Orcs
An Excerpt From The Diversity of Species
Often seen as large brutes by outsiders, the orcs of Aedeva do little to dissuade that line of thinking. They are a brutal, aggressive, warlike species. For most orcs, life is a battle to be won with enthusiasm and vigor. Usually literally.
Geography
Orcs are most commonly found within the dangerous wilderness known as the Grauffenbach Wastes, where their tribes are frequently beset by all manner of large monsters and rival tribes. In fact, most scholars agree that the Grauffenbach Wastes owe their name to the infamous orc conqueror known only as Grauff the Boot. Other than the Wastes, orcs are primarily found in the terrible region of Alastia known as The Crack. From this series of chasms where they were forced to live by elves long ago the orcs are bred and raised by Alastian "Orc Farmers", who sell them in bulk to military forces, mines, and the like.The Crack is considered by many scholars to be the original ancestral home of the orcs, the reclaiming of which was the spark that began The Eternal Assault .
Culture
Orcs of the Wastes organize themselves into small tribes. Each tribe is ruled jointly by a chief (called a Warmonger) and a Shaman (called a Kahuna). Though the tribes are all largely independent, the Warmongers of the various tribes gather together at a yearly conference called a "Fing", where any inter-tribal matters are settled. It is at the yearly Fing that new Warmongers and Shamans are appointed, as well as a temporary "Warbringer" and "Big Kahuna" to guide all of the tribes in battle.Regarding Slavery
Few species have been hit as hard by the Alarian slave machine as the orcs. Even before the Eternal Assault, elven forces frequently raided orcish lands in search of slaves for hard physical labor. Most orcs openly despise elves, joining the Eternal Assault in the hopes of bringing down the elven civilization once and for all.Religion
Most orcs in the Wastes follow The Eternal Assault, doing their part to wage the endless war against the elves, guided by the wisdom of the kahunas. The details of the Assault vary from tribe to tribe, however. Because of the Eternal Assault's emphasis on freedom, there is no formal hierarchy among the kahunas, leaving each to their own devices. The rituals and superstitions of each tribe vary widely because of this, and the death of a kahuna, and subsequent appointment of a replacement, often brings a dramatic shift in the tribe's religion. These changes are rarely questioned, however, as they are seen to be a natural part of the belief to begin with.Magic
Orcs have a deeply ingrained respect for the magical arts. For most, this means staying as far away from magic as possible. After all, it is powerful, mysterious, and dangerous. Orcs heavily distrust anyone audacious enough to manipulate the magical forces of the world, even the kahunas, but are usually smart enough to keep their mistrust to themselves. Kahunas are well aware of this almost fearful distrust, and take full advantage of it. Each kahuna devises their own set of ritualistic superstitions for their tribe to follow, enforcing them with their own magical prowess. Despite the overall mistrust of magic, those orcs who do dabble in the magical arts and survive long enough to tell the tale often become quite powerful. The species' innate enthusiasm and gusto propels them to achieve great feats, whether with muscles or magic.Adventurers
Adventure is a natural extension of the typical orc's desire to prove their mettle. They are an enthusiastic, adventurous, rambunctious people and frequently leave their tribe to search for adventure in some form or another. An orcish adventurer can expect their species' warlike reputation to precede them wherever they travel. Even the most isolated country town has heard tales of the vicious orcish raids of "civilized lands" in the time before the Eternal Assault.
Related Myths
