My
Orc image generated via NightCafe using the Flux model. Cropped for aesthetic and decency reasons.
The My orcs have inhabited the Æmy region for millennia. During the Ascendancy of Dragons and the first half of the Dragon Wars, they lived in wandering, nomadic tribes. However, in the seventh century of the Latter Era, a powerful and charismatic woman named Mudha Nînomnedhum (IPA /'muða 'nɪnomnɛðum/, meaning "Mudha Spearbreaker") emerged as their leader. Under her guidance, they founded a settlement that would eventually grow into Nʊar over the coming centuries. Additionally, under Mudha's leadership, they joined forces to fight against the dragons, and their warriors became renowned as fearless shock troops, proving to be very effective against the minions of the dragons' armies.
The My live in isolation from most other races. They have some contact with their cousins, the Meyzh, but lack a formal government, which limits their official interactions. They survive as a collection of villages and small towns, each ruled by local warlords. There are also still several hundred small, nomadic bands of My wandering the Æmy. The only significant settlement in their territory is Nʊar, governed by the Yûmkla (IPA /'jəmkla/, meaning "high chief"), a semi-hereditary feudal chieftain.
Naming Traditions
Unisex names
The My are extremely egalitarian. A person's worth is tied to what they can and do achieve, not their parentage or gender or class. As such, names are non-binary, with respect to gender.
Family names
The My do not use family names in the traditional sense; instead, they have a system for identifying blood relatives to some degree. When a member of the My achieves great renown, they are celebrated with a second name—akin to a nickname. For instance, Mudha gained fame after breaking her spear in the hide of the great hydra Khoorudud, ultimately slaying it. Her tribe honored her by bestowing upon her the name Nînomnedhum.
Direct descendants of an ancestor with a second name are identified using the ancestor's first name, followed by the suffix "-tuna," which means "descendant of." Continuing with the previous example, Mudha's direct descendants are referred to as "Mudhatuna."
Conversely, when a My has no renowned ancestor to reference in their name, they are regarded as unfortunate indeed.
Other names
As noted above, when a member of the My achieves extraordinary success in an endeavor, their community will often acclaim a nickname for them. This nickname is always descriptive of the event or personal characteristic that gave rise to it.
Conversely, in very rare instances a My will come along so evil or craven in their character or deeds that their community will bestow an insulting nickname upon them, which works in the same manner as the more common honorific appellation.
Regardless of how the orc receives a second name, once their community has bestowed the name, they can never be free of it.
Culture
Shared customary codes and values
The My worship Ûnûzhî, the Dominator. Legends say he fought alongside Mudha Nînomnedhum, battling dragons together after she proved her worth by slaying Khoorudud. Regardless of the truth behind this claim, the My hold him in reverence and turn to his teachings for guidance in organizing their society.
They also worship Robvî, the Death Bloom. Each home or wagon has a dedicated shrine to her, and a significant amount of attention is devoted throughout life to ensure that she will judge them favorably when they die.
Common Dress code
Living as they do in the cooler climes of Tunsaccia, the My wear clothing made of leathers, hides, and furs. There is little to no ornamentation in their textiles, though they often wear elaborate beaded neckpieces in bright colors. They universally wear knee-high, laced boots lined with bison hair. Most of them also wear caps lined with fox pelts.
Ideals
Beauty Ideals
Skin
The My place great store in both skin tone and skin texture. They find gray or green skin unattractive, but pallid yellow is considered extremely attractive. It is also extremely rare.
Similarly, they prize weathered skin. An individual with very smooth skin is considered unfortunate, and some so affected will intentionally scar their faces or wear tattoos in an effort at beautification.
Hair
The My prize long sleek black hair. Those fortunate to be born with fine, straight, black hair will often oil it and wear it long and flowing. Those who do not have the luck of such beauty will frequently either shave their heads (male and female alike), or they resort to fantastic hairstyles dyed in wild and unnatural colors, the theory being that if one can't have beautiful black hair, they should set themselves as apart from the standard as possible.
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