Orc Orcs are a race of humanoids that have been a threat to the civilized cultures of Toril , particularly Faerûn for as long as any can remember . This changed somewhat in the years preceding and immediately after the Spellplague , when a horde of mountain orc s under the command of King Obould Many - Arrows unified into a single kingdom , one that is remarkably civilized . History . No one knows from where orcs originally came , though they appear to be non - native to either Abeir or Toril . The first legends of orcs tell of the wars between their primary god Gruumsh and Corellon Larethian , the creator of the elves and eladrin . The latter two races tell of how Corellon defeated Gruumsh and took his eye ; though many orcs deny this charge , they acknowledge Gruumsh as the one - eyed god . However , in spite of this early conflict , orcs did not appear en masse until long after this . During the Days of Thunder when Abeir - Toril was yet united the first orcs were brought over to the world by the creator race s , who built a portal in the Spine of the World mountain range that opened up to the home plane of the orcs . Through this portal the ancestors of the mountain orcs poured through and gradually migrated southwards . Later , the Imaskari repeated the mistake of the creator races , opening up another portal through which the gray orc s , a variant subrace , appeared . This led to the Orcgate Wars during which Gruumsh and his allies slew most of the Untheric pantheon . Eventually the portal was closed , though the new breed of orcs remained behind . For millennia orcs have plagued civilizations as raiders and pillaging hordes but more recently a confederacy of orc tribes united under the banner of King Obould Many - Arrows , a chosen of Gruumsh , forged a more civilized nation known as the Kingdom of Many - Arrows , located along the northern borders of Luruar . In spite of tensions between the orcs of Many - Arrows and other nations , the kingdom has not waged war against its neighbors for decades and by all appearances seems interested in peace . Description . Orcs vary in appearance , based on region and subrace , but all share certain physical qualities . Orcs of all kinds usually have grayish skin , coarse hair , stooped postures , low foreheads , large muscular bodies , and porcine faces that feature lower canines that resemble boar tusks . Many also have wolf - like ears that are pointed on the ends , similar to elves . Orcs are roughly the same size as human s . Ecology . Orcs breed fast and live short lives compared with most other races . They are considered adults anywhere between 11 and 14 years of age ; they are considered middle - aged at 17 , old at 23 , and venerable at 35 years of age . The average orc seldom lives longer than 40 years , even if it manages to avoid violent death . It is unheard of for an orc to live longer than 45 years without magical aid . Adult male orcs generally stand between 59 and 71 inches tall , and adult females average two inches shorter . Males weigh anywhere between 136 and 190 pounds , while females weigh between 96 and 150 pounds . Psychology . Orcs have poor temperaments and are given to anger more easily than some races . Easily offended and impatient , orcs generally prefer violent solutions and rarely consider multiple ways of approaching a problem . However , in spite of this many orcs are excellent at getting results , since they are creatures of action , not thought . Some exceptions to this profile do exist , however , such as the famed King Obould whose deeds were accomplished through planning and insight . Culture . Traditional orcish culture is extremely warlike and when not at war the race is usually planning for it . Most orcs approach life with the belief that to survive , one must subjugate potential enemies and control as much resources as possible , which puts them naturally at odds with other races as well as themselves . This belief is spurred in part by Gruumsh and his pantheon , which teaches that all races are inferior to the orcs . Eyes of Gruumsh are orcs specially tied to the one - eyed god and offer sacrifices , read omens , and advise tribes through Gruumsh ' s will . Male orcs dominate most orcish societies and females are usually , at best , prized possessions and little better than livestock at worst . Male orcs pride themselves on their number of wives and sons , as well as their scars from battle and rituals . Orcs also prize the possession of slaves , though relatively few own them . Most orcs don ' t build cities of their own , instead relying on those left behind by others and improving their fortifactions or operating out of small camps and dens , often in natural caves . Orcs can manage ironwork on their own , as well as stonework , though their tools are often inferior to those of more disciplined races . Most orcs are part of a confederation of tribes , loosely held together by a despotic chieftain . Bands within these alliances might wander far from their homelands , but continue to greet those orcs who belong to the same tribal network as kin . Orc bloodrager s are champions of their tribe , who use primal strength and ferocity to overcome their enemies . Most are bodyguards or lower - ranking chiefs within the tribal structure . Another common orc diety is the Cave Mother , Luthic . Homelands . Orcs can be found in many parts of Toril , though some areas have a higher concentration than others . Marauding bands of mountain orcs are most commonly found in mountain ranges in the northern parts of the world , particularly around Faerûn . Gray orcs are commonly found to the east , near the portal from which they emerged in High Imaskar . The orcs in the Sword Mountains were responsible for several conflicts with Waterdeep , including the Orcfastings War , and an onslaught caused by the Black Claw . They were also at least partially responsible for the Trollwars . However , of all the orcish homelands , Many - Arrows probably stands out the most as the only civilized orc nation built along the same lines as its human and elven neighbors . Kingdom of Many - Arrows . A subset of orcs belonging to a state first formed a century ago by the legendary Obould Many - Arrows differ from the majority of their kin in cultural attitudes . While most orcs are warlike and savage the orcs of Many - Arrows , ruled over by King Obould XVII , are remarkably civilized , to a point that has made their neighbors curious . These orcs maintain a tenuous peace with the dwarves of Mithral Hall and the other races in Luruar , though many suspect war could break out at any moment should the delicate balance between the races be upset . It is from this region that the most unusual kind of orc sometimes emerges - heroes . Subraces and Related Races . While not strictly subraces the result of a human and orc breeding is known as a half - orc while the offspring of a half - fiend and orc is a tanarukk .