Orcs

Overview

The Orcs have historically been enslaved for much of their known existence. To clarify, the Orcs are not a natural race of Alandris. Instead it is known that at some point in the past the Fen’Ur kidnapped Humans and Elves and brought them as slaves to the continent of Malius. They experimented with the effects different magic would have on the bodies of these people, and the results of those experiments were the Orcs. This created the green skinned, green or brown eyed, towering and strong Orcs of today. The average Orc, even today, only lives for about 80 years, thus making them an important resource to reproduce for the Fen’Ur. They were used for hundreds of years as slave labor, often being utilized for only the most grueling of tasks. That was their lot in the world for quite some time. One day, the Fen’Ur realized that they could use them in a military capacity as well. However, they could tell that the creations they had first made were brutes with no higher brain function. So, they began making a new kind of Orc, something with the ability to think and command their lower brethren.

This tampering with magic and genes gave rise to the first Alpha Orc. These Alpha Orcs, as they were labeled by their creators, were the coordinators and commanders of their subservient brethren, now called the Theta Orcs. This was all in preparation for the inevitable war the Fen’Ur would wage against the people of Lendil. Their battle tactics involved throwing waves of Orcs at their enemies until they had been worn down and were no longer able to resist their actual troops.

Here is where the Orcs gained their freedom and became what they would one day turn into in the modern day. At the pivotal battle in the War of the Fen’Ur, the Alpha Orcs were told to hold the line and die for their masters with their Theta Orcs to make sure a retreat was possible. At that moment, one of the Alpha Orcs rebelled for the first time in recorded history. She pushed back against her Fen’Ur masters and rallied her  brethren to her side, starting a cascading chain of events for the Orcs, that would lead to them being captured by the Almidar during the battle.

The Orcs who were present thought that would be their end, but they did not know that the Almidar had seen their act of rebellion and intended on helping them to flee the wrath of those who hated them. The Alpha Orcs were lucky in that they were able to be given passage on a ship to their current homeland to start anew. Fate was not so kind to the Theat Orcs, as once the Fen’Ur noticed their rebellion, they activated a magical kill switch in their minds, rendering each and every Theta Orc dead on the spot. Their sacrifice had not been in vain however, as this moment paved the way for the Orcs to truly have their own place in the world.

Their trials and tribulations were not over though, as they landed in the area that is now known in modern day as Val’Tur or “Peoples Homes” in Orcish. This land at the time was home to the Klans of Kur and had been for generations. It was a verdant land west of the Almidar and Besidar and was situated on a peninsula with clear rivers and a small port village. The Orcs tried speaking to the Klans, but were rebuffed. So, they made use of their most powerful assets, their strength and on that day years after The Fall, they pushed the Klans back away from the Peninsula of Val’Tur and renamed it to what it is today.

Societal History and Governance

It was many years before the Orcs would allow another race onto their new land. Only after 10 years did they start trading with outsiders. This caused some commotion with the other races of Lendil, as they were angry with the Almidar for allowing the Orcs to live after the atrocities they had committed during the war. The peninsula of Val’Tur was geographically isolated which gave the Orcs time to adjust before any other races or people could interfere with them in a meaningful way. This along with the time bought by the Almidar meant that they were more than prepared for the first invasion by the Klans of Kur yet again. This time, they broke the Klans upon their shields and blades as if cutting wheat.

The Orcs soon learned how to cultivate their new lands and ways in which they could improve their standing with the world. With the Fen’Ur no longer a world power, and thus no longer being able to produce Wine at the rate they had been before, the Orcs began this process. They realized that their new homeland was perfect in climate and verdance for the making of Wine, and they knew all too well how to make it having slaved away in the vineyards for what felt to them like eons.

By developing their skills at tending vineyards and wine making, they suddenly became much more accepted once merchants got wind of their practices and their shockingly low prices. The Orcs learned the valuable lesson that those who have the vineyard and the money to develop it are the ones who rule the lessers and with that their government was formalized.

In Orc society money is valued above all else and is seen as a symbol of your status. Ruling over the Orcs is done by only the richest member of their society. This being their King or Queen and ruling from the Capital City of Tyran.

For Players of Orcs

Orcs are a much more prominent race than they once were but it’s important for them culturally to remember their enslavement and never forget what was done to them. Never again will they be enslaved nor suffer the slavery of others. They prefer wine over water and have been known to make some of the greatest vintages in the world. An Orc character cannot invest in any magic, other than being Null at birth or using Alchemy and Runes. Orcs are not known for being conversationalists at most times, but they do love a good bargain and have slowly become one of the richest races in the world due to their sale of wine on every continent.

Orc Racial Trait: Orcs are the only race in the world that have a natural tendency to heal themselves. Given enough time most Orcs can heal cuts and bruises easily, even reattaching entire severed limbs has been known to work for them. While they cannot heal their internal organs easily, the only known limit has been their brain and how much time they can spend idle to heal. They have this natural healing factor from their time as a slave race for the Fen’Ur and their masters were nice enough to grant them this boon so they could slave away for longer hours. Any character created as an Orc gains the ability Regeneration Master.

Regeneration Masters: When not in combat, and once per Long Rest, you may regenerate 4d6 HP as long as you sit still and relax for around 20 minutes of in-game time. This healing can reattach lost limbs so long as you have the limb with you and can regenerate internal damage as well.

Languages Known: Common, Orcish and 1 of player choice.

- Marks of Beauty painted by Imargo Forain 304 AF