**Pronunciation:** Kahd VUR-booz (/ˈkɑːd ˈvɜr.buːz/) **Type:** Orc Capital City **Continent:** [[Karudasos]] (Southern Region) **Realm:** Valley of Ketaca **Ruler:** King [[King Gorath|Gorath]] the Ironclad **Allegiance:** Orc Union of Olgrug **Population:** Estimated 30,000 within the city proper (Primarily Orcs, with goblin, ogre, and half-orc minorities); the surrounding Valley of Ketaca region houses an additional 370,000 inhabitants. --- ### Overview **Kadh Vrbuz** is the thriving capital city of the southern orcish realm, positioned in the volcanic and fertile Valley of Ketaca. Once a mere war camp, it has become the cultural and military heart of the southern orc world under the leadership of [[King Gorath]] the Ironclad. Known for its towering siege walls and sacred temples, Kadh Vrbuz is a beacon of orcish strength, order, and honor. The city's marketplaces, including the infamous Orcish Bazaar, are located roughly two miles outside the walls—forming a sprawling trade district where bartering is fierce and city law is looser. --- ### Key Features - **The Great Hall of Warlords:** A massive stone chamber where clan leaders, warlords, and diplomats convene. Its throne is carved from molten obsidian and inlaid with gold. - **The Orcish Bazaar:** The largest and most dangerous market in [[Karudasos]], known for brutal haggling, exotic goods, and enchanted war gear. - **The Temple of [[Gonosh]]:** A sacred site dedicated to the god of war, where blood rites are conducted and battle blessings are granted. - **The Siege Walls:** Fortifications crafted with goblin engineering and orcish brute strength. Reinforced with volcanic rock and enchanted steel. - **The War Beast Pits:** Breeding grounds and training arenas for massive war beasts used by southern orc armies. --- ### Culture and Society Kadh Vrbuz exemplifies the southern orc philosophy: **Strength Through Control**. Warfare is structured, governance is centralized, and honor is codified through laws and traditions. Warriors are trained not just to kill but to lead and build. Merchants, blacksmiths, and spellcasters are valued as much as front-line soldiers. - **Religion:** The dominant deity is **[[Gonosh]]**, the orc god of war and discipline. Rituals include public sacrifices, warrior anointments, and ancestor worship. - **Social Structure:** Society is caste-driven, with warriors, artisans, shamans, and merchants occupying distinct tiers. Loyalty and proven merit are the paths to rising in status. - **Festivals:** Major events include the **War Trials**, the **Blood-Forging Ritual**, and **Ancestor Night**. --- ### Strategic Importance As the southernmost bastion of orcish might, Kadh Vrbuz guards the Valley of Ketaca from the chaos of the north. It is a vital staging ground for any campaign against the Ironhide Clan, Krakasha raiders, or Cloud Giant incursions. It also functions as a trade hub with the [[Shadowspire Dominion]], and its forges rival even those of dwarven strongholds. --- ### Political Relations - **Allied with:** - **Olgrug** (King Otubog): Political and military union. - **[[Shadowspire Dominion]]** ([[King Grusdak]]): Strategic partnership and trade alliance. - **Opposed by:** - **Ironhide Clan** (King [[Drazkul]]): Rebellious northern orcs. - **Kingdom of Krakasha** (King [[Gordam]]): Expansionist northern regime. --- ### Adventure Hooks - **Blood Rite Invitation:** PCs are invited to observe—or participate in—a sacred rite. - **Trade Deal Sabotage:** The party must protect a vital trade agreement between Kadh Vrbuz and the Shadowspire. - **Siege of the North:** King [[King Gorath|Gorath]] prepares for war against Krakasha, seeking champions for a secret mission. - **Spiritual Vision:** A shaman invites the party to undergo a ritual at the Temple of [[Gonosh]] to gain prophetic insight. --- ### Legacy Kadh Vrbuz is more than a city—it is the soul of a rising orcish empire. It blends tradition and discipline with ambition and industry, proving that the orcs of the south are no longer mere savages but architects of their own destiny.