Bólrans

The bólrans are one of two orcish ethnic groups inhabiting Úrra, one of the Azókan Islands, along with the Hargúls to the south. They mostly keep to themselves, shunning agriculture in favor of raising goats and cattle, fishing (including shark fishing), hunting seabirds and collecting their eggs.

History

Bólrans originated in northern Úrún and participated in the orcish invasions around and after the fall of the Paþarían Empire, due to ties with one of the southern úrúnan tribes. While many of the other tribes perished or fled elsewhere as the native Azókani managed to push back the invaders, the bólrans held on to Úrra and have lived there ever since.
While the hargúls -who had settled in Góalanis and later moved to Úrra after losing a war with a rival tribe- are fiercely loyal to the Sikíron Empire which rules the island, the bólrans prefer not to meddle in its affairs and often use the hargúls as intermediaries when they have to.

Culture

Apparel

Most bólrans wear simple loincloths or tunics made of goatskin, often decorated with dyed soapstone beads. Shamans wear special cloaks made of black cattle hides, with beads or golden buttons arranged to imitate prominent constellations, the same which they use as mnemonic aid for telling stories at night.
Long hair is preferred by men and women alike, with the former often bleaching it by soaking the hair in quicklime solution.

Cuisine

Traditional bólran diet mostly consists of dried fish, goat meat, cheese, eggs and mead. Beef is eaten during festivals along with bread, the latter made from grains bought from hargúls in exchange for dried fish.
Shark which has been stored in milk and then smoked is their national dish, traditionally served with honey and washed down with mead flavoured with mint (or imported azókani beer).