Orcanth

Flag of Orcanth

**Orcanth** (literally "Orc-land" in Orcanthi) is an Orc-majority country located in the eastern hemisphere on the Penazaduz subcontinent. It is bordered by the Kepet and Keghotogh Republics to the northwest and shares maritime borders with Nodal, Gogeget, and Nen Ren. Its capital is Penazaduz City.

The Penazaduz subcontinent has been inhabited by Orcs since the end of the Infinite War. The nation of Orcanth was founded during the lifetime of Darrokh, and at its greatest extent encompassed the entirety of the eastern hemisphere. An Orcanth state has existed in some form or another for over 3,000 years. For around 1,600 years all Orc territories were under control of Orcanth.

## History

### Kingdom of Orcanth, c. 400 BT-40 AT

The Penazaduz subcontinent was first settled in around 400 BT, several decades after the end of the Infinite War. According to legend, the hero Savat, the central figure of Savatism, led the Orcs to the Penazaduz subcontinent, where they developed into the Penazaduz ethnic group. Over the centuries, some Orcs left the subcontinent and migrated to the Garden Continent and Nen Ren, where the Western and Eastern Gardenian groups formed. These groups practiced Savatism. For over 400 years, the Orcs lived in dozens of petty kingdoms that frequently fought each other. The oldest and largest of these was the Kingdom of Orcanth, which extended from Savat's Wall on the northeast coast to the southern base of Volcan.

Tulkon Bytu often made trips to the Orc kingdoms and made allies with them. After Bytu's death, he reincarnated into Darrokh, an Orc from the Kingdom of Orcanth. Darrokh eventually helped lead diplomatic efforts to unite all of the Orc kingdoms under the flag of Orcanth, extending its territory all the way to the southern Garden continent and making the country a multi-ethnic state.

### Orcanth, 40 AT-2880 AT

Later, Tulkon Darrokh led the settling of the Frozen Continent, leading to the development of the Keghotuhr and Kepeti ethnic groups. By this point, the entire eastern hemisphere was claimed by the Orcs. Orcanth's vast amount of territory made it the largest nation on the planet; however, most government in Orcanth at this time operated done at the local/provincial level, and lacked the same organization and efficiency of the Iloisa Empire. In 60 AT, Darrokh built the Temple of the Tulkon, founding the religion of Tulkonism, which became the world's largest religion.

Orcanth citizens on the Garden continent helped fight the Demons' First Invasion from 195-201 AT. Tulkon Topa founded a Tulkonist Monastery in the Keghotogh Mountains, and helped convert most of the Frozen Continent to the religion. During the lifetime of Tulkon Kytoya, Orcanth nearly went to war with the Iloisa Empire over ownership of the Nokina peninsula (where many Orcs had migrated to from Keghotogh; by this point, the Nokina region was almost 20% Orcs) but Kytoya prevented it diplomatically.

Orcanth opposed Iloisa Emperor Grytu's Expansion. Many Orcs fought to defend the Garden Continent Territories. It was the senseless killing of an Orc family that convinced Tulkon Ytinise to fight back against Grytu. At the Iloisa Empire's greatest extent, much of the Orc-controlled Garden Continent, the Rodadzz Islands, and the Baikhal Isthmus fell under Iloisa rule. These areas were returned to Orcanth after the conflict. In response to its failure to defend much of its territory, the government of Orcanth made several sweeping reforms with the goal of centralizing its rule. Orcanth remained the largest nation on the planet, and its reforms made it the most powerful.

In 571 AT, Orcanth entered a Civil War, when the King at the time died without an heir resulting in a succession conflict. Tulkon Rogeduze helped create an elective monarchy system that would govern for the next several centuries, quelling the conflict. This particular system of government would become hugely influential worldwide, and was replicated by numerous other nations. Rogeduze also fought the Bandite, an Anti-Tulkon organization whose goal was ending the Tulkon cycle. He also killed a dragon that threatened to destroy the city of Kag Dak, which was one of the last known members of its species. The action pained Rogeduze greatly.

In 679 AT, war broke out between the Usybork Republic and Orcanth over the ownership of the Garden Continent, threatening to spread across the whole world. Tulkon Bodor had to mediate the conflict and created a neutral zone in former Ynoforan Country to prevent conflict between the two nations. In the 800s, Tulkon Aghe became known for her military exploits. Orcanth then declared war on the Phocachirsk IHS to take over the northern half of the Garden Continent, and Aghe, refusing to participate and also being dissatisfied with the Orc king’s power-hungry rule, started a rebellion against him. The rebellion was successful, and the king’s nine-year-old son Dzz Igh succeeded him to appease both loyalists and rebels (making him one of the few post-Civil War Monarchs of Orcanth to not have been elected). Aghe guided Dzz Igh’s first years on the throne and was his top advisor. After her death, Dzz Igh, whom she considered to be her adopted son, held a four-month funeral for her.

In 994 AT the city of Kepet revolted against the Orcanth government’s policy of executing political prisoners, and Tulkon Eoonanone clandestinely supported the protesters to keep the favor of Orcanth. However, when the protests turned to violence, Eoonanone travelled to Kepet by herself and forced the Orcanth government to heed the protester's demands.

