Orcs

Orcs, along with humans, are one of the two races in the Realm. Most of them are residents of Orc Mountain, though there are still many orc camps out there.

## Description

All the orcs in the Realm are male. Orcish physiognomy can be quite varied, but the average orc is twice as broad as a human and much taller. They're very muscular and exceptionally strong and dexterous. Their skin colour can range from different tones of green, grey, black and even reddish, including everything in-between. Their eyes and hair are always black, though, like humans', their hair turns white with age. Orc tongues are black, sleek and very long. In addition, they've got dangerously sharp teeth (Finley's never described them having tusks on purpose to leave it open to personal interpretation). This allows them to eat raw meat -which is how most of them prefer to eat it-, although they can eat virtually anything. Thanks to their long-lost elf ancestors, their ears are pointy. They've got retractable black claws in their hands and feet, which are razor-sharp and are used as both weapons and tools (they can even make sparks by flicking them together). Their senses are very developed; especially their sight and smell. For example, they can see perfectly well in the dark and smell an individual, plant or animal from hundreds of meters/yards away. Orcs are very well-endowed, and their semen is not only thick and sweet like honey, but also very nutritious. Their sperm is also a lot stronger than men's, rendering traditional contraceptive methods like silphium more inefficient than usual.

Orcs don't need to sleep as much as humans. About four hours a day is enough for them. They have outstanding healing powers, too. On top of that, their saliva's got a substance that helps wounds recover even faster. This makes them extremely hardy and tough to kill.

## History

Orcs descend from ancient elves, and were cursed to be a species where only males could exist. They need human women to reproduce, and given the animosity of humans towards orcs, finding mates is no easy task despite the strong natural attraction females have for orcs. Albeit not always the case, it used to be common practice to kidnap and impregnate women, to then keep them captive until they gave birth -which would often kill them-. However, orcs are now trying to attract voluntary mates, make them feel comfortable, keep them healthy and improve their chances to survive childbirth.

Orc Mountain was first discovered by an elf named Edom. He and his mate Akva had five sons in the following order: Ash-Kai, Bautul, Skai, Ka-esh and Grisk, and they became the first chief of each of the clans.

## Culture

Orcs are organized by ranks, but also by clan. There are five clans who have their own inner structure and used to do their own thing separately. However, this changed since Grimarr became captain. For the first time in three hundred years, all clans are united under a single leader. This Captain is usually an Ash-Kai, and he gets lots of help from other orcs (right and left hands, battle captains, the Enforcer, the chief scout, the Speaker, the Priest, the Seer, etc.).

They have their own language, which is called 'Black-Tongue' (as opposed to humans' Common-Tongue), or 'Aelakesh'. It's letter-based and phonetic, and it *heavily* resembles modern Icelandic.

Orcs care little for clothing (some clans even less than others), and will often wear -if anything- light clothes made out of leather, fur and/or sometimes, cloth. They have a habit of modifying human clothes to fit them, but without almost any regard for fashion. Some of them will wear jewels made out of gold and/or silver and sometimes, gems.

* Silfast's clothing in Offered by the Orc: tight cropped trousers tightened with a leather belt that has a simple buckle, and tall soft-leather boots laced up in a criss-cross pattern over his calves. No underwear.

Most of the orcs nowadays live in Orc Mountain, where a large kitchen feeds every orc dinner (the rest of the meals need to be provided by their own clans). Also, each clan has their own ample wing with many rooms, common halls, training room/arena, one trade post and other amenities. The mountain also counts with several underground fresh-water supplies, and the Bautul keep a garden that -mostly- produces food and medicinal herbs. There are a few gifted healers who will tend to anyone in need. Although no orc rides horses, a small stable has been recently built outside. There's a new nursery for orclings too, in hopes that it will get used frequently in the future.

When not working, most orcs will be found training/studying, eating/sleeping, praying or merry-making in common rooms. There they chat, play games, dance, play drums, and above all: give each-other pleasure. This is such a commonplace activity that most common halls are equipped with all types of furniture, equipment and fixtures to allow for this kind of fun.

## Clans

There have always been five clans among orcs. Ash-Kai, the strongest; Bautul, the bravest; Skai, the swiftest; Ka-esh, the wisest; and Grisk, the kindest.

#### Ash-Kai

Ash-Kai has always been the clan of captains. They're very strong indeed, but also extremely cunning. They're leaders and fighters, planners and plotters, and will achieve their goals through any means necessary: they compete to win. Sometimes they've been known to be aloof and cruel, even towards their own kind, as means to an end. They will also try to silence those who speak against them or their plans.

#### Bautul

This clan is composed of the finest, fiercest orc warriors. They are strong, proud and very set in the old ways (although that's slowly changing). Human tales about gruesome, cruel and murderous orcs can usually be traced back to Bautul orcs. They have a special link to Nature and worship 'the Goddess', whose will and energy they believe reside within all natural things (especially the Moon) and her altars. Their leader is the 'Seer', who has the power of foresight.

#### Grisk

The Grisk are the nicest and most sociable of all clans. They care the most for safety, and family, and home. They are perfectly capable fighters too, though. The Grisk worship Akva, the Mother, and have their own leader called 'Speaker', who holds a special kind of power that can force people to speak truthfully (including themselves).

#### Ka-esh

This clan of orcs is quite different from the rest. They're much fairer, less burly, and they usually dislike fighting. They are, however, highly intelligent. Most -if not all- of the sages, bookkeepers, smiths, engineers and other technical experts belong to this clan. They are also the ones who manage the tunnels and digs within Orc Mountain, and they prefer to stay in chambers deep beneath, in the darkness (bright lights hurt their eyes). They are often mocked for being eloquent weaklings, and yet, they play a vital role within their society. The Ka-esh leader figure called 'Priest', whose main job is to guide his kin with the power of knowledge.

#### Skai

Skai orcs are extremely capable fighters who tend to be nimbler and more agile than the average orc. Because of this, they make highly efficient scouts and hunters. It does give them a bad reputation, though; most orcs believe the way a Skai orc fights (being sneaky, concealing blades, using poisons, etc.) is cowardly and shameful. The Skai will name -usually- their strongest and most observant orc the 'Enforcer', who is tasked with knowing who does what and carry on judgement *and* punishment, if someone breaks a rule or steps out of line. Traditionally, it was a Skai-only position, but since Captain Grimarr decided to alter this, the Enforcer now services the whole Orc Mountain.

1. ↑ https://discord.com/channels/694623014762840102/694623014762840107/858067872110346250
2. ↑ The Heiress and the Orc (chapter 3)
3. ↑ The Midwife and the Orc
4. ↑ The Heiress and the Orc (chapter 16)
5. ↑ The Librarian and the Orc (chapter 17)