( bin.gothicarchive.org/documents/press/Gothic_PromoBooklet.pdf )
War sweeps throughout the kingdom.
Hoards of orcs invading the land from the North.
In order to keep the royal army going the blacksmiths of the land strive constantly over their hot coals replenishing weapons and forging new ammunition.
Those who break the law in these days are punished hard; they are sent in to slavery in the mines, to delve deep into the earth and dig out ORE for weapons.
English release booklet
( bin.gothicarchive.org/documents/manuals/Gothic-Manual_en.pdf )
Myrtana...
In these times the Gods looked upon Myrtana with a kind heart and blessed all the land with peace, lavish crops and an abundance of Copper, bronze and Ore.
Myrtana thrived in this blissful age until others received word of their fortune...
The Orks made war upon the land of Myrtana.
Endless raids and battles devastated the land throughout the next years and as Myrtana’s armies grew smaller and weaker, the Orks moved on, in greedy destruction.
German release booklet
( bin.gothicarchive.org/documents/manuals/Handbuch.pdf )
Many years ago, in a distant land, people lived in a kingdom of Myrtana.
...
Priests of the gods stood above everyone, and their power and influence were great.
...
There was hunger and despair in many places.
That winter King Rhotbar died, weakened and consumed by the battle wounds.
His son, Rhotbar II, took the scepter in silence, without ceremony or celebration, and summoned his priests, advisers, and the scholars.
Together they developed plans to bring the empire back to the level of prosperity of the great days of his father.
But when the winter was over, the next danger threatened the kingdom.
Orc hordes from the North swept across the borders, plundered villages and estates.
King dispatched the army again, had borders fortified and sent defensive troops into the contested lands.
Numerous battles again claimed many lives.
They were small, brief skirmishes with no victors, but King Rhotbar knew that the orcs were strong enough to wage a long war against Myrtana.
He had fewer and fewer soldiers left, and few weapons left at their disposal.
He needed ore to make a new arsenal.
The situation was bad all over the country, and especially in the mining towns.
Thieves and deserters were a menace and many prisoners escaped from the mines.
...
And then the orcs came again.
Like a storm, they swept across the land, crushing the king’s armies and killing everyone who fell into their hands.
So King Rhotbar II prepared for the war again and every man was sent to the frontier.
In those days, anyone found guilty of any crime, no matter how small, was taken to the mining colony of Khorinis.
The fire burned day and night in the smelters and the hammering in the forges could be heard constantly.
Mod Development Kit
There is war in the human kingdom.
Hordes of orcs are invading the land from the north.
To keep up the strength of the king’s troops, the blacksmiths of the realm are constantly producing new weapons.
Those who break the law await a terrible fate: they are sentenced to heavy labor in the penal colony to dig the ORE needed to create weapons.
Phoenix Pitch
( bin.gothicarchive.org/documents/phoenix/PhoenixPitch.pdf )
The kingdom is at war with the northern hordes.
In these times, criminals are thrown into the prison mine colony to provide the royal army with its most urgent need: iron ore.