In Kepet rebelled against the government, sparking the Second Orcanth Civil War. Young Tulkon Roduzaz was evacuated from Kepet to the Rodadzz Islands by the Tulkonist council, but managed to escape and flee back to Kepet. He arrived back home two years later only to find that his family had been killed. Not wanting anyone else to suffer as he had, he ended the war using his powers, confirming his status as the Tulkon to the world. The events of his childhood fueled his pacifistic ideals. Each of the four races had become increasingly militaristic and imperialistic over the past few centuries, and all eyes were turning towards the Garden Continents. Tensions erupted when the president of the IHS Council was assassinated, so Orcanth and Däe Ydelhiad declared war on the RIHS, while A’Roastad supported their human allies. Norte-Muldox remained outside of the conflict, but rogue groups of Dwarves did join the fight. Roduzaz, a committed pacifist, tried to remain out of the conflict but was assassinated by the king of Orcanth, who disapproved of his peaceful ways, in 1152 AT. The conflict was incredibly brutal and was on a scale that the world had not seen in centuries. During the last days of the war in 1160, dozens of meteors landed all over the planet and began sprouting Demon towers, meaning that the Global War set the stage for the Demons to return. The Global War and the Demons’ Second Invasion were together called the 40-Year War. The Global War was immediately ended and the Four Earthly Peoples united to fight the Demon threat. The Demons established a firm hold on the Southern Garden Continent, wiping out the Orc cities there, and began moving up through Penazaduz and to the west into Däe Ydelhiad. Great walls were constructed to slow the demons’ movements but proved to be ineffective. Much of Orcanth's population, especially in its southern regions, was enslaved and lived under Demon rule for decades. The War ended in 1192 AT with Yaaamemon's Sacrifice, destroying the Demons once and for all. Yaaamemone's Sacrifice led to the formation of Däegarden, which the Orcs returned to.

Orcanth was hugely affected by the war. The nation rebuilt itself over the centuries, but was still left in poverty. The ruined economic state of the country led to the foundation of the country of Gogeget, which declared independence from Orcanth peacefully in 1215. In 1506, Orcanth went to war with Nodal over a trade dispute in the Eastern Sea. The conflict damaged Yaaamemon's Rock, releasing the Essence of the Tulkon and allowing it to reincarnate as Tulkon Epodora.

During the lifetime of Tulkon Zoktopo in the mid 1600's, Orcanth went to war with Gogeget. By the war’s end, Gogeget had become fully reconquered by Orcanth. Orcanth had become so set on their goal that they completely destroyed Nul-Penazaduz, their cultural center, after it had become Gogeget’s beachhead. Zoktopo, now an adult, started a rebellion from Keghotogh. In three years, Zoktopo led the orc rebellion to victory, confining Orcanth to the continent of Penazaduz. Gogeget regained independence, and the nation of Frig-Reda was formed with its capital in Redakhokh. Frig-Reda was an extremely turbulent state, and was eventually reorganized into the Keghotogh Ascendancy. Orcanth remained a weak state until the reign of Tulkon Queen Zoruha.

Tulkon Zoruha, even as a child, was looking for ways to better her country. When she was a teenager, war broke out between Orcanth and Gogeget over the island of Nen Ren. For 13 years, the two nations fought, with Nen Ren eventually remaining under Gogeget rule (Zoruha brokered the compromise). In the years after the war, Zoruha introduced many reforms that would change Orcanth for the better and improve its infrastructure and economy. Zoruha became queen of Orcanth and began a golden age for the country. After her death in 2093, Zoruha was replaced as Monarch by her protege, Zetopa. An Immortal, Zetopa sometimes dreamed of world domination, but saw no reason for it.

Zetopa's Immortality led him to be the ruler of Orcanth for over 800 years. One cultural effect of his long reign was that Penazaduz, the language of the country around the time of Zetopa's birth, became standardized to somewhat match the dialect of Volcan, Zetopa's hometown. It would undergo very little change for the next one thousand years.

In 2702 AT, Volcan erupted, destroying most of the city of Volcan. Tulkon E'Acoradi rescued Zetopa but was unable to save most of Zetopa's friends, allies, and descendants who lived in the city, leading to a grudge with the young Tulkon. E'Acoradi spent years working on recover efforts before leaving the country, allowing Orcanth's economy to re-stabilize. However, Zetopa was still angry with E'Acoradi, and decided that now was the time to carry out his plan for world domination. He began preparing its infant stages, which included spreading a nationalist doctrine in Orcanth, building up its economy and military, promoting his extreme form of Savatism, and forming alliances with other Immortals.

In 2876 AT, E’Acoradi noticed the growing militarism and nationalism in Orcanth and went to confront the King. Zetopa, understanding that E’Acoradi was onto him, killed him, and spread propaganda that E’Acoradi attempted to assassinate him. Zetopa claimed to have ended the Tulkon cycle, and also banned the religion of Tulkonism. This led to a widespread hatred of the Tulkon.

