Orcish
"Orcish" describes the shared culture and norms of many Orcs. It is heavily informed by the worldview of Gruumsh, the Orc creator god, but takes many different forms and interpretations across the realms in different communities.
For instance, the understanding of all endeavours as wars is extremely common, but how a war should be fought, what the rules of engagement are, and which wars are worth fighting varies from orc to orc.
Naming Traditions
Feminine names
Ghorza, Lagakh, Shazgob, Shagar, Kharzug, Dura, Yazgash, Glasha, Shel, Lazgar
Masculine names
Gogron, Sugha, Yamarz, Yakha, Khargol, Urag, Brag, Pakgu, Ughash, Durzub
Family names
Family names are not commonly a part of orcish culture, with all orcs being united in ork-kind, and family lineage having little to do with social place or status.
Culture
Major language groups and dialects
Orcish is the shared language of most Orcish communities. As most orc linguists consider themselves to be fighting wars on misunderstanding, the orcish language is extremely concise and straightforward, with clearly-defined definitions and a strong inclination toward literalism.
Shared customary codes and values
One of few constants across orcs is the contextualization of nearly everything as a kind of war or struggle, and therefore having a form of victory that can be fought for. Learning is a war on ignorance, cooking a war on hunger, etc. etc. There are few more orkish lignuistic artifacts than "war" as a complete sentence, acknowledging the struggle inherent in existence.
In the same vein, many orcs adopt a socially isolationist stance, unwilling to steal victory from their neighbours' battles by interfering uninvited, and refusing to surrender their own fights by passing them in part or whole to anyone else.
Common Etiquette rules
Victory-stealing can occur on various scales, and is to be avoided. Offering unasked-for help or advice is the most common form of interfering in another's personal war, and is thus frowned upon. Refusing to help when invited, on the other hand, is betrayal of the highest order.
Foods & Cuisine
The resilience of Orc physiology has given the Orcish culture an immensely varied pallette, rivalled perhaps only by Dwarves. Nearly anything can be food if prepared properly, and successfully turning an unlikely food source into something not only edible, but enjoyable is a masterful victory for orcish chefs.
Birth & Baptismal Rites
Few things are more celebrated in orcish culture than the birth of children. More orcs means more fighters in all the myriad wars. More fighters means more victories, more allies, more glory.
Multiples are extremely common in the Orcish species, but even singlets are sources of ecstatic celebration among not only its parents, but its entire community.
In orcish communities, parental leave is several years long, during which time the parent or parents devote themselves entirely to the rearing of a healthy and successful ork warrior.
As with any war, the war on shitty childhoods is not one that should be surrendered or handed off. But the task is understood to be massive, and as with any battle, help from allies is a tool to be used. Few requests confer more honor on those who answer them than those relating to the care of an orcish child.
Common Myths and Legends
It is said that if enough orcs believe the same thing with enough sincerity, they can cause it to become true. Mythic orkish heroes are said to have had conviction so strong that it bent reality to their wills.
Ideals
Courtship Ideals
Partnerships should be earned. Orcs are unlikely to "settle" simply for the sake of not being single; such a concession would be seen as surrender.
Encompassed species