Góalanic Orcs
The Góalanic Orcs are descendants of Úrúnans who invaded and settled in Góalanis during the first two centuries a. Paþ, and now form the aristocracy of the Góalanic Federation.
Tonsure is practiced by a majority of men, with slight variation between tribes in terms of how long the hair is and how much of it is shaven. Full beards are generally discouraged, while mustaches are common, and longer mustaches are usually braided. Women's hairstyles are more varied.
Mead and cider are the most common drinks, with the former being frequently used for libations.
Gártan is the written language used by góalanic orcs, based on the góalanic alphabet with a few extra letters. The letters are generally less angular than the góalanic script. Gártan is mostly used for official documents, while myths and epic poetry is still an oral tradition for the most part, passed down by priests who also serve as bards. Stories are usually told outside at night, where the storytellers use constellations as a mnemonic device.
A similar ritual is performed at the funerals of dukes and kings.
Aside from general sacrifices and prayers, Narr is also worshipped in underground chambers as a kind of mystery religion, unique to Góalanis. The core of the Narric Mysteries is a ritual slaughter of a pig by the high priest, followed by a supper where members eat different parts of the animals depending on their status.
The latter are given elaborate funerals after three days of funeral games, libations and offerings of pigs and -in some cases- human sacrifices. The person sacrificed is either someone close to the dead, sworn to accompany them in life and death, or a captive who's kept in a sacred tent during most of the festivities. The sacrifice is done before a sacred sword that's been stuck into the ground, after which the spot becomes a hallowed ground where relatives of the deceased offer libations until the sword falls apart. In eastern Góalanis, its common to plant a juniper where the sword once stood, and the berries are later used for certain rituals among priests.
Góalanic orcs believe that they can communicate with the dead via reflective surfaces, such as clear springs or mirrors, and many warriors carry small mirrors made of polished bronze on their person, so that the ancestors can witness their bravery in battle.
Spears and swords are preferred, with those of high stature carrying special swords with a wavy blade (similar to kris) like chiefs in Úrún do. Shields tend to be elongated, often roughly oval in shape, while the Gakalog tribe prefers small, circular ones. They are often painted with stylized trees, lightnings, sun, moon or animals. The shields are their main form of defense, as most warriors wear minimal armour -if any- in order to prove their bravery, to move quicker and to make use of their partial resistance to magic.
History
The ancestors of the góalanic orcs came from Úrún across Central Sea to the north around the fall of the Paþarían Empire, when the latter was plagued by similar invaders of mostly human origin. The tribes fought the native Góalanics and conquered their kingdoms one by one until the Battle of Nernis, when the last góalanic king was slain, the remaining nine tribes formed the Góalanic Federation.Society
Tribes
Bógrúnog
Rules the area around Tarsú in western Góalanis, west of lower Bórúm River.Brelog
Rules the area around Makkar in southern Góalanis, between Garak River and the Pargos Mountains.Gahirkog
Rules the area around Ners, along the southeastern coast.Gakalog
Rules the area around the old capital of Nanarr, in central Góalanis.Hralog
Rules the area around Nakk, along the northern coast.Hrykkalog
Rules the area around the capital of Gakúnóka, at the confluence of Bórúm and Garak, as well as the Arakrí Plain to the southwest.Úhekog
Rules the area around Hökía, chiefly the Íral Peninsula, in eastern Góalanis.Úlrog
Rules the area around Hakra at the mouth of the Bórúm RIver, in northwestern Góalanis.Vúhekog
Rules the area around Úrtóa, along the coast of northeastern Góalanis.Culture
Apparel
Most góalanic orcs have adopted clothing similar to that of the Góalanics, consisting of short-sleeved tunics and sandals for men and long dresses for women, though traditional fur clothing is still worn during festivals, and members of some tribes wear a combination of the two. Clothes are usually decorated with decorative stripes and borders, beads and fringes.Tonsure is practiced by a majority of men, with slight variation between tribes in terms of how long the hair is and how much of it is shaven. Full beards are generally discouraged, while mustaches are common, and longer mustaches are usually braided. Women's hairstyles are more varied.
