Krothian Empire
The Krothian Empire's history is complicated and broken up generally by the warlord leading it. It was a large coalition of several separate species and ethnicities, usually united through conflict under a single warlord who would then name themselves Emperor, and upon their death it would collapse again into separate states. It was a highly centralized government when it was together, with a single Emperor making all major decisions, and advisors providing the necessary information for rule. It was located North of the Empire of Carladia , and extended East along the banks of Lake Arnach. It was also located North of the Ibrayrah, and South of the Kingdom of Grimsaldr. It last existed in the 11th century before the Whispering Tyrant was released from his exile and obliterated it.
First Founding
The first founding of the Empire of Krothia in 305 AH was led by the warchief of the Bludskullz orc tribe, Vrohm Agzush. Records were burned by Vrohm as he conquered, and he certainly did not know how to write or ordered anyone to record his reign, so the history is maintained only by word of mouth. The Bludskullz were originally located in what is modern day Dragia, expanding West in conquests, enslaving any who resisted. They reached the Western Sea, and Vrohm declared himself the Emperor of Krothia, a word he made up on the spot. His rule was harsh, but also floundering, as he seemed to lack any understanding of the logistics of running an Empire. It lasted for 18 years, hanging on by threads under slave revolts and tribe revolts, until he died in the year 323 AH, in an Orcgang, a concept they stole from their neighbors the Grimsaldrans to the North. The winner, Rahtbag, crowned himself Emperor for a few minutes before being stabbed in the back by an unnamed Orc and the Empire quickly fell into chaos.
Second Founding
The second founding was much smoother, and lasted a bit longer. Orc tribes had spread themselves all across Krothia during Vrohm's reign, and the non-orc population had organized to fight them off. A massive half-orc, named Tsarg Shild was named leader of the Munbruther tribe located in modern day Socaris, an unheard of incident for a half-breed to lead an orc tribe. He diplomatically allied each of the tribes across Krothia, either through Orcgang or promises, and quelled the non-orc population once again, enslaving them.
He founded the 2nd Empire of Krothia in 358 AH, much to every orc's surprise, but they followed him. He hungrily looked to expand his territory further. He looked to the South and saw the collapsing Kingdom of Epixus, and began organizing for incursions. When the newly formed Empire of Carladia took over, he saw his opportunity and began the Krothian-Carladian Border War in 360 AH.
Krothian-Carladian Border War
The border war was fought between 360-364 AH, and was a series of small raids led by Krothia against the border villages of Carladia. Tsarg would give each village a choice: Join his Empire or give up their valuables. Most fought, but he did slightly expand into Carladia and occupy some towns using this tactic. The people were made into indentured servants, but were allowed to keep their valuables and their lives. After some devastating losses on the part of Krothia in the Battle of Lake Khasan, they were forced onto the defensive. A year later, after a stalemate at the Battle of Khalkan Gol, Tsarg's top Captain, Osarg Khorvos undermined him, organizing a neutrality agreement, and all lands were returned. Tsarg was furious, but his hands were tied by Osarg, and he knew it. Osarg was the leader of the RokSmasherz tribe, located in what is now Dragia, and was beloved by many, so he accepted the agreement and bided his time.
Usurpation
Tsarg had begun plotting the assassination of Osarg from the moment he relayed his report at the neutrality agreement. In the year 369 AH, he put his careful plan into action. He allowed Osarg to return home to his tribe from the capital of Gokolsahn, and planned an assassin to poison the grog and put the blame on the nearby Bludskullz tribe.
The assassination was terribly botched, and failed to kill any of the RokSmasherz, it merely gave them a bad hangover. Even with a hangover, the orcs caught the assassin, tortured him until he told them who planned it, and promptly ripped him apart. The tribes united against Tsarg and sacked Gokolsahn to kill him. He attempted to flee to his tribe. When he arrived, they denied him his role as chief, and said he had dishonored himself. They executed him on the spot, and Osarg was crowned Emperor.
