Val'Dorath

The sanctuary of the Orcs, Val'Dorath is a dangerous and difficult sphere to survive on. The very land has been twisted to be harsher than other spheres, the beasts of Val'Dorath are larger and more ferocious than other spheres. The most common beasts are Dire megafauna that are dangerous to even the most well armed settlements.

Regions

The Purified Fields

Surrounding the Golden Path to Darkwood, during the Elven Conquest, the Purified Fields are the most agriculturally productive lands.

Central Matorral

High plains that are central to the Dorath continent, the Dire Beast population is low as the landscape doesn't support large creatures. Containing scrublands, deserts, and grasslands the land is sparsely populated outside of spirehives that dot the landscape. Most of the population lives in the Spirehives and their surrounding districts. The iron rich bedrock is the source of Orc Iron, and as such mining settlements are the primary settlements on the Matorral.

The Poisoned Desert

The territory between the foothills of the Eastern Mountains and the Central Matorral. On its border is the Stone of Revelation, a holy place in the Orc's history where the power of the Ancestors were unlocked. At its center is the Menzorastar Golden Path. Originally fortified by the Elves to contain the banished Menzorastar Elves, the Orcs continue to fortify the Golden Path to keep the Banished Crystal Elves bottled up.

The Eastern Mountains

A deep and long mountain range full of verdant valleys, it would be more populated if it weren't for the Giant Direbirds, Giant Direbears, and Giant Direfelines. Those who live withing the valleys are nomadic herders and hunters who are staying one step ahead of the Dire creatures.

The Southeast Dry Forests

In the rain shadow of the Eastern Mountains, the Southeast Dry Forests contain the Golden Path to Nexus. Without any Elven Bonespires to grow around, there are no Spirehives, but fortified ziggurats.

The Western Lowlands

Below the Central Matorral, the Western Lowlands are full of jungles. Home of Dire Beastfolk, there are some Orcish settlements, but the overwhelming Dire beast population limits expansion.

History

Age of Discovery

Upon fleeing Darkwood, the Orcs found themselves on the inhospitable Central Matorral. Without access to magic or pacts, the Orcs carved out territory from the Dire beasts. Initially nomadic herders, the Orcs prospered and multiplied.

Age of Woe

When the Elves discovered the Golden Path they resumed their war of extermination. But this time the Orcs outnumbered them and were able to mount a defense. However, they lacked the deep logistical support of the Elves and were perpetually pushed back. But the Central Matorral was wide and the Orcs knew how to survive without external support.

The Star Enslavements

As the war progressed and the Elven supply lines continued to extend their ability to support the war faltered. The House of Star proposed enslaving the Orcs to cultivate the land to provide logistical support the armies. This created discord within the Elven Council, that would eventually tear apart Elven society.

First Initiation

Led by the escaped slave Djarlor, twenty five Orc slaves were initiated through a ritual that broke the slave seals and connected the Orcs to their Ancestors. These Disciples of Rath, led by the renamed Djarl Rath, discovered how to craft Ancestor Totems that create a channel to an Orcs' Ancestors and their power.

The Shattering

As discontent over the enslavement of Orcs raised to a head, the Elves fell to civil war. One faction was led by the declining House of Star, and the other was led by the rising House of Crystal. As the machinations and betrayals of the Crystal General and the house's matrons came to light, the war turned against Crystal, leading to their banishment from the Well and imprisonment on Menzorastar.

Age of Unity

As the Elves unity shattered Djarl Rath and the Disciples of Rath were able to unify the Orcs under their banner. It took years, but Djarl Rath lived to see the Elves pushed back through the Golden Path to Darkwood. The Disciples of Rath then founded the Spirehives around the Bonespires the Elves left behind.

Age of Trade

As the Duranti explorers emerged from the Southeast Dry Forests they looked to develop the Orcs as a colonial subject. The Orcs' experience with the Elves convinced them they needed to form a unified defense against a new colonial power. They took the Golden Path on Nexus and fortified it against further incursions. But instead of responding with open war, the Duranti explorers changed tactics and offered to be a trade partner for manufactured goods in exchange for the aromatic woods of the Southeast Dry Forests. As trade opened up the Orcs encouraged immigration of skilled labor. But the harshness of the environment kept the foreign population low. During this period the veins of iron ore were discovered in the Central Matorral and early mining settlements were founded.

The Third Nexus War

As the Dwarves began their March across Nexus, the Orcs were the of the first to join the war effort. Their history with a war of extermination made them eager to prevent another one. As their mines ramped up, the Orcs imported indentured and slave laborers from the other sphere. Relying on slaves caused much dissent among the Djarls but their necessity was clear. As a compromise, laws were passed to protect the well-being of the slaves, though they were not able to prevent slave uprisings. But it didn't stop the flow of Orc Iron to the front-lines, nor the wealth of the other Spheres from pouring in.

The Accords Era

Signatories of the Nexus Accords and flush with wealth, the Orcs were able to extract concessions denied other signatories. Much to their representative's pleasure, it was their intercession that allowed the Elves to fortify the Val'a Golden Path on Nexus. A fact that they were able to paint the Elves in a negative light and further isolate them from Nexus culture and themselves as the enthusiastic supporter of the Nexus Accords.

Since then Val'Dorath is the economic powerhouse in the Accords Era, their control of raw materials such as wood from Darkwood, Orc Iron, and aromatic plants brings the most wealth through the Golden Paths of Nexus. While after the war the Djarls were able to outlaw slavery, indentured servitude was too well established. And with it becoming the preferred punishment for serious crimes on Nexus, Val'Dorath became the dumping ground for indentured criminals unwanted by the Nexus Plantations.

Government

Djarls

Warlords who have Orcsen themselves in the Blood War, the Djharls are inheritors of the Disciples of Rath. Each traces their lineage back to the First Initiation and Elvesble to Channel the Ancestors. While they are dictators of their city-states, because there are many others eligible to be Djarls and capable warleaders, they can be unseated by popular uprising behind another warlord. Every 5 years the Djarl must lead their armies to serve on the front lines of the Blood War. For that year the city-state is ruled by a council of potential Djarls. When the Djarl returns they can retake authority or name a successor that proved themselves a capable administrator in their absence. This leads the Djarl's court to be full of alliances, backstabbing, and political maneuvering.

Religion

The Orcs revere their Ancestors, whose power can be channel through totems, pacts, and — in the line of descendants of the Disciples of Rath — adherence to Orc Saints. The souls of powerful individuals are able to take refuge from the Maelstrom in the blood of their descendants and the totems of their extended family. This allows them to lend their strength and wisdom to their descendants.