The Hordelands

The Hordelands, make up the vast steppe ecoregion east of the Bastion Realms. The region get its name from the nomadic warbands of orcs that inhabit the region. Due to the Horde, this land was never host to economically and culturally significant trade routes lead to no contact being made from the western reaches of the continent to the eastern until the Draconic Invasion. Now controlled by the Nevereve Protectorate, it was previously home to the nomadic empire, the Great Horde, and possibly a grand empire before them. There are also small bands of free non-orc tribes and clans, mostly consisting of former slaves, known as highlanders.

Geography

The Hordelands consists of two different regions; the Northern Highlands and the Southern Steppes. There is very little difference between the two regions, except for in the winter months when the Northern Highlands are almost entirely covered in snow.

Ecosystem

The Hordelands mainly consist of temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biomes.

Ecosystem Cycles

Extremes can be recorded in the summer of up to 40 °C (104 °F) and in winter, –40 °F. Besides this huge difference between summer and winter, the differences between day and night are also very great; for example 86 °F can be reached during the day with sub-freezing temperature readings at night.

Localized Phenomena

During the winter severe weather storms occur called zuds. Zuds are blizzard-like storms with extremely high winds and heavy snow. Zuds create snow drifts so high and fast the resemble waves or horizontal avalanches. This leads to livestock and small creatures being swept away and structural damage.

Fauna & Flora

There seems to be little information about the region's ecology before the coming of nomadic pastoralism. The primary animals raised are sheep and goats with fewer cattle than one might expect. There are some yaks in the Northern Highlands. By all cultural groups in the Hordelands (the Great Horde and the highlanders) the horse is used for transportation and warfare.
The horse was first domesticated sometime before the establishment of the Great Horde, it also took a long time for mounted archery to develop and the process is not fully understood. Both are believed to be "left over" from the mysterious kingdom that came long before the Great Horde. The other domesticated animal is the wooly camel. Although it is mainly used as a pack animal, some of the poorer orcs and highlanders use it as a combat mount.

History

There is evidence a sentient and relatively advanced ancient kingdom lived in the Hordelands, long before the establishment of the Great Horde. Ancient city ruins and relics are scattered throughout the grasslands. Not even the elves have any record of the Hordelands being dominated by any other race. Whether the mysterious kingdom was eliminated/driven out by the orcs or left because of other reasons it is still unknown. One other, and less accepted, theory is that the kingdom was established by orcs but a rapid cultural transformation happened, leading to the orcs' current lifestyle.
existence

Alternative Name(s)

The Orclands, the Orcish Steppes, Ogrwha

Type

Grassland

Included Organizations

• The Great Horde

Owner/Ruler

Broodmother Thava Nyseet

Owning Organization

The Nevereve Protectorate