Krashnorrukh
The Krashnorrukh are a group of Orc tribes and clans that share a common language and live and hunt within and around the Red Mountains of the western Junn Steppe. The population of the Krashnorrukh is difficult to accurately estimate but is assumed to be greater than 100,000 individuals living in semi-isolated communities that gather infrequently and only to wage war on other Orc communities or the wandering herders of the Junn Harr people.
The Krashnorrukh are exclusively made up of Homo Horriblis Septentriones or the Northern Orc subspecies. These orcs are most often observed to have prominent tusk-like canine teeth, broad jaws and smaller, pointed ears. Both male and female sexes have large, dense bone structures that support hugely muscled frames and require huge amounts of calories to keep their bodies running.
The term krashnorrukh probably means "red orcs" but the root of the term is uncertain. It is the term they use to describe themselves and their common language. They have a distinct culture that is centered around a societal drive to take food and supplies from other, weaker or more vulnerable communities. Food, possessions and slaves are the primary motivator for these conflicts.
Most communities within the Krashnorrukh culture are dominated by the largest and most violent males. These ruling males surround themselves with like-minded males that are subservient to the leader and constitute a hierarchical ruling caste within the societies. Females, while still amazingly strong and capable of incredible violence, typically manage the households of the males by acquiring most of the food and provisions necessary to raise young and shelter the family. Some gifted individual females can attain a level of authority and leadership through skills in shamanistic magic and healing.
The Krashnorrukh have a cultural expectation that the leaders and war chiefs of the various tribes and clans prove their bravery and strength by stalking and killing the fearsome Sand Drakes that prowl the fringes of the great western deserts along the edges of the Red Mountains. When successfully harvested, the crudely-tanned hides of these fierce predators are fashioned into armor or clothing that is an indicator of strength and ability for the wearer.
Culture
Average technological level
All orcs can maintain iron and steel weapons to a large degree (sharpening edges and repairing handles and grips), but very few can manage to create iron or steel weapons or tools from raw metals or ores. Thus, tools, weapons, armor, fasteners, hinges, et al. must be gained through raiding and looting or be improvised from non-metal sources such as stone, bone, wood or antler. Female orcs can sew leather or cloth but cannot weave new material.
The Krashnorrukh orcs specifically are an almost purely "hunter/gatherer" ethnic group. Males hunt large game and raid other orcs or humans for needed material or supplies while females gather plant-based food stuff, hunt small game and birds, collect wild grains, fruits, berries and roots, and maintain dwellings and prepare food. They are a mostly settled group as opposed to a wandering nomadic people. They live in seasonal settlements where food, water and the possibility of raiding are most commonly found with the least likelihood of competition from other orc groups.
Foods & Cuisine
The Krashnorrukh orcs find most of their proteins in hunted prey such as auroch, bison, mountain goats, wild sheep, feral pigs, wild ponies and horses and seasonal hunts of mammoth and mastodon, which also provide large portions of their material and shelter needs. Whenever conflict occurs between the Krashnorrukh and the Junn Harr (or any other Human peoples), the dominant ruling caste of orcs will consume a portion of the dead humans, typically their hearts and livers.
Common Customs, traditions and rituals
Members of the ruling caste or emerging males that hope to gain prestige and influence in their respective societies will make an effort to travel west to the edges of the great Western Desert. Once there, they will stalk, hunt, kill and harvest a Sand Drake dragon as a rite of passage or a coming of age ritual. Success in completing this ritual is typically demonstrated by wearing some sort of armor piece or a prominent portion of their dress that is made from the tanned or preserved hide of the beast. Since Sand Drake's do not have a scaly or armored hide, but instead have a tough but very supple hide that is both waterproof and remarkably protective against cuts, slashes, stabs and blows.
Funerary and Memorial customs
Dead members of Krashnorrukh communities are placed in secluded areas or small rock caves for excarnation. After a suitable amount of time has passed, the remaining bones are collected and placed in clay or wooden containers and retained as totems and charms for relatives. Custom dictates that having, holding, or wearing a piece of a deceased family member gives that holder or owner a portion of the deceased orc's power and experience. Thus, shamans will be seen to wear many orc skulls, bones, teeth or even scalps in order to gain as much magical power and knowledge as possible from the dead.
