Mountain Orc
The most common orc culture, as well as the first historically accounted for, mountain orcs are the stereotypical 'Orc Raider' of most sagas and tales.
Culture
Coming of Age Rites
Young mountain orcs prepare for adulthood by undertaking somewhat risky hunts or raids, in order to prove their strength to the tribe. Further rites could occur when a young orc commands his first raiding party.
Those few orcs selected for priesthood were not necessarily exempt from these traditions themselves, but they were a combination of the two: an apprentice priest would bless the raiding party before the raid and prepare any sacrifices or other praising ceremonies upon completion of a successful raid.
Funerary and Memorial customs
Mountain orcs do not have any strict or unified customs when it comes to their dead. The most common reason to die as a mountain orc is in combat; such bodies will be left where they fall (or, if in a dwelling, discarded as trash). Instead, great orcs would strive to be remembered through tales and legends that live on after their physical death.
Common Myths and Legends
Grummsh
Ideals
Gender Ideals
Male orcs dominated most orcish societies and females were usually, at best, prized possessions and little better than livestock at worst. Male orcs prided themselves on their number of wives and sons, as well as their scars from battle and rituals.
That being said, there have been - and always will be - those few females who are as strong as most males, and thus can stand up for themselves and become strong fighters in their own right. However, such females will be dismissive of other females, acting more like the male counterpoints.
On the religious side of things, only males may serve as priests for male gods and only females can serve as priestesses for female gods. These positions are another way for non-typical orcs (females or 'weak' males) to avert any bullying within the tribe and even assume some modicum of power.
Comments