Orcs

**Orcs**, or **Uruks** in their tongue, are a race of large bestial humanoids widely perceived by other races as brutish and barbaric, however, they are equally renowned as fearsome, honor bound warriors and skilled metalworkers.

To an Orc, the survival and protection of one’s tribe or clan takes priority above all else. Many Orcs live nomadic lifestyles in a variety of different environments, however most tend to inhabit permanent strongholds near mountains and hills where they mine, smith, hunt and, if necessary, raid to survive. Clans are most commonly led by a Chieftain who is the strongest and most prestigious warrior of the entire clan. Chieftains wield absolute authority over the clan, and are usually only replaced upon their death or defeat, whether by battle, or by another Orc who seeks to claim leadership through honorable combat. Female Orcs, for the most part, live as equals among their male counterparts, and take up roles as huntresses, warriors, smiths and shamans. However, their warlike lifestyles leave no room for weakness and uselessness, those who are considered to be such are often neglected, shunned and left to fend for themselves. Those Orcs who leave their homes, whether by choice or through exile, often pursue lives as traveling vagabonds, mercenaries or raiders.

Aside from their skills as warriors, they are also extremely skilled metalworkers and smiths. Although rather crude in comparison to the work of other races, their arms and armor are of high quality and are deadly in the hands of their kin, which they wield with great effect. Individual strength and honor are highly respected by Orcs, with many resorting to direct combat as opposed to intrigue or diplomacy to resolve issues. They often come into conflict with Dwarves for control of resources, food and land. Subsequently, this has created both a mutual rivalry and respect for Dwarves due to their own strength and bravery in battle.

## **Physical Characteristics**

###### **Height**

Adult Orcs often tower over other races, averaging heights between 6'0"- 7'0”.

###### **Weight**

   Due to their athletic lifestyles and naturally large builds, Orcs can reach weights of 240 - 400 lbs.

###### **Skin Color**

Green is the most common skin variation among Orcs, however, it is possible for Orcs to have brown, red or even gray skin, usually depending on the region and or climate they originate from.

###### **Eye Color**

Eyes of brown, hazel, amber and red are common eye colors, with blue and green being more rare.

###### **Hair Color**

Black and brown are the most common Orcish hair color, however some Orcs are known to dye their hair red with blood. Older Orcs begin to develop gray hair around the age 100, however this is an uncommon sight due to the rarity of Orcs who live that long.

###### **Unique Features**

Orcs are generally muscular, tall and physically imposing. All Orcs possess tusks that vary in size based on age and gender, with female Orcs often having smaller tusks compared to males. Alongside their tusks, some Orcs can develop different sized and shaped horns from their foreheads that can grow with age.

## **Language**

Although they speak in the common tongue, their large tusks cause many Orcs to speak in a somewhat crude accent, often replacing letters like s with z and t with d, as well as replacing vowels such as a with u and o with a when appropriate. They often do not pronounce the letter g when the word being said ends in "-ng". Orc often grunt and or roar to non-verbally display emotions such as anger and discontent. Some examples of how an Orc would pronounce common words and phrases would be; "What are you doing?" translates to, "Whut are ya doin'? or "Where is the food? translates to, "Whurz da food?". The severity of their accent varies per Orc, however they often become so accustomed to their tusks that it does not greatly hinder their speech nor their ability to speak fluently.

## **Aging and Fertility**

Due to the fierce competitive and combative nature of the Orcs, many are susceptible to an early death from fighting, some however, such as blacksmiths, craftsmen, merchants and spiritual individuals within Orcish society can potentially live somewhat more peaceful lives, on rare occasions living up to 100-150 years. To live to see old age is perceived as culturally taboo to most Orcs, many Orcish warriors prefer to die in battle after they reach their prime years rather than live to grow old and feeble. Orcish youth, commonly referred to as “cubs”, mature much faster than that of other races, with their young reaching adulthood typically by the age of 12 and their bodies being strong enough to become competent warriors. They are considered able-bodied adults until the age of 100, where they will then begin to slowly lose their strength and constitution until death. Orcs are no less prolific than that of other races, however, many Orcs die young due to their emphasis on strength and their desire to prove themselves on the battlefield or within their own strongholds. As a result, the Orcs that do live long enough to have children of their own are often the strongest of their tribe or clan, ensuring that the Orc race remains strong in blood, even if they are fewer in number.