Orcs

Introduction

The Orcs, the strongest race of Eden, being the Mighty green Folk. They do not look the smartest but do not be fouled. This race leaves you crushed along the road before you could draw your sword. The civilised races of Eden should have been able to purge the lands of their blight years ago, but their ferocity, brute strength, and tribal loyalty have made them as inevitable as leeches in a stagnant pool. If there’s one thing all races of Eden could agree on is that the orcs are mighty fighters because in the siege of battle they go barbaric, leaving none alive. Yet, in more recent times, they want to prove themselves to all others in Eden. They are not the bloodthirsty monsters they were long ago, but they are loyal warriors capable of many things such as building, blacksmithing and working with stone. Yes, their goal is to prove themselves to all, but this does not mean they will be walked over by any other because nothing is more important to an orc than loyalty and honor.

Appearance

Their size, their brute strength, their more pig-like face and their great tusks easily identified from other humanoids of Eden, orcs. The orc’s skin also sets out from the rest, most commonly being a green-colored shade with some natives in the desert known to be a more brownish color because of the intense sun over a great time there. Size of the orcs is bigger than men, but not as tall as high elves. They commonly differ from 5’8”-7’2” (~157.48 - 219.45cm). But their weight is bigger, being from 196 to 230 lbs (~88.9-104.3 kg). The magnitude of the orcs is exclusive, being more broad and powerful than most other races.

The green skin’s hair is ordinarily a deeper shade, being black most of the time, but with age their hair shifts to a grey color. Through the ages of the plague, the effects it had on the orcs meant that their hair would become remarkably thin because their bodies did not have the sufficient nutrients to preserve it.. This carried through the generations, but in the present time, they have become stronger and so have their hair. The orcs usually have longer hair now, seen in braids and have it tied long at the back.

One noticeable trait that the orcs have that differs from all other races is their great tusks that come from their bottom jaw. Most orcs have shorter ones that are recognized even when their mouths are shut, but it is believed the bigger tusks you have the greater fighter you will become. Orcs think extremely highly of their tusks due to them being the only race to have them. They would be seen decorated with rings around them or other jewelry with them.

The apparel of the orcs would usually be seen in not very heavy clothing because of their thick skin they have no need in big coats to keep them warm. They still despise the restrictions with clothing on the upper body. This is often while they work or train in fighting. The typical clothing is thin shirts and shorts. Especially in their capital nation of Zadh Nadrozz.

Languages

The orc’s language is quite simple compared to the other races of Eden coming from their past. They used a mixture of language and hand language or known now as Orcish this was their way to communicate to the other orcs. They knew common, but very little could only answer yes or no and greetings. Coming from their past they have been trying to get better at communication through common but still to this day some orcs still struggle with the more complicated words and terms, but they are still learning.

Some of the most common orcish

*Fist over Heart* = “For Honor” (a respectful salute)

*lowers head and raises* = “greetings friend” or “farewell”

*shake head left to right* = “No”

*Head up and down*       = “yes”

*Fists smash together*    = “a warning for a fight (a threat)

Culture and Society

The orcs are usually very defensive people being that they have been through so much as a race they want the race of Orcs to be rebuilt and to change everyone’s views on the orcs, turning from their dark past they want to show that they are not evil monsters and are a loyal, wise and strong race. Since they were more secluded and distant from the other people of Eden, they wanted to fit in with everything, learning about the way others live and go about their daily lives. The orcs seek honor and glory among all.

The orcs usually live alongside the goblins, so the orcs help protect them and do the more heavy lifting jobs being that they are much larger and stronger. You will usually see inside the walls of the capital nation an even split of the jobs are set between Orcs and Goblins. With this it means that the orcs think fondly of the Goblins and are becoming closer with them, even some orcs viewing the orcs and Goblins as one race.

