Gorghor Bey - 1006-1011

Gorghor Bey, renowned as one of the most infamous emperors, started as a cruel leader of a mercenary horde that emerged in the late 900s within the empire. In 1001, he grew weary of the mercenary life and settled down to become the Lord of Ghoria. A year later, Gar III declared him the Imperial Regent. Gorghor's court quickly gained notoriety for its debauchery.

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.

Before long opposition had grown and Gorghor Bey was besieged in his own home. Despite facing military defeat, Gorghor achieved his true purpose. In 1007, he combined the heart of Sainte-Abelle with another artifact, the Chalice of Syrn, resulting in his ascension to the sun where his followers claim he now resides. The legacy of Emperor Gorghor Bey varies depending on who tells the story. Horde followers claim that consuming the heart granted him immense power, turning him into the sun itself. However, adversaries argue that becoming the sun was a form of punishment for his actions and he is burning eternally.

On the first of may 1018, a great yell was heard in Phala, one of the domains in Haldorf. « JE SUIS GORGHOR BAEY! », the call of the once-Emperor, now God-sun, was so powerful it put the Phala dungeon to ruins. At the same time, more than a dozen Imperial banners marched into the rest of Haldorf bringing havoc and destruction. This was but the first of several seasons of imperial attacks on Haldorf.