Nergal, derived from the ancient human word for darkness, is the seat of power in the north and the city of the Dark Queen, the supreme ruler of Maroka. The name itself evokes associations with malice, melancholy, and death. In the known world, Maroka is notorious as the Dark Dominion, characterized as hellish, brutal, and totalitarian. It is known as the Black Wave that swept across the frozen north, conquering the Hyperborea and instilling fear in all who encountered it. The empire's might was such that it crushed the once-unconquerable northmen, the Barbarians, and defeated the invincible plainsmen, renowned for their exceptional swordsmanship.