The history of the orcs has brought the small number of orcs left closer with one another, getting to the point of the orcs calling each other brother and sister when they have no blood relations. This is just a way to show that the Orcs are very loyal and close to their own kind and view themselves as a large family. Respect, loyalty and honor are the most important thing to Orcs.

orcs love grand feasts and dances. The music that the orcs were born with and have known all their lives was the heavy drums made from wood and goat hide, the loud bashing and banging of the drums give birth to the dance of the orcs. The dances have stomping of the feet and the clapping of hands with war chants being roared throughout their nation. This is something that brings the orcs closer to others, being invited to these events and dancing with the orcs will be great honor to them.

Celebrations

The orcs love a good feast and music and this is their main way to do any celebrations or festivals. Since the orcs are very close to one another they have a feast where they all are brought closer. Some of the orcs celebrations are:

The Silent day

This is a day where all orcs remember those who were lost in the great war for them to become free from Mudguls control. This day is where all the orcs are silent shutting down all shops, no one works except the ones who are of importance like the warband and rulers. A ceremony takes place where they all stand together and remember those whose lives were lost.

The Great Brawl

The orcs love to embrace their strength and hand to hand combat so an event that happens quite a lot is the great brawl where a tournament is held to see who the greatest warrior is. Lots of food and entertainment is involved.

The alliance

They share this with the goblins and it is to celebrate the alliance made between them and the goblins putting pasts behind them and moving forward as one to create the greatest nation they can. Big feasts with food and alcohol, and a big dance is held with great drums booming around the nation of Zadh Nadrozz.

Romance and marriage

The orcs take romance and commitment seriously. They view marriage as the bonding of two souls made to make one. Since orcs are very close to one another, the way they usually get together with another is through knowing them for a long period and being very affectionate to each other. After that period, when they are seen to the public eye, this is the period spent planning out the day of soul bonding and this is where they are officially seen as one and are “married”. Orcs have a name for this and it is “the love pact” all orcs celebrate This ceremony and is a massive gathering with loads of food, dance and laughter. Divorce within the orcs is something that has never happened and is not something that is really mentioned because of the process of marriage they are usually sure of their choice and do not want to break the 2 souls apart. If it were to happen, there would be shock amongst the community because of how rare this is.

Life & Reproduction

For Orcs, reproduction is a glorious thing, usually only with people who have made the love pact with one another, but could still happen with some who are just friendly with each other. The female orcs are only fertile once a year, so having a child is not something that happens all the time. The female holds the child for 9 months before it is given birth. When a new orc has been created, the orcs hold a massive festival for the child and the family, being that they love celebrating new life and see it as a gift. The Child is usually given gifts from the others and is the key person at the event. The reproduction of an orc brings the whole orc community closer because of their history the newborn is brought into the new era for orcs where they are good people and are not under control by the mean ruler they once had.

Religion

The orcs believe in ancestorship being that they pray and worship the past orcs and they are all wise and know all. They are the best of the best orcs. Because to become an Azdhug (one of the noble orc spirits). This would mean that the orc lived its life full of honor being loyal to themselves and to their family. It would gain the Honor through all different ways. Could die in battle nobly, sacrificing yourself, living your life, helping others and doing great things for people. It would have to be the best because only the greats would be ancestors. If an orc does not live their lives with honor or not impressive enough to become an Azdhug. something would reincarnate them as an orc and live through life again to have another chance to have their place among the great Orcs. Being reincarnated is looked down on because they were not good enough to become an Azdhug. The Azdhug are the ones who decide if you are good enough to become part of them.

Orcs would often pray to the Azdhug for wisdom or aid. Because they want guidance from the greats. They would normally worship and be in the Azdhug's presence on holy ground. This means wherever orcs settle, they will always get one of the elders to set up a place where the orcs can worship the Azdhug. Being a small place with a few totems and gifts that other orcs have given to show their love for them.

Funerals

Orcs deaths were a sad time due to them all being very close to one another. What would usually happen when a death has occurred is the body would be placed on top of a small wooded structure, being only 3mx3m and would be 1m in height. The body would lay there for a day so people could come and pray over the body, hoping that it would become part of the Azdhug. Then a ceremony would take place where all would gather and then set a light on the wood. They believed that the body spirit would rise with the smoke to the Azdhug and then they would join them. And if they were not honorable enough, then the spirit would be blessed by the Azdhug for a good life once reincarnated.