Gothic is an action-adventure video game set in a world ravaged by war. The king of the land needs ore to forge weapons to fend off invading Orc hordes, so prisoners from all over the empire are rounded up and thrown into a large magical sphere where they have to work in the mines for the king. The player takes on the role of one such prisoner, tasked with delivering a letter to the high mages which may be key in winning this war against evil forces.