Race Orc

# Orcs

Present on much of Polodias, Orcs originate from the continent of Etreare, though with time have migrated to cover many different landmasses. While being humanoid in shape, you'd be hard-pressed to confuse an Orc with a regular Human - having their own distinct physical features. That distinctness follows through to their culture and civilisations. While in no way less advanced than other settlements, Orcs tend to form smaller, tighter knit communities - generally preferring this over the larger, sprawling cities of man. Though this doesn't come without its exceptions.

## General Appearance

Fairly humanoid in appearance, Orcs tend to run a fair bit taller than the average man. An Orc can run anywhere from 5'10" to 7' - though you'll most often find Orcs in the range of 6'3" to 6'7". In tandem with their height, Orcs will also tend to be a bit wider.

Proportions aside, probably the most noticeable feature of an Orc is their skin colour - much greener in hue than most. Ranging anywhere from deep forest greens to lighter sandy shades - Orcs can take on a variety of different skin tones. Unlike the races of man, the skin tone of an orc is decided by the environment an Orcs egg is held in. If a clutch should experience warmer, drier weather - then the clutch will hatch with earthier, sandy tones. If the clutch experiences more temperate, humid weather - then the clutch will hatch with deeper green tones.

Other notable features include their tusks, an adult Orcs tusks can range anywhere from 2 to 5 inches, and their ears - an Orcs ears are generally pointed.

### Sexual Dimorphism

Orcs are a mammalian species, as such the majority of the population is broken up into a generalised male and female sex. Despite this, most Orc cultures support members with intersex characteristics. In terms of size between the sexes, there isn't any clear trend - with women being just as likely to be taller than men as they are to be shorter (the same obviously applying to the men).

An interesting feature of Orcs however, is - despite their mammalian classification - that during reproduction, they will lay a pseudo-egg for the latter parts of their offspring's foetal development. Further information into this behaviour is listed under the Reproduction header.

## Civilisations & Culture

Orcish populations tend to live tribally - in the sense that they live in smaller, tighter knit communities that lay emphasis on communal living, and equal participation in work loads throughout a population. This isn't to insinuate that they are any less advanced than the settlements of man. While Orcish settlements have a focus on unity and a fair share of work, it isn't uncommon for Orcs to leave settlements to find their way in the world at large. This behaviour often helps larger communities from growing too quickly.

While these populations tend to govern themselves somewhat communally, it's also common to find them leaded somewhat by an elder, wise-person, or specially-proven member of the community who is elected by the larger population. These leaders tend to operate in a looser sense - providing aid and counselling to those who seek it, leading events, and managing the community in a broader way.

## Reproduction

"Despite their mammalian classification - that during reproduction, they will lay a pseudo-egg for the latter parts of their offspring's foetal development." From the time of conception, an Orc foetus will gestate for approximately 5 to 6 months inside the birthing parent, at which point the amniotic sack will rapidly change composition, becoming somewhat tough, though still remaining soft. The remainder of the foetus' development will take place externally from the birthing parent, and inside this pseudo-egg. Due to the nature of the gestation period of an Orc foetus, communities of Orcs will often time and sync up conception times. This allows eggs to be lain in "clutches" - larger groups of eggs. This ensures that the eggs can be kept in safe and suitable environments.

While the eggs are external from the parent, from the moment they are lain, they begin to excrete a number of fluids and jell-like substances that maintain and keep the egg hydrated and safe from external forces.

The foetus of the Orc will continue to develop for another 4 to even 6 months before hatching takes place. The time it takes can be influenced by a number of arbitrary environmental factors.