Orc

Hearing a faint thrumming in the distance and the echoes of guttural chanting, the city rose from their beds and looked to the horizon. The sound escalated louder into a cacophony of heavy war drums and the chanting became more and more prominent. Fear and dismay quivered as the chant was finally clear.

"Gruumsh! Gruumsh! Gruumsh!"...

The One-Eyed God

The God of the Orcs, Gruumsh, is not worshipped or revered so much as he is feared and respected. The orcs have many in their pantheon and none of which are to be taken lightly. The dogma of the orcs are savage and reckless and The Everfight dictates the faithful's every move.

Worg Tamers

Due to the orcs' ferocity and presence, they are some of the only known humanoids who have been able to domesticate the raw survival instinct of the worg. They often outfit these beasts with heavy armors and spikes that they are trained to use in the midst of battles and are sometimes more of a threat in combat than the orc itself.

Created With: Hero Forge

Tribal Cant

Though orcs have a language of their own, they are not the most literate of races on Oryth and had no written language for many millennia. In recent centuries, however, the orc culture has adapted a written language from that of the dwarves, allowing them to mark objects and locations with crude languages. This language is rarely if ever, used for record-keeping or thoughts and is instead used to convey quick information such as "don't go here", "food close", or "monster lair". Though it was based on the Dwarven language, dwarves might only understand a handful of symbols written due to the imperfections and variations in the runes.

Sacred Hues

Colors are regarded with significance among the orcs. Red represents blood and being tattooed or painted with ensures an orcs bloody victory over their foes. Ashen grays are used to show respect to their fallen allies and pay homage to their ancestors. Darkened charcoal signifies darkness and will often be accompanied by night-raiding parties that might enjoy the element of surprise. The chieftain of the tribe is who designates which sacred color is used and for what purpose, ultimately deciding who shall be honored with the right to bear the holy hues.

The Horde Approaches

Orc tribes are fierce and territorial, even to other orcs. Generally, most tribes only hold about a hundred or less members and meet other tribes with hostility. They will often war over who is the strongest tribe meeting on land in between the two tribes often trampling and plunder any town in their steads. On rare occasions, tribes will unite under a common goal forming a horde of frenzying warriors that strike fear into all they come across.

Orc Drives

Characteristics (d8)

1. "I never relinquish my weapon."
2. "I welcome any chance to prove my battle skills."
3. "I always appear like I am about to kill everyone around me."
4. "I love a good brawl."
5. "I drink the blood of monsters to consume their power."
6. "I chant orcish war dirges during combat."
7. "I will have achieved glory when all cower before my might."
8. "I carry the teeth of a great warrior. They inspire me to commit great deeds in battle."

Created With: Hero Forge

Created With: Hero Forge

Genetic Ancestor(s)

• Secundus

Scientific Name

Dantus Sapien

Lifespan

~40 Years

Average Height

6'0" - 6'8"

Average Weight

230_lbs - 280_lbs

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Orcs typically are light greenish-yellows to vibrant greens. They often are seen with war paint or tattoos over their bodies to aid in intimidation. Two tusks bulge from their lower jaw, giving them a natural underbite.

Orc Names

Orc names don't always mean something in their native tongue and are often just sounds put together that sound strong or fierce. Orcs are often given epithets rather than surnames by the tribes based on their actions or noteworthy feats in battle.

Masculine Names. Abzug, Bajok, Grutok, Jahrukk, Lortar, Mobad, Mugrub, Rhorog, Ruhk, Shamog, Shugog, Urzul
Feminine Names. Baggi, Emen, Engong, Kanisf, Myev, Neeja, Ownka, Shautha, Sutha, Vola, Volen
Epithets. Bone Crusher, Death Spear, Doom Hammer, Elf Butcher, Eye Gouger, Flesh Ripper, Iron Tusk, Skin Flayer, Skull Cleaver, Spine Snapper, The Brutal, The Filthy

Orc Superstitions

• If a dwarf or a human invokes its god upon dying, you must carry the corpse’s ears for three days to ward off any retribution, and then bury or burn them.
• Three ravens is always a good sign.
• It is good luck to spit where you are about to sleep.
• Gnome bones can ward off diseases if they are worn.
• Don’t stand inside a ring of stones, mushrooms, or any other kind of circle.
• Seeing a shooting star before a battle is bad luck. To ward it off, you must swallow a stone.
• A tribute of elf ears brings favor from Gruumsh.
• If you bury five stones at dawn before a long journey, you will always find your way back to the war hearth.
• Stomping your foot three times and uttering “Gruumsh” wards off bad magic.