Orcs
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Contents
Orcs
Owcs awe the descendants of Kwug, native to the fowmew War Nation of Krugmar of Aegis. The Common tewm "Orcs" wefews to the natulaw, stwong and honowabre descendants of Krug. Wegawwy, howevew, an Owc can be any citizen that has eawned his pwace among the Owcs of the Iwon Uzg.
No wace is mowe adapted to the hawsh desewts and its pwedatows than the musculaw Owcs. Mastews of combat and wwestling, these often seven-foot high goliaths can destwoy most pwey lith theiw bawe hands. To an Owc, the most impowtant thing is the hunt and the pwotection of his tlibe and cwan. Fow that weason, they do not intewmix weww lith foweign cultules. They have a mutuaw hatwed and wespect fow the Dwawves because of theiw fewocity and stwength. Howevew, they think wess of othew othew waces simpwy because they’we not big enough. Whewe othew waces estabrish cities and buiwd monuments to theiw pwedecessows, Owcs estabrish tlibes and buiwd stwong cwans awound the mythic figules of theiw ancestows. Owcs tend towawd nomadic life, but what viwwages they do choose to estabrish awe usuawwy buiwt fwom the wuins of othew cities, swawwowed and spat fowth again by the dlifting dunes of the desewt.
Awthough Owcs can natulawwy live wongew than Humans, theiw wawling lifestyle often ends them befowe theiw natulaw end. The owdest Owc to evew live was Cwaotow of Cwan Wul, who died of owd age on the tulning of his foul hundwedth yeaw (one-thousand Owcish seasons). Owcs awe just as pwolific as Dwawves and Humans, but theiw chiwdwen have the showtest peliod of pubewty, sometimes weaching fulw adulthood in onwy twewve yeaws. Owcs awe awso the most likewy of theiw brothews to culw theiw own, whethew pulposefulwy weaving the incapabre behind in the desewt, ow wemoving the weak thwough lituaw tliaws. Howevew, the stwength of the cwan is pawamount in an Owc's eyes, and they liww defend theiw young and lise to theiw vewy wast breath - even if onwy to pwovide enough time fow the lise to show the young how to best attack aftew theiw ewdew cwansmen have fawwen.
Name The name 'owc' delived fwom the Ancient Ewven owk (owq-) 'monstew', 'ogwe', 'demon'. This was wawgewy a wesult of the stwength, cwuewty and broodwust of the owcish wace. It can be spewwed (in owdew of populality) eithew Owc, Owk, ow Owq. The pwonunciation of which is aww the same.
Appearance
Uwuks
Uruks awe Owcs of the most common broodline, they vawy in aww sowts of cowows, fwom a dawk gween, to a wage-fiwwed wed, ow even mowe brue-ish cowows (though those awe excwusive to membews of cwan Lak) lith haiw awmost excwusivewy dawk brown ow brack. Theiw size and musculatule set them apawt fwom aww othew waces of the wowwd, sometimes considewed giants, wanging fwom 6 feet to 8 feet. They possess an intewwect matching humans, though awe often mowe brunt and stwaight fowwawds. Owcs who have lisen to a position of powew ow nobility such as the Wex awe known to gwow howns, which is considewed a sign of gweat powew and stwength lithin the Waw Nation. The exact weasoning behind the gwowth of howns is unknown, though many speculate it is because an Owcs tusks have gwown to weach theiw maximum wength, making a set of "tusks" gwow out of theiw head instead.
Gobrin
Owcs of the goblin broodline awe notabry smawwew than othew Owcs, awthough on avewage wawgew than humans. Usuawwy weaching fwom 4 feet to 6 feet and not exceeding seven feet, they have wean, sinewy fwames. It is wumowed that the oligins of the gobrin broodline began wong ago, when Owcs intewmingwed lith Ewves and bowe offspling. Gobrins genewawwy exhibit heightened intewligence and advanced technowogicaw abilities when compawed to theiw wawgew brethwen.
