Orc

A pair of Orc mercenaries.

Orcs are one of the four civilized races native to Arginium.

Overview

History

Orcs are the youngest of the four civilised races of the Continent, though their true origins are still shrouded in mystery. There are two legends on orcish origins which remain the most prevalent in the centuries since they first walked continental soil. The first says that they are the product of a curse placed upon a group of elves as punishment from the ancestors, for a variety of sins ranging from profligacy to blasphemous practices. The other legend suggests the orcs were the product of twisted experiments conducted by the arcanists of the now-illegal society known as the Pale Tower, who were said to have experimented upon prisoners of the servitor races while under the influence of Anathema.

The Second Age was not kind to the orcs, as they were either abused or ignored by the elves, by and large. The indifference of their elven masters towards the orcs has led to centuries of enmity between the two races, though this has mellowed some in recent times, as the orcs have come to firmly believe that the collapse of Delthoridan and the decimation of the elven population are the just retribution of the Gods for their cruelty. The inclusive nature of Commonwealth society and the freedom the orcs enjoy in travel, work, and life in general are considered fair compensation for their past mistreatment. It is estimated in current year that approximately 10% of the population of the Grand Commonwealth is orcish.

Description

Orcs vary in height and build. They are shorter than elves but taller than humans on average, and are more muscular and solidly built than those two races. Males average between 5'10" and 6'5" in height and mass between 210 and 260 pounds, depending on height. Females average between 5'6" and 5'10" in height and mass between 170 and 200 pounds, depending on height. Their hair is universally black, and always straight, and their eyes are universally a coppery reddish colour. Their skin is varying shades of green.

Magick ability in orcs is extremely rare, with only 1 in 10,000 being born with the ability to wield it. Magick is partly respected and partly feared in orcish society, but those who wield magick tend to be advisers to the matriarchs or serve in some capacity with the Commonwealth itself. Orcs, on average, live upwards of 65 years.

Reputation

Orcs are well known as fierce warriors, and this tendency for aggressiveness and violence makes them well-suited for service in the Grand Army or in the provincial militias. Their physical resilience makes them likewise amply suited for duty in any of the Army’s subunits. Orcs have a natural talent with explosives and blackpowder, thus orcs are typical among the Royal Engineers.

The fierce fighting spirit of the orcs means some among them, finding a calmer life unappealing, turn to other pursuits, such as piracy and mercenary work. Indeed, orcs are the most common sight aboard pirate ships that prowl the Summer Sea, and some ships have entirely orcish crews. Likewise, they are typical members of mercenary companies, such as the Red Blades and the Black Sashes.

Despite their fiercely independent nature, the vast majority of Orcs are loyal to the Commonwealth, and the clan matriarchs are said to hold a respect born of subtle fear for the reigning High Queen, Juliora, for her strict, no-nonsense leadership style and her legendary temper of which "any Orc would be proud". Many refer to her in their language as ro'hai kanzal, or "Queen of Steel". Her grandson and heir apparent, Prince Royal Leoric, is called the ro'kal tondo, or "Prince of Storms", for his magickal abilities in combat.

Society

A matriarchal system governs the orcish clans. This system places the leadership of the clans, which are loosely familial but see adoptions of worthy orcs into their ranks. In some situations, one clan can absorb the remnants of another at the conclusion of a clan dispute. Open clan war is forbidden by Commonwealth law, but means for following the other strictures of the mugorim, or honour code, are inculcated in the legal code of the Commonwealth.

Most orcs who are religious are followers of the Communion of the Circle, the state faith of the Commonwealth. Some still follow the ancient, militant tradition of the Gholorz Garan'do, a religion which worships a trinity of exclusively orcish gods representing fortune, death, and war.

Their largest settlement is the city of Rhokkolu (population 15,300), located in the lower Northlands.