A Brief History

The history of the Iron Kingdoms is divided into two distinct epochs, seperated by the Orgoth occupation, during which invaders from afar subjugated the land, sacrificing many to their dark gods. As a result dates are listed as either BR for before the rebellion or AR for after the rebellion. BR dates count backwards (Like BCE in the real world), While AR counts forwards.

## The Twins

The first major event that occurred after creation happened was the ascension of the twins Morrow and Thamar. The twins were born at the end of a time known as the warlord era in 1930 BR. During this time warrior priests and priest kings worshiping Menoth fought sweeping battles against barbarians and founded small armed settlements.

The twins early life is unknown though they would grown into influential leaders who would change the political and theological landscape forever. Morrow was raised a Menite, though he ended up questioning the tyranny of the priesthood and how they interpreted the true law. With much of his teachings focusing on self sacrifice and the common good Thamar was more extreme in her disdain for the priesthood, and became well versed in occult knowledge. Thamar believed contrary to her brother that true freedom was most important, with those with a strong will rising above those without. As the twins aged their teachings proved incredibly subversive. By 1905 BR their influence can be seen across the intellectual community.

Eventually the twin's respective teachings drew the attention of the priesthood, and a campaign across the south was initiated to drive out their influence. Followers of the twins were seized, tortured, and then executed on the wrack or by being burned alive. This persecution of their followers caused Morrow and Thamar to set aside their differences and sent out a call for all those who suffered under the priesthood to join them. The thousands that joined the twins became an army that marched on the great city of Caspia, the priest king of the city confident that Menoth was on his side marched his army to meet them. Eventually the priest king was disarmed by Morrow who demanded his surrender, though before the priest king could answer, Thamar killed the unarmed priest with her spear. The battle was won but an irreparable divide was made between the two sibilings.

Thamar was exiled from Caspia for her murder of the priest, though this would not be the last time she saw her brother. in 1894 BR she returned to Caspia and took charge of an army from within who were dissatisfied with Morrow's rule of the city. She carved a path of destruction through the city towards Morrow's palace, killing all those who tried to stop her. Morrow knew that the only way for him to protect those under his care was to meet his sister personally, and thus took to the streets to stop her. On the streets the twins fought one fierce final duel, with Morrow seeking to protect the city from his sister's wrath while Thamar taunted him with how weak the city had become under his rule and the freedoms its citizens lacked. Eventually Morrow realized that he was responsible for his sister's path and that the only way to stop her was to offer himself to her. Thamar gladly accepted Morrow's offer and struck him down in front of the gathered masses, all witnessed Morrow's flesh became spirit and he ascended into the sky, dispelling the unholy storm Thamar had summoned to aid her. Morrow's sacrifice empowered the populace, who set upon Thamar who remained free to the end, and was torn apart by the mob ascending into black smoke as she too became a god.

## Orgoth Occupation

In 600 BR, black ships were seen on the ocean to the west, this would be the beginning of the Orgoth invasion. A time where almost all of Western Immoren was conquered and oppressed by invaders from a distant land. The Orgoth Occupation is quite possibly the single most influential event in the history of the Iron Kingdoms, setting the stage for events far later and earning the lands their namesake.

The Orgoth were invaders from across the ocean, who came to Immoren to sacrifice its inhabitants to their dark gods. The Orgroth wielded magic in ways unheard of in Western Immoren, their warwitches conjured green fire, and caused the sky to rain blood upon their foes. Their magical prowess was in addition to their bloodthirsty and efficient martial warriors. As their armies swept across the land, spiked cages collected the souls of the slain, as an offering to the Orgoth's infernal patrons.

The Orgoth seemed unstoppable as they conquered the land, the mighty Khardic Empire fell in 569 BR and many others soon followed. Eventually all the cities and lands in Western Immoren were ground under the Orgoth's heel, with the exception of Caspia. Caspia did not escape the occupation unscathed, as all but the city walls and those inside were lost to the Orgoth. It was during this time that the land was enslaved and many of those residing in it were killed from the inhumane conditions that made up the Orgoth's slave camps. Many more still were forced onto ships headed for the Orgoth's homeland, never to be seen again.

Seeing the plight of Western Immoren at the hands of the Orgoth, Thamar was moved to act to help the oppressed. Thamar bartered with Infernals from outside Caen to give the gift of magic to humanity. The price for such a gift was steep, as the Infernals of the Nonokrion order demanded two thirds of human souls at a later date. Thamar had no other options and accepted the terms, and as such magic unaffiliated with divinities began to appear among humanity. The first known recipient of Thamar's gift was a girl by the name of Madruva Dagra, who manifested the ability to throw fire from her hands when angered, she used this talent to defend her sisters from Orgoth soldiers. While she initially escaped, the Orgoth put her entire bloodline to death; though the Orgoth were unable to put the genie of magic back in the bottle, as more sorcerers arose across Western Immoren to similar fates.

