Eruk-Koth

Orcs

The city of Eruk-Koth was founded on the belief that violence is not always the answer, although it often is. As a result, the orcs prize strength but recognized that it cannot be the solution to everything. In line with this belief, the orcs of Eruk-Koth developed a system of governance led by a chief who came to power through a series of varied tests known as the Trials of Succession. The trials are completed by the chosen champions of the rival orcs. The winners of the trials then receive a boon in the final battle between the two groups, known as the Rite of Succession. The last orc standing becomes chief and rules with absolute authority.

The orcs of Eruk-Koth trace their heritage to the great desert orc city of Eruk-Soth, located in the Suthradi Desert. Eruk-Soth and its orcs are brutal and violent. Some orcs wanted to seek a new path for orcs: one where strength could still be prized, but was not the solution to everything. These orcs were persecuted for their beliefs, so they fled on makeshift boats into the Ostilo Archipelago in search of a new home in 30 AC. Many orcs were lost during the initial voyages. But with each island they hopped to, the survivors grew stronger and more adept at shipbuilding.   In 55 AC, they crossed the entire archipelago and made it to the southwest coast of Trapper's Island. The orcs saw opportunity in these new lands and destroyed the boats their boats in a symbolic gesture: they had found their new home. Unfortunately, the predominantly human population occupying the nearby town of Tirshy were suspicious of the intentions of these orcs and treated them with hatred and mistrust. The animosity and persecution eventually broke out into open hostility and the orcs destroyed Tirshy and forced its population to flee southeast. The orc Eyes of Gruumsh manifested the Soth-ur-Mork and founded the city of Eruk-Koth in 56 AC. The lands surrounding the Soth-ur-Mork transformed into orange sands reminiscent of the lands around Eruk-Soth - the orcs had their new home, but would spend the next few decades defending themselves from and raiding the humans who founded a new town, Tillingsbrook.    In 80 AC, a scandal broke out when it was discovered that an orc woman and human man had fallen in love and bore a half-orc child. The humans, suspicious that the man was an orc spy, put him to death. The orcish woman had earned enough respect from the orcs due to her incredible strength to stop them from killing her and the child. However, she was ostracized within the society. The half-orc child lived a lonely childhood and was constantly mocked by the other orcs. He barely remembered his true name because all anyone ever called him was Weird Guy. When Weird Guy was 10, his mother grew ill. With none of the orcish healers willing to risk helping her, she died in Werid Guy's arms to illness. Following her death, Weird Guy was exiled to the Dire Woods and was not seen again for 10 years.   In 100 AC, Weird Guy returned, accompanied by Boat, Diocletian, Neven, Ko-Di, and Vance Valerian. During his travels he managed to find a stolen orcish totem - a relic normally passed on to the mightiest warriors, allowing them to challenge orcish leadership for the right to rule through the Trials of Succession. By dipping the totem into the Soth-ur-Mork, Weird Guy earned the right to challenge Krusk Chaos Queller and chose Boat, Diocletian, Neven, Vance Valerian, and Ko-Di as his champions. Krusk chose Naolu Bear Brawler, Dhogzok Sea Dreamer, Zhamzak the Wretched Swift Enraged Clobbering Smasher of Gruumsh, Festol the Feisty, and Carl the Worg.    With the help of his adventurous companions and Boat's brave eagle friend, Kiv, who took a lethal blow from Krusk, Weird Guy defeated Krusk and became Chief of the orcs.  With his newfound power, and a little help from the charming songs and dances of the dryads of Feningrove, Weird Guy managed to broker peace between the orcs and the humans of Tillingsbrook. This peace ushered in a new era of cooperation and the simaltaneous revival of the Eruk-Koth's shipwright industry and Tillingsbrook's fishing industry.