Onirgrundi
The Onirgrundi, or Red Orcs, are Orcs originally from the same continent Skaldorans came from thousands of years ago. They currently occupy a small region of The Greenlands of Old Ichtaca called The Shadow Palace, which is full of Dreaming Trees that grow so tall they block out all sunlight. In addition to their bright red skin and haunting white eyes, Onirgrundi are visibly different from other Orcs in that their tusks and teeth are black instead of white, and long forked tongues.
They are immensely xenophobic and refuse to allow outsiders into their domain. It is no secret that trespassers will be eaten. The Onirgrundi are carnivorous, and raise large lizards for their regular food supply but supplement this with spotted deer and rabbits. Caught trespassers are cut loose and given a sword, and then hunted down for sport.
The Onirgrundi are isolationists, but are strictly loyal to the Empire, a bond dating back to Skaldor's arrival on Illiria. Due to special arrangement, they send merchants out to sell their crafted poisons, drugs, and medicinals and carry the resulting gold directly to the capital. In exchange, they receive great freedoms and little intrusion from the outside. These traveling merchants spread dark rumors about their own people to help discourage unwanted villagers.
Naming Traditions
Feminine names
Hirihiri, Kuro, Akimu, Rin, Jukiko
Masculine names
Ankoko, Daku, Kurai, Mei, Oko
Unisex names
Yumi, Kanako, Ogiri, Noyun, Gimai
Family names
As with all Orcs, Onirgrundi do not keep family names, instead identifying themselves by clan. Unlike other Orcs, the Onirgrundi use a third qualifier for clan names, so instead of the Painted Shields, they would be the Painted Oaken Shields, or the Painted Shields in Darkness. This is a practice that dates back to well before their arrival on Illiria.
Culture
Major language groups and dialects
As Orcs, Onirgrundi speak Urzghul. Their dialect is mixed with words and pronunciations borrowed from Skaldi, the language of the Skaldoran people. Scholars believe this language may have been similar to the Common Tongue on the continent these two groups originate from.
Culture and cultural heritage
Onirgrundi are more loyal to their immediate families than other Orcs, though they still do not keep family names. Everything an Onirgrundi does is in the name of personal or familial honor, and insults are often met with duels. Duels are fought with the traditional hook blades, and fought to the first cut deep enough to leave a great scar. The loser must bear the shame of the scar until the end of time.
Shared customary codes and values
Onirgrundi appreciate cleverness and wordplay above all things. Their speech is often littered with double meanings and innuendo.
Common Etiquette rules
While the Onirgrundi do not converse for no reason, when they do it is only polite to speak in complex double-meanings, as an acknowledgement of the other's intellect. Conversely, it is an insult to speak plainly to an Onirgrundi, as it implies the speaker doubts the intelligence of the listener.
Common Dress code
Onirgrundi typically wear loincloths while working, and expensive silk robes when at rest. At official village functions, they are expected to wear demon masks that represent their favorite tree spirit.
Art & Architecture
Onirgrundi, like their Olona neighbors, appreciate oral tradition more than visual art. Their stories, paintings, and woodcarvings almost always depict clever heroes rather than mighty ones, those who can outsmart and trick their enemies. Shadowboxes and woodcarvings are very popular, with old families adding more art to the outside of their wooden homes as a show of power and wealth.
Common Customs, traditions and rituals
Onirgrundi are the only group on the continent to practice actual birthday celebrations in place of Naming Day. On this day, a gift from each of one's friends and family must be earned by solving a riddle.
Birth & Baptismal Rites
The birth of a new child is a time of great joy for Onirgrundi families. They celebrate by naming the child and drinking bloodwine, with the revels often carrying on well into the next day. Such extravagance and loudness would normally be considered childish or rude, but for births it is expected. Rival families might even compete to see who can be the most disruptive or throw the most lavish party.
Coming of Age Rites
When a child turns eighteen years old, they are sent to meditate before a Dreaming Tree for a full day and night in complete silence. The tree spirit gives them some hidden wisdom or insight into a rival, which the adult Onigrundi is expected to keep secret. At this time, the village leader will dictate a marriage match.
Funerary and Memorial customs
The dead are not given any special respect or honors. The bodies are taken to be hanged from their preferred Dreaming Tree. There is a specific villager whose job it is to perfume the dead so they do not stink and give away the village's location. The bodies are left to rot, and bones pile up in front of and on the trees.
Common Taboos
Relationships, romantic or otherwise, with outsiders is always met with banishment. The Onirgrundi do not believe in sentencing their own to die, as taking a soul before it's time is considered a curse upon one's family. Murderers are also exiled, usually escorted to the nearest Imperial settlement to be punished by the Empire.
Ideals
Beauty Ideals
Onirgrundi hold sameness and uniformity in high regard. There is a specific standard of attractiveness based on hair length, tusk pointedness, eye color, and skin tone. The further from this standard one is, the less beautiful they are considered.
Gender Ideals
Male Onirgrundi are expected to perform manual labor and become warriors in times of peril, while women do crafts, cooking, and other housework.
Courtship Ideals
Since marriages are always arranged, traditional courtship is irrelevant to the Onirgrundi. Instead, unhappy spouses seeking lovers will ask the Dreaming Tree spirits to find them a good partner. Those who make good enough sacrifices to the tree spirits will almost always be led to one who will reciprocate their hidden love.
Relationship Ideals
All Onirgrundi matches are made by the village leader, typically between two feuding families. While these marriages are arranged, many Onirgrundi only spend time with their spouses to keep up appearances and continue the family bloodlines, with hidden relationships extremely common.
Encompassed species
Related Myths
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