## The Rebellion

With the gift of magic bolstering humanity, conditions were right for a rebellion. At the end of 1 BR the slaves at the Orgoth fortress of Fharin rose up against the declaration that eight thousand slaves would be sent across the sea. The initial revolt was successful and the governor of the fortress was killed and his head placed on a pike as a proclamation to the Orgoth. In the coming months the uprising would spread into a full rebellion, calling itself the Iron Fellowship. The Iron Fellowship drew many to its cause and was initially successful, though only lasted a few short years. by 7 AR the Iron Fellowship was dispersed with its leaders scattered and its territories recaptured.

The flames of rebellion were not easily quelled, and humanity quickly adapted to the conflict that they had started. Arcanists developed new ways to use arcane talent for war, creating the first true generation of battle wizards, predecessors to warcasters that would dominate future battles. In 28 AR human alchemists had another breakthrough that would shift the tides of battle in their favor: The first firearm was created using alchemical blasting powder to propel its deadly load. The combination of wizardry and firearms was enough for the rebellion to begin taking ground back for the Orgoth again.

The final component that allowed humanity to beat the Orgoth back was the development of mechanika, the blend of science and magic through which many marvels are possible. Over one hundred years since the beginning of the rebellion had passed before the first runeplate was created. Soon after various other mechanika were created to either store arcane energy or use it for various purposes. Adding to the potential of mechanika was the invention of the cerebral matrix, an mechanikal device that could emulate some of the thinking processes of a living mind. With all of these advancements in place an new alliance between many of the revolutionaries was put in place, and a bold new weapon was conceived to end the occupation once and for all.

The rebellion drafted plans for a colossal machine capable of destroying Orgoth fortresses by itself. This machine would be the pinnacle of human wizardry and engineering, and hopefully the end of the war for humanity. The two largest free cities of Caspia and Korsk both began efforts to create these colossals, importing materials and performing construction in secret. Despite the secrecy, the efforts of Korsk were discovered and the Orgoth assaulted the city, destroying their foundries and torturing any wizard they could get their hands on. Caspia redoubled their efforts seeing the fate of Korsk, and the first colossal was unveiled in 191 AR. Five more colossals were were built shortly thereafter, and with these new weapons of war the Orgoth were finally firmly on the back foot.

The Orgoth could see that the new colossals were too much for their forces and began the Scourge, a campaign to destroy as much of their holdings and records. Scrolls were burned, fortresses destroyed, and slaves executed rather than let them fall to the enemy. Their efforts were extremely successful as to this day not a single map of their homeland has been found. Despite the damage inflicted upon the land by the scourge the Orgoth were driven back to their blackships and they set sail west never to be seen to this day.

## The Claiming

The final event that led up to the current situation was the claiming, when Thamar bartered for humanities magic to free them from the Orgoth the price was two thirds of humanity's souls nine centuries later. This price was steep though it was the only option that Thamar saw for humanity to survive. As the due date drew closer, efforts were put in place to cheat the Infernals out of their due. The largest attempt to deny the Infernals their payment was enacted by Zevanna Agha, The Old Witch of Khador. Agha released the Grymkin, monstrous creations made by those who dared to defy Menoth and were imprisoned in Urcaen for their crimes. The Grymkin swept across the Iron Kingdoms as the Wicked Harvest, culling wicked mortals many of whom were agents for the Infernals.

The witch's gambit worked and the Infernals were forced to begin their invasion earlier than they wanted. Across the Iron Kingdoms the Infernals' surviving agents revealed themselves and opened gateways into Caen; through which unspeakable horrors poured through, keen on collecting the souls that they were due. Infernals are creatures from outside Caen and Urcaen and were reliant on souls to survive and remain on Caen. The Infernal armies destroyed much of the continent and killed thousands as they gained what they were owed.

Facing what could very well have been the apocalypse the nations of Immoren set aside their differences and feuds to join forces against the extradimensional threat. Bitter rivals Cygnar and Khador declared a truce and marched side by side against the threat. The Nightmare Empire of Cryx put their raids on hold to assist Menite holy warriors. Even the gods themselves sent archons, their divine avatars, to reinforce mortal armies. These alliances of desperation proved to be enough to stem the tide of the Infernal horrors.

Eventually everything came to a head at Henge Hold. Henge Hold was the site of an experimental portal to the constellation that made up the body of the clockwork goddess of math Cyriss. At Henge Hold soldiers and heroes from every nation held the line to buy more time for the refugees to escape to the depths of space. Many died in the hope that more could be spared from the Infernal threat. In the end the Infernals were driven back and the battle was won at great cost. The portal to Cyriss was destroyed as a last ditch effort to prevent the Infernals from chasing the refugees into space, and the knowledge of its creation was lost.

In the aftermath of the Claiming, humanity continued on, with a newfound sense of peace amongst the Iron Kingdoms. Despite the decimation that humanity underwent it began the process of rebuilding. Many wonder how long this peace will last and who will be the first to break it.