Orc

"Orcs and their close kin are possibly the most driven species to walk the plane of Elendor. Brought here in the War for the Heavens as a brutal right arm to the forces of 'darkness' - giving them a feared and revered history. But after the great summit, when the old Orcish gods of war were banished and the new pantheon was brought fourth - that is when we truly saw the race thrive." - Doctor Pericles Cosmallis, Professor of Anthropology at Daefnorth, Academy Of The Arcane - "A Study of  Terrestrial Biology and the Semantic Field of Cultures and their Development" - The habits, traits, habitats and biological tendencies of  the races, uncommon beasts and creatures in the on our plane, with specific attention paid to magical and elemental abilities. 

The Orcish race in its various forms had one of the most turbulent beginning as well as one of the most blossoming enlightenments of any species to walk the plane of Elendor. Originally brought through to the plane by their god Gruumsh One-eye as warriors for The Assembly of the Apocalypse; they were feared by many mortals for their wicked brutality in combat. They were brutish Nomads that once made up a majority of the population of the western side of Dostrum - in what would today be Solorum, outnumbering even the Human race. The War for the Heavens however depleted their numbers heavily with many of the tribes that remained settling around the Distaria Basin.   Following the War for the Heavens and the subsequent The Great Summit, The Orcs as a whole were left without their gods and their purpose. They were no longer the axe blade for a powerful army of dominating this realm. They had become nothing more than an obscure tribespeople in the center of Solorum, vilified all. It was then we saw a divergence in the Orcs as a species. Many remained in the Distaria Basin and continued to believe in the old gods, hoping that one day they would return and they would once more be the weapon in their armies. The others however, began to follow a new chieftain and his teachings; A chief by the name of Gorod the Gilded  who introduced his people to a new way of life, a new purpose - where wealth meant power. 

A Mix of Species

  The various subspecies of Orcs began to spread from their homelands in Distaria across the rest of the world. Others, never originated from there in the first place - yet still migrated far and wide. The various Orcish cultures and subspecies are as follows:

Zugved

Zugved or more colloquially known "Greenskin" Orcs are by far the most common and wide spread. Their ancestral homelands lie in the Distaria Basin around the city of Rurrugh. However Zugved families that are now part of the Principality of Korzak struggle to return home for burial and have adopted the city of Krognod as a replacement homeland. Zugved Orcs generally stand at around 6ft tall. 

Uthun

Uthun Orcs are one of the few Orc sub-species who do not have a homeland within the Distarian Basin. They Herald from Uthun within the lands of the Durradin and have a rich, as well as tumultuous history with their Dwarven neighbors. Their city which shares the same name, has the highest concertation of Orcs outside of the Orcish nation states world wide. Uthun Orcs are on average around 6ft 5, with pale or white skin and characteristically have radiant sapphire coloured eyes. Uthun in old-orcish shares the same etymological root as the word for "Zombie" or "Living Dead" as many of the Basin Orc species believed them to be such on first sight.

Drukh

Drukh or more commonly "Night Orcs" originate from Murrad in Dustaria. They are the largest of the Orcish subspecies standing at on average 7ft tall and are defined by their darker skin tones; oft deep greys and browns. Their natural height and strength made them the perfect leaders in the old-times and many clan and tribal leaders throughout orcish culture can trace their heritage back to the Drukh orcs.

Grazk

Grazk or "Light Orcs" hail from the west of the of Distarian Basin towards the Kai-Tengian Empire. Their ancestral homeland city was demolished by the Kai-Teng and the great citadel of Yeushing was erected in its place in an attempt to 'Pacify' the planes. They are the shortest of the Orcish sub races and often mistaken for tall Goblins at around 5'5" on average. They tend to have pale green, brown or yellowish skin tones.

Chazc

Chazc or Water Orcs are by far the rarest subspecies. They are the only Orc to originate within the borders of the Korzak Principality around the city of Chazc. They are the closest nit community of orcs and rarely venture away from their homeground. They stand at around 6ft on average. They are characterized most noteably by their deep, ocean blue skin and black eyes with red pupils. They also have webbed hands and feet, as well as limited gills. Some anthropologist believe that there was a mix between Drukh Orcs and Triton at some point; resulting in this subspecies.

The Cultural Divergence  

Due to the post summit split there was a major cultural split within the Orcish population; A traditional way of life and an enlightenment respectively. These are known as the Way of the Trader and the Way of the Warchief. 

Distaria Natives

See The Khaganate Distaria  Orcs who still live within the Khaganate still believe for the most part in the traditional tribal way of life. They are renowned riders, warriors and hunters and live to embody the old ways in hopes that one day Gruumsh One-Eye will return and so will their glory. They are often seen as less civilized by the outside world, with the Triumvirate of Atria and the Kai-Tengian Empire attempting to conquer the basin respectively. However, what they lack in modern luxury, they make up for in tenacity and zealousness in their beliefs of the old ways.
Distaria Names: (Male) Oglub, Jogug, Pakgu, Prutha, Sarhbub, Vagrungad, Oagungad, Shamob, Vuiltag, Buggug (Female) Homraz, Dulug, Urzoth, Mogak, Bagrak, Umog, Ghorza, Gulfim, Shelur, Bulak

The Principality of Korzak

See The Principality of Korzak 
The Orcs of Korzak underwent an 'Enlightenment' under their first leader Gorod the Guilded, using their natural drive as a species and their pursuit of power and funneling it into less violent outlets. Korzak Orcs tend to excel as Merchants, Sailors and Craftsmen. They have also modernized immensely and the Prince the Principality of Korzak is now the third richest nation in the world. The principality also developed its own language and system of writing before common was introduced.
Korzak Names: (Male) Obolensky, Uglichinin, Kostin, Krymov, Alexei, Yeshevsky, Zakharin, Tsukanov, Senkin, Vadim (Female) Celestyna, Chezhekova, Roza,  Vlada, Chayka, Olesya, Levina, Lana, Yuveleva, Nikitovna, Susnina

Civilization and Culture

Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals

No matter the divergence in culture, there is one aspect that all orcs hold above all else; their Homeland. It is paramount that when an Orc dies they are returned to their homeland for their funeral unless they fall in combat - then it is defined that they must burn where they fall (Some have taken this literally and burnt down buildings following bar fights gone array). The homelands of Orcs are sacred and heavily protected from outsiders. If an orc is not returned home to be buried (or burnt) it is said their soul remains on Elendor trapped for an eternity.

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

Like humans, Orcs are compatibly fertile with many other races; most notably Humans and Goblinoids. Half Orcs are often seen in both Korzak as well as the various Human led civilizations as the various nations populations mixed through trade. Likewise, in Korzak and Distaria alike you'll find a lot of Orc-Ogerkin and Goblinkin mixes where those populations mix.