Factions

The Party

Also known as The Arrivals

Outsiders who arrived at Ardax’s gathering at Torrentmoot during Belkzen’s flood truce. The Party’s appearance and bearing are not described.

The Parents

Worried and angry orc parents of Kar, Xan, and Ilo. Their children are green-skinned and usually obedient, returning when they promise to do so.

The Orc Holds

Also known as Belkzen’s Halls

The Orc Holds of Belkzen establish camps along the Flood Road during the annual flood truce, temporarily halting open conflict to gather meat, hides, and other resources from the aurochs migration. The holds vary in size from small camps to settlements with over a thousand individuals.

Orcs

Orcs at Torrentmoot came from many clans and holds, including the Empty Hand Hold and Burning Sun Hold. Gurnak sought to record their history, legends, and culture for outsiders, while Ardax promoted cooperation among them.

Knights of Lastwall

A knightly order from the nation of Lastwall, maintaining ties — and old rivalries — with several of Belkzen's holds. The surviving Knights of Lastwall seek allies against Tarbaphon and are interested in the Black Jackets’ training and in support and supplies from Druma.

The Pathfinder Society

Field agents dedicated to exploring and recording world history while forging connections across borders.

The Warmongers

Arguably the most traditional of Urgir's council factions, the Warmongers prefer physical solutions to problems — especially violent ones — and argue that hesitation and needless diplomacy are behind many of Belkzen's failings.

The Reverent

Formed from representatives of various religions in Urgir — holy, unholy, and otherwise. Despite their differences, they share an interest in strengthening the orc people.

The Provident

A faction representing Urgir's common orc hunters and raiders. The Provident supports a balance of power between the holds and opposes any move it feels would disrupt this.

The Jobbers

An up-and-coming faction in the politics of Urgir representing the city's new merchant class. They favor policies that enrich business and are often accused of dismissing tradition.

Oprak

A militaristic hobgoblin nation led by General Azaersi, always looking to build alliances lest their neighbors try to test them.

The Blackjackets

One of Druma's most famous mercenary outfits, known for their tight discipline. The Black Jackets are Druman mercenaries focused on their pay and employers.

Golden Wheel Trading Company

A relatively small mercantile conglomerate operating trade routes in and around Nirmathas, to the south of Belkzen.

Prophets of Kalistrade

Merchant-mystics of Druma eager to develop Belkzen's markets and consumer demand, though few kalistocrats risk traveling to Belkzen themselves.

The Aspis Consortium

A cutthroat commercial organisation always seeking fresh recruits willing to bend the rules.

Esoteric Order of the Palatine Eye

Ustalavic occult scholars who are rarely granted safe passage into Belkzen.

Kellid Followings

Communities to the north, near the Realm of the Mammoth Lords, with much to gain from safer trade routes through Belkzen.

Empty Hand Hold

Led by Ardax the White-Hair, this hold rules Urgir, the capital of Belkzen, and controls much of the region's trade. It is the most powerful hold in the nation.

Death’s Head Hold

The hold surrounding and guarding Urgir, closely allied with Ardax’s Empty Hand Hold.

Burning Sun Hold

Adopted the worship of Sarenrae decades ago and challenges some of Belkzen's crueler stereotypes and traditions, while remaining combat-ready.

Gutspear Hold

Currently without a fixed territory of its own after being displaced from the Darklands access point of Deepgate.

Unbroken Horn Hold

A powerful hold that has long ruled the mountain stronghold of Wyvernsting, a strategic city known for its blacksmiths and megafauna stables.

Storm-Screamers of Rull

A nomadic hold of druids, hunters, and guides renowned for their mastery of weather and wildlife. They welcome the annual floodwaters and watch over the migrating aurochs herds each year.

Cleft Head Hold

Holds a fortified stronghold near the border with Ustalav.

Bloodied Gauntlet Hold

Once devoted to the god Gorum, this hold has been left without clear spiritual direction since his death and is searching for new purpose.

Wingripper Hold

Known for training and riding wyverns, and allied with the Unbroken Horn Hold.

Death Tower Hold

A hold devoted to unusual and unsettling religious practices, currently overseen by its high priest.

One Eye Hold

A Darklands-descended people holding territory in the industrial town of Blisterwell, locked in a long-running rivalry with the Haskodar Hold for control of the settlement.

Haskodar Hold

Emerged in Blisterwell a few decades ago and has steadily claimed more of the town, contesting the One Eye Hold for control.

Ice Tooth Hold

A northern hold that rarely engages in Urgir politics, focusing instead on hunting, training megafauna, and trading with Kellid neighbors.

Drowning Sand Hold

Navigates the treacherous quicksand of the Dirt Sea with skilled catamarans, earning coin by ferrying travelers across the badlands.

Blue-Marked Tooth Fairies

The Blue-Marked Tooth Fairies are a faction characterized by blue tribal tattoos that mimic the markings of the Bloodied Gauntlet hold. They are believed to have arrived with or followed this hold, creating a conflict with the unmarked tooth fairies, who are considered local.

Death's Head Hold

Controls the territory surrounding Urgir and acts as a de facto guardian force for the capital. A close ally of the Empty Hand Hold.

Goblins

People whose social standing and acceptance Fizzik sought to improve through notable deeds, scholarship, and friendship.

Lastwall

Lastwall was a nation whose patron was Iomedae. Before its fall, its Knights of Ozem increasingly became enemies of Belkzen’s Orcs and neglected the danger in Gallowspire.

Orc Scouts

Also known as Orc Scouts

Several Orc Scouts left camp and did not return after several days. They failed to report to Kestrel, who was unaware of their whereabouts.

The Aspis Consortium

A cutthroat trade company always in need of fresh recruits — ideally operatives who don't mind bending a few rules to maximize profit.

The Esoteric Order of the Palatine Eye

A secretive organization of scholars and historians based in Ustalav, delighting in all things occult. Belkzen has rarely permitted its agents safe passage, though its members are drawn by the region's buried history and mysteries.

The Group

The Group included Vaska, Fizzik, Gurnak, Klein, and Vanna, operating from Torrentmoot. Ardax directed worried parents to them when Kar, Xan, and Ilo went missing.

The Pathfinder Society

A famous organization of field agents dedicated to exploring and documenting the world's history, always eager to build connections and forge new alliances. The Pathfinder Society includes Davor, a member for almost ten years who described himself as a scholar and said he owed much to the Society.

Unmarked Tooth Fairies

The Unmarked Tooth Fairies were a local group involved in a gang war with Blue-Marked Tooth Fairies associated with the Bloodied Gauntlet. They carried pliers and blades made from tusks.

Knights Of Ozem

The Knights of Ozem were predecessors of the Knights of Lastwall and were part of Taldor’s army during the Shining Crusade. They called on Aroden’s herald, Arazni, to fight Whispering Tyrant.

Taldor

During the Shining Crusade, Taldor sent a large army that included the Knights of Ozem. The Knights of Ozem later became the Knights of Lastwall.

Tar-Baphon's Undead Hordes

At Torrentmoot, quarrelling among those gathered made them easy prey for Whispering Tyrant and his undead hordes.