Orcs

Orcs are a race of green-skinned, barbaric humanoids that live in the northern grasslands of the Fist. They have bulky complexions, tusks and pointed ears. Orcs often arm themselves with whatever they can find and have a ragtag appearance on the battlefield.

They are not an easy opponent to face, and often turn the tide of battle with their sheer ferocity and rage. On the steppes of The Fist, Orcs and their brethren have learned two lessons well. The first is to keep moving: herds require fresh grazing land, and The Fist’s few habitable areas are under constant challenge by competing tribes and marauding packs. Settling in one place is tantamount to inviting repeated attacks, so it is better to take what one can and move on quickly. The second lesson of the Fist is that force of arms will always trump politics. Or, as the Orcs put it, *“Sterga czer”* (“Strength rules”). This philosophy can be seen in what passes for tribal law and in the frequent invasions that have rolled in off the steppes. The orcs make no excuses for it. The Land is their battlefield.

Despite their proud blustering, Orcs do not have the stamina of Trolls - they typically waste much of their energy in unfocused savagery, and consequently tire quickly.

## Culture

Every year for centuries, the green-skinned hordes come screaming out of the northern grasslands (called The Fist) to raid and pillage the more civilized inhabitants of the Land. After a few weeks of fighting, killing, looting and burning, they move on top the next area to continue the destructive cycle. Many times throughout history the Orcs could have conquered and remained in the lowlands, but this was never their goal. After they have killed and plundered their fill, they always retreat to their homelands. Once the tribes have reassembled in the Fist, the Festival of Division is held, during which orc champions of the tribe fight each other to earn a share of the loot plundered during this year's raid.

It is said, mostly by humans who neither know nor care about the truth, that Orcs are born with knives in their hands, just in case the doctor (or shaman) tries to smack their backsides. Actually, Orc children rarely get a blade before their fifth birthday. Life on the steppe of the Fist is violent, and blades are considered the great equalizer, giving younger Orcs the "edge" in discussions even before they attain their adult strength. The Khans taught the tribes to ignore simple pains. Shamans play a pivotal role in Orc society, as their wisdom and advice make them valued by any kzar or khan worth his skin.

Orcs like to use black powder as a kind of spice, using it, for example, to give a nice taste to roasted horse-meat.

More comparable to a sauntering battle­-tower than mounted cavalry, the Orcs of the Fist that are skilled enough to both shoot and ride are assigned to ankhar patrol during their opening years of adulthood. While these youngsters rarely see battle in their first year or two, as life on patrol is usually extremely unexciting, many of these Orcs are involved in running “play battles” with other patrollers from nearby tribes.

While these play-­battles may last for days without any of the patrollers being injured, eventually one of the Archers will be a moment too slow to duck behind the scaly shell of their ankhar mount. When the loser eventually picks themselves up out of the grass, they usually find themselves sorely injured with their ankhar and supplies stolen. Later, they face the ultimate humiliation of explaining to their tribal elders how they lost their mount in the first place.

### Music

Even though divided internally over the current philosophical schism of the Broken Tusk and the Shadow Khans, the clurch drum continues to symbolize the heart of Orc society, and remains prevalent amongst both subfactions. The drums are more than just musical instruments, as every Orc is raised from birth to understand the rhythmic beating of the clurch drummers. With these hide instruments a master drummer can convey information across great distances, including how many soldiers are coming, and from what direction. They can command Orc troops to attack, stop or retreat with nothing more than a change in rhythm. And after the battle is over, the clurch drummers tell the tales of old in their rumbling, banging language. Orcs have a natural talent for the clurch language and easily learn it at a young age, some even go on to become Clurch Pipers.

### Language

Orcs have their own language, of which little is known but some words have been translated by scholars:

* "Sterga" - strength.
* "Czer" - to rule.
* "Czar" - ruler.
* "Oxod" - walking (adjective).
* "Croia" - death (noun).

### Names

Orcs are known to bear names such as these:

* *Male:* Gorgorath, Kronth, Maboc, Togg, Zurgan
* Female:

## Types

There are four common types of orcs, with some being more rarer than others - they all share the same barbaric mindset and inherent brutality, however:

* Orcs of the Fist, or Steppe Orcs - are the most numerous and well-known type of orcs, also known as the True Orcs. They live, as their name suggests, in the grasslands of the Fist and make annual raids upon the Northlands.
* Cave Orcs - living far off to the northeastern hinges of the Land, Cave Orcs are much more lithe in complexion and are reviled by their Fist brethren. Cave orcs are known for taming wild animals and using them as mounts.
* Half-Trolls - the result of a Troll and an Orc breeding. Usually fight for the Orc Raiders and are despised by Trolls. While the strongest Half­-Trolls are bred directly from Troll stock, Half­-Trolls can also interbreed with each other.
* Half-Orcs - the result of an Orc and a Human mingling - these are the rarest kinds of orcs, but they are also the ones to show the most intelligence out of any of their kin.

## Gallery

SlasherChaos MageCrusher fighting a Werebear

***Sapient species***
 Alien to the Land

***Orc Raiders***

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 https://www.mageknight.net/wp-content/uploads/Mage-Knight-Lore-Expansion-Rebellion.pdf
2. ↑ https://www.mageknight.net/wp-content/uploads/Mage-Knight-2.0-Card-Set-Items.pdf
3. ↑ Rebel Thunder (Bill McCay), Chapter 6
4. ↑ https://www.mageknight.net/wp-content/uploads/Mage-Knight-Lore-Expansion-Lancers.pdf
5. ↑ https://www.mageknight.net/wp-content/uploads/Mage-Knight-Lore-Expansion-Whirlwind.pdf
6. ↑ Mage Knight Rebellion Trading Card Game
7. ↑ https://www.mageknight.net/wp-content/uploads/Mage-Knight-2.0-Card-Set-Domains.pdf