Karatos

A Land of Cursed Existence

Karatos is a realm unlike any other in the world of Erras, a grim monument to the Mallkim’Hurai’s collective tragedy. The land itself, the cultures that survive upon it, and the myths that flow through its shadowed expanse are all shaped by the generational curse that binds its inhabitants to despair.

Geography and Landscape

Karatos is a bleak, hauntingly beautiful wasteland, a grim reflection of a glorious past tainted by greed. The terrain is as much a testament to its curse as it is a reflection of the resilience of those who call it home.

The Wasteland

The majority of Karatos consists of cracked, desiccated earth, stretching endlessly beneath a sun that offers no warmth. Jagged cliffs rise from the barren plains, forming labyrinthine pathways where the wind howls like lost souls. The soil, dark and lifeless, is incapable of sustaining more than sparse, withered vegetation.

The Abyssal Chasms

Deep, seemingly bottomless fissures scar the land, their depths swallowed by eternal darkness. Many believe these chasms to be the physical manifestations of the Abyss, whispering the names of the cursed dead to those who dare listen.

Source Tree’s Remains

At the heart of Karatos stands the petrified skeleton of the once-great Source Tree. Its blackened, twisted branches reach towards the heavens, casting a perpetual shadow upon the land. This sacred and feared place, known as the "Cradle of Damnation," is avoided by all except the most devout or desperate.

The Obsidian Peaks

Along Karatos’ northern edge rise mountains of pure black stone, their jagged summits perpetually shrouded in ash. Rivers of molten rock, tainted by the curse, glow faintly with a sickly green hue, a grim reminder of the corruption that pervades the land.

Climate

The air in Karatos is heavy with the weight of the curse, suffused with a presence that seems almost alive. The climate is relentless, swinging between scorching days under a pale, washed-out sun and freezing nights beneath a perpetually clouded sky. Storms frequently ravage the land, bringing acidic rains that burn flesh and scar the ground, further etching the suffering of the Mallkim’Hurai into the very earth.

Inhabitants and Subcultures

The fractured Mallkim’Hurai population bears the physical and spiritual toll of the curse, each subculture adapting to Karatos' merciless environment in unique and often tragic ways.

Orku'Divoch (Savage Orks)

The Orku'Divoch have embraced their monstrous transformation, reveling in the brutal and violent existence the curse has forced upon them.

• Settlements

  These warbands roam the plains, erecting crude fortresses from jagged stone and the bones of their enemies.

• Economy

  Their survival is fueled by raiding and slavery, plundering others for food, materials, and captives.

• Culture

  Strength is the only law. Their rituals are brutal, often involving combat to the death. They worship the Abyss not as a god but as an inevitable force, finding perverse pride in their damnation.

Orku'Oras (City Orks)

The Orku'Oras are the last flickering glimmer of hope in Karatos, seeking to defy the curse through cooperation and discipline.

• Settlements

  They have fortified cities built upon the ruins of ancient Asallahir civilizations, attempting to reclaim their lost grandeur.

• Economy

  They engage in trade with neighboring realms, offering their skills as craftsmen and mercenaries in exchange for resources.

• Culture

  Their society values honor and discipline, striving to create a code of ethics that defies their violent instincts. However, outsiders distrust them, and the Orku'Divoch view them with contempt.

Orku'Dibaje (Deformed Orks)

The Orku'Dibaje are the most tragic of the Mallkim’Hurai, embodying the full physical and emotional toll of the curse.

• Settlements

  They live in underground tunnels and abandoned ruins, shunned by their own kind and the world beyond.

• Economy

  Their survival depends on scavenging and sabotage, often infiltrating Orku'Oras settlements to spread corruption and sabotage their progress.

• Culture

  They embrace despair, seeing their suffering as a weapon to bring misery to others. Their art is grotesque, their rituals macabre, existing only to evoke dread.

Cultural Identity and Philosophy

The Mallkim’Hurai are bound by a shared curse, though their perspectives on their fate vary:

Orku'Divoch

– See the curse as liberation, embracing their monstrous nature and rejecting redemption.

Orku'Oras

Cling to hope, believing their struggle against the curse is noble, even if ultimately futile.

Orku'Dibaje

Are consumed by despair, finding meaning only in spreading suffering.

Religion and Spirituality

The curse has severed the Mallkim’Hurai’s connection to the Source, twisting their spiritual beliefs into something far darker.

Worship of the Abyss

Many have come to fear and appease the Abyss, viewing it as an unavoidable force rather than a deity.

Relics of the Source

Despite their severed connection, artifacts from the Source era hold great power. These items are rare and highly sought after, often leading to conflict between the subcultures.

Legacy and Role in Erras

Karatos stands as a grim reminder of the perils of ambition and betrayal, its land and people irrevocably marked by their ancestors’ folly. To the rest of Erras, the Mallkim’Hurai serve as both a cautionary tale and a source of dread—a dark mirror reflecting what could happen to any who stray too far from the light.
Yet, even within their tragedy, there lies a spark of resilience. The people of Karatos endure, not because they seek salvation, but because they defy the fate imposed upon them.