By 1004, Gorghor boldly claimed to be a God, creating tension with imperial guilds following the True Faith, notably the Poing de Fer. The True Faith labeled Gorghor Bey as an anathema, an enemy greater than the chaos troops of Garganesh or necromancers of Teratos. This sparked court conspiracies and proxy wars, intensifying the conflict between Gorghor's horde and the followers of the True Faith in the empire.

Emperor Gar III's mysterious death by poison threw the empire into chaos. A great inquisition by the Redemption against the imperial council uncovered evidence of Teratos infiltration, leading to the execution of most high court members in 1005.

With the path to the throne clear, Gorghor Bey proclaimed himself not only a God but also the new emperor. However, widespread dissent, particularly in the True Faith stronghold of Haldorf, resisted Gorghor's rule. This resistance led to a total war, culminating in the destruction of the abbey of True Faith founder Sainte-Abelle and the theft of the holy relic, the heart of Sainte Abelle herself.