Orcs

Orcs, who call themselves umia, are the children of Rasvin. They stand taller than humans and are more robust and muscular. Orcs have distinctive tusks jutting from their lower lips, and they lack eyebrow hair. Their ears are slightly pointed, and their skin ranges in hue from grey, to blue, to black. Some orc bloodlines also exhibit brown or green skin. Before the Night Wars, orcs dwelled upon the continent of Alba, wandering and exploring. Like their mother, they were curious and always searching for new experiences. The death of Rasvin at the dawn of Age Zero was a terrible shock to the umia. Their shamans, hearing the whispers of Ghost Mother, gathered their people and led them south in the Great Passage. With Alba frozen, there was no homeland to return to, and the orcs searched about for a new refuge. When they arrived in Altea, the orcs began to argue about the meaning of Ghost Mother's words. Some orcs wanted to keep travelling south, others wanted to settle the vast plains of Heide, while yet other orcs insisted on escaping the World Above entirely and entering the Abyss. These disagreements ultimately split the orcs into several distinctive bloodlines: 
Snow Orcs, or frostlings, rejected Rasvin and believed her dead. They sought out a new life in the Worldspines, naming their land Gelim. Calling out for guidance, the frostlings were answered by Bhal, who became their new patroness. Snow Orcs tend to have pale blue or even pure white skin. 
Plains Orcs moved further south, avoiding the Azlan and settling in the shadow of the Ondos Mountains. Plains Orcs tend to have brown, earthy-colored skin and are strongly tied to their fields and pastures. The Plains Orc chieftains were ultimately conquered by Akamos, founder of Orestes, and incorporated into the new nation. 
Island Orcs left the mainland, going west to settle amid the Amathine Isles. Like Plains Orcs, Island Orcs tend to have brown skin, though unlike their mainland cousins, they are connected to the sea, not the fields, and are great sailors and explorers. 
High Orcs left Altea and sailed south to Devana. There, they came into conflict with native human and lizardfolk tribes. High Orcs would go on to found the mighty empire of Pad Nerog. They tend to have green skin. 
Wind Orcs remained true to their wandering natures. Settling nowhere and remaining detached from the world's troubles, Wind Orcs believe that they are best fulfilling Ghost Mother's will. 
Wild Orcs are those umia who left Orbis entirely. They heeded what they considered the true words of Ghost Mother, returning to her father Veres' realm, where the Wild Orcs remain, embracing their feral and primal natures. Wild Orcs generally have green skin.
Category:Races
Category:Orcs