Orc
The Sea-scourge, Tidesworn, Xublouzians
Orcs trace their creation to the one-eyed god Gruumsh, an unstoppable warrior and powerful leader. The divine qualities of Gruumsh resonate within orcs, granting them a reflection of his toughness and tenacity that can’t be matched, and the god equipped his children to be able to live above or below ground.
On some worlds, such as Eberron, orcs were among the first defenders of the natural order from the encroachments of Fiends and other extraplanar threats. Gruumsh’s blessings have made orcs tireless guardians and mighty allies wherever they are found, even when they turn their devotion to other gods.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Orcs of Astrium are muscular and built to endure harsh conditions, whether on land or sea. They have thick, weather-resistant skin, adapted to long exposure to salty air and cold waters. Their limbs are powerful, with broad shoulders and dense muscles, enabling them to perform heavy physical tasks. Orcish skin colors range from greenish-gray to slate-blue, and their tusks are slightly shorter than typical orcs, better suited to marine environments
Genetics and Reproduction
Orc genetics emphasize adaptability, a blessing from Gruumsh that allows them to thrive above and below ground. Orcs reproduce similarly to other humanoid races and have interbred with various peoples, further strengthening their genetic pool. Children tend to inherit their parents’ strengths, including resilience, muscular builds, and powerful endurance.
Ecology and Habitats
Astrium orcs inhabit the Xublouze Archipelago and live in harmony with their marine surroundings. Their settlements are integrated into rocky outcroppings and cliffs, overlooking the turbulent seas below. Though their environment is treacherous, it suits their adaptive and resilient nature, with orcs often acting as stewards of the archipelago’s natural resources.
Behaviour
Orcs of Astrium value freedom, loyalty, and honor above all. They have a strong warrior ethos that celebrates courage and resilience, seeing battle as a form of spiritual expression. Their connection to the sea fosters a respect for nature’s unpredictability, and they approach life with a balance of fierce independence and a profound sense of community.
Additional Information
Average Intelligence
Orcs are practical and tactical, with an intelligence shaped by experience, especially in navigation and maritime survival.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Astrium orcs possess keen senses, particularly sharp night vision (darkvision up to 60 feet). Their heightened sense of balance helps them remain steady on stormy seas, and they are known to possess a subtle empathic ability that helps them intuitively sense shifts in the environment—perfect for a life at sea.
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
Orcish names are short, with hard consonants, often echoing the sounds of the sea. Names include elements referencing tides, storms, and sea creatures. Examples include “Ghorak Tidebreaker” or “Lura Windwhisper.”
Beauty Ideals
Strength, resilience, and scars are considered marks of beauty and worth. Physical imperfections gained in battle or through hard work are respected as signs of survival and dedication.
Gender Ideals
Gender roles are flexible, though there is a general emphasis on skill. Orcs respect each other for proven capability, with no preference given based on gender. Both men and women may become warriors, sailors, shamans, or leaders.
Courtship Ideals
Orcish courtship is subtle and often involves acts of bravery, such as venturing to dangerous areas to retrieve a rare item or demonstrating skill at sea. Gifts exchanged are typically tokens with personal significance, and arranged unions are rare.
Relationship Ideals
Relationships are seen as partnerships, with both parties contributing to each other’s lives and community. Orcs value loyalty and often see relationships as lifelong commitments, mirroring their dedication to their tribes.
Common Etiquette Rules
Orcs greet each other with a forearm clasp or head nod. Honorifics are used for those of great skill, but respect must be continually earned. Direct communication is valued; deceit is seen as a sign of weakness.
Common Dress Code
Orcs favor durable clothing suited to the sea, such as leather armor or woven cloaks treated for water resistance. Jewelry often includes sea elements like shells, bones, or carved stones, and clothing is generally decorated with symbols of strength and nature.
Culture and Cultural Heritage
Orcs hold a rich spiritual tradition that connects them to Gruumsh, ancestors, and the natural elements of the sea. Spiritual practices often involve shamanic rites on cliffside altars and paying homage to the ocean with offerings.
- Ancestor Worship: Orcs honor ancestors by embedding ashes into the cliffs, with small personal altars to guide their spirits.
- Rite of the Tides: Young orcs undergo a trial at sea to prove their strength and resilience. The Rite of the Tides is often a coming-of-age test for young warriors.
- Storm Ceremonies: During storms, shamans and warriors perform rituals atop the cliffs to draw strength from the power of nature.
Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals
Tidecrest
Date: 5th Veilshadow
Purpose: To honor the Orcs' connection to the sea, their ancestors, and the freedom they fought for.
The Tidecrest Festival is a grand celebration for the Orcs of the Xublouze Archipelago, . This festival honors the Orcs' bond with the ocean, their spiritual connection to their ancestors, and their unyielding quest for freedom that led them to the sea.
The Ancestral Call
At dawn, the festival begins with the Ancestral Call. Orc shamans gather at the cliffs of Durghaz Cliffs, where the ashes of their ancestors rest within the stone. They perform a ritual chant, invoking the spirits of their forebears to bless the sea and the upcoming year of voyages. Offerings of seaweed, fish, and handcrafted trinkets are placed in the cliffside crevices as gifts to the ancestors, asking for their guidance and protection on the waves.
