Kovat Settlement

Overview

Kovat is a large nomadic orc encampment specializing in textile armor production. The settlement serves as the current base of operations for the Kovat tribe and has become a crucial location in the conflict between traditional orcish beliefs and the heretical Memory Circle philosophy.

Physical Description

Nomadic Design: The settlement features impressive fabric tents and wooden fort structures, demonstrating the tribe's expertise in textile work and semi-permanent construction.

Textile Focus: The settlement's design and layout reflect the Kovat tribe's specialization in textile armor production, with workshops and facilities dedicated to their craft.

Strategic Position: Located along river systems accessible to the Everlast, making it reachable by mystical ship travel from the coast.

Session 2 Events

Fellowship Arrival: The Fellowship arrived at Kovat via the Everlast following their escape from the City of Bells, receiving an initially warm reception from tribal leader Gil.

Memory Circle Presence: The settlement is currently hosting Memory Circle training sessions, where 8 orc elders in dark green robes are spreading their heretical end-times beliefs and training disciples.

Growing Tensions: Despite initial hospitality, tensions grew as the tribal leadership became hostile to the Fellowship's mission, ultimately dismissing them from the settlement.

Theological Crisis Location: Kovat serves as a primary example of the theological upheaval occurring within orcish society, with the settlement torn between traditional reincarnation beliefs and Memory Circle preservation philosophy.

Political Situation

Tribal Leadership: Led by young tribal leader Gil, who finds himself caught between traditional beliefs and survival pragmatism in the face of The Entropy Shepherd's influence.

Entropy Shepherd Arrangement: The tribe has made some arrangement with The Entropy Shepherd, with Gil stating: "He has guaranteed us he will not leave us alone." This suggests a negotiated protection or non-aggression pact.

Neutral Stance: Following complex political negotiations, the tribal leadership ultimately took a neutral stance regarding the Fellowship's mission, dismissing them but maintaining uncertainty about future support.

Cultural Significance

Memory Circle Training: The settlement currently serves as a training ground for Memory Circle disciples, making it a center for the spread of heretical philosophy across orc tribes.

Textile Armor Specialty: The Kovat tribe's expertise in textile armor production makes them valuable both economically and militarily, contributing to their ability to negotiate favorable terms with various factions.

Traditional vs. Modern: Kovat represents the struggle between traditional orcish values and the harsh realities of survival in a world threatened by entropy.

Session 3 Developments

Refugee Exodus: During the Fellowship's departure, several families (4 wives including Tuya and approximately 6 children) secretly fled with the group. These were families of 3-4 sympathetic guards who wanted their loved ones away from Memory Circle control.

Tearful Guard's Warning: One guard (the Tearful Guard) revealed that the Memory Circle plans to take non-believers to The Dust Bowl where they will "disappear forever," explaining the desperation behind the refugee exodus.

Hunting Pursuit: The sympathetic guards remained behind because deserting would trigger pursuit - "If I leave, they'll hunt me down. If they leave, they'll be safe."

Spider Nest Incident: Nyx orchestrated a trap that lured a Kovat hunting party (entire regiment plus fire giant Flerg) into giant spider territory, resulting in mutual destruction - all orcs killed, all parent spiders killed, only Flerg survived.

Leadership Maintained: Gil remains in control despite the departure of sympathizer families and the loss of an entire regiment.

Current Status

Faction Alignment: Negotiated neutrality with The Entropy Shepherd, influenced by Memory Circle philosophy
Fellowship Relations: Initially welcoming, ultimately hostile, dismissed the Fellowship with uncertain future support
Religious Climate: Major site of theological upheaval within orcish society, hosting Memory Circle training and conversion efforts
Recent Losses: Lost entire hunting regiment to spider nest trap, several families fled with the Fellowship
Internal Tensions: Small faction of sympathetic guards remain, families now gone

Strategic Importance

Kovat represents a microcosm of the larger conflicts facing the world - the tension between preservation and change, traditional beliefs and survival pragmatism, and the difficulty of maintaining independence when faced with overwhelming threats. The settlement's fate may determine whether orcish society can maintain its traditional identity or will be transformed by entropy's influence.