### Empire of Orcanth, 2880 AT-2896 AT

In 2880 Zetopa declared the formation of the Empire of Orcanth, which Gogeget, Nodal, Nen Ren, and most of the RIHS willingly became a part of, with the exception of Ilois which split from the group. Ilois' split from Orcanth led to the Zatem Crisis, which nearly led to a premature start to the war he was planning. The crisis resolved peacefully, but tensions were still high. For the next 16 years, the world existed in a cold war, with all nations at the ready.

### Immortal Empire, 2896 AT-2905 AT

In 2896 AT, Zetopa declared the reformation of the Empire of Orcanth into the Immortal Empire, while simultaneously declaring war on all non-member states. The non-imperial states, including Norte-Muldox, Ilois, A'Roastad, Keghotogh, Kepet, and Ynofora, formed the Free Alliance to fight against the Empire, while Zetopa and his allies secretly went to Nen Ren to remotely command their armies.

The RIHS, now known as the Human Protectorates, fell in a brief Free Alliance campaign led by Norte-Muldox and the Ilois IHS in the early stages of the war. However, the nation of Ynofora was essentially destroyed by the Empire while the Republics of the Frozen Continent were taken over. Most of the war was one of attrition. Many battles took place on the coasts of Nodal and Orcanth, as well as A'Roastad and the Acadon Islands. Beginning in 2900 AT, Gogeget began a brief campaign of genocide against the captured Ynoforan lands, killing around 30% of their population. Numerous uprisings took place in Immortal Empire territories, both in states that voluntarily joined and in newly acquired territories. These proved to be troublesome fo the Empire, which devoted many efforts to bringing them down.

In 2904 AT, the Empire declared a ceasefire, and several armies went home to be on the defense. During this time, Von Hamobora, unknowingly the reincarnation of E'Acoradi, had a vision of her former self telling her to track down and fight Zetopa. Several weeks into the ceasefire, Zetopa staged surprise attacks on the nations of the Free Alliance, crippling their armies, killing thousands of civilians, and destroying any hope of resistance. The Free Alliance surrendered, and its members became part of the Empire, essentially sealing an Imperial victory. The Empire would continue to battle various resistance movements across the globe, including within their core territories.

Von Hamobora, intent on following E'Acoradi's instructions, escaped Imperial Norte-Muldox and left to track down Zetopa, embarking on a several-month-long journey. Zetopa, sensing her on his trail, sent Eberil to kill her, but he failed, and Vonha continued her quest. With the help of various Orcanthi rebels, she discovered Zetopa's whereabouts by mid-2905 AT, and killed him and the remaining immortals in a final battle at Immortal High Command. Prior to his death, Zetopa confirmed to Vonha that she was indeed the Tulkon.

### Orcanth Republic, 2905 AT-

Orcanth switched from absolute monarchy to a constitutional government after the war. The monarchy was abolished and Orcanth's first republican government was established. Within decades after the war, Orcanth became quite isolationist in terms of foreign policy; while citizens were free to come and go, many of the internal happenings within the country were not widely publicized. Orcanth did not pursue aggressive trading or economic policies, and relied on self-subsistence and minimal trade. Orcanthi citizens were also heavily educated on their country's role in the War, and were encouraged to have respect for the sovereignty of other nations and promote peace and understanding.

During the Keghotogh Crisis, Orcanth opened its borders to refugees fleeing the takeover of the south of Keghotogh by the Tulkonist Council, leading to tensions between the Orcanth government and the Council.

## Culture & Demographics

### Ethnicity

In the past, Orcanth was a center of great influence in the Orcosphere, but in the centuries after the Immortal War it has become more isolationist. Most immigrants to Orcanth are Orcs from other countries and live in the larger cities, like Penazaduz City. Almost 90% of the population is native Penazaduz Orcs, with the other 10% being various ethnic minorities such as Keghotuhr, Kepeti, Gardenians, Nodal, and Ynoforans.

### Religion

The Savatist religion originated several centuries prior to the Tulkon and was the dominant religion amongst most Orcs for centuries. A small minority worshipped the god Zan Zat of the E'Ash pantheon, but most of these converted to Savatism eventually. In 60 AT, Tulkon Darrokh founded the religion of Tulkonism in the Kepet region of the country, and it quickly spread across most of the Frozen Continent territories as well as to Human and Dwarf populations elsewhere. The Garden Territories as well as the Penazaduz subcontinent continued to practice Savatism, which remains the dominant religion in Orcanth today.

Before, during, and after the formation of the Empire of Orcanth, Zetopa promoted Zetopan Savatism which became the state religion in all Imperial territories. Zetopan Savatism differed from mainstream Savatism in that it preached combat as the only path to salvation. This made the people who lived in the Empire extremely belligerent and willing to conquer the world in Zetopa's name. After the Immortal War and the Empire's fall, Zetopan Savatism came to be seen as fringe and extreme, and lost almost all of its adherents, who returned to earlier, truer forms of Savatism that did not place such importance on bloodshed. Small Zetopan cults still existed here and there in the War's aftermath, but gradually decayed.