| Category | Empires | ||||||||
| World | Bal-Kriav | ||||||||
| Region | Northern Hordelands, High Wood Country | ||||||||
| Government | Hex Rangian | ||||||||
| Capital | Incubus | ||||||||
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| Alignment | chaotic | ||||||||
| Deities | Ares, Demogorgon, Silvanus | ||||||||
| Enemies | Angrod, Divine Empire, Garormuk | ||||||||
| Established | 13 Witchrite 738 | ||||||||
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The Witch Horde is a Theegan empire that spans the highlands and plains of the Northern Hordelands into the High Wood Country. The founders were descendants of those who arrived in the world of Bal-Kriav aboard the Helas Vessel named the Spire of Krak-Oth.
A matriarchal society led by a magocracy, the Hex Rangian - a council of witches, shamans, and druids - governs in the traditional Theegan manner, dating back to before they became enslaved by the Durkoth. Considered a threat to Krak-Oth and the other Saints of Maen, each aspiring to attain Higher Power status, shamanism was forbidden. During one of the lulls in the conflict between Briltarn and Kennel in the First Epoch, the study of shamanism and witchcraft was revived. The Kashu'khas, hoping to destabilize the gnoll's nation-building efforts, sent educators to Briltarn. Later, after a reorganization within the Kashu'khas, secret proselytizers of Demogorgon followed.
The Witch Horde's druidic practices originated from a rebellious elven population of Taurelin known as the Helephor. In exchange for assisting the Helephor in their conflict against the Angrods, the Horde was instructed in the ways of the druid; similar to the Kashu'khas, this knowledge was exclusively imparted to Theegan women.
Ten miles beyond the nation's three cities, governance and order are frequently determined at the tribal level. These tribes have long been resistant to any explicit centralized authority. Many of these tribes venerate the war-inclined deity Ares. The shamans and druids typically worship Silvanus, and the witches, when the occasion demands, entreat Demogorgon.
In 1190, the Rampager Horde threatened the empire. Exploiting the emotions and fears of their subjects, the witches united the fragmented tribes. Extensive Jara raids forced the Theegans of Tadab-Hal into the territory of the Garormuk, igniting the Witch-Pack War (1190 - 1240). The Theegans battled both the Jara and the gnoll armies of Garormuk. When the Jara horde was defeated and scattered, the Witch Horde marched against their long-standing eastern foes. This war, however, ended in a stalemate, stalled by the environmental devastation wrought by the two enraged artifacts Blizzard and Firestorm.
The most perilous units of the empire are its cavalry. It is claimed with a degree of accuracy that every Theegan possesses the skill to ride and engage in combat from the saddle; and while they no longer observe the ritual veneration of horses, the wealth and pride of the populace frequently lies in the quantity and caliber of steeds they possess.