Orcs of the Flanaess

Known in the Flan tongue as euroz, orcs are a brutal and warlike race of bestial humanoids, driven by an insatiable urge to expand their territory through conquest and destruction.

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Orcs are fierce predators, living by hunting, raiding, and warring against all who stand in their way—humans, elves, dwarves, goblins, and even rival orc tribes. Typically nocturnal, orcs are highly sensitive to sunlight, preferring to operate under the cover of darkness.

Habitat & Environment

Orcs infest nearly every corner of the Flanaess, but their largest populations are concentrated in:

• The Pomarj – The heartland of orcish power, ruled by warlord Turosh Mak.
• The Empire of Iuz – A dark realm where orcs serve as shock troops for the Old One.
• Bone March & North Kingdom – Orcs hold key military positions, enforcing the will of Overking Grenell I.
• Garel Enkdal – A hidden orcish stronghold in the Griff Mountains, shrouded in mystery.
• Zeif – Unlike their savage kin, the orcs of Zeif have assimilated into human society, though they remain a lower caste.

Orcs typically dwell in forests, swamps, mountains, and subterranean fortresses. Their settlements range from crude hill forts and cavern warrens to vast underground cities such as Garel Enkdal. They are notorious for seizing fallen castles, ruined temples, and abandoned dwarf-halls, repurposing them for their own brutal needs.

Appearance & Traits

Orcs resemble crude, caveman-like beings with porcine features, coarse black hair, gray-green skin, and red, malevolent eyes. Their protruding tusks and wolf-like ears twitch at the faintest sound of prey. Their odor and habits are vile, and they revel in filth and brutality.

• Height & Build: Adult males stand over six feet tall, with muscular, brutish frames. Females are slightly smaller.
• Clothing & Armor: Orcs favor clashing, unpleasant colors—blood red, rust, mustard yellow, and moss green. Their armor is always filthy and rusted, a testament to their crude but effective craftsmanship.
• Scarring & Tattoos: Battle scars are worn proudly, and ritual scarification marks an orc's greatest victories and life milestones.

Culture & Society

Orc society is brutal and hierarchical, driven by strength, conquest, and dominance.

• Tribes & Warfare: Orcs organize into warring clans, constantly feuding unless ruled by a powerful warlord. Notable tribes include:
• Bloody Head – Known for ruthless service to Iuz.
• Broken Bone – Worshippers of Baghtru, known for brute force.
• Death Moon – Elite ambushers allied with North Kingdom.
• Dripping Blade – Masters of poison and assassinations.
• Evil Eye – Known for infighting and ruthless opportunism.
• Leprous Hand – Controllers of Garel Enkdal, infamous for sacrificial rituals.
• Rotting Eye – Dungeon raiders and sworn enemies of the Ulek states.
• Patriarchal Rule: Males hold absolute authority, with status determined by battle prowess, territory, and the number of mates and offspring. Females are treated as property, expected to serve, cook, and provide heirs. Infighting among women and children is common and brutal.
• Orcish Government: Tribes are led by hereditary kings, ruling by fear and battlefield prowess. Kings must raise sons to inherit their throne, though succession often comes through bloody combat. A king’s rule ends only when he is slain in a challenge.
• The Orcish Empire of the Pomarj: The largest orc-dominated state in the Flanaess, formed after the Hateful Wars devastated the Ulek states. It remains a powerful and aggressive nation, led by Turosh Mak.

Religion & Beliefs

Orcs are devoutly religious, with their gods encouraging war, destruction, and the enslavement of weaker races. The orcish pantheon includes:

• Gruumsh One-Eye – Supreme god of orcs, eternally vengeful against elves and dwarves.
• Bahgtru – The god of brutal strength and savagery.
• Ilneval – The warlord deity of tactical warfare.
• Luthic – The mother goddess, associated with healing and childbirth (though still fierce in battle).
• Shargaas – The god of stealth, night, and assassination.
• Yurtrus – The god of plague and death, feared even by orcs.

Orcs outside traditional tribes may worship Iuz, while those in the Pomarj revere the Earth Dragon. Some lesser evil orcs turn to Meriadar (god of mongrelfolk) or Nazarn (the half-orc hero deity).

Tactics & Warfare

Orcs are often dismissed as stupid, but many have used this assumption to lure enemies into ambushes and traps. The most powerful orc nations combine their savagery with human military discipline, siegecraft, and dark sorcery, making them deadly foes. Orcs are infamous for their relentless aggression, striking fear into the hearts of their enemies.

Orc Crossbreeds & Hybrids

Orcs are an infamously prolific species, producing several notable hybrids:

• Half-Orcs – The most common crossbreed, often born from the aftermath of raids on human settlements. Though rejected by both races, many rise to greatness.
• Losels – Orc-baboon hybrids, bred by Iuz and the Scarlet Brotherhood for their rapid reproduction and bestial ferocity.
• Ogrillons – Orc-ogre hybrids, brutish warriors with armor-like skin.
• Orogs – The strongest and smartest orc crossbreed, a mix of orc and ogress blood. Orogs are deadly tacticians and often lead orc warbands.

History & Legends

The sorry history of orcs is one of endless war and conquest. Since their first emergence in the Flanaess, they have fought against elves, dwarves, humans, and even one another. Orcs have served as mercenaries for human conquerors, most famously in the armies of House Naelax of the Great Kingdom during the Turmoil Between Crowns.

Orcs have also learned from their collaboration with humans, forming councils of chiefs to seize human territories, as seen in the Pomarj and Bone March. Under strong leaders—whether orc, human, ogre, devil, or demon—orc tribes can unite for a time, only to collapse again into brutal infighting.

Despite this, orcs remain a rising force, poised to ravage the Flanaess once more