About Orcs
Physical Characteristics
Orcs vary in appearance, based on region or sub race, but all share certain physical qualities. Orcs of all kinds usually have grayish skin, coarse hair, stooped postures, low foreheads, and porcine faces that feature lower canines that resemble boar tusks. Many also have wolf-like ears that are pointed on the ends, similar to elves. Orcs are roughly the same size as humans though much more muscular and hardy.
Orcs breed fast and live short lives compared with most other races. The gestation is normally about nine months just like a human but the life span ranges from 30-50 years (humans range from 80-120)
Psychology
Orcs have poor temperaments and are given to anger more easily than some races. Easily offended and impatient, orcs generally prefer violent solutions and rarely consider multiple ways of approaching a problem. However, in spite of this many orcs are excellent at getting results, since they are creatures of action, not thought. Some exceptions to this profile do exist, however, such as the famed Okk-Nott whose deeds were accomplished through planning and insight.
Culture
Traditional orcish culture is extremely warlike and when not at war the race is usually planning for it. Most orcs approach life with the belief that to survive, one must subjugate potential enemies and control as much resources as possible, which puts them naturally at odds with other races as well as themselves. This belief is spurred in part by Blixton and his pantheon, which teaches that all races are inferior to the orcs. Eyes of Blixton are orcs specially tied to the one-eyed god and offer sacrifices, read omens, and advise tribes through Brixton’s will.
Male orcs dominate most orcish societies and females are usually, at best, prized possessions and little better than livestock at worst. Male orcs pride themselves on their number of wives and sons, as well as their scars from battle and rituals. Orcs also prize the possession of slaves, though relatively few own them actually keep slaves.
Most orcs don't build cities of their own, instead relying on those left behind by others and improving their fortifications or operating out of small camps and dens, often in natural caves. Orcs can manage ironwork on their own, as well as stonework, though their tools are often inferior to those of more disciplined races. Traditionally orcs are scavengers without true technology for themselves. Most iron and steel they have is acquired from someplace else. Stone, bone, wood and even bronze has been developed by them naturally. A very rare few have the knowledge of how to smelt iron and even fewer can make steel although it is a crude form. Rough forms of smithing do exist from reworked or reforged weapons, armor and shields.
Most orcs are part of a confederation of tribes, loosely held together by a despotic chieftain. Bands within these alliances might wander far from their homelands, but continue to greet those orcs who belong to the same tribal network as kin. Orc bloodragers are champions of their tribe, who use primal strength and ferocity to overcome their enemies. Most are bodyguards or lower-ranking chiefs within the tribal structure
The Subraces;
Desert Orc
The stock of this orc breed is of a different color. The skin tones are more sand color with blotches of dark brown, black, and even white. Those who survive an encounter with this rare breed of orc think the body has camouflage paint applied to it but those who study the dead bodies learn different. Most all orc’s and half orc’s here have the hair either in braids or dreadlocks. The most common type of weaponry here are half spear made with obsidian blades and wooden shield. The orc’s here also have to deal with the thri-kreen and desert type nomads of the sands. Rare are these orcs.
Mountain Orc
The orc’s of the mountains are a much more aggressive lot. They have heavier armors and use metal when can be found, stolen, foraged or cobbled together. More often than not the orc’s in the mountains will employ shields and spear and some sort of axe. The tribes that are dominant are Red Spears and Dire Wolf tribe. The Dire Wolf tribe is so named because most all of the tribe wears the skin of the wolf. It is the right of passage for an orc of this tribe to enter adulthood to hunt and skin a wolf. If unsuccessful they are shamed and sent out again. The Red Spear tribe is named because of the leader of the tribe carries a spear that is red. This weapon is possibly an artifact from the ancient Atlanteans and the shield is of spectacular nature as well. The tribes of the mountains live in cave systems in the mountains north of the Tower Rock valley. This is the most common variety and dominates the Firespine nation of the Dwarves.
Forest Orc
The orc’s of the Ranzin forest are somewhat different from the garden variety. The orc tribes here have learned to adapt to the environment, lighter armors and a lot sneakier. Three tribes that dominate the others are, The Black Tusks, Tanglethorn, and Horned Lords. Of the three the Horned lords are named because of a mutation that runs in the blood lines possibly leading back to a tiefling or maybe even a dragon of some sort but they have small horns growing from the foreheads. The Black Tusks have a secret dye to change the color of their teeth. At the age of maturity the Black Tusks permanently dye the protruding tusks. The Tanglethorn’s are a tribe with a lot of pure blood; they have a few half-orc in the tribe. This tribe also uses the orc scout a lot. Other tribes exist but have nowhere the influence these tribes do. All of the orc’s here in the forest are very cunning. Most weapons used by the tribes here are wooden and armor is often hide or leather.
Frost Orc or White Orc
The orcs in the frigid regions of Frostland a continent to the north of Ferrum locked in a frozen climate. They are of a pale white skin tone with black or dark brown spotting and fine white hair capping the head. In physical form they are identical. They also favor ability to cast Ice sphere as there lesser cousins the Frost Goblins.
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