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lore:races:orcish [2023/07/26 12:46] – [History] eliulore:races:orcish [2024/04/30 02:29] (current) – [Goblinoids] quiddlesticks
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 ====== Orcish ====== ====== Orcish ======
 +Orcish races are one of the rarer peoples on [[:settings|Jaern and Cahyali,]] making up only a minority of most places they inhabit. A long history of oppression exists against them in many places, still alive and well at some locales and dying out in favor of equality in others. Most orcs have large, pointed ears, tusks coming from their bottom row of teeth, and strong builds.
 +
 +Orcish is a language with many subtleties and is highly contextual, and many phrases and words take on different meanings when spoken with different tones and body language. The same phrase can be either a compliment or an insult depending on how one says it, and what they do with their hands while saying it. Sarcasm, in-jokes, and subtext are the meat of speaking Orcish. 
 +
 +To compliment an orc, for example, one could say “you are the filthiest, most sickening piece of horse manure I’ve seen ever to come out the rear passages of a lizard” but should use heavy eye contact and open palms with a lowered voice - on the other hand, the same sentence spoken louder with closed fists would most likely start a brawl. Orcish has no single written script, as different orc tribes tend to be isolated and many develop their own scripts with very few similarities, even if the spoken word is mutually intelligible.
 +
 +Scholarly studies into orc biology have revealed an interesting part of their physiology: orcs show an uncanny ability to physically adapt and evolve to their environments. After moving to somewhere new, the next generation of orc children can look completely different from even their parents or grandparents. At this moment, it's thought that orcs have the ability to pick up genetic material from other mammal species surrounding them and adapt accordingly. For example, orcs living in cities around [[lore:races:humanoids|humanoids]] often develop a more human- or elf-like appearance, while orcs living in forests may begin to resemble wild beasts or boars.
  
 ===== Orcs ===== ===== Orcs =====
-Orcs are a stout race and generally have a low center of gravity. They average at five feet in height and are usually heavy in buildOrcs seem to have similar gender physiology as humans doThey have large+  * Lifespan: 60-70 years 
-protruding canines and lower bicuspids, and usually have flat noses.+  * Jaernian Populations: [[settings:jaern:therhine|Rhine Archipelago]], [[settings:jaern:ageron|Ageron]], [[settings:jaern:lojem|Lojem]] 
 +  * Cahyalian Populations: [[settings:cahyali:leyork|Ley'Ork]], [[settings:cahyali:vervand|Vervand]] 
 +As the most common of all orcish races, Orcs proper are a stout race and generally have a muscular build. They average at six feet in height. Their skin tone ranges from those that one might expect on a human to all sorts of green shades. For long time, orcs were thought to only live 30-50 years; however, this has been discovered to instead be immense statistical error on scholars' partDue to a cycle of oppressiondisease, hunger, and violence, many orcs died young in decades past; in truth, an orc living in peace and health has only a slightly shorter lifespan than a human. 
 + 
 +The origin of orcs is mysterious, but a common Orcish creation myth states they were creations of the natural gods, [[gods:osiris|Osiris]] and [[gods:neptune|Neptune,]] who fashioned them out of clay, animal bone, and tree leaves. Desiring to create a race who could live in true harmony with the rest of nature, these gods commanded the newly created orcs to live within and protect the wild. This does indeed match with the lifestyle of many orcs, who live in tribal societies in untamed areas of the world, acting as stalwart guardians of nature. They are known to either collaborate or clash with elvish communities in the same areas, standing together against anything that would threaten their homes or warring over those same tracts of wilderness.
  
-==== History ====+Each tribe has its own distinct culture, but a commonality in most are values of strength, valor, and courage. Orcs are famous for being stellar warriors, unstoppable in battle, loyal to their comrades, and stubborn to a fault. 
  
-Orcs were for much of history on Torandor considered uncouth. Because they have very keen sense of smell, they used various perfumes, colognes, and other methods to craft personalized "scent" that was just as important as one'clothes. When other races encountered these pungent scents, they believed that Orcs do not bathe often, and the scent was instead body odor, leading other people to steer clear of +Additionally, Orcs consider weapons handcrafted from bones and ivory to be items of great artistic value (even if they may not be as effective in combat). These weapons are displayed or used in rituals or sporting events as symbol of cultural heritage. Many of these weapons have carvings along their hafts as a way to memorialize events in village'or town's history, and are an ongoing work of record keepingOlder Orc cities may even have dozens of these scrimshaw weapons as a historical timeline all the way from the very founding of the city.
-OrcsFortunately, this misunderstanding has long since been corrected.+
  
