ORCLAND

Location: Northeastern part of Darokin, northeast of Aengmor, southeast of Rockhome.

Area: Approximately 12,936 sq. mi. (33,504 sq. km.).

Population: Estimated at around 15,000 goblinoids (primarily orcs).

Languages: Most goblinoid tongues; Orcish is most common.

Coinage: Any (mostly stolen).

Taxes: Whatever can be taken from one's underlings.

Government Type: Coalition of semi-autonomous nations, each ruled by a chief. Nominally part of Darokin.

Industries: Warfare, subsistence herding, limited mining (primarily in the region of Tlazepetec).

Important Figures: Moghul Khan (Khan of Dast, yellow orc rumoured to be a devil swine, male, F9), Tlatepetl (Governor-General of Tlazepetec, red orc, male, F10), Khordarg (red dragon). General Tlatepetl has annexed the settlements of Xorg and New Hobgobland, territories formerly under the command of Hutai Khan and Alebane. The two goblinoid leaders both left Orcland last year with raiding hordes.

Flora and Fauna: Aside from the predominance of goblinoids in the region, many monsters can be found here. These include animal herds (primarily deer), apes (snow and white), black bears, mountain lions, and wolves. There are rumours that a large red dragon made its home in the area near Tlazepetec a long time ago.

Further Reading: GAZ10 The Orcs of Thar, GAZ11 The Republic of Darokin, O2 Blade of Vengeance, previous almanacs.

Description by Ursula Bremen. [Note that this correspondence describes the region in Klarmont and not in Nuwmont like other atlas entries. Ed.]

Being one of the agents most familiar with the region known as Orcland, I was chosen to accompany the group of DDC agents and ambassadors on their diplomatic mission to visit the court of Governor-General Tlatepetl. It is my pleasure to provide a description of my journey to your readers, from my personal journal (and thus not subject to the censoring that accompanies my usual reports).

Klarmont 4, 1016 AC: Accompanied by troops from Ft. Hobart, our party skirted the eastern portion of the Canolbarth, heading north towards the Dwarfgate Mountains. We were met a few miles south of Xorg by an envoy sent by the governor-general, who escorted us the rest of the way through the hills and into the mountain valley.

Xorg was little more than a military camp: a few wooden buildings and fortifications, and some stone structures built into the side of the mountains. It was immediately apparent that most of the humanoids in the camp lived underground.

The commander of the camp, Tequiua Axteca (a hobgoblin) took us on a short (and closely supervised) tour of the facilities, and then allowed us to retire and rest from our journey. I was able to gather that the term "tequiua" indicates a military title of some sort.

We dined with the commander and his lieutenants that evening, but the atmosphere was tense, particularly between the escort from Ft. Hobart and the humanoids. Tequiua Axteca was surprisingly cordial and accommodating to our questions.

Klarmont 5: We arose shortly after dawn, ready to continue our stay with the Orclanders. Tequiua Axteca and his guards greeted us, and we broke our fast together. There was little conversation this morning-I sensed the commander was eager to have us on our way. From the glares I received from several of his soldiers, I was ready to agree with him.

After our meal, the commander bid us farewell and put us in the care of one of his lieutenants-an Oenkmarian, like the commander (this one goblin)-and several other soldiers. We were led into one of the stone structures, and began a descent into the caverns of Xorg. The tunnels were extensive-many were obviously natural, but far more were man-made; several very recent excavations. Clearly this camp was in the process of intense fortification. For what purpose, I can only speculate.

We walked for what seemed like an eternity before our escort finally began to lead us upwards. We emerged into a wooded valley, the moon high in the sky above us. We had been walking almost an entire day below ground! We made camp for the night, the guards from Ft. Hobart keeping a close watch on our companions.

Klarmont 7: We finally arrived in the settlement of Tlazepetec (formerly known as C'Kag). This was the seat of the new ruler, Governor-General Tlatepetl's, power. (Governor-general is a rough translation of his Oenkmarian title.) We had been brought to the surface several miles from the valley where the settlement lay, rather than continuing underground. When questioned about this, our escort gave a non-committal shrug. There are obviously secrets that lay beneath Tlazepetec that must remain hidden from us at this time.

The settlement itself was quite an amazing sight. Far from the crude stone and earth keep that formerly housed the trolls of C'Kag, a large pyramid-like structure now dominated the far end of the valley. Though only half finished, it was nevertheless an impressive structure. Even as we observed, orcish soldiers were herding trollish slaves in the hauling of the massive blocks of stone that comprised its bulk. Governor-General Tlatepetl had made interesting use of the once-dominant trollish overlords-their vast regenerative abilities and strength made for an almost tireless task force. Small wonder at the incredible structures and caverns that had been created in the few years since his arrival.

Klarmont 8: After an evening's rest, we were finally taken to meet the governor-general himself. Rather than greeting us in the opulent palace he was building, he broke fast with us in his tent. When I had the chance to ask him about this observation, he didn't seem to see the contradiction in it. Tlatepetl was quite apparently more general than governor.

He showed us around the settlement, taking great pride in demonstrating his achievements. He even allowed us to observe a game of tlachtli, on a ball court outside the pyramid. The ball game (which seemed quite similar to the Alphatian game of hard-ball, and like a game played among various cities of the Tiger Clan), was obviously a favoured pastime of the governor-general's. He boasted to us of his days as a tlachtli player in the old city of Oenkmar.

Klarmont 10: In our discussions with the governor-general today, we learned that the keep of New Hobgobland, to the west, has been annexed by the Oenkmarians (in similar manner to the annexation of Xorg). The governor-general feigned ignorance as to the whereabouts of Hutai Khan, and was obviously unconcerned.

It is clear that he holds Moghul Khan, the yellow orcish leader of Dast, in disdain. He seems to have no plans to move against his fellow humanoid ruler, but he obviously wouldn't take measures to assist him in the defence of his keep, if outside agents were to attack Moghul Khan.

Klarmont 12: There is little in the way of religious activity among the inhabitants of Tlazepetec. In my experiences dealing with superstitious and (generally) uncivilized humanoids, this is unusual. Though I noted occasional utterances to goblinoid Immortals, there is nothing in the way of organized (or even crude shamanic) activity. The Oenkmarian overlords of Tlazepetec seem to discourage this. I gather that the military and the priesthood of Oenkmar were not on good terms. Governor-General Tlatepetl seems intent on making the military way the sole activity in his dominion.

Klarmont 14: I am continually surprised by the Oenkmarians. While observing the work on the pyramid, I noted one red-skinned orc in particular, who seemed to pay close attention to the construction. Though clad as a soldier, he was obviously serving as an engineer. Our escort confirmed this observation for me. Evidently the soldier had taken an interest in stonework while growing up in the city of Oenkmar. These Oenkmarian humanoids were obviously a cut above most of their breed. Which could either bode well or ill, depending.

Klarmont 18: Our envoy resumes its journey homeward today from Xorg. Tequiua Axteca saw us off personally. The guardsmen of Ft. Hobart were especially relieved; I suppose it must be difficult for them to be on civil terms with a group of people they have spent much of their lives fighting. Still, that attitude will have to change if a decision is made to open diplomatic ties with the Orclanders.

I will not be able to say for sure what my position is until I have collated and reviewed my reports of the past few weeks. For now though, my opinion is that it would be best to keep a close watch on the Orclanders. Governor-General Tlatepetl and his Oenkmarian lieutenants seem more or less sincere in their effort to civilize the other humanoids of Orcland, and capable of doing so. Yet all the obvious military activity worries me. It might be best to cooperate with the Orclanders, and keep our ties close.