Orsimer The Orsimer , ( Aldmeris for Orc ) commonly known as Orcs , are considered to be barbarian people by most of the other races on Nirn and are from the mountainous regions of western Tamriel . They are centrally located in Orsinium , the City of Orcs , but are common in other locations in Tamriel . Orsimer are of Elven blood , but this heritage is either not recognised or is forgotten by many in Tamriel . Despite the meaning of their name being " Orc , " other sources state that the closest to the translation of their name is " Pariah Folk . " Orsinium . Orsinium , also called Nova Orsinium , is an Orcish city province located within Tamriel . While technically being under the sovereignty of the Empire , Orsinium has in the past not been readily accepted by the other provinces of Tamriel . This changed when , in 3E 399 , Emperor Uriel Septim VII sought to improve relationships between the Empire and Orsinium through diplomacy , increased trade , and confederacy . Orsinium was located inside the Breton province of High Rock in the west of Tamriel , and , as such , Orcs co - inhabited the region alongside Bretons . However , the relationship between the Orcs and the Bretons would prove troublesome . Early in the 4th Era Orsinium was sacked for the second time ( the exact date or by whom it was sacked is unknown ) . Unlike before , Orsinium was not rebuilt in the Wrothgarian mountains like the two previous incarnations of the Orc Kingdom , but re - established in the Western Reach mountains in between Skyrim and Hammerfell . Physiology . With skin tones ranging from light green to dark brown , a heavily muscular frame , and considerable stature the Orsimer stand apart amongst Mer and Men . They also are the only race to display tusks . Born without the magical affinity of their Mer cousins , and following in the footsteps of their revered Trinimac , the Orcs have developed a strong warrior culture that makes them highly valuable in hand - to - hand combat . They often excel as adventurers and legionnaires in the Imperial Legion . This is not to say that they cannot wield magic , however . Certain Orsimer , such as Urag gro - Shub , have gone on to be successful mages , finding employment at such places as the College of Winterhold . History . In the middle of the Merethic Era , a group of Aldmer and their leader Trinimac attempted to halt the movement of the prophet Veloth and the Chimer . The Daedric Prince Boethiah devoured Trinimac , corrupting his body and spirit , and he emerged from the remains of Trinimac as the Daedric Prince Malacath . As a result , his followers , later known as the Orsimer , or " Pariah Folk " , were also changed , becoming Orcs . The early Orcish people followed a tribal and independent lifestyle . Instead of claiming one area , they would instead settle in multiple provinces that suited their lives and needs , forming small , tightly knit villages . Many of these provinces were located in modern Skyrim and High Rock . Eventually , the Orc chieftain Torug gro - Igron founded Orsinium . At first , it was merely a small collection of huts , but as word spread to the other Orcs of Tamriel about this rising civilization high in the Wrothgarian Mountains , it soon grew to house more permanent structures . In its early stages , the other races of Tamriel deemed it a place ruled by savage law which raided its neighbors along the Bjoulsae River . It was thought by the Breton s to be little more than a desolate mountain region where the Orcs scratched out a meager living off of the rocks and secretly coveted the lands and the settled livelihood of their valley - bound neighbors . Orcish historians , however , claim that this is simply Breton superstition and exaggeration . They claim Orsinium was always a peaceful land whose inhabitants made their way by simple agriculture and commerce . After the Siege of Orsinium in 1E 980 , the Orsimer became little more than pests and monsters in the view of the average Tamrielic citizen , as they had no province to call their own . Many Orcs attempted to set - up new city provinces , but with no luck . These dwellings were always destroyed before they could be properly established . However , in 3E 399 , an Orc visionary named Gortwog gro - Nagorm acquired the site of the former civilization of Orsinium and began reconstructing a new city for the Orsimer of Tamriel . As it grew , many believed it would succumb to the same fate as its predecessors . Gortwog , though , proved to be a superb politician and diplomat and managed to make negotiations with Orsinium ' s neighbors , which saw Orsinium prosper . He negotiated with Uriel Septim VII in trade and social negotiations and , for the first time , the Orcs were serious political