Orcs
From Snowblossom
The orcs of Snowblossom are very different from their counterparts in other worlds. Orcs are an ancient race of noble warriors who value honor and loyalty above all things.
Orcs are an ancient race of noble warriors who value honor and loyalty above all things. Orcs are strongly affiliated with the clan they belong to. While they are sometimes seen as savage, they have merely come to know life in the Eye as a setting for violence. They enjoy combat, but do not relish war or bloodshed.
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Personality
Orcs are often rough and rude - at least, from the perspective of other races. Orcs do not focus on manners and social mores. Instead, they only regard one thing with importance - respect. So long as you respect the power of those above you, there is no problem. Disrespect is seen as a challenge, and challenges are met in kind.
In times of peace, orcs are hard-working. In times of war, they are relentless, yet honorable. When there is cause for celebration, orcs are known to let loose and enjoy unbound revelry.
Honor
The honor system of the orcs can be understood very simply despite the many rules and traditions the orcs claim. Firstly, an orc must always protect his or her family, friends, clan and village (so long as they are honorable). Secondly, an orc must always keep his or her pledges and promises. Thirdly, an orc must obey his superiors and respect his inferiors. Of course, these three simple rules translate to hundreds of traditions for the orcs.
Trials in orc society are always a public affair where everyone is welcome to give a short testimony about the nature of the events and the character of the accused and the accuser. These trials generally move quickly and the village elders decide the appropriate punishment for the convicted orc, if there is merit to the accusation.
For punishment, the orcs know that not every breach of honor should be met with expulsion from the clan. The orcs are fond of imprisonment or public embarassment as a form of punishment. Since orcs believe that pain hardens resolve, they do not see it as a viable punishment among their own kind. In general, a dishonorable act or crime means a loss of status or a few days chained outside the village. More heinous crimes might mean branding, expulsion from the clan or even death.
Physical Description
Relations
Unlike what is common in other worlds, orcs are not friendly with goblinoids, who they see as duplicitous and dishonorable.
Strangely, orcs often get along very well with kobolds. The normally suspicious kobolds know from experience that orcs are creatures who keep their word and honor a debt. This cooperation between the two races is usually in the form of trade and non-aggression - rarely do the two races mingle in other ways.
Orcs are particularly suspicious of elves, eladrin and drow. It is said that the Telwadir enslaved orcs when they arrived in the Eye, and the orcs spread this tale amongst themselves. For that reason, orcs are extremely suspicious of the elven races and elven magic. Still, an elf, eladrin or drow who proves honorable will win an orc's friendship, although that rarely occurs with the drow.
Alignment
Orcs tend to be Unaligned with a specific dedication to their system of honor. Orcs of both good and evil alignments can be found easily. More chaotic orcs exist in number, but those who cannot learn to live within the rules of honor may find themselves Clanless and unwelcome among their own kind.
History
Orc culture likely predates both human civilization and the presence of the Elves in Snowblossom. However, because orcs have always been tribal and rarely create cities, they also have a poor reckoning of dates and facts. Instead, their history is a strong oral tradition with stories and tales about heroes and villains. The orcs prefer it this way, and have rejected any interest in archeological studies of their past by other races.
According to their legends, the orcs were once the animal spirits who guarded Mother Dawn. They were rewarded for their service by being given humanoid shape and being left to lead free lives in the Eye.
Orc Lands
Orcs can be found all over the Eye, living in small tribes throughout the world. Orcs generally reject organizing in anything so large as a nation, but there are several large orc cities throughout the Eye, including Krosh Inuur in the Untamed Lands, where the High Chief holds court, as it were.
Society and Government
Orc society is tribal, with strong elders leading each village. Elders usually lead the village until a challenger takes their place. Since the elder being challenged determines the nature of the challenge, wily elders can hold their positions as well as strong elders. The system seems to favor the calmest and wisest to lead, since they are capable of outwitting more brash would-be challengers.
Every orc is affiliated with a Clan. The only way an orc is clanless is if he has been dishonored - even orphaned orcs are adopted by a clan. Clan leadership works very similarly to village leadership, with a council of elders leading each clan. There are fifteen major Clans and many minor clans. A village's loyalty to their respective clan varies from village to village, and generally depends on what other troubles the village is facing in their own lives.
Orc clans are usually neither matriarchal nor a patriarchal, valuing strength and wisdom despite gender. However, orc males are generally more involved in politics than females, and this can lead to some bias towards male leaders.
The great citadel of Krosh Inuur is home to Fathum Stonetooth, who holds the title of High Chief of the Clans. Fathum commands a great deal of respect for ending the Clan Wars, and his name is known far and wide as a name of honor among the orcs. It is due to this widespread respect that Stonetooth is able to keep the orcs unified as a single nation despite being spread across the Eye.
Religion
The orcs are given to ancestor worship, praising those who gave their lives to protect the clan. They revere Mother Dawn and all her works, and also revere the Pure Ones in their daily lives.
The lesser god Grumish is widely said to be an orc, and is prayed to by those orcs about to enter battle.
In general, orcs have as many druids as clerics, favoring the primal power of Mother Dawn equally to the divine power of the gods.
Language
Names
Male Names:
Female Names:
Family Names:
Adventurers
Orcs very commonly seek glory on the field of battle. They tend towards martial classes, such as the fighter, ranger and warlord. Although some orcs make for skilled monks, many orcs balk at meditation and calm, preferring to follow their goals with relentless passion.
If a person earns the trust of an orc, they have a powerful ally. Orcs will defend their friends blindly. However, if they are betrayed, they will never trust the person again, and they often seek vengeance.
