Keghotogh

Keghotogh, officially the Republic of Keghotogh, and sometimes called Kekhotokh, is an Orc-majority country located in the western half of the Frozen Continent. It is bordered to the east by Kepet and to the south by Orcanth, and shares maritime borders in Norte-Muldox, Nokina, and Honsinad.

Keghotogh was first settled during the lifetime of Tulkon Darrokh and is inhabited mainly by native Keghotuhr. In the modern age, it has become the most diverse Orc-majority country.

Early history
The area that would eventually become Keghotogh was first occupied by the Angels, whose presence made the surrounding continent a frozen wasteland. During the Infinite War, Demons broke into the continent, and the area that they occupied formed the Green Valley, hidden behind miles of ice and snow.

During his lifetime, Bytu explored the Frozen Continent for the Iloisa Empire, and after becoming the Tulkon he discovered the fabled Green Valley. He kept its location a secret until death. He passed it on to his reincarnation, Tulkon Darrokh, who helped lead the settlement of the continent by the Orcs of Orcanth in 50 BT. The settlement to the east of the Tepois Mountains became the region of Kepet, and the area to the west, which included the Green Valley, became Keghotogh. The Tepois Mountains were later renamed the Keghotogh Mountains.

Keghotogh Region, 50 AT-1640 AT
Life in Keghotogh was very peaceful. Over several centuries, isolation led to the development of a distinct Keghotuhr language and culture that still existed under the rule of Orcanth. The religion of Tulkonism was founded in 60 AT, and it spread rapidly amongst the Keghotuhr. Tulkon Topa, the first Tulkon from Keghotogh, established a monastery in the Keghotogh Mountains, where she lived as a spiritual leader.

By 400 AT, many Keghotuhr had traveled further west and settled in Nokina, creating a large external community. So many Orcs lived in Nokina that Orcanth claimed it as their own territory, nearly leading to war with the Iloisa Empire. Tulkon Kytoya was able to prevent a full-scale conflict, and Nokina remained under rule of the Iloisa.

During the Dwarven Genocide in 448 AT, many Keghotuhr fled back to Keghotogh from Nokina, fearing further prosecution by Grytu's regime. Northern Keghotogh also became a refuge for survivors of the Genocide, many of whom would later return to liberate Onor from Iloisa control. The Iloisa Empire fell thanks to the efforts of Tulkon Ytinise in 471 AT, and most refugees from both groups returned home.

Tulkon Rogeduze completed his training several years before the Orcanth Civil War in 570 AT, when the majority Tulkonist region of Kepet rebelled against the anti-religious freedom laws passed the King of Orcanth. Most of Keghotuhr joined the side of Kepet, leading to several internal conflicts between Orcanth loyalists and Rogeduze personally killed the King of Orcanth and introduced reforms that would allow greater religious freedom within the country. 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 Keghotogh city of Kag Dak, which was one of the last known members of its species. The action pained Rogeduze greatly.

Several Keghotuhr aided Nokina in the fight against Tulkon Epi'hu.

Tulkon Aghe was born in the city of Redakhok, in western Keghotogh. After completing her training, Aghe became known for her military exploits. Her first victory was in support of A'Roastar when the E'Deonadi Rebellion took place. She became the leader of Redakhokh. 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 in the second Orcanth Civil War. The rebellion was successful, and the king’s nine-year-old son Dzz Igh succeeded him. 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.

Immediately prior to the 40-Year War in 1152 AT, Tulkon Roduzaz was assassinated by the Orcanth government in the city of Texhas for his anti-war beliefs, and reincarnated as Tulkon Yaaamemon, who would go on to end the 40-Year War. During the war itself, many battles took place on Keghotogh's coast. When the Demons invaded, Keghotogh acted as a stronghold for refugees from southern Orcanth.

Frig Reda, 1647 AT-1712 AT
In the 1630's, war broke out between the orc nations of Orcanth and Gogeget when Zoktopo was a child, so he was taken to Keghotogh for safety where he would train for the next few years. By the war’s end, Gogeget had become fully reconquered by Orcanth. Years later, Zoktopo, now an adult, realized that the government of Orcanth had become oppressive and had far too much power. He started a revolution from Keghotogh. In three years, Zoktopo led the orc rebellion to victory, confining Orcanth to the continent of Penazaduz and founding the nation of Frig-Reda in 1647, as well as allowing Gogeget to become independent once again. He served the government in an unofficial capacity. He was injured in battle and swore off combat, settling down in Redakhokh and becoming a spiritual leader. His advice was largely ignored by the Frig-Reda government, which led to the Reunification Crisis, where Frig-Reda became rather corrupt. Zoktopo was labelled an enemy of the state in 1649 and was forced to flee the country, becoming a refugee.Zoktopo fled to Nokina and planned to dismantle Frig-Reda, but died of his old injury before his plans could come to fruition.

Keghotogh Ascendancy, 1712 AT-2580 AT
In 1712, Frig-Reda fell, and the country was reorganized into the Keghotogh Ascendancy. Tulkon O'Raenore helped legitimize the new government as an adult.

Seeking to gain access to Norte-Muldox’s vast mineral wealth, the Keghotogh Ascendancy invaded Norte-Muldox. At King Amorim’s behest, Tulkon Osnerime did not join the fighting; he was a young Tulkon who did not need to enter a war. Osnerime did not participate in Amorim’s retaliatory strike in the Ascendancy, where he perished. Osnerime, in his grief, made his way to the Ascendancy and forced their surrender by attacking the Ascendant Palace. He later realized that he was acting out of rage rather than what truly needed to be done, and negotiated a peace treaty that was mutually beneficial to both countries. He spent many years mending the relationship between the two, as well.

