Yar'gath
Yar'gath is a large orc settlement in the rabid lands ruled by Lortar the All Seer. Unlike most other orc settlements Yar'gath isn't a source of raiders but rather of mercenaries. It is not uncommon to see orcs with black eyes painted on their helmets intermingled in human armies. It has caves underneath it from previous generations known as the Caves of Origin. Currently it is respected as a full fledged town by most other races with traditional housing and marketplaces within its tall wooden walls.
Demographics
The population of Yar'gath is almost entirely orcs however there are some humans, elves, dwarves, etc. which are either diplomats that arrange the mercenary deals for their people or have special permission from Lortar to live in the city. However each of the members of these races in the city can be counted on your hands.
Government
Yar'gath is a dictatorship with Lortar as their leader. The only way to remove Lortar from his posistion of power would be to challenge him to a duel as is tradition in most orc strongholds. However none have challenged Lortar since he took the throne from Kargath, the previous chieftan. This is mostly because of his sheer magical and physical prowess. Many were there when Kargath was defeated and those who weren't are told the tale of how Kargath was beat like a sick dog before Lortar, and because of this orc and outsider alike fear and respect him.
Defences
Although the only constructed defenses in Yar'gath are wooden walls, an iron portcullis, and several catapults on the wall their real defense is in the ferocity of their warriors. While the wall keeps enemies out the portcullis and catapults are both designed to get orcs to the front lines as fast as possible. An unorthodox but legendary strategy the Gath Bloods employ is stuffing soldiers inside iron spiked balls that are padded on the inside. Then they launch these at enemy armies shattering their ranks as orcs burst out of the hatch a wreak havoc.
Industry & Trade
Yar'gath has employed more civilized methods of trade and living than other orc strongholds. Although they still employ a more socialistic economy they use gold for this rather than simple food and weapons. The caviot to this is that each and every orc, man, woman, or child, must be ready to march off to war at a moments notice. The source of the gold the orcs live off of is from outsiders hiring orcish mercenary armies. Some residents take up trades and a handful even farm or tend to animals however in all these cases these are hobbies in comparison with their employment as a soldier. Each day they train, and each day more are sent off to fight.
Infrastructure
Thanks to the dwarven engineers that Lortar payed for with his own soldiers Yar'gath has a mighty forge with bellows the size of houses fueling raging fires that orc smiths use to shape weapons, armor, and occasionally tools, works of art, and other objects of quality greater than any of other orc smiths. This is and more is powered by the waterwheels in the river that flows through the town.
Assets
Yar'gath always has readily available arms and armor stores filled to the brim with swords, axes, bows, shields, etc. Deep beneath the ground in the Caves of Origin is the towns true treasures. This is where they keep any gold, magic items, and any other valuables they find or receive when being paid for their work or when pillaging enemy camps
Guilds and Factions
Although Lortar outlawed the worship of the orcish pantheon shadows of these former religious groups remain. The Winged Shadows, although having renounced worship of Shargaas, keep alive the tradition of raising giant bats as mounts and training orcs to rely on stealth rather than brute strength to fight. They are some of the few that have access to the Caves of Origin, only allowed there to train in the darkness and to breed their bats.
Other groups, although having some roots in the old relgions, have stemmed from a more practical need than traditional one. Most Gath Bloods are members of the Blood Fists, a group known to value raw strength above all else. They train orcs not only to use melee weapons and armor effectively but also train them to be adept at hand to hand combat, few can out wrestle a Blood Fist.
Lead by Lortar himself and born from admiration of his abilities the Eyes of Lortar are a group trained in strategy, magic, and intellect. Although like all other orcs they participate in much physical training they are also tasked with study and meditation. 10 years ago an orc wizard would be nearly unheard of but thanks to this group even the orcs have found the potential to become powerful spellcasters.
By the age of 4 each and every orc must swear allegiance to one of these groups and train to fight. Sorcerer orcs or those born with "The Gift" are by default put into the Eyes of Lortar but are also tutored by Lortar himself.
History
In the year 892 in light of a handful of settlements popping up in the northern Rabid Lands an orc warchief sent out one of his sons to found a new settlement to pillage these towns and Yar'gath was born. From their nothing differentiates Yar'gath from any other orc stronghold up until the year of 963. All of the towns within a hundred miles of Yar'gath had been destroyed and only a few stood even farther away. The people of Yar'gath were starving, warbands would leave for months only to come back with an empty warcart. An 18 year old Lortar spoke to Kargath, the current warchief. He called him a fool for doing nothing to help the people. Lortar was an eye of Gruumsh and demanded some respect but Kargath still had nothing but hatred for Lortar and his unorthodox ideas. Lortar proposed to send out mercenaries for hire to any settlements they could find rather than destroy them and thus permanently destroy a source of food and resources. He proposed other ideas such as farming or crafting goods, anything that would stop the people of Yar'gath from starving. This was heresy according to Kargath and he accused him of proposing to leave the path of Gruumsh, a great sin in orc culture. Kargath refused Lortar's proposistions and sent him away. Weeks later Lortar came back, this time missing both his eyes rather than one and proclaiming that he denounced Gruumsh and all other gods loyal to him. Few can explain what happened that day but Lortar challenged Kargath to Mak'gurrah, a battle to the death to decide who shall lead the tribe. Everyone thought a blind man without his blessings from Gruumsh was foolish but that day Kargaths head was put on a spike. Lortar used magic, agility, and raw strength and overwhelmed Kargath. Since then Lortar outlawed worship of all orc gods (no easy task even for warchief, however with all the priests of those gods found either dead or having renounced their faith the people of Yar'gath went along with it.) and led the tribe to become what it has become.
Architecture
Most buildings are made of wood in Yar'gath with the exceptions of the Great Forges and Lortars keep. Most buildings have a theme of dark colors and are decorated with bones and spikes to display strength. Underneath are the Caves of Origin however they are no more unique than any other cavern.
Geography
Yar'gath lies along the edge of the Lake of Life on the plains of the Rabid Lands. A river was artificially dug to flow from the lake, through the lake, and into a nearby ravine. There is a forest from which they get there wood somewhat nearby however it is nearly 10 miles away from the city.
Natural Resources
Although the citizens of Yar'gath rarely make use of the natural resources around them the ravine the flow their water into is ripe with ores and minerals, however it is untouched. There is also the previously mentioned forest somewhat nearby.
Founding Date
892
Type
Town
Population
7450
Inhabitant Demonym
Gath Bloods
Location under
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