Orks

An elegant and tradition-heavy race from the Orkas islands. They are skilled sailors and fishermen as well as avid followers of their fate, revering the god Orkas after whom their homeland is named. On the southern shores of Valessia they build tribal camps where their priests and monarchs learn magic and meditate.

Basic Information

Biological Traits

Orks are naturally tall, lean, and muscular without much effort. Their skin is thick, smooth, tinted in a hue between green and blue in colour. They have tusks protruding from the lower jaw, about up to their nose. Their curly hair is a dark green colour and often bound into dreads. Between their fingers they have short, extendable membranes that they use while swimming. Ork lungs are able to hold a lot more air than other races.

Additional Information

Facial characteristics

Orks have wide noses and usually possess a protruding jaw, as tusks grow up from the lower jaw up to about their nose.

Civilization and Culture

Major Organizations

Ork society functions as a Monarchy, often called a Spiritual Monarchy. The ruling family oversees the political going-ons, diplomacy, etc. of the Orkas Islands.

The ruling family is also the highest of what is known as a Spiritual Family. These are religious families that dedicate their life to becoming Weavers as well as leaders. Members of the ruling family are only ever allowed to marry those from the other high Spiritual Families, to ensure the purity of their bloodline.

Relationship Ideals

To ensure a vocation stays within the family line, Orks marry into a family with the same trade. It is, of course, not uncommon for Orks to marry into other trades. It is generally accepted as their own choice, and Orks usually don't seek out relationships outside of their trade. More traditionalist families, however, may frown upon this kind of relationship. Arranged marriages are very common in these cases.

As incest and inter-marrying within one's own family is seen as sacrilege, there exists a whole trade dedicated to keeping track of marriages between families to ensure the most pure of bloodlines. Orks of this profession are often called Matchmakers, or simply Bookkeepers.

Common Taboos

Incest and marrying into one's own family is the highest of taboos. It is seen as a sacrilege against Orkas and his gifts, and is punished by exile from the Ork society. This punishment befalls everyone involved, including anyone who had kept it a secret, anyone who officiated a wedding of this kind, etc.

History

Orks live on the Orkas Islands, a collection of around hundred smaller islands east of Valessia. They are classified as Auric Beings, and their culture is rather centred around Weaving. Pursuit of this art, along with one's own vocation, is seen as a high religious practice.

Orks have also been granted what they call Ancestral Memory by their god and creator, Orkas. It is the cornerstone for the functioning of Ork society.

Ancestral Memory is essentially passing down of experiences from one generation to another. Each newborn Ork has access to the entire experience of their bloodline. However, it is a subconscious access which manifests by the Ork having an affinity for the same things as their ancestors; they not only like and desire similar things, they are naturally good at learning and practising the same skills.

This natural predisposition to one's ancestor's vocation lead to long lines of family businesses and traditions. Each generations picks up on the family trade at a young age and perfects it until they are able to surpass their parents and take the business over. Such Ork tradespeople are very sought after outside of Orka's Islands as they are always the best of the best in their field.

There are, of course, always multiple families with the same trade. To ensure that a vocation stays in the family, children are commonly marrying between these families. See Relationship Ideals.

Orks do not have a class system, however they judge everyone by the merit of their family. The more known and involved they are in their trade, the more renown and good will they receive. They also do not look down on any single profession, seeing value in all of them.

Lifespan

90 years

Average Height

2 - 2.5 meters

Average Weight

70 - 100 kilograms

Average Physique

Orks are naturally lean but muscular, gaining muscle mass easier than humans.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Ork skin is tough and tinted between shades of deep green and blue.