All life on the continent the Turbulent March takes place on nearly ended two hundred years ago during a storm that covered most of the landmass.
The Alfar, an empire of Northern Elves, ceased to exist overnight. Various small scattered human kingdoms were wiped out as well.
But the storm brought more than destruction. It altered the very makeup of the lands it affected. Powerful monstrous beings called Chimera seemingly appeared from nowhere, wiping out many of the surviving cities. The seas around the continent teemed with aquatic versions of these monsters, cutting it off from the rest of their world. In the south, the trade Empire of Qismat became a city-state overnight after losing all of its holdings.
And the storm also brought the orcs in existence. Early on these orcs joined in the destruction. But at one small trade city, Greihold, the three elders of the town prostrated themselves before the advancing orcish horde. The town was defenseless and overflowing with refugees from across the continent. The Warlord was an eight-foot armored giant, and became disgusted at the sight of these three humans in rags surrendering themselves and their people so easily.
There would be no worthy battle from these people. He left them alone and returned to the north, disbanding his army.
Two hundred years later, the orcs are locked in a perpetual conflict with the chimera, trading with the humans for necessary metals to defend their lands.
That is the basic backstory of the world. Much of the series will focus on discovering the events that led to this Great Tempest.