Orcs

### Range:

Mountainous reigions of Eurasia, Scotland, Wales, Scandanavia, Ukraine, Russia, The Russian Isolation, China and Japan.

**Orcs** are Orsimian lineage hominids in the same family tree as Goblins and Ogres. They're sapient, muscular beings standing on average a little taller than a human. Orcs and their kind are categorized by their signature pointed ears and their two short tusks on their lower jaw that underbites outward slightly. This underbite was likely helpful for crunching through tough hide and bones to get to the marrow in earlier generations, like with Ogres, but overtime this underbite has diminished significantly. Orcs however unlike their distant human cousins, are primarily carnivorous, and can only consume meats, eggs and milk. Vegetables such as legumes can be consumed by Orcs but only in tiny amounts, otherwise they may fall sick. Orcish skin tone varies on location, but the general consensus is that paler breeds are more common in western civilizations like the Highlander Orcs, and more darker breeds in Eastern Orc clans, such as the Shogun Akumas. Despite their brutish exterior and cultural stigma, Orcs are surprisingly intelligent and considered by some to be a form of life on par with that of humans. They have displayed ideas of abstract thought and imagery, shown competence in forging and crafting gear and even follow their own tribal religion.

## Orcish Culture and Tribes

The Orcs are a highly reclusive people, and very rarely let outsiders in, especially those not of 'blood-kin'. Orcish societies almost always subsist on the cusps of Mountain tops, as the Orcs see these locations as areas of strategic importance. Atop mountain peaks and overlooks, Orcs construct vastly fortified Strongholds, made from carved stone brick, and palisade logs. These strongholds can occupy several hundred Orcs, and act as small cities. Orc Strongholds may sometimes collaborate together for diplomatic purposes such as the trading of members for breeding diversity, trades are made on choice of best traits, such as longer Tusks, hunting Prowess, and Athletic shape. There are exceptions to Orcish reclusiveness however, and there are only two clans that choose to clan with Hominids not of their own species. The first is the Orkhans, they're a vast society spread all along the Russian Isolation, and their ranks are comprised of Mongol converted Orcish soldiers, Mongol Warriors, and even Giants! The second and most note worthy clan are the Shogun Akumas, they're a fierce tribe of Orcish Samurai mercenaries, and are incredibly well versed in Bushido: 'The way of the Warrior'.

Orcish culture can be described as very straight forward, and traditional, but at the same time easily coercible, as many Orcish tribes emulate aspects of human cultures into their own Strongholds, (e.g Highlander Orcs wear plaid clothing and kilts). As Orcs are highly reclusive, they mostly choose not to trade with other humans, and so their technological capability is stunted, their species only reaching Iron age levels of technology, they still forge most of their equipment by hand and hunt for their food in tribal hunting bands.

\*\*\*WRITERS FOOTNOTE\*\*\* Write about Orcish hunting religion? Animal spirits?

## Orc Clans & Strongholds

* Beserker Orcs - Borg (Nordic Union, Norway)
* Terracotta Orcs - Jùdiǎn (Qing Dynasty, China)
* Highlander Orcs - Daingneach (Great British Empire, United Kingdom)
* Orkhans - Bekhelgee (Slavic Union, Russia)
* Rusland Orcs - Krepost (Slavic Union, Russia)
* Shogun Akumas - Kyoten (Empire of Japan, Japan)
* Walsh Clan Orcs - Cadarnle (Great British Empire, United Kingdom)