While Tulkon Giha was a child, the Keghotogh Ascendancy allied with Gogeget to spread their influence. Each country had experienced unprecedented growth and resources recently and they decided to devote their combined power to conquest, starting the Orc Conquest. Giha was moved to Usybork IHS for protection. The two aggressor nations were heavily fought against and invaded by a multinational coalition. Gogeget eventually surrendered, and Giha, now a young adult, helped facilitate the treaty signing, as well as post-war recovery efforts, the latter of which would dominate most of her career. She also fought anti-Orc discrimination that had been disseminated throughout the world.

Thanks to Tulkon Giha’s reconstruction efforts following the Orc Conquest, the people of the Keghotogh Ascendancy viewed the Tulkon with high esteem and Keghotuhr Rakte’s confirmation as the Tulkon in 2575was widely celebrated. Rakte was half-human; his mother Tasha was the daughter of Honsin relief workers who worked with Tulkon Giha and settled in Keghotogh, and his father Raurkhurkh was a native of the city. Rakte grew to become a wise leader, even as a teen. Civil unrest in the country began coming to a head; a rebel faction believed that the Ascendancy’s government was to blame for the widespread destruction that took place in the country as well as its near collapse, and the government’s inefficiency led to the previous Tulkon having to save it. A small number of extremists even targeted Rakte. Eventually, a coup took place. Rakte and some of his allies were evacuated to Usybork IHS while the fighting raged on the frozen continent. Rakte was infuriated watching his home burn to the ground from afar, so he made his way back home and used his powers to end the fighting. The Ascendancy officially split into two republics: the Keghotogh and the Kepet.

Keghotogh Republic, 2580 AT-
The Immortal War began in 2896 AT, when Emperor Zetopa of Orcanth declared the formation of the Immortal Empire. The Republics of the Frozen Continent, Norte-Muldox, A’Roastad, Nyfo Ynoforiad, and the newly formed Ilois Republic (which had broken off from the RIHS, which joined the Empire), allied together to fight the Immortal Empire. Early in the war, however, both of the Frozen Republics fell under the control of the Empire. The Ro Kot Resistance Movement was a notable force, fighting back against the forces of the Empire and keeping Northeastern Keghotogh and western Kepet free from Imperial Control through the end of the war, when the rest of the country became liberated by Tulkon Vonha.

The Republic, along with all other nations, was one of the signatories of the Onor-Ynofora Codes.

In 3094 AT, the Republic of Keghotogh elected Prime Minister Agrah. Agrah, who herself was half-Nokin and a Tulkonist, was controversial for her anti-Tulkonist Council views, which enraged extremists within the country. A sect known as the Daishnib-Tulkukh Keghotuhr (roughly meaning "True Tulkonists of Keghotogh" in the Keghotuhr language), also known as the DTK, began supporting protests by extremists against foreigners, religious minorities, and government officials in Keghotogh. Eventually, these protests turned into outright violent attacks, beginning the Keghotogh Crisis. The Crisis officially began with the burning of a Savat Temple in Baikhal in the southeast of Keghotogh in Zanem of 3095 AT, several months after Agrah's inauguration. Violence by Tulkonist extremists and the DTK erupted across Keghotogh and in neighboring countries, such as Kepet, Honsin, and Nodal. Many countries expressed a desire to intervene, but the Onor-Ynofora Codes prevented large-scale intervention of any kind by foreign countries in an effort to prevent another global-scale war. However, the Tulkonist Council, as it wasn't a country or official government, was not subject to the Codes, and sent the Tulkonist Army to the country under I'Ladas' leadership without the approval of the Keghotogh Government. On 22 Zatem, the Tulkonist Army entered Keghotogh City and was met by anti-DTK and anti-Tulkonist Council protestors. The protest was attacked by armed DTK members, triggering violent chaos in the city between the Tulkonist Army, protestors, the DTK, and Keghotogh's own military. I'Ladas went missing, and PM Agrah was assassinated.

The Tulkonist Army was able to create a temporary truce within the capital, but continued to consolidate their control in the country's southern half. Relnakj, a senior official within the Keghotogh Government, was named interim Prime Minister. Relnakj tasked a band of mercenaries and magic users from Honsin with tracking down I'Ladas and finding a way to end the crisis.

Ethnic Composition
Keghotogh is inhabited mostly by its native Keghotuhr population, an Orc ethnic group descended from settlers from Orcanth. Their language is the most common in the country. Over time however, Keghotogh has received many immigrants from Ynofora, Nokina, Honsin, Norte-Muldox, and Kepet, making it the most diverse Orc-majority country. Its numerous port cities along the western coastline, including Redakhokh, Texhas, and Pourkho, as well as the capital Keghotogh City, are notable destinations for immigrants.

Religion
The earliest settlers of Keghotogh were practitioners of Savatism, but by 80 AT the religion of Tulkonism had almost completely overtaken the country. Tulkonism to this day remains the largest religion in the country; most immigrants to the country are also Tulkonists as well. Savatism is still popular in the states of West Baikhal and North Baikhal in the country's far south region, but remain minority religions there, as well. Däeism is also practiced by most Elf immigrants to the country.