Osarg ruled the Empire as well as he could, with little conflict for 35 years, until he died of old age in the year 404 AH. With his death, no leader stepped up in his place, and the countries broke up once again into their respective territories. The non-orcs freed themselves and life returned to normal relatively.
Third Founding
Tab-Rophan's Empire
The third founding was after several hundred years of upheaval in the territory. No orc tribe had a leader that could be united, and the non-orc population grew until it rivaled the power of the orcs. They were ultimately able to subdue most of the tribes in their territory besides the largest ones, which they entered into dubious non-aggression pacts for them both to survive together. A bright and young human wizard, by the name of Tab-Rophan, from a small town of a long forgotten name in what is now modern day Ustvala began using his magic to lead his people to force the orcs all back into Dragia except for those who submitted. As he grew in power, he began lording it over those beneath him, insisting they submit to his authority as the new Emperor of Krothia.
In 616 AH, at only twenty years old he reunited the territory at his coronation in the new capital of Caliphar. His magic actually kept the Empire in balance and relative peace, he even opened trade with Carladia and Ibrayrah. However, as he aged, he grew more obsessed with living forever, until it practically consumed him. Orcs began reorganizing their splintered tribes during his distraction, until in the year 666 AH, he completed his research.
Undead Empire
Tab-Rophan had created a phylactery, completing his transformation into a Lich. He was now immortal, as he had dreamed, and wielded terrible power. He swept over his Empire with an iron fist, using undead armies to quell any murmurings. Vampires and worse ruled, and Ustvala in particular became a dark land of undead Lords, and the commonfolk cowered in fear. None were allowed to leave his Empire without his permission, nor were any allowed to enter. He ruled his new Undead Empire for over 150 years, until in the year 812 AH a group of heroes, from theMartial Guild and Mage Guild, brave enough to face him, climbed his tower in his Castle Stormperch.
The group, nicknamed the Shining Crusade, battled him so fiercely his tower was ultimately destroyed, as was he. His spirit fled, and the crusaders quickly hunted for his phylactery, but failed to find it. The Whispering Tyrant did not return to Krothia, and the crusaders were forced to assume he had slunk down into a dungeon to lick his wounds. The Empire broke apart once again without a leader, and the undead armies were hunted down. The Martial Guild's involvement in the region changed to a sort of Inquisition; there were still undead leaders in lordships across the region, and the Inquisitors did their best to hunt down these shapeshifters, werewolves, and vampires.
By the late 9th century AH, they believed that had freed Ustvala and thrown off Tab-Rophan's rule once and for all.
Fourth and Final Founding
Short-lived Empire
A human by the name of Iadgurd Vainjacc united the region once more in the 11th century, through use of force. He adapted old tactics from the orcs and modified them for his own Legions, subduing any who stood against him. He crowned himself Emperor in 1054 AH, but did not rule for long.
The Isle of Terror, a horrifying and dreadful large island in the center of Lake Arnach, whose very aura can cause fear and hopelessness, and any who step foot on it never return. It's no surprise that it was the location for the Whispering Tyrant's phylactery, and it was where he bided his time for over 200 years, recovering his strength and waiting for the chance to return to the mainland and reassert his dominance. One of his planted Lords ultimately gave him that opportunity.
In the depths of the abandoned fortress of Castle Stormperch, Tab-Rophan's old seat, a greater vampire by the name of Lord Uliahd von Zaldovich began organizing his fellow undead and servants of the Whispering Tyrant. He created breeding and spawning pits, and over the course of a decade, built up a sizable army. Rumors began to spread of undead being seen in Castle Stormperch, manning the walls and wandering the nearby countryside. Giant bats flying above the ramparts, wolves hunting the livestock, and giant spiders, crawling up the stones. All of these portents were ignored wholly by the Emperor, against all of his advisors' counselling.
