Horgon

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In 159 HE, three Saints of Maen joined together as a confederacy that would evolve into the Horgon Empire. The three Saints of Maen that founded this empire are Krak-Oth, Neld-Rac, and Rioch Tetrax. One of the primary reasons they formed a confederacy was to work together against potential adversaries seeking to take their personal artifacts - the Torcs of Maen Grirngrim. Many wars, collectively known as the Torc Wars, happened on Osâchar because of these powerful relics.

The Horgon Empire was founded in an era that came to be known after them, the Horgon Era. It was an empire that got its start on the world Osâchar. On this world of the Asteraoth system, a race named the Durkoth came to be masters over a diverse group of races through cultural and military domination.

The Durkoth are masters because of superior civilization, technology, and individual intellect much higher than average. We either join peacefully and accept their superiority or get sorely beaten and forced to be slave soldiers for three generations like the Sussgurd. We join peacefully, we give up only one generation to servitude.

- Henarg, a Theegan politician speaking at the Council of Deliberation - "Dove Party"

Horgon was comprised of the Durkoth as the highest social class with the most rights and privileges followed by a warrior class comprising elite elemental soldiers of the Hydrocur and Laupha races. The next social class were free slaves which had earned their freedom from time, deeds for the empire, payment, or other means. The last group were the slave class. They had freedom to roam about about and run their own affairs, but without trial or argument they could be pressed into military service forming slave armies or put to work in large scale public works. These latter two classes were largely populated with Sussgurd, Theegans, and Dromites (those defeated by war suffered three generations of servitude, while those kneeling to Horgon rule had only to give up a generation of servitude).

In 537 HE, the Durkoth and their minions were driven from Osâchar by a massive illithid invasion. This conflict, the Second Suellk Invasion (430 HE - 537 HE), ended Horgon civilization on Osâchar. The empire's leaders, the Saints of Maen, along with thousands of minions, escaped their world in primordial troop carriers. These Helas Vessels entered the Void where they drifted an uncharted course for more than three centuries (537 HE - 862 HE).

In 862 HE, four sonic booms echoed their arrival, these arks of Horgon civilization, had found their new home world, Bal-Kriav.

In the areas they landed, civilizations were small or weak. The Durkoth were an advanced civilization from another world. They brought their technology with them and dominated those around them. It is the reason why historians in the lower Midrêth refer to the age of their influence as the Horgon Era.

For thousands of years, archaeologists and explorers have been uncovering ancient ruins with chaotic architecture that is unique among all areas of Bal-Kriav. In some surface and Underdark areas of Bal-Kriav, these ancient ruins have become the foundations for new cities. Even in the depths of the Sea of Mourning and the Pearl Sea, Durkoth influence can be found in the aquatic cities of the deep.

These ruins are scattered about a vast area. The arks of Horgon ended up all over the place. Where they came down, an advanced civilization rose and dominated those around it. In time they fell, and their former subjects came to rule themselves. The ruins of the Durkoth are often found in deep primeval forests, jungles, remote islands, or partially submerged in swamps, or resting at the bottom of lakes and seas.

- Tôcauni, Theegan historian - "Durkoth Influence"

Relics of Horgon and its sibling civilizations are often potent and dangerous. Some of their tomes and relics have precipitated the downfall of nations, like what happened with the Kal-Oni Empire, or revealed ancient arts that led to groups taking the path of destruction and evil, like the Cult of Worms and the Black Tide of Thasmudyan. Some of their tomes give insight into Horgon thinking, culture, and influence during the Horgon Era; two of the most important of these is the Unausprechlin Kulten and the Tablets of Inendeep.