Orcs
Scorned and Shunned
Considered outsiders in every land they come across, Orcs are a pastoralist and nomadic people who value strength and tribal ties above all else. While each tribe and individual is unique, Orcs generally organize themselves into tribal units which move throughout the land with their livestock and horses, finding better grazing lands and engaging in raids and mercenary work to sustain themselves. Orcish culture differs significantly depending on the region, but trends do persist among those regional variants. For instance, the Orcs of the eastern steppe are highly quarrelsome and militaristic as well as fiercely independent, while their Orcish kin in the western deserts, while known for being fearsome marauders, have proven to be more pluralistic and open to outside cultural influence. Due to the nature of Orcish society, finding little use for things like urban settlement and gold taxation, many more sedentary cultures shun the Orcs as savages, brutes who don't create but only destroy, and people who occupy uninteresting lands presiding over uninteresting cultures. In return, Orcs who remain in their tribes tend to not look highly upon outside cultures, regarding them as weak, vain, and foppish.Elven Origins
The origins of the Orcs are a subject of debate and controversy. Many tribes have different explanations for the ultimate origin of their race, with some citing an exile from the Svaelyn Isles after being transformed by black magic while others cast the proto-Orcs as a race of pioneers who braved the dangerous mainland and carved a path of war, establishing themselves across the continent which is why they're spread so far and wide today. Nonetheless, nearly all of these attested origins agree that the ancestors of the Orcs were Elves. In many respects, their story is much the same as the Dark Elves, Snow Elves, and Desert Elves, a culture who departed from the rigid society of the High Elves of the Svaelyn Isles to create a new society and home. However, some still debate whether Orcs are still as elven as the aforementioned cultures. The most obvious departure is in appearance. While elves are known for their svelt forms, petite features, and subtle beauty, Orcs are noted for their robust physiques, large tusks, and rugged features. Another key part of elven cultures is their connection to the arcane. While magic is not unknown to Orcs, few tribes put much stock into it and are far more reliant on physical prowess. According to many of the elves, the Orcs may have shared a common origin in the distant past, but Orcs as we know them today are decidedly not elves. However, to many scholars, including those of elven heritage, these superficial differences don't change the fundamentals of what a race is. They note that many other elven cultures share similarities with the Orcs, such as the Deep Elves' shunning of magic or the more muscular frames of the Desert Elves.Naming Traditions
Feminine names
Yatul, Ulabog, Sherog, Uglah, Shul, Atuub, Lasakh, Ragnakh, Boraa, Mogakh, Kharut, Lagash, Sharakh, Gratoth, Durgash, Urogah, Uglol, Lagaaz, Borgtha, Valnakha, Oraga, Garasha
Masculine names
Makog, Burnak, Oglunar, Gruuk, Khagrul, Guraguk, Toruk, Othonak, Shazakh, Braash, Baskil, Grishnak, Khargog, Ghorglak, Grugash, Magulak, Burzak, Urar, Khadgulub, Narlak, Boruk, Ulagakh
Culture
Major language groups and dialects
Common, Orcish, sometimes Elven
Common Dress code
Orcs mostly dress in simple clothes made of hide and cloth.
Ideals
Beauty Ideals
Orcs value robust physiques. To them, a beautiful being is someone athletic and strong. Orcs also like long, braided hair, and finely trimmed tribal hairstyles.
Gender Ideals
Women are expected to be skilled with crafts such as herbalism, smithing, and other metalwork. Men are expected to be great warriors, tactical, and masterful with many types of weapons. However, the egalitarianism of Orcish culture means both men and women are expected to be fighters.