Year 1531 A.F.
Continent V — Gor'thak
Strength Is Truth
The Continent of Gor'thak
Gor'thak did not pretend to be beautiful.
It was honest.
Vast red plains scarred by old battlefields stretched beneath a blazing sun. Mountains split open by siege engines bled iron-rich stone. Cities were not built for comfort but for defense, mustering, and supply. Smoke never truly left the sky.
Here, conquest was not a phase of history.
It was culture.
....
Dominant Peoples
Orcs — the ruling race, divided into ancient battle lineages
Goblins — logistics, siege engineers, merchants
Humans — vassals, mercenaries, administrators
Weak races survived by usefulness.
....
Political Structure of Gor'thak
At the heart of the continent stood the Orc Empire of Bloodhorn.
1 Orc Empire, supreme authority
2–3 Kingdoms, ruled by War-Kings
2 Principalities, governed by War-Faith Cults
6+ City-States, ruled by War Councils
Noble houses were not hereditary in comfort.
They were earned in blood.
Counts and Barons rose through:
Successful campaigns
Slaying rival champions
Holding territory against challenge
Merchant Houses were Supply Clans—if they failed to feed armies, they were erased.
....
The Imperial War-Capital
Capital: Kraag-Mor
Kraag-Mor rose like a scar against the mountains, walls layered with trophies of conquered foes. Skulls were not decoration—they were records.
At the highest platform sat the Iron War-Throne.
....
The Orc Emperor
Emperor Gorthak Bloodhorn, World-Breaker
Age: 67
Physique: Still battle-fit
Titles: High Conqueror, Breaker of Seven Kingdoms
Gorthak's tusks were scarred. One eye was blind, replaced by a rune-carved iron plate.
He laughed often.
And when he did not, armies died.
Gorthak
"If I still breathe, I still rule."
....
The Empress and Consorts
Orcish royalty did not marry for romance.
They married for lineage strength.
Empress Thrakara Stonefang
Age: 61
Status: First Wife
Background: Former War-Queen of the Stonefang Kingdom
She stood beside the throne, armor etched with victories.
Thrakara
"A weak union breeds weak heirs."
....
Recognized Concubines (Battle-Bound)
Grusha Redblade
Age: 54
Former Champion of the Redblade Clan
Morka Ironhide
Age: 49
Siege Mistress, Goblin-born (exceptional merit)
Urzala Blackscar
Age: 45
Priestess of the War-Faith
Each concubine had earned her place through combat or conquest.
....
Imperial Heirs of Gor'thak
Strength defined succession—but lineage mattered.
Crown Heir — Prince Rukhar Bloodhorn
Age: 38
Status: Married
Wife: Princess Grelka of the Ash-Kingdom
Role: Supreme Field Commander
Rukhar rested a massive axe across his shoulders.
Rukhar
"Peace makes warriors dull."
Prince Mogrun Bloodhorn
Age: 34
Status: Single
Role: War Council Strategist
He preferred maps to battlefields.
Mogrun
"War is supply before blood."
Princess Thorga Bloodhorn
Age: 31
Status: Married
Husband: Baron-King Krath of the Eastern Plains
Role: Political Enforcer
Thorga spoke bluntly.
Thorga
"Marriage is conquest without fire."
Younger Imperial Scions
Prince Korrak — 27, champion duelist
Princess Urmi — 24, War-Faith devotee
Prince Dargun — 21, leading border raids
None were idle.
....
News of the Marriage Proposal
A goblin courier knelt before the throne, scroll clenched in trembling hands.
Goblin Courier
"From the Solvanyr Empire… Crown Prince Lucien seeks marriage."
Gorthak snorted.
Gorthak
"He marries instead of invades?"
Laughter thundered across the hall.
....
The War Council Reacts
Prince Rukhar frowned.
Rukhar
"Marriage strengthens alliances."
Prince Mogrun tapped the table.
Mogrun
"Or locks borders."
Empress Thrakara narrowed her eyes.
Thrakara
"Who is the woman?"
A name was spoken.
Lady Aralyn.
Silence followed—not from fear, but evaluation.
....
The Orcish Judgment
Princess Thorga crossed her arms.
Thorga
"Does she ride? Does she fight?"
Morka Ironhide grinned.
Morka
"If she survives court, she's strong enough."
Urzala Blackscar whispered a prayer.
Urzala
"War-Faith says unions born of strength reshape fate."
....
Emperor Gorthak's Verdict
Gorthak rose from the throne.
The hall fell silent.
Gorthak
"If the human prince binds his empire with marriage—"
He slammed a fist into the armrest.
Gorthak
"Then we test him later."
A grin split his tusked face.
Gorthak
"Strong empires make better enemies."
....
Merchant-Supply Clans
In the lower city, goblin and orc merchants whispered.
Supply Lord Snikk
"Peace slows contracts."
Iron Quartermaster Brakka
"But bigger empires mean bigger wars later."
They nodded.
Future profit was assured.
....
Closing
Across Gor'thak, drums continued to beat.
Axes were sharpened.
Armies trained.
Marriage had not softened the world.
It had merely postponed the clash.