The Crafting of Waves
By midday, the Orcs engage in the Crafting of Waves, where families and clans gather to build and repair their sea vessels. This communal activity is a vital part of the festival, as it symbolizes the Orcs' unity and their shared heritage as master shipbuilders. Younger Orcs, those on the cusp of adulthood, take part in crafting their own r small boats, marking an important step in their rite of passage. The air is filled with the scent of fresh timber and the sounds of hammers and saws, echoing the Orcs' craftsmanship and respect for the sea. The Surgespitters and Tidecrushers then craft up waves to to send the boats off to the great voyage
The Great Voyage
In the afternoon, the Orcs take to the sea in a grand procession known as The Great Voyage. Dozens of ships, from the smallest canoes to the largest warships, sail out into the open ocean, their sails emblazoned with the symbols of their clans. This voyage is both a show of strength and a tribute to their ancestors' quest for freedom. The Orcs sail to the central waters of the archipelago, where they perform a series of ritual maneuvers and games, displaying their navigational prowess and seamanship. The Orcs summon the tides through rhythmic chants and drumming, calling upon the spirits of the sea to witness their celebration.
The Feast of the Waves
As the sun sets, the Orcs return to Durghaz Cliffs for the Feast of the Waves. The feast is a lavish spread of seafood, fruits, and hearty island fare, shared among all members of the community. It is a time of storytelling and song, where the elders recount tales of the Orcs' struggle for freedom during the Pandora War and their eventual settlement in the Xublouze Archipelago. The younger Orcs listen intently, learning the values of courage, unity, and respect for the sea.
The Moonlit Tide Dance
The festival concludes with the Moonlit Tide Dance, a ceremonial dance performed on the cliffs overlooking the ocean. Orcs gather around large bonfires, their movements echoing the ebb and flow of the tides. The dance is a physical manifestation of their connection to the sea, and it serves as a prayer for safe voyages and bountiful harvests in the coming months. The dance crescendos with a final call to the ancestors, thanking them for their guidance and watching over the Orcs from the cliffside wall.
The Tidecall Festival is a celebration of the Orcs' identity, their spiritual beliefs, and their seafaring way of life. It honors their ancestors who fought for freedom, the sea that provides them with sustenance and purpose, and the unbreakable bond between the Orcs and the tides. Through this festival, the Orcs of Xublouze reaffirm their unity, their skills as shipbuilders and sailors, and their reverence for the natural world.
Common Taboos
- Desecrating Ancestral Altars: Disrespect toward the ancestral cliffs is met with severe punishment.
- Abandoning a Comrade: Fleeing a fight or leaving a comrade behind in battle is considered deeply dishonorable.
- Killing Sea Creatures Needlessly: Orcs hunt for survival and consider wasteful killing a severe offense against nature.
History
The orcs became well known from the pandora war from being one of the humanoids to fall under the influence of but also break free from Fraz'UrbLuu, the sin of Greed during the pandora war. Their greed was for freedom for the mainland that when parts of the mainland separated from the continents when Marblehaven Divide was formed, they took to the seas and experienced true freedom on the waves. They eventually settled in the xublouze archipelago under the orc chief Durxum, who united the orc tribes around the islands of Xublouze and made settlements.
The Orcs are a spritual people who connect with nature, the waves and have a big belief in their ancestors, who are buried and cremated into the wall off the cliffside overlooking the middle of the archipelago. They live a quiet, reserved lifestyle in between battles on the sea. Dont underestimate them though, the Orcs are a fearsome people who can summon the tides and fearsome weapon mastery.
During the overseers attempt to take invade the nexus plane Brick Bonesmith a member of the Archwardens was a key member in the defeating and sealing away of the overseer, which had brought on a big push in the 840's to become a member of the Astrium council with Brick as a Key member of the both the council and the Astrium Alliance.
In what is now a requirement to be part of the council, Brick brought all the people into one settlement.
The primary settlement of the Orcs in the Xublouze Archipelago is known as Durghaz Cliffs. Named in honor of their unifying leader, Chief Durxum, this settlement is perched on the edge of towering cliffs overlooking the heart of the archipelago. The name "Durghaz" combines elements of their leader's name with "ghaz," an Orcish word for "waves" or "tides," symbolizing their deep connection to the sea and their mastery over it.
Durghaz Cliffs is not only the political center of the Orcs in Xublouze but also a spiritual hub. The cliffs serve as a sacred burial site where the ashes of their ancestors are enshrined within the stone, allowing the spirits to watch over the waves. The settlement itself is a blend of rugged, sea-faring life and reverence for nature, with homes and shipyards built from the fast-growing trees native to the archipelago. The Orcs here are a formidable presence on the seas, guided by the spirits of their ancestors and the enduring legacy of their fight for freedom.
Common Myths and Legends
- The Legend of Durxum’s Cutlass: It is said that Chief Durxum’s enchanted cutlass still lies hidden, only to be found by a leader worthy of uniting all orcish tribes once again.
- The Dragon Turtle’s Path: Orcish lore speaks of the dragon turtle bearing ancient knowledge, whose path will open only to those who prove their bravery and respect.
Scientific Name
Homo Orcis Maritimus
Lifespan
60-80 years
Average Height
6.5 - 7.5 feet
Average Weight
220 - 320 pounds
Average Physique
Orcs are tall and robust, with muscular builds that showcase their strength and agility. Their bodies are honed for physical exertion and rapid bursts of activity, necessary for climbing, swimming, and rowing.
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Orcs exhibit various shades of green, blue, and gray, blending with the sea and cliffs. Some have ritual scars or tattoos marking important life events, and younger orcs often adorn themselves with trinkets or charms from the sea.
Geographic Distribution
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