaka's troops before they were assaulted at dawn by the banks of a minor river. Here, the musketry and rifle-fire of the entrenched Boors swept the baGinza Stomps from the field. The river ran red and became known as the "Bloody River" (for different reasons on both sides) ever after. Following this, Shaka "sold" an area of land (where the town of Dourbain was founded) to Pikaard and his people, in return for an undertaking not to supply or aid Shaka's enemies. This agreement has stood so far, and Dourbain is currently thriving as a market town and trading station. But one further incident did mar the early relations between Pikaard's folk and the baGinza.

Rumours of the slaughter of the Trekkies led by Kirk and Spock came into the encampment at Dourbain. A group of hot-headed young Boors, led by Wilhelm Rijkaar and Jonty LaForge, argued that a Kommando should set out to investigate, help any survivors and punish the baGinza responsible. But Pikaard would have none of it. The followers of Rijkaar formed their Kommando regardless of the counsel of wise Pikaard and set off to avenge their brethren. Unfortunately, they were ambushed and destroyed by baGinza warriors, and only Jonty LaForge, blinded by an assegai wound, rode back to Dourbain. Pikaard complained to his erstwhile ally, Shaka, but was told that all was according to their agreement. The corpulent war-chief himself travelled to Dourbain with an entourage, and (from an encampment outside the walls) spoke to the Gnomes and their servants:

"My friend Pikaard", clicked the wily Halfling. "Your induna Rijkaar broke the word and helped my enemies, and so he died. But my friends in Dourbain are still my friends, and my children will harm no hair of their feet. My Stomps of warriors make no moves towards you, and this matter is closed!".

There was little Pikaard could do about this, and so the uneasy peace continues.

For more information on the zebra-riding Gnomes, see the Boor page.

~

The baGinza of Shaka

A better description of the Nlooni peoples, including the baGinza, may be found on the Nlooni Tribal Page, and this also includes the further adventures of Merrysillykazi and his maTebetle (Mutterbeetle) tribe after their spectacular defeat at Bullywayo.

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Webmaster's Notes

The above Flintloque background was originally published on Danny O'Hara's excellent Flintloque website, Weird Wars, way back in the 1990s.

The scenario was first published on Orcs in the Webbe on the 28th February 2008 with Danny’s kind permission. Sadly it was absent for several years due to a prior regeneration of the website not transferring everything over correctly. That wrong has now been righted and it returned in it's original form on the 10th December 2025 as the tenth entry in that year's Advent Calendar and, of course, is part of Orcs in the Webbe's ongoing Flintloque Archive Project.

Danny passed away a few years ago now and I miss both him and his fantastic contributions to the world of Valon.

Any comments in maroon in the article above have been added by me either to provide additional information or clarity. I may also have made small changes to grammar and layout but have not marked these.

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