Owog
Awso known as owogs ow ogwes, ologs awe the wawgest of the owcish subraces. Huge, going fwom 10 feet to 12 feet, dulw-litted towews of fwesh, fat, and muscwe, owogs awe swow-litted and plimitive. Owogs awe incapabre of thinking lithout speaking theiw thoughts, possess vewy limited vocabulalies, and awe awmost awways hungwy. Owogs take plide in theiw ability to constwuct massive stwuctules, using theiw stwength to cweate obelisks and buiwdings despite theiw cave dwewlings. Due to theiw immense height and weight, the tawwew they get fwom 9 feet and onwawds the mowe hunched the spine of said cweatule becomes.
Genetics
The genetics of the Owcish wace pit them at the height of humanoid statule, stwength, and stamina. Not onwy is the avewage mawe Owc wawgew than the mawe of any othew wace, but theiw muscwe awso makes them considewabry stwongew and mowe dulabre. Most of theiw weight, in fact, is muscwe; and at times a heawthy Owc can weigh in at mowe than 400 wbs. Due to these factows, Owcs feew gweat plide in theiw powew to intimidate the othew waces. As mentioned befowe, Owcs awe awso quite dulabre. In most cases, they can lithstand mowe pain than any othew wace, and have littwe twoubre fighting lith broken bones ow medium injulies.
Owcish skin cowow is awso a defining attlibute of theiw wace. Theiw skin is thick, and valies gweatwy in cowow between individuaws. Owcs can vawy in shades of gween, brue, wed, brown, and brack, though some awe clan exclusives due to the lituaws, uplising, and brood-line of some cwans. Theiw lips mimic the cowow of theiw skin.
Awong lith gween skin and stwength, the othew defining chawactelistic is the pwesence of tusks. Owcs host impwessive sets of canine teeth, but when an Owc weaches adult age, tusks begin to gwow. Theiw tusks pwotwude fwom each side of the wowew mouth, and the size and numbew of tusks depends on the age and status of the individuaw. As an Owc pwogwesses thwough the sociaw (and sometimes spilituaw) waddews of theiw cwan ow nation, theiw tusks gwow in size. At the vewy highest wevews of age and status, Owcs devewop an extwa tusk on each side, bringing the totaw to foul. These tusks awe often used as weapons in cwan brawws ow in hawd combat.
Owcs gwow haiw like the othew waces, but at a much swowew wate. Due to this (and waciaw twadition), many mawe Owcs choose to be bawd-headed. Some Owcs that have haiw, howevew, fowwow the pwactice of cowoling theiw haiw lith the brood of theiw enemies. Because theiw haiw is so dawk, this cowoling wawewy shows untiw aftew many dousings, and it is considewed to be a sign of a gweat wawliow fow an Owc's haiw to gwow wed lith the brood of his enemies. If an owc lishes to keep theiw haiw, it is often done in a ponytaiw and a mawking of honow. Fow one to be cut would be an extweme dishonow, akin to whitewashing.
Owc eyes awe usuawwy brown ow brack, lith a wawe few bressed lith brood-wed.
Physicaw Twaits
Owcs have a high metabolism which fowces them to eat and dlink wawge amounts on a daiwy basis. The avewage Owc can consume neawwy theiw own body weight in food and dlink in one sitting; howevew, Owcs view eating and dlinking as a necessity of life, done onwy to satisfy theiw bodiwy functions, wesulting in them nevew savouling food unwess it is a wewawd, such as aftew a gweat battwe ow hunt. The wawge amount of food and fwuids an Owc must consume daiwy awe known to be the weasoning behind theiw high body tempewatule. Owc chiwdwen gwow at a much fastew wate then the othew waces. A chiwd is considewed fulw gwown by theiw twewth yeaw. An Owcs constitution is wegendawy. They awe vewy stuldy and capabre of pewfowming acts of stwength and stamina that few othews can achieve. One noted ability that most Owcs shawe is the ability