-In historical Orc societiesscuffles and disagreements with each other were common since Orcs consider verbal debate and argument as proving grounds, leading them to gain the reputation of being stubborn. They argue fiercely when bargaining, and even mundane conversations can lead to bombastic verbal exchangesAn argument between orcs is a truly impressive sight. The pungent scents of their perfumes and their tendency towards arguing made other races believe Orcs to be vulgar and savage peoplewhich led to persecution and discrimination during Torandor's tumultuous pastMany people used to see Orcs as monsters to be quelled and exterminated, and so their history is marred with long eras of conflict and war.+===== Goblinoids ===== 
 +  * Lifespan: 60-70 years 
 +  * Jaernian Populations: Worldwidesmall groups 
 +  * Cahyalian Populations: [[settings:cahyali:leyork|Ley'Ork]] 
 +Goblinoid is the general term for group of different orcish races, including goblins, bugbears, and kobolds among othersDespite notable differences between these, all goblinoids are rather shortranging from three to five feet tallThey are very agile folk, able to slip into cramped spaces and escape bindings others could not.
  
-==== Lifestyle ==== +The origins of goblinoids are as diverse as goblinoids themselves; some are believed to be magical. Bugbears and koboldsfor example, are thought to have arisen from the [[settings:planes:dreaming|Dreaming]] and from draconic influencerespectivelywhile goblins are believed to have simply evolved from orcs, having spent a long period in isolation. Some draw the comparison: "goblin is to orc as halfling is to human".
-Orc technology was driven mainly by military research and developmentin order to create more powerful weapons and armors. Even todaymany military engineers will use Orc developments and concepts when designing siege weaponry and city fortifications. Howevertheir technology in other sectors can seem primitive in comparison to some other cultures. Orcs generally use the technology and developments of others in those areas for their own.+
  
-Orcs like traveling in wagons or in sedan chairs. A symbol of wealth and power in Orc culture is to be seen as lazy and fatletting others perform the physical labor of transportation while the elite lounge aroundThe more wealthy one isthe more sedentary their lifestyle can be.+Common among goblinoids is their ability to work together in large groups, every individual assisting the whole towards a goal that is more than the sum of its parts. Unfortunately, due to this, goblinoids have fallen victim time and time again to abuse and exploitation by those who would take this ability and use it for their own ends. Evil wizardscorrupt rulers, and malevolent [[lore:creatures:greatbeasts:dragons|dragons]] are included among theseMany goblinoids who adventure do it in hopes of escaping these overlordsand perhaps one day returning to their families to free them as well.
  
-Orcs were thought to build haphazardly and awkwardlybut in reality their buildings stress stability and function over form. Their strange looking abodes are very sturdyand use many simple geometric shapes in order to give them stability and fortification from both raids and natural disastersOrcs tend to build dense towns and citiesand it is a feat of civil engineering to crowd so many (functional) buildings in so little space.+===== Beasthides ===== 
 +  * Lifespan: 70-80 years 
 +  * Jaernian Populations: Worldwidesmall groups 
 +  * Cahyalian Populations: [[settings:cahyali:leyork|Ley'Ork]], [[settings:cahyali:vervand|Vervand]], [[settings:cahyali:arenti|Arenti]] 
 +Beasthides are beings covered in hair or fur, usually taking after an animal in anthropomorphic form. Usually found in small hunting groupsthere are many varieties of Beasthides, as plentiful as there are environments to suit them. Out of all the various Orcish racesbeasthides are perhaps the most diverse. Many different types of Beasthides exist, each with their own distinct cultures.
  
-Orc societies generally don't employ a lot of farming or animal husbandry, as they are repelled by many of the smells involved given their keen nosesInstead, they trade and barter aggressively to get the best deals on foodstuffs from othersIn times of needOrcs will hunt and gather.+Many Beasthides believe they were blessed by Osiris in days past, giving them their animalistic appearance and distinguishing them from other orcsOther myths state that they are enlightened animals, raised to intelligence and personhood by the godsBelow are examples of the most common Beasthide typesthough many others exist.
  
-Orc medical skills are primarily focused on emergency triage and treating wounds from battlebut it can suffer when it comes to treating disease and infection, as well as chronic conditionsOrcs generally live to an age between 40 and 64.+**Felidans:** Catlike in appearance, Felidans are rather more independent than other Beasthides. Many simply assimilate into other societiesthough many enjoy lives of adventureAn old wives' tale persists that Felidans despise water, but this is generally untrue, and one can find many Felidans on the high seas of Jaern. Felidans can resemble domestic cats or big cats.
  
