Orc

A boar-like species, originally created by malevolent witches to wreak havoc or manifesting from pigs possessed by demons, this species gradually adopted a more and more sapient and clarified outlook on life and began developing to become the perfect balance of brains and brawn. Currently tucked away in Koclusta, most orcs will not see the outside of their own pocket dimension in their lifetime, but still, any orc you might meet will surely be a riot!

Basic Information

Anatomy

There is somewhat of a distinction between feral orcs and what we call the "standard" orc. The feral orc is much more like a bipedal boar, with incredibly obvious tusks, longer snouts and stubbier legs. Feral orcs are incredibly bulky and have long, muscular arms. If they do not dock the tails of their young at birth, they all have small curly tails. "Standard" orcs are much more humanoid. They have a similar build to humans, asides from their proportions. Orcs are, like their feral ancestors, all incredibly muscular. Their facial structure, asides from significantly heavier browbones, underbites and tusks, is convincingly more humanoid. Their ears are long and pointed like a pig's. Their final difference is the structure of their legs. Orcs have shorter legs than humans and longer torsos in comparison, and they only have four toes, two of which actually serve as supporting digits. These orcs no longer have any tails.

Genetics and Reproduction

Orcs reproduce similar to humans.

Growth Rate & Stages

Orcs mature just a few years quicker than humans do, they're considered adults at about age 16.

Ecology and Habitats

Orcs, being generally ambush hunters, function best in forested areas. Still, thanks to their great stamina and knowledge of weaponry, a feral orc can survive in many environments and due to their openness and easy to oversee nature, prefer plains.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Orcs are omnivorous, their feral counterparts have a preference for red meat. Orcs have developed an efficient form of "tower farming", which are a practice mostly present in Koclusta. Because it is impossible to go outside of the city and there is only so much space, farmland stretches to the skies, rather than across the ground. Koclusta has several towers where each floor holds a different crop. Due to this lack of space, animal husbandry is lacking in Koclusta, with meat being a luxury good to be consumed during festivities. Orcs have a very distinguished palette and their taste buds are more sensitive than a human's, and their cuisine reflects this, in the sense that they have a vast array of often surprising spice blends. Orcs cook fast and tend to not put too much effort into the appearance of their dishes, causing their food to look unappetizing to most outsiders. Still, where their sense of aesthetic lacks, the taste often makes up for the slop looking food they've served you.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Koclusta consists of a balanced organization, crudely divided into the Council, Watchmen, Merchants and Farmers. The Council is considered the highest in society, and rules by spokespeople for certain divisions of the city. Watchmen are all those that keep the cities balanced, whether this be law force or the ones keeping the illusion outside of the borders running, in order to keep the feral orcs sated. Merchants are all those spreading goods and services throughout the city and Farmers are, well, farmers! They produce just about everything the city needs.

Facial characteristics

Orcs have a moreso human facial structure, though they have tusks, broad, big noses and heavy brows. Feral orcs can often have full snouts.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Orcs mostly cluster in Koclusta, though can also live in small quantities in urban areas worldwide.

Average Intelligence

Orcs are entirely sapient, though feral orcs are, you guessed it, significantly more feral and have an intelligence similar to pigs, though with some development that makes them skilled in tool-making and strategic insight.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Asides from their impressive sense of smell, orcs by nature have no special capabilities humans do not have.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Orcs have a preference for "throat sounds" in their names, such as k's, g's and deep, rolling r's. For no particular reason, other than that they think it sounds nice.

Major Organizations

The Council consists out of several members, namely elders, adept mages or those chosen by the people, and amongst the lower classes has several spokespeople, who listen to the wishes of those in their divisions. Asides from The Council there's the Watchmen, who survey the wasteland outside the city walls, monitor the illusion and overall keep the city peaceful.

Beauty Ideals

Orc beauty lays in power, craftsmanship and, cheesily enough, well-maintained tusks. Orcs take great pride in their physique and will often engage in lengthy training sessions to maintain their large muscles. As for craftsmanship, orcs try to be as self-sufficient as one can, taking up skills in sewing and crafts in order to adorn themselves. Material choice is rather trivial in this case and merely a display of status, it is the effort one has put into their appearance that makes for a damn handsome orc. Finally, pearly whites are considered highly attractive, as are long, sharp and if possible, decorated tusks. Those with longer tusks may pierce them with studs or rings.

Gender Ideals

Gender ideals are less prevalent in career choices, much more so in family life. Female orcs are often expected to perform most of the caretaking labors in the household, such as childcare, animal husbandry, and cooking. Male orcs usually take care of the rougher or less hygienic chores. Orcs aren't the most fertile of species and have a shortage of females, which is why keeping them out of situations that could endanger their health is considered a priority. Still, both binary genders are expected to be battle ready and partake in the same strength-nourishing training. Nonbinary genders are relatively unknown to orc society, but due to the lax rules, just about anything goes.

Courtship Ideals

For the longest time, orcs had arranged marriages, as there is a constant shortage in females, daughters would be married off to those with the most prosperous family. Since about three centuries ago, this is no longer considered acceptable. The dating scene in Koclusta nowadays is blooming with younger, as well as older individuals. The lesbian scene in orc spheres is especially booming, seeing as how in the days of arranged marriages, afab individuals seeing one another romantically was considered a waste of fertility. With that tradition gone, relationships and gender identity has become a lot more lax. Orcs are mostly interested in physique and craftmanship. Strong, assertive personalities are considered incredibly attractive in orcs of any gender.

