Tarkrath

• Previous
• Next

Early in the Horgon Era's second century, the Gud-Mortoth, an orc tribe said to have travelled the four corners of Brucrumus, were living off the Mortoth plain. In 252 HE, they were accused with consorting with demons. An alliance of orc tribes was raised against them. They were led by a legend of the Orc people, the hero Gruumush. At the time Gruumush was still a mortal, a very famous one, with even non-orcs joining his banners. Scarred from innumerable battles, downright ugly, his words and actions were such that many became inspired around him. Whether this was magic or character, it usually ended with Gruumush leading someone else's cause. He led the crusade against the Gud-Mortoth, a tribe said to be under the influence of Demogorgon. Defeated, fleeing south, most of Gud-Mortoh's warriors were against the idea of entering the Kamoni jungle. Orc shamans, mouth-pieces for Demogorgon's very words, convinced them that Kamoni would be their new home. The tribe suffered terribly from disease, beasts, and monsters. The most problematic were the su-monsters.

After eight years of wandering the jungle, reduced to 20% of their original number, they decided to settle down. Tarkrath was founded, becoming the tribe's first permanent settlement. They were giving up their nomadic ways for the protection of walls and fortifications. The su-monsters continued to be a problem for those going beyond the walls. The devious creatures convinced some to join them in a life of banditry and mischief, others went this path because of a dislike of the sedentary ways of the townsfolk. Over the duration of the Horgon Era, thirteen of these groups grew large enough to become satraps, sometimes answering Tarkrath, or in conflict with them, or moving on to riper lands.

In 265 HG, assassins in the service of Gruumush cleansed the Gud-Mortoth, ridding it of demon influences. This led to the elimination of 21 Gud-Mortoth shamans. For Demogorgon, it was a noticeable loss to his divine power.

In the Great Exodus (998 - 1017), Cal-Thaoun refugees fleeing Gulimbor and its magical cataclysm came to the southeastern shores of Hells Womb. For a time, they were easy pickings for the natives. To the Kal-Oneans, the Kamoni's orcs, most based out of Tarkrath, proved the most threatening.

In Year 1036, five years into the Kamoni War, Tarkrath was captured. The Kal-Oni army drove the orcs deeper into the jungle where they waged a guerrilla war for another five years.

In 1041 the orcs abandoned the jungle, migrating northward. Their leaders many, told them that they had always done better as nomads, warring as they please. Their long trek northward became known as the Arduous March (1041 - 1096).

Architecture

Tarkrath architecture is one of orc building methods, and demon influences. At the time of its construction, early in the Horgon Era, Demogorgon was quite influential. By way of his his mortal priests he influenced the overall design of what would become a grand citadel with towering spires, the aeries. Demogorgon did not personally help in all of this, delegating it to one of his demon builders. This happened to be a vrock, a winged demon, so the end result was a place with ornate-looking spires. The orcs saw them as lookouts towers, some towering over the jungle's tree tops. They had large openings which seemed out of place in the beginning, a byproduct of having a winged person design a place for landlubbers. In the First Epoch, these aeries were finally put to use. Ag Envok, eager to stoke tensions with the Kal-Oni Empire, opened up trade with Tarkrath, selling them wyverns, griffons and other winged beasts.