Orc
The Greenskin 'menace' that reaches nearly every corner of the world, moving through the Old Kingdom to avoid most of the surface races.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Orcs are large humanoid creatures with two legs and two arms, robust muscled frames and broad faces with low thick brows and a stooping posture.
Biological Traits
Orcs live roughly 80 years, if their tribal raiding lifestyle doesn't claim them first. Orcs stand a little taller than humans between 180-215 cm tall, and weigh between 90- 137 kg. orcs have small fangs or tusks that just from their lower jaw, thick skin that is almost like hide, and most often dark brown hair that slowly turns grey and white as an orc ages. Orc blood is deep dark red, nearly black, though this is because the Orc internal organs consume large amounts of oxygen, orc blood is in reality as red as a humans, they just tend to have more deoxygenated blood when slain. Orcs also have Horns that grow from their skulls as they mature.
Genetics and Reproduction
Orcs reproduce sexually, orc infants gestate for roughly 6 months before giving birth to an orc.
Growth Rate & Stages
Orcs mature quickly reaching physical maturity by their 18th winter, and live to be about 80 before old age begins to affect them, though it is rare for a full blooded orc to survive to old age.
Ecology and Habitats
Orcs operate in a tribal fashion, hunting and creating small encampments from which they form raiding parties. Orcs prefer to live in heavily wooded or mountain terrain where there are caves that stretch into the Old Kingdom where the orcs use their dark vision to navigate the lightless caverns.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Orcs are omnivores though they survive primarily by hunting and must gather nutrients from their prey, often devouring the livers of their prey first without cooking it. the rest of the animal is skinned and cooked.
Biological Cycle
Orcs run hot, and even in cold weather where water turns to snow an Orc will often be clad in little in terms of clothing. during the Summer, orcs retreat into their Caverns where it is cooler weather waiting out the hot summer days.
Additional Information
Social Structure
Most orc tribes operate as raiders and hunters, taking what they need from the landed nearby settlements or even other orc tribes. Orcs have a deep spiritual connection to their gods and heroes who they believe live on through them in their dreams. even the dreams of orc children are taken very seriously, as they are seen as visions from their wild gods. While Orcs are considered violent creatures, and some tribes certainly enforce that belief not all are. many tribes have kept their warrior traditions and grown beyond the need for raiding. they engage in gladiator sports, mercenary work, and seek honorable battles.
Facial characteristics
Orcs have thick brows and large teeth or tusks that jut from their large lower jaw. Orcs also have Horns that begin to grow from their skulls as they mature, depending on the tribes these horns have varying degrees of significance as not every Orc will develop a horn.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
colder environments near caves linked to the Old Kingdom.
Average Intelligence
Despite many stereotypes in Irindor tales, Orcs are quite intelligent, many inventing cunning strategy and mystic arts.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Orcs have sensitive eyes to daylight, but impressive night vision, able to see nearly twice as far as a human does during the day.
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
Orc Names are typically harsh guttural sounding, typically short. Orc names are not gendered.
E.G Jukha or Urzul.
Major Organizations
many Orc Tribes have a group of Shamans who claim communion with their Cyclopean god, Kahesh. many Orc tribe is ruled by a chieftain, who is proclaimed by their shamans to be Kahesh reborn.
Others have forsaken Kahesh and instead follow Zarek and Lagea Rainhauler Apuna-ma who brought the new path to the clans.
Beauty Ideals
Orcs are simple creatures, yet they have deep connections to their mates. adorning their tusks and brows with a number of trophies and piercing's.
Gender Ideals
Since Orc children grow quickly there is no need for Orc parents to adopt a different role in their society. Orc Women when pregnant with child command a great deal of respect, as their dreams are seen as the closest visions from their gods who teaches the infant its nature in the womb.
Courtship Ideals
Orc mates pair for many years, often until death, an Orc Mating ritual could often be misunderstood as a brawl or duel between a male and female.
Average Technological Level
Orcs have very little trust of technology, relying almost entirely on their Shamans and raiders. while the orc clans that have chosen to forsake Kahesh have accepted some advancement into their lives, their traditions remain steadfast with simple steel and iron.
Major Language Groups and Dialects
Orcs developed their own language, called Orcish, which is a guttural and harsh language with a Rune Script from a combination of Jottuun and Dwarvish.
Common Dress Code
Orcs often wore revealing hide clothing, and leather armor. though when raiding Orcs would often wear heavier armor to defend themselves.