Relationship Ideals

In heterosexual relationships, it is often the male who takes care of most of the heavy and unhygienic work, as keeping women safe is a long-lasting ideal. Cleaning is also a man's job, which makes female orcs, in turn, either incredibly slobby, or intense neat freaks that wretch over the slightest speck. In same gender relationships, these traits vary greatly, and are more often sorted out by the individuals themselves. Orcs tend to be aggressively proud and protective of their partner, and relationships, as well as PDA, are all made very public.

Average Technological Level

Orcs mostly live in a magitech society. Koclusta, for example, has trains and wagons for transportation, paved roads, sewage and early factories. Imagine a couple decades after the industrial revolution, except there are some borrowed aspects, such as an internet connection. Still, very few citizens of Koclusta uses any type of computers.

Common Etiquette Rules

Orcs are rather rough and loud in both mannerisms and speech. Orc etiquette is not too strict, but making a mess while being a guest is considered a great offense. Orcs take insults, even if done playfully, incredibly seriously. Calling your orc friend a bitch as a joke often doesn't land well. Though orcs are loud, they in public spheres speak politely. It is only in private that you will hear an orc cuss.

Common Dress Code

As said earlier, orcs take pride in their physique and often wear rather revealing clothing. This can be in the form of transparent fabrics or very little coverage at all. The Watchmen, however, are much more modest and often wear long cloaks.

Culture and Cultural Heritage

Dueling and other display of personal weaponry and athleticism are considered a major part of orc culture. Though not necessarily violent, warrior heritage is something held closely to the society in Koclusta. Wrestling and other martial arts sate one's fighting spirit, while still living in state peace, with no lives lost to war and conflict. Wrestling and wooden weaponry are more popular ways of dueling. Orc culture is one of controlled agression, to assert dominance, display power, or just to be heard. To be rowdy but respectful is how orcs live their life, which may seem hectic to outsiders in social spheres with many orcs, but to orcs it really is just a way to let out pent up energy in an enjoyable and mutual way. Orcs are passionate at heart, and do not hesitate to show this. Koclusta's central tower, both the host of the Council and where the illusion projected to contain the ferals is sent out, is a big symbol of Koclusta, and orc culture altogether. It is the host of many events as well, and markets gather around it in time of festivity.

Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals

Orcs, despite their separation from their feral ancestors, still respect their capability as honorable warriors. A tradition in Koclusta is to have young orcs, as a coming of age ceremony, forge their own weapon. This weapon, even though it may well never be used, is still polished and kept throughout the orc's entire life. Orcs also relish in the full moon and tend to celebrate most sky phenomena, such as eclipses, blood moons, meteor showers, etc. Orcs are known for making the most out of an animal carcass after slaughter, out of respect and efficiency, and have a use/dish for just about every body part of every animal. Blood sausage is a popular dish in Koclusta, it tastes great with honey or any type of syrup.

History

Orcs are not a naturally occurring species. Rather, they came into existence after demons and other malevolent beings would possess malnourished pigs. This occurrence would later be exploited by those with unsavory plans, and they would purposely channel terrible energies into these creatures, as if one is preparing a curse without actually casting it, leaving it to fester. And fester it did. Within a few centuries, the offspring of these now called feral orcs, being the bastard children of humans and orcs, grew tired of the mindless cruelties by their purposely malevolent ancestors. After the creation of Fogmere, a certain group of orcs had somewhat of a similar idea. After perfecting their method, in the 15th century, Koclusta was built in its own separate pocket dimension. In this dimension there would be a capital, surrounded by an endlessly looping wasteland, in which an equally endless illusion would fool the ferals into thinking they're claiming territory. To this day, Koclusta, albeit sheltered from the outside world, still flourishes.

Historical Figures

Council members are often the most well-respected figures in Orc history, which is evident by the large portrait hall present in the Tower, displaying every member since the founding of the city.

Common Myths and Legends

Orcs are not too spiritual, but legend goes that the witch who created the first orcs, though her identity unknown, has a curse placed on her very memory, which is why any and all records that may be of her are burned. Orcs do not have a patron deity, their spirituality rests mostly on fear of the vast outside, as none are sure of what's truly outside the walls of the city, asides from the known ferals unleashed. There are those who believe strange, eldritch creatures reside outside of the illusion, and there are few individuals who worship the idea of them.

Origin/Ancestry

Originated in Eastern Europe/West Asia, but eventually spread throughout the entire Eurasian continent.

Lifespan

Orcs have similar lifespan to humans, though feral orcs due to their violent tendencies usually only live up to 40~50.

Conservation Status

Currently, the ancestral form of orc is being conserved in their own pocket dimension. Their more feral counterpart is being kept safe and clueless by guiding them in endless circles of generated illusions. They may be trapped, but feral orcs simply aren't safe to let roam outside.

Average Height

1.6~2.4 meters.

Average Weight

Varies.

Average Physique

Orcs are significantly more bulky than the average human and build up muscle much faster.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Orcs are mostly some type of greyish green, though ashen white orcs aren't uncommon. Orcs have no other distinctive markings.