Alalqahia
While Orcs can be found throughout Gradus, nowhere else are they as plentiful or live in as densely populated settlements as in the Marches of Alalqahia.
Structure
The Dezo'shash are the most powerful tribe in Alalqahia, they leverage this power to exercise hegemony over the marches. Certainly orcs respect the rule of the mighty, but even this grudging respect is only given to those who are powerful enough to force other orcs to obey them. The most powerful orc in Alalqia is the chief of the Zalkut. The rest of the country is inhabited and ruled by various tribes who rule over whatever land they currently reside in. The most powerful of these include , Chügulch, Dexas'chört, Gucab'yinx, Mel'tögsha, Buc'misni, Haskodar, Tefud'ki, Tetgob'xor, and Mel'ngügi tribes.
History
After emerging on the surface of Gradus from the Subterra at the end of the Long Night (-9,772 ZR), orcs were eventually driven back into the desolate regions of the world by their ancient enemies, the Dwarves. One particular orc warlord known as Qahia counterattacked, vowing to reclaim lost holdings and drive the dwarves back underground. His determination and success rallied thousands of orcs to his banner of a black sun. The orc horde quickly reached and besieged the dwarven fortress of Koldukar in -8378 ZR, one of the ten Sky Citadels. In the climactic finale known as the Battle of Nine Stones, the orcs captured Koldukar and put the population to the sword.
With the citadel in his power, Qahia consolidated his position by fortifying Koldukar and renaming it Zalkut; to this day it remains as a symbol of orc power. The unity of Qahia's realm was short-lived and did not survive his death, immediately collapsing into dozens of squabbling tribes lusting for power.
Aside from this incident in the ancient past, the orcs became fractured for centuries to come, each tribe battling the other for wealth, land, and power. It was not until the arrival of the Gorvag in -1417 ZR that the orcs unified once more. Under the banner of their new lord, they assailed Ustalav, bolstering the Whispering Tyrant's undead army.
The blue dragon Jultnünil also made an effort to reunite the tribes -627ZR, and likely would have succeeded if not for his death at the hands of adventurers in his citadel.
Demography and Population
Orc
The orcs of the Alalqahia congregate in tribes. These tribes may be comprised of more than just orcs and often include slaves or even fully accepted members of other races including Giants, Ettins, and Ogres. Many tribes commission battle menageries (cages full of monsters to be loosed on the battlefield) and siege engines, when engaged in frequent warfare with other tribes. The Dwarven ruins of western Alalqahia are known to be the home of a few brave Tioash. It is also home to a few small pockets of oni-spawn tieflings, which were the result of the lusts of various ogre mage mercenaries that have found work within the Marches.Cyclops
Goblins
Human
Territories
Alalqahia is a harsh land in the environment and its savage inhabitants.
- Igkagh - free of orcs but is even more chaotically ruled than full orc settlements, as it belongs to no nation and is known as a haven for criminals, exiles, and anyone on the run from a legitimate authority.
- Korhor, a small town that has held out against orc invaders for about two hundred years.
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