Cuisine
Góalanic orcish cuisine is quite similar to that of the native góalanics, consisting mostly rye, barley, beans, apricots, spinach, pork and beef. Wild game such as deer, roe deer and boars are popular. Horses are eaten as well, though not to as often as in Gysikan.Mead and cider are the most common drinks, with the former being frequently used for libations.
Language
Góalanic orcs speak a variety of dialects which are mostly mutually intelligible, with varying amounts of words adopted from the native góalanic languages.Gártan is the written language used by góalanic orcs, based on the góalanic alphabet with a few extra letters. The letters are generally less angular than the góalanic script. Gártan is mostly used for official documents, while myths and epic poetry is still an oral tradition for the most part, passed down by priests who also serve as bards. Stories are usually told outside at night, where the storytellers use constellations as a mnemonic device.
Religion
Góalanic orcs practice a form of polytheism featuring a pantheon of traditional úrúnan deities and a few góalanic ones. The worship of the hunting god Árrúknar, known as Narr in Góalanis, is much more prominent than in Úrún.Major deities
Gúrtil
Creator god, husband of Hök.Hök
Goddess of rain and fertility, wife of Gúrtil. Offerings and prayers to her are believed to be most potent during rain or fog.Knóríalk
Chtonic god of fertility, war and the afterlife. His name means ever thirsty, and is believed to gain nourishment from libations, the blood of fallen warriors or sacrificial victims. Wherever a battle has raged in Góalanis, a sacred sword is stuck into the ground and libations poured over it, in honour of both Knóríalk and the ancestors.A similar ritual is performed at the funerals of dukes and kings.
Narr
The cult of Narr, a hunting god commonly known as Árrúknar in Úrún, is especially popular among the góalanic orcs. In their mythology, Narr appeared from burning juniper bush to free mortals from an eternal winter caused by the divine boar Okó. After chasing the boar all around the world and eventually cornering it in a cave, the god killed Okó and thus started the cycle of the seasons. Narr then taught mortals how to make fire, clothing and weapons before returning to the gods.Aside from general sacrifices and prayers, Narr is also worshipped in underground chambers as a kind of mystery religion, unique to Góalanis. The core of the Narric Mysteries is a ritual slaughter of a pig by the high priest, followed by a supper where members eat different parts of the animals depending on their status.
Funerary rites
Góalanic orcish funerary rites varied considerably prior to the conquest of Góalanis, with the dead often being buried along with belongings, food and hunting dogs, but cremation has since become the norm in an attempt by the orcs to distance themselves from the native góalanics. Usually, the urn is buried along with some grave goods, while the offerings are burned on the pyre of juniper wood in the case of kings and dukes.The latter are given elaborate funerals after three days of funeral games, libations and offerings of pigs and -in some cases- human sacrifices. The person sacrificed is either someone close to the dead, sworn to accompany them in life and death, or a captive who's kept in a sacred tent during most of the festivities. The sacrifice is done before a sacred sword that's been stuck into the ground, after which the spot becomes a hallowed ground where relatives of the deceased offer libations until the sword falls apart. In eastern Góalanis, its common to plant a juniper where the sword once stood, and the berries are later used for certain rituals among priests.
Góalanic orcs believe that they can communicate with the dead via reflective surfaces, such as clear springs or mirrors, and many warriors carry small mirrors made of polished bronze on their person, so that the ancestors can witness their bravery in battle.
Warfare
Traditionally fighting in loose formations made of infantry and a few archers, the góalanic orcs gradually adopted cavalry during their conquest of Góalanis until it became the backbone of their armies as it is today.Spears and swords are preferred, with those of high stature carrying special swords with a wavy blade (similar to kris) like chiefs in Úrún do. Shields tend to be elongated, often roughly oval in shape, while the Gakalog tribe prefers small, circular ones. They are often painted with stylized trees, lightnings, sun, moon or animals. The shields are their main form of defense, as most warriors wear minimal armour -if any- in order to prove their bravery, to move quicker and to make use of their partial resistance to magic.
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