Orc

"Deep within the northern mountain cities of Oruk'tai, an orc stands before a large crowd on their morning commute with a large sign that has 'if we came from pigs, THEN WHY DO WE STILL HAVE PIGS' written in bold letters."
A large, hulking, humanoid species that primarily resides in the continent of Areon. Despite their (subjectively) ugly appearance and muscular build, they are intelligent creatures that are known for their great machinery and harsh, industrial work ethic. They worship a mysterious god simply known as "the Orcish Savior", thought to be a minor god from Lunarism.
Before the beginning of recorded history, a mysterious god emerged from selenite crystals and used her magic to ascend a large amount of pigs. This caused them to evolve into grotesque, yet sentient pigmen, which evolved even further to become orcs during the beginning of the Penumbral Cycle. Seeking to find a means of contacting their god, they endlessly toil to find a way to do so through large machines, architecture, and the aid of selenite crystals.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Humanoid, typically large and muscular to some extent.

Genetics and Reproduction

Orcish gestation periods last six months. Reproduction acts are similar to other mammals.

Growth Rate & Stages

Orcs grow extremely quickly compared to other races. As an infant, their nose will resemble that of a pig's snout, but once they reach the age of three or five, the "snout" will begin to recede and resemble a simpler nose. By the age of 14, orcs can be considered fully grown.

Ecology and Habitats

Orcs prefer to settle in mountainous regions or areas with high vegetation, as the latter usually provides them with a healthy food source consisting of herbivorous animals.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Orcs are omnivorous and can eat almost anything, but are fond of meat more than anything else. They are very adverse to eating pigs, however, given their evolutionary heritage (but those in the southern lands of their nation do it anyway).

Additional Information

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Show spoiler

The species' entire existence as a sentient race is a ploy conceived by Blaire Arilese as beings that unknowingly worship her as a god of selenite. She used the crystals to ascend a large amount of pigs in Areon, transforming them into grotesque pigmen. They eventually evolved into orcs during the beginning of the Penumbral Cycle, now worshipping the "goddess of the crystal", doing anything they can to find a way to thank her personally. In other words, orcs are a fail-safe in the event that no other sentient races took up a religion revolving around selenite.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

The continent of Areon and other mountainous regions.

Average Intelligence

Very intelligent, capable of constructing complex machinery without the use of selenite or magic.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

The eyesight of an orc is slightly worse than that of the average human, but their sense of smell is impeccable. This allows them to locate the source of a scent from over six miles away.

Civilization and Culture

Major Organizations

Oruk'tai

Beauty Ideals

For as long as one is not morbidly obese, anyone can be seen as ideal. Regardless of gender, a fat orc is shamed and looked down upon. This is because they see being obese as regressing back to their origins as grotesque pigmen, ignoring the years of evolution that they have gone through to surpass that status.

Gender Ideals

Males must be strong, reliable, and have very clean teeth. Women are ideally intelligent, outgoing, and also have very white teeth.

Courtship Ideals

In a similar vein to the humans on Areon, orcs like to court or propose to others by showing off their craftsmanship. It is a common sight to see orcs offering ornate weaponry or small, yet intricate music boxes and machines as their way of impressing/proposing to someone.

Average Technological Level

Orcs are highly industrious and are able to create complex machinery without the need for selenite.

Major Language Groups and Dialects

Orcish and Euneti.

Culture and Cultural Heritage

Orcish culture revolves around their own selenite-related religion and its god. Because orcs only achieved sentience and their existence as a whole thanks to the crystals, they seek to do everything in their power to find a means of contacting their god and show them how much they've grown as thanks. It is for this reason that complex machinery and large architecture is abundant in Oruk'tai.

Common Taboos

Attempting to reject selenite or the orcish god will quickly generate a scuffle among orcs, given their heritage. Politically, they are at great odds with the Kendani and the nation of Benito due to their strong beliefs.
Eating pigs is forbidden to all orcs due to their origins as pigmen. However, the orcs of southern Oruk'tai, stereotyped for being extreme omnivores, frankly don't care, and are willing to cook and eat them anyway. Bacon is rather delicious after all.

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

Although mostly open to the idea of befriending other races, orcs are at great odds with the Kendani due to their rejection of almost all uses of selenite. Their view of humans is decidedly cautious due to their war with the Sunstone Empire and Benito's rejection of Lunarism, but they will otherwise get along. Maybe.
Orcs are fairly open to interspecies romance, but to other races, whatever becomes the partner of an orc becomes the butt of a myriad sexual jokes. Woe betides the man unable to satisfy his orcish woman and the lady who fears an orcish male's coiled member.

Lifespan

70 years

Average Height

Anywhere between 5'9" and 6'1"

Average Physique

Large, heavy, and often muscular.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Varies from red, green, brown, and in very rare occasions, pink (although this is considered a genetic disorder).