Racial Motifs 21 : Ancient Orc Content . By Curator Umutha of the House of Orsimer Glories Here in Orsinium ' s museum of Orcish history , we are proud to display arms and armor created in the style of our ancient ancestors ! Feel free to handle the items labeled " reproduction , " but please admire the original relics in the display cases with your eyes only . AXES An Ancient Orc axe is a thing of simple beauty , its broad curved blade worked with traditional geometric patterns , utilitarian but deadly . The two - handed axe has two blades mounted on its longer haft . Can you not imagine this lovely weapon taking the head right off a skulking Diagna assassin ? BELTS The Ancient Orc ' s waist cincture is constructed of square or rectangular links , with a large belly buckle inscribed with an abstract clan sigil . Like all Orcish gear from the period , it is even stronger than it looks . BOOTS As you would expect from seeing other items made in the Ancient Orc style , even the boots are tough , practical , and unexpectedly beautiful . After our lovely tusks , what defines an Orsimer more than our shapely calves ? And what could protect and yet display them better than Ancient Orc boots ? BOWS Simple and elegant , the appearance of the Ancient Orc longbow conveys one quality above all others : strength ! This is the bow of a people whose muscles were thickened and hardened working in the forge , who can draw a bow powerful enough to drive a steel - tipped arrow through even the best non - Orcish armor ! CHEST PIECES Whether it ' s leather , brigantine , or plate steel , the Ancient Orc cuirass is formed of interlocking and overlapping elements that provide multiple layers of protection without compromising flexibility . And , of course , their intricate geometry is a joy to the eye ! DAGGERS When it came to weapons , the Ancient Orcs knew that size matters ! Their daggers were almost the size of short swords , with a single edge and a slight curve just below the point . Lethal and lovely ! GLOVES As you might expect , the war - gloves of the Ancient Orcs are clearly descendants of the blacksmith ' s protective gauntlets , providing coverage nearly to the elbow , and crafted of thick material that nonetheless does not compromise the warrior ' s all - important flexibility . In other words : nice gloves ! HELMETS With Ancient Orc helmets , we see the broad variety that is a hallmark of Orsimer inventiveness : we go from simple hoods that are little more than arming caps , all the way to heavy horned helms faced with a fierce full - visage tusked mask ! LEG GREAVES An Ancient Orc ' s greaves are a natural extension of the Old Orsimer ' s lovely boots , in fact , it ' s hard to tell where one ends and the other begins ! They exemplify the perfect marriage of form with function ! You can ' t get more Orcish than that . MACES The Ancient Orcs knew how to make armor — and they also knew how to make weapons to get through it ! Their maces featured a spike on one side for perforating leather and chain mail , and a heavy flanged head on the other for bashing plate armor . And all of it as beautiful as it is deadly ! SHIELDS An Ancient Orc ' s shield is kite - shaped , of dense hardwood bolstered by overlapping and interlocking strips of metal , but not too much , because a shield that ' s too heavy to move rapidly is no use in a melee ! SHOULDERS Ancient Orc pauldrons extend the design of the helmet cheek - pieces into layers that protect the shoulders , while simultaneously echoing the shape and ornamentation of the warrior ' s shield . These are pauldrons I could look at all day long . STAVES A wonder of the magical sculptor ' s craft , the Ancient Orc mage ' s staff is tipped with a metallic finial that resembles a fierce Orsimer sorcerer , tusked and horned , mouth half open as if in the midst of uttering a Destruction spell . So intimidating ! SWORDS An Ancient Orc ' s sword looks like a slim single - edged axe - blade attached at two points to a long tang , with a slight curve just below the point . The entire weapon is ornamented with interwoven geometric patterns to create an object of breathtaking beauty .