Orcs

History

Origins

The Orcs hail from Serenjara's sun-scorched expanses. Distinguished by their formidable stature, small upward-curved tusks, short pointed ears, and earthy shades of brown and grey skin, these beings cast an imposing shadow in both lore and presence. Their long black hair complements their distinct appearance. This unique visage, combined with their current aggressive behavior, has fostered apprehension and even fear of the Orcs amongst other races.

Historical Eras

Ancient past

Eons past saw the Orcs ensconced within the vast expanse of the Orkalah desert. As the Elves of the north constructed their mighty Kleriel Imperium, Orcs lived undisturbed. To the imperial Elves, these desert dwellers were primitive, akin to the northern Humans. The Orkalah too was dismissed as a barren wasteland of little worth.
The ancient Orcs were a tapestry of tribes, each celebrating its unique cultural identity. However, unity was elusive. Despite their fragmentation, they were inherently peaceful, hospitable, and reveled in their modest way of life. While not inherently magical, Orcs cherished their spiritual connection through shamanic practices.

Bloom of Orssirai

The Cataclysm brought drastic climatic shifts. As Kleriel crumbled and The Ice Age blanketed the north, rains blessed the parched Orkalah. From this deluge emerged the twin lifelines - the Zahara and Tamara rivers, culminating at the Zahamara Delta before feeding the Sailsworth Sea, these waters nurtured a lush forested region between them. This verdant paradise, christened Orssirai or the "Oasis of the Orcs", kindled an Orcish renaissance. Soon, formidable kingdoms arose, heralding a Orcish union.

External Threats & Golden Age

However, Orssirai's prosperity became its own undoing. The Krall, demonic denizens of the Blackrock Peninsula, cast covetous eyes upon these lands. The ensuing invasions for dominion were fierce, pushing the Orcs to the brink. It was during this tumultuous period that the Orcs discarded their tribal divisions, rallying under a single banner to repel the invaders, founding the first and only empire to unite them all. Through union, they achieved victory, and established themselves as not one of, but the undaunted power in the west.

The Orssirai Empire emerged as the cultural, trade, and scientific epicenter of the western hemisphere during the Ice Age. Renowned for their wealth and benevolence, they extended their generosity to all, fostering an era of unmatched properity and security for the region. They even provided aid to their Elven neigbours to the north, hoping they would secure their northern flank by fostering good relations, and maybe even find new allies.

Decline & Disintegration

Yet, empires too have their twilight. As the Ice Age receded and normalcy resumed, the rains diminished. Orssirai's heartland began drying up, with swamps turning barren and rivers reduced to trickles. With their homeland's deterioration, a diaspora commenced. Some Orcs ventured into new lands peacefully, while others, with conquest in their hearts, set sights on neighboring territories. A few managed to establish dominions along the Kraken's Cauldron coast in the east, but others met resistance and defeat at Kemehara's hands in the north. No aid was recieved from the Elves they benefited during the last age, only scorn.

But a sliver of the old Orssirai survived, along the Sailsworth Sea in the west, on the Zahamara Delta where the lands remain green. It is a realm surounded by adversaries once more, isolated and mistrustful of even the rest of their own kind, it is the realm now known as the Orssirai Remnant.

Legacy

Today, ruins of the grand Orssirai dot the desolate landscape as mute witnesses to past glories. Those who chose to remain in the withering heartland devolved into savage tribes. Struggling for meager resources, they frequently raid neighboring territories, which has sullied the once-noble Orcish reputation. In modern times, this storied race is synonymous with aggression and unrelenting hostilities.

Description

With a skin in tones of earthy brown and muted grey, their presence is undeniably dominating. From their lower jaw, two smaller tusks protrude. Their short pointed ears frame a broad face, with deep-set eyes that burn with a fierce, untamed spirit. Long black hair flows like a dark river down their back, swaying with each powerful stride. Every gesture and glance reveals their wild nature, a testament to the rugged desolation of their homeland and the savage life they have embraced since the fall of their once-great civilization.