The Golden Horde is a Mongol coalition of humans, orcs, hobgoblins and centaurs whose territory reached across most of Eastern Europe, from the Urals to the Danube river and deep into Siberia.

However, their Empire is in decline. In 1359 Berdibek, Khan of the Golden Horde, was killed, allegedly by his brother Qulpa. Subsequent infighting weakened the Horde such that in 1362 the Lithuanians won a decisive victory at the Battle of Blue Waters and finalised their conquest of the lands around Kiev, installing Vladimir Olgerdovych as prince of the city.

Groups of stragglers remain in the area, largely reduced to banditry but still a persistent threat to travelers and farmers. There is also the fear that one day the Horde will return in force to reclaim the lands that were taken from them.