Second Undead Empire
In the year of 1064 AH, the conspiracy was put into action. The undead swarmed out of the castle, as the Whispering Tyrant rode across the lake on the back of an undead steed as the water froze before him. A cold and dark terror spread across the Empire, and the people fled. Many fled South, into Carladia, the North, into Grimsaldr, and further. The undead destroyed any holdings the Guilds had in the region, and the cities became uninhabitable. The unlucky ones who were unable to escape the region holed up in their homes, barring the doors and only going out for supply runs.
Tab-Rophan ruled Krothia once more. His time in exile had only made him crueler, and his first action as Emperor was to enslave Iadgurd as an undead thrall, by torturing him, bleeding him slowly until he perished, and raising him once again. Then, he began experimenting. He began combining undead into monstrosities, he began manipulating magic to create horrors that walked the streets. Some lunatics even began to worship him, searching for any intruders or any who were standing against him.
Word spread of his experiments, and the nearby countries began to get nervous. It seemed rather than isolating themselves like last time, the Whispering Tyrant intended to build an all-powerful army of monsters. For what purpose, they did not know. Then, there were the refugees on top of that, as many of the refuge countries' economies could not support such a massive influx of people all at once. They agreed to form a Second Shining Crusade, to deal the final blow to him once and for all.
The Second Shining Crusade, a coalition of armies in contrast to the the first crusade, marched into Ustvala. They fought battle after battle against the monsters Tab-Raphon had created, exterminating as many as they could. Most of the army was spent by the time they reached Castle Stormperch. They fought to capture the castle, but the Whispering Tyrant was nowhere to be found. They looked across the lake at the Isle of Terror, and realized he was ruling from his Isle, rather than his castle. They attempted to attack the Isle, but many of the soldiers leapt from the boats in terror rather than step foot on the island. The remaining brave few who led the charge against the far-worse monsters residing there were never seen again.
The Second Shining Crusade, while it accomplished many of its goals in Krothia, and even assisted the Guilds to reoccupy their old holdings, ultimately failed to destroy the Whispering Tyrant. The Empire was destroyed for its final time, and the countries split, forming their separate governments once again. It is these governments that exist today, however Ustvala still struggles against the oppression of the Whispering Tyrant and his servants. The Inquisitors battle endlessly against his servants, and whenever they supplant another undead Lord, it seems another takes its place.
Territories
The region of Krothia is broken up into three major territories, each one existing as a separate political entity in the modern day.
Dragia
The closest thing that the orcs have to a functional country, Dragia is little more than expansive badlands. Red dirt and high rocky canyons cut through the territory like scars. It is hardly occupied by any other sentient races, but there are several tribes of centaurs that traverse the region. There are many different tribes of orcs, each existing in a very tenuous peace with one another.
Socaris
Socaris is a lush green country, similar in temperate to Carladia. It's one of the most diverse regions in the world, with nearly every race on the continent living in some fashion in the territory. They are even accepting of orcs, and the Munbruther tribe that remained in the area is allowed to enter and trade, but they still choose to live in isolation. The area is still attempting to rebuild after the Whispering Tyrant spread across their lands, but their trade is as busy as it has ever been and the population is optimistic about their future.
Ustvala
There is no place in Veland as feared as Ustvala. The Darklands are a contender according to the dwarves of Bhamtodur, however they do not often venture down to see the land of eternal darkness. Tab-Rophan cast a spell to cause the sky to be permanently overcast by dark storm clouds to allow his undead armies to move freely without fear of sunlight. The only time sun can be seen is sunrise and sunset, when the sun can be seen peeking through on the horizon. There have been sightings of monsters returning to Ustvala from the Isle of Terror, and the Inquisitors are at constant work against the forces of Tab-Rophan. None dare to venture to the Isle of Terror, but it is known that the Whispering Tyrant still dwells there, ruling his servants from afar, and he need only once again ride across the lake as it freezes before him and his undead steed to threaten the fabric of the entire Krothian region.
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