Orc
Orcs are a race of beings that were originally created by Orcus as expendable soldiers. This unfortunate origin has saddled them with a tendency towards violence and barbarism, which many do little to resist.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Orcs are large humanoids with faces that are somewhat bestial in appearance. Their skin is tough enough to serve as a natural armor, roughly on par with a typical gambeson. Their hands and forearms are scaled, conferring protection roughly equivalent to mail. Their eyes have slit pupils and they have fangs in the top of their mouths, as well as small tusks protruding from the bottom.
In addition, orcs have the ability to self-petrify, meaning that they can make their skin even tougher, at the cost of some of their mobility. If they completely self-petrify, they can even survive critical wounds for as long as they are petrified. Obviously, this use also leaves them completely helpless until they de-petrify themselves.
Genetics and Reproduction
Orcs reproduce sexually and are viviparous. Their gestation period is five months, and twins and triplets are quite common.
Growth Rate & Stages
Orcs grow to the equivalent of fifteen quite quickly and slow to an average growth rate afterwards.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Orcs are omnivorous and are quite adaptable.
Additional Information
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Orcs are found across Aevorea and in Tartarus. Of all the demon types, orcs have the largest population in Aevorea.
Average Intelligence
Orcs are sapient, but are generally less intelligent than most other sapient races. Despite this, they show a remarkable talent for crafting effective weapons and tools, even with low-quality materials.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Orcs have the ability to use infrared vision, which essentially allows them to see temperatures. Their senses are otherwise average.
Civilization and Culture
History
Orcs were originally created by Orcus to be soldiers in his rebellion against the Prince of Tartarus. They are a hybrid of Humans, Gorgons, and Oni. It is widely speculated that there were other components as well, but what they were is unknown. It is also not known how Orcus, who lived in Tartarus, managed to get his hands on the Oni that he used.
The original orcs were taught to worship Orcus as a god, and they did so with terrifying fervor. At the beginning of the war, the orcs were incredibly effective, and they actually seemed to stand a good chance of winning. However, the army was ambushed by a Tartarean force while marching. The orcs began to gain the upper hand, but then Orcus was slain, revealing that he wasn't actually a god. The orcs were split into two factions: those who were angry at Orcus' deception, and those who still believed in him. The two groups were quickly embroiled in a civil war, which was short and bloody. In the end, the believers were driven out of Irkalla and the non-believers stood down and eventually joined Tartarean society.
The orcs who still believed in Orcus, who were now in Aevorea, still worshipped Orcus extremely fervently, and as their population grew, this eventually created a new Orcus, a god born of the orcs' faith. This new Orcus is a somewhat of a caricature of the original, as his personality and memories are closer to the orcs' idealized perception of him rather than who he actually was.
The orcs who still believed in Orcus, who were now in Aevorea, still worshipped Orcus extremely fervently, and as their population grew, this eventually created a new Orcus, a god born of the orcs' faith. This new Orcus is a somewhat of a caricature of the original, as his personality and memories are closer to the orcs' idealized perception of him rather than who he actually was.
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