Culture and Cultural Heritage
Orcs are raiders and hunters by nature, raiding during the Winter, and hunting through summer closer to their caves. those who forsake Kahesh will instead skirmish with other clans or seek glory elsewhere in trades that allow it.
Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals
Orcs attend winter raids as they prefer the cold and the dark, killing and stealing from their neighbors. Many orcs who feel a deeper spiritual connection ritualistically remove one of their eyes to more closely resemble their Cyclopean god Kahesh.
Those that have Forsaken Kahesh will still venture into the lands during winter for battles with other clans. the integration of Orcish culture has resulted in Highgates gladiatorial surge.
Common Taboos
Orcs live and die by their personal honor, if an Orc feels it has been dishonored it often leads to bloodshed.
History
Orcish Origins are traced back the aftermath of the Dragon Wars. when the Giants were attempting to escape the Curse of Stone those who had already transmuted themselves were hunted by Giant purists. during this time the clans were scattered, those who were trapped turned to summoning Demons in a desperate attempt to survive. in their desperation the Demon Lord Kahesh was let lose upon the world for a brief time, allowing the surviving Giants to escape the Dwarven armies assault. the need for survival pushed the survivors to drink the Blood of Kahesh transforming them further. after many years under the thumb of Kahesh there was a schism among the Orc Tribes, resulting in a short but violent war that resulted in the banishment of Kahesh. An alliance of Dwarves and Elves scattered the remaining Orc tribes. Kahesh manipulation of the Orcs left a mark, one that some tribes hold deep to this day. Teachings of Kahesh speak of war as a test of mettle, one that would be rewarded by their Demonic God in the afterlife. Many tribes hunt and make war for the sake of honor, testing themselves and their enemies mettle. It wasn't until Long Night passed with the aid of the Goliath that an understanding of Orc culture emerged. While most Tribes are still hunted there are a handful of Orc Tribes who have integrated with other cultures, finding other ways to test themselves. Many Clans cling to the old ways, raiding their neighbors however, and not all outsiders are as understanding of Orc culture.
Historical Figures
Menk, later renamed himself Kahesh as he claimed the title of chieftain, rallied his broken clan after the raiding parties were broken and pushed into the Wolfwood in southern Krogar. here the longest lasting surface tribe of orcs in living memory has existed for 363 years.
Zarek was the chieftain of K'Mak when they made battle upon the goliaths of the Empy Peaks. these battles were fierce, but the Goliath did not fight as normal foes the K'Mak were accustomed to, and over many moons came to respect their ways. once Lagea defeated Zarek in single combat she would lift their Clan Banner in celebration. this began the new path for the warrior race.
Common Myths and Legends
Orcs were spawned from the blood of Kahesh during his battle with Umeren, during the dawn wars. since then a misunderstanding has existed between Orcs and Elfkin, orcs consider them the worthiest of enemies and consider it an honor to engage with the Elves for Bloodsport. During the Long Night Kahesh was slain by the mysterious force that destabilized the planes, since then orcs think that one day Kahesh will be reborn among their mighty clans, the leader of each tribe of orcs referring to themselves as Kahesh reborn. Orcs think that their reborn god will rally the Clans and Tribes into a single Horde to wash the world clean in blood both black and red.
Those that have forsaken Kahesh have taken to the Stormrunner as their patron deity, as well as honoring Zarek and Lagea Rainhauler Apuna-ma for showing them the true warriors path as they call it. they believe that when Kahesh is reborn the Stomrrunner will break from the Sea to do battle with the Demon Lord, bringing their fallen heroes like Zarek and Lagea from the beastlands.
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
Orcs have a violent history with nearly every species in Irindor, ravaging the lands they raid with impunity. Orcs do have an odd respect however for those they hunt and raid, craving worthy prey and combatants, which leads to their Raiding parties almost inevitably being destroyed as they search for more honorable combat the longer a raiding party lasts.
After Long Night there have been an increasing number of Orc Clans that have forsaken Kahesh and begun to integrate with other cultures, leading to a blending. most often accepted in Highgate, their influence can be seen in the Gladiator rings.
Genetic Ancestor(s)
Lifespan
~80 years
Average Height
182-215 cm
Average Weight
90 - 137 kg
Average Physique
Orcs are powerfully built hunters and raiders.
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Ors have various tints of skin tone, often dependent on tribe ancestry. most frequent orc skin tones are Green, Grey, and Red.
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