Mar'osh

A young "kingdom" established in the Fiach Wood in 247 AC by Maerik Mar'osh, an orcish warlord and one of two survivors of the Mar'osh tribe. Founded to give the tribes (orcish and otherwise) of the Fiach Wood their own place of security and independence from what Maerik saw as rapacious, greedy "civilized" nations (primarily Wyrmhold, who he blamed for inciting the attack that destroyed his tribe).

Demographics

About 35,000 adults in the core tribes and associated "supplicant" tribes, and about another 15,000 in allied tribes not formally part of the kingdom (mainly to the east of the Abhainn river). Dominantly orcs, but with a leavening of others, primarily ihmisi.

Location

The core kingdom is located in the central-southern Fiach Wood between the Serche (Freedom) river to the west and the Abhainn (Blood) river to the east. Roughly a triangle 100 miles on a side, it has several large towns/small cities:

• Elishar ~8k (located in the north on the shores of Silverscale lake)
• Dearg Loch An ~6k (located in the south on the shores of Red Lake, where the Serche and the Abhainn meet.
• Northbridge (home of the Witches) ~2k. Home of the Diharac.
• Southbridge ~4k. Home of the Borglas.

And a number of smaller settlements.

Government

Mar'osh is a decentralized kingdom that allows the core tribes significant latitude in self-government as long as they support the king's foreign policy and cooperate well with others.

• King Maerik is also the head of the military, raised as in-kind taxation from the constituent tribes. Each tribe must pay in either food, soldiers, or other goods to support the army, which acts additionally as a police force.
• His sister, Diedre Mar'osh is the head of the Witches, the magical and spiritual core of the nation. Majority female, these are more arcane-focused than most orcish nations, with the tribal shamans and witch doctors acting as backup. Many people fear the Witches of Mar'osh.
• The core tribes (numbering 6) represent about 15k people. Each one controls their ancestral territory, with the clan chief as governor. Core tribes have pledged themselves directly to the kingdom and provide the bulk of the soldiers. In return, they have territorial control and permanent voice at court.
  • Borglas (SW)
  • Diharac (NW)
  • Ferrmor
  • Andia Briste
  • Fiduv
  • Carraglor
• Supplicant tribes represent another 20k people, scattered among 30+ much smaller tribes. These tribes live in and among the core tribes, intermarrying and (eventually) being absorbed. They also represent those whose tribes were obliterated by infighting, disease, etc. They mostly act as farmers and workers. Some retain more tribal organization than others.
• Allied tribes pay some tribute periodically and in return are promised protection against assault from the outside, but don't have a voice other than through ambassadors.

Policy

Mar'osh has a very firm "no first strikes, but also no leeway for second hits" policy. They do not attack other tribes, but any attack on their territory or allies is met with overwhelming force.

They secretly trade with underground groups out of Rauviz for needed technological supplies (especially advanced agricultural equipment), but that is kept quiet to avoid complications.

The tribes are under strict orders not to mess with Wyrmhold, their nearest neighbor.