-==== Culture ==== +**Bovians:** Also known as minotaursBovians resemble cows and bullsSeeking glory and excitementmany Bovians are found as martial arts performers in cities or take up adventuring. Many Bovians live in extended family groups known as herds.
-Orcish was considered quite a rudevulgar language, littered with curses and vulgaritiesHoweveroutside perception was incredibly skewed as the language was usually encountered as other races slaughtered and razed Orc camps+
  
-Orcish is a language with many subtleties and is highly contextualand many phrases and words take on different meanings when spoken with different tones and body languageThe same phrase can be either compliment or an insult depending on how one says it, and what they do with their hands while saying it. To compliment an orcfor exampleone could say “you are the filthiest, most sickening piece of horse manure I’ve seen ever to come out the rear passages of a lizard” but should use heavy eye contact and open palms with a lowered voice. Orcish is not a written language, given the highly unspoken nature of conversations.+**Leporans:** Resembling rabbits and haresLeporans are one of the more populous Beasthide types. They often settle down in small agrarian villages on the edges of metropolitan areasLeporans have tumultuous historyoften kicked and pushed around by other peoplesand so greatly value simpleuneventful times and peace.
  
-Orc art primarily exists in the form of theatre and plays, and other forms of story telling, but their culture does not have a large emphasis on painting, dancing, or musicMany of the plays must be memorized and told through oral tradition, and exact verbiage and script matters little compared to the plot and themes. Some of the more famous plays have now been translated and written down in other languages+**Lupians:** The Lupians are wolf-like people, and live in extended family groups which they refer to as packsThese groups are incredibly tight-knit, and some also participate in polite society while others prefer an isolated life in the wilderness. Loyalty and devotion are important values in Lupian culture. Some Lupians also resemble dogs.
  
-A rather rude and grotesque caricature of Orcs in the past depicted them as creatures that only saw art in "creative and unusual methods of procreation." This may have stemmed from Orcs generally preferring polyamorous relationships and a more sex-positive attitude among Orc society.+**Vulpians:** Resembling foxes, the Vulpians are often found in forested or tundra localesThey take pleasure in art and song, and many live in nomadic rondos, though it is tradition for young Vulpian to strike out on their own for a time to find themselves and their true calling.
  
-Orcs enjoy "war games" such as Capture the Flag, and are fierce competitorsMany of these sports originally started as ways of training recruits or soldiers on the best way to defend themselves from raiders, and put up strong offense against invaders. In officiated sporting events, the losers not only lose the gamebut receive the social stigma of being perceived as weakusually leading to a lowering of social status or expulsion from a society, or indentured servitude to the winner+**Ursians:** These rare Beasthides resemble bearsIt is uncommon to see an Ursian in a village or town, or even to see more than one. Strong and fiercely independent to faultmost Ursians carve out rough lives in the wilderness, only coming to town when something is sorely needed. Despite thismany are noble folkraised to defend their territory in nature and to protect the weak.
  
-Orcs commonly worship Orussince debate and expression of emotion and ideas are so important in their cultureOrcs also have quite intricate funeral rites and there is a strong following of AnubisAdditionally, many Orcs now worship Zepherin as a patron god of their sporting events. Unexpectedly, many Orcs do not worship Mishra as a Goddess of War, and instead see her as a symbol of the Destruction and War that was against Orcs, and the cause of their misery in the past.+===== Giantkin ===== 
 +  * Lifespan: Up to 200 years 
 +  * Jaernian Populations: Worldwidesmall groups 
 +  * Cahyalian Populations: Worldwide, small groups 
 +Distantly related to the towering folk that are giants, the giantkin are one of the tallest races of all, averaging about 8 feet in heightTheir skin tones range from all those possible for humans to shades of grayMany giantkin are heavily tattooed: these are signs of their clan affiliations and marks of maturity.
  
-==== Governance ==== +In the distant past, when the dragons ruled over the skies and land of Jaernthe then prolific giant-folk of the world attempted to seize control, but were devastated by dragon attacks and reduced to only the few giant species seen todayThe giantkin still hold an intense fear of dragons and their kinas legends of the brutality and danger dragons pose are still widely told to this day.
-Orc law is focused heavily around possession and ownership, and they treat bartering and bargaining almost like legal debateGenerallyOrcs try to get the best deals and take whatever they can get away with.+
  
-Since war and conflict was such predominant aspect of their past, Orc government was usually ruled by their war generals, and is highly militaristicThis can still be found to this day, despite more peaceful era, and other cultures can sometimes find it hard to work with Orc ambassadors since very oftenthese ambassadors have primarily studied military tactics and stratagems rather than diplomatic and political strategyVery few can keep up with an Orc ambassador when it comes time for a debate thoughas their methods of evidence gathering and argument refuting are unparalleled.+Giantkin societies are small, with the largest clans only having few constituent families. Many wander the lands aloneranging plains and mountainsOnce yearmany clans and individuals in a region will come together to meet, feast, and share storiesThis event is known as the Heorot (HEY-oh-roat), and normally occurs on a solstice or equinox.
  
lore/races/orcish.1690390008.txt.gz · Last modified: 2023/07/26 12:46 by eliu