Clavan

Following the exile of the Orcs and their sympathizers during the reign of Donnchad ap Briain, the Orcish "homeland" became Clava - the desolate red desert of Ymrak's far south. Though many Orcs have left Clava, returning home to Aberia or otherwise spreading across Wyrth, those that remain are the Clavan people.
Speaking a form of Arkan that was intentionally made harsher - the dialect referred to as "Klav" - the Clavan people have come to embrace the desolation they were cast into. While not savage by nature, the Clavan culture was born of a get-strong-or-else mentality. As there were many thousands that were exiled to Clava, there was a widespread belief that, had they been stronger and more ready to fight, they may have been able to keep themselves from being cast out. That seed of an idea was planted in the red soil of the desert and grew into the warrior culture known, today.
One of the ways this is lived out is in the devaluation of the weak. The crippled, elderly, etc. are all cast aside by the wider Clavan society, even if not by their own tribe. It is not uncommon for weak children to be discarded - something the Orcs of Clava believe to be a good thing, but that may be part of what's causing the decline of their birth rates and generally weak nature of their genetics.
As an extension of that, and being that their culture is mostly predicated on war, all members of society are expected to be fighters. Male and female alike are to take up arms for their Warband. Pacifism and cowardice are not acceptable; to not fight is to disgrace yourself. This has a somewhat cyclical relationship with the Clavan worship of the Red God. A faith born from strife, the Red God demands strength of body and of spirit, something necessary for survival in the uncaring desert. This in turn bolsters their resolve, believing that their time in the desert is purifying them for the Red God's favor. On and on the cycle goes, believing that their suffering brings strength and their strength brings his favor.

Naming Traditions

Feminine names

Zira, Mikte, Rema, Lig, Homa, Deng, Regi, Mach, Dask, Kidal, Groga, Waba, Blan, Shish

Masculine names

Scrogrisk, Maktar, Koresh, Closk, Grimush, Bothok, Glarmaul, Dorg, Agok, Miktar, Thush, Gobta, Pugresh, Dirash, Wabash

Unisex names

Acker, Cholt, Frask, Throt

Ideals

Beauty Ideals

As the Clavan people value strength over all else, their beauty ideals stand to match. They look for strong, well muscled mates. Also being tall is a very desirable trait among their people.

Gender Ideals

Male and female are equal, as they are all held to the same expectations. If a woman can't fight just as well as man, she is of no value to her society. If a man can't raise a child, he must not actually be that strong - they believe that strength begets strength. So all members are held to the same standards.

Courtship Ideals

There isn't really a concept of "courtship" in Clavan society. Two people will bind themselves to each other for as long as they see the relationship as beneficial. This requires no inherent lead-up, as the relationship may only be valuable for sex for a single night. Conversely, it may reap benefits for twenty years. As such, there are no marriages in Clavan society, and polyamory isn't uncommon. An Orc woman who bears a strong child will be honored regardless of whether or not her current partner is the father.

Parent ethnicities

• Abian

Encompassed species

• Orc

Related Locations

• Clava