Orcs

## Overview

Orcs are a semi-nomadic race from the Western reaches of Azrane. They come from an isolated continent called Orkanosh or "Heart of the Orcs" in Ancient Orcish.

## The Myth of Orcish Origin

Orcs are thought to originate from the continent of Orkanosh, being a result of another proto-orcish race put under heavy magical influence, although it is unclear what kind of magic was in play when the first Orcs were turned.

The proto-orcish race was called "Mor'Kron" or "Marsh Dwellers". They were as physically gifted as orcs, however were more beastly. They had sharp claws and their tusks grew longer. Their skin was dark red and they would often cannibalize each other, if aggression was shown.

* Shamanistic Origin; Many shamans believe that Mor'Kron had settled outside the Marshes and it led to them mastering nature and discovering the secrets of Shamanism. These revelations caused the Mor'Kron to become smarter and more sophisticated compared to their ancestors. They eventually grew into Orcs and the rest of the Mor'Kron that had never left the Marshes of Orkanosh quickly died out after killing each other and not being able to survive on their own. Shamans also believe the diversity in orcish skin tones was the result of Orcs settling in different regions and adapting to nature.
* Demonic origin; Necromancers however believe that the Mor'Kron were turned into Orcs after their Demonic Overlords had gifted them the powers of Fel Magic, quickly turning them different colors and turning them into what they are now. Necromancers think of Mor'Kron as of superior, primal Orcs, and judge those defecting from the demonic influence. This version of orcish origin explains the absence of modern Mor'Kron by the slaughtering of heretics who never took the gift bestowed by the necromantic powers.

## Physical appearance

Orcs are prodigiously muscled, with broad noses and distinctive tusked mouths. Their skin tones vary between clans and regions of the continent, including such skin colors as green, red, purple, yellow and black.

Some Orcish clans would decorate their bodies in markings, tattoos, scars and bone fragments of fallen foes and sometimes brothers-in-arms.

## Ouro'Kai the Blightbringer

Ouro'Kai (Orokhai as the humans of Orkanosh call him) was an orcish conqueror from an era before Orcs gathered into clans. He was one of the first orcs that descended from the Mor'Kron and has conquered most of Orkanosh in one war campaign. For ten years he was the leader of all Orcs and was known as Ouro'Kai the Great, until one of his trusted generals had tried to backstab him and in anger he had ordered to execute all his generals. This caused a mass civil war to break out which resulted in many clans forming across the continent, forever breaking Orkanosh. After his demise he was buried in a cast-iron coffin and the lands around his burial place started to rapidly rot. Many believe he had risen to godhood until one day he will return and exterminate all life on Orkanosh as his revenge. From the day of his burial he was known as Ouro'Kai the Blightbringer and blood sacrifices were done in his name till the 6th century.

## Beliefs and Occultism

The Religious beliefs of the Orcs are as diverse as the many clans on Orkanosh. Most clans have strong faith in shamanism as it's customary to pray to different gods when carrying out different tasks. As such, Orcs pray to the gods of the hunt mostly portrayed as beasts like wolves, bears and deer when hunting and gathering supplies outside settlements. Other clans believe in a more sinister, demonic form of faith, centered around demonic arts and necromancy.

A tribe's preference in deities can say a lot about the culture surrounding it; Most if not all warrior clans regularly send sacrifices to the war gods to bless their next raid on the closest neighboring settlement.

Not all rituals and traditions require sacrifice or violence for blessings. Some of the more peace-oriented clans claim gods of the weather and nature as their patrons. These settlements mostly rely on agriculture and defense to survive in the harsh Orcish society.

## The Clans

Over the decades after the Great Collapse of the 4th century Orcs have assimilated into nomadic clans, each with their own distinct cultures, populations and customs. On Orkanosh, some of the most prominent clans are:

* Wolfsong Clan
* Bloodhand Clan
* Burning Blade Clan ⛧
* Hollowpine Clan ⛧
* Last Demon Tribe ⛧
* Redbog Horde
* Broken Fang Clan
* Hellpaw Clan ⛧
* Staghorn Clan
* Gol'anosh Clan
* Ironrock Clan ⛧
* Broken Spear Horde
* Ter'Anosh Clan

⛧: Clans fallen to demonic convergence.

Clans differ from one another in almost every aspect of their culture, this includes skin tone, resources, population, religious beliefs, attitude towards war and foreigners and their understanding of Orcish history.

## Contact with Humanity

2 centuries prior to the Great Collapse, Orcs have come into contact with human settlers that decided to start their lives anew and populate Orkanosh by first renaming it to Orcanum. At first humanity wasn't welcomed on the continent, but after years of conflict an agreement was reached, forcing humans to either abandon Orkanosh or only settle a small portion of the lands as to not spread disorder in the nomadic system of Orcs. By settling in Orkanosh humans have propelled the technological advancements on the continent by several decades, introducing new inventions used for combat, transport and logistics. Humans have also taken from the Orcish culture as some colonists adopted Orcish shamanism, allowing it to spread far and wide across the seas. Some orcs weren't cold towards humans at all, living in peace with them from the beginning, and some even started families together.

## The Great Orc War

In the year 500 shamans from all across Orkanosh have come to their tribes and clans with a vision and a prophecy, that only one Orc clan will rule over others as it is the bidding of the Gods. The Orc Necromancers practicing demonic arts have used this as an opportunity to stir up a conflict that would scar Orkanosh forever. The Burning Blade and the Hollowpine Clans, which were the most powerful at the time started ruthlessly wiping out clans that wouldn't submit, particularly focusing on killing shamans and warchiefs. The Wolfsong Clan was the first clan to send refugees to escape Orkanosh for the first time in Orc History by agreeing to protect the Bloodhand clan at all costs, opting to sacrifice most of their population for the sake of the rest of their culture surviving.

Nexilitas of the Bloodhand ClanMap of Human ColoniesMap of Clans, Tribes and States of OrkanoshMap of Religions of Orkanosh