Investigations

In the past:

A weak tribe, the Shattered Spear, "owned" the Rustknoll area. They vanished into Orcedath cave. https://paizo.com/campaigns/v5748p75ivlfk/gameplay&page=6#280

Rickan and Hamish killed the warleaders and chiefs of the tribes that came to fill the vacuum, until only one tribe remained, the Bloodtalon. He killed the chief and made a deal of sorts with the next in line, Grolthk, to only raid the outlying targets, which were set up by the farmers. The orcs could preserve their token battles to win spoils, and the town kept its most precious posessions and its people. The Bloodtalon believe the area is cursed, and Grolthk and Rickan keep it that way. Things were in equilibrium for a while.

About a year and a half ago, Grolthk named Helgu, a masked witch doctor, the tribal shaman. The Bloodtalon started getting some real magic and were joined by a band of War Drummers. The tribe chafes under Grolthk and wants to do more than allowed. Also, the area looks good to outsiders, so Grolthk is pressured from inside and outside the tribe.

Another problem is a group of outcasts from the tribes. They have banded together and have the advantage of numbers, equipment, resilience, and organization. They may have a weapon cache or something that other orcs have not found, they are so well equipped.

What we have seen:

A band of four orcbloods took down a war party of seven full orcs in a grove. The three survivors left a half-orc worshiper of Szuriel on a pyre, removing his right hand and apparently taking it.

Another band of five orcs and a half-orc were at the dead drop location to pick up or leave messages.