players among the other races . The Orsimer have relatively strong historical ties with the Breton s of High Rock . The reasons for this are unclear , yet the relationship most likely originated because the races are cohabiting the same region . Religion and culture . Most orcs hold Malacath as their chief deity , as he is believed to be involved in the creation of the race . As such , most orcs uphold the " Code of Malacath " , which is a religious doctrine as well as a code of law used in the orc strongholds . However , there is , or was , a religious conflict brewing which showed signs of becoming a major problem . The Orsimer have always worshipped the Daedra lord Malacath as their main deity . Orsinium ' s leader , Gortwog , however , has controversially claimed that Malacath is , in fact , a fake and has set up a priesthood dedicated to the worship of the ancient Aedric hero , Trinimac . This has caused controversy , as Trinimac was said to have been devoured by Boethiah , afterwards becoming Malacath . Gortwog ' s belief that Trinimac still lives and that Malacath is a mere demon is currently the official view taken by the majority of the leading priests in Orsinium . A handful of Orcs within and the vast majority of Orcs outside of Orsinium view Gortwog ' s beliefs as heresy . Strongholds . Orc Strongholds are scattered throughout Skyrim . The Orcs have lived in Skyrim for centuries in tribal communities based around Strongholds . Strongholds are governed by a rigid class system . Every Orc has a specific job and is obligated to perform it . Every man , woman , and child in the fort is also trained from birth to defend it . The Strongholds are led by a chief , who killed the previous chief to prove his strength . Only the chiefs are allowed to have wives , and due to this , they often have several . This method is to ensure that the strongest Orc becomes chief , contributing his genes to the next generation of Orcs who , in theory , should be stronger than the last . Orcs in strongholds follow their own law called the Code of Malacath . The will of Malacath is clarified by the stronghold ' s resident wise woman . The rules of the Code are simple : don ' t kill , don ' t steal , and don ' t attack people without reason . They do not have jails ; instead , offenders are forced to pay a " blood price , " in which the criminal bleeds until the victim is satisfied . In cases where the victim was murdered , the chief is consulted to convey an appropriate sentence . Individuals that aren ' t Orcs are normally viewed as untrustworthy and are turned away from the strongholds . However , it is possible for an outsider to gain entrance by becoming " blood kin . " This is done by performing a specific task to gain the trust of the Stronghold . This task is normally very dangerous . Committing a crime in a stronghold will not put a bounty in the hold ; rather , it will go to tribal orcs . Language . Ancient Orsimer language . The following books are found in . The titular Torug appears to be one Torug gro - Igron , the founder of the first Orsinium . He rode a special polar bear and built a big shrine on top of the highest mountain the in Wrothgars . Translations by Kharsthun , an NPC affiliated with the House of Orsimer Glories . Personality . Orcs are widely considered a race of mer , hence the name Orsi " mer " . They are known to be exceptional warriors similar to Nord s , although their culture is sometimes thought of as overly bestial . Despite their barbaric , tribal nature , there is much to admire in their fierce tribal loyalties and generous equality of rank and respect among the sexes . Their impressive warrior qualities stem from their sets of heavy Orcish armors and racial ability to go into a berserk rage , inflicting major damage while caring little for defense . Traditionally , all Orsimer mothers would teach their child how to smith from a young age . If an Orc chieftain has a second wife , she is called the " Forge - wife " , in honor of this . If an Orc leaves the province of Orsinium or Stronghold they ' re from , their surname will be the Stronghold / province they ' re from , prefixed with gra - ( female ) or gro - ( male ) , for example , Moth gro - Bagol and Ghorza gra - Bagol ( both from the same province ) . Relations with other races . The translation of Orsimer is " Pariah Folk " , as they are considered the social outcasts of the Tamrielic races . Due to this many other Tamrielic cultures have scorned the Orcs , and treated them as no more than callous brutes . Their only redeeming quality in the eyes of the public over the past few eras has been their venerable combat skills when serving in the Imperial Legion . The other races of mer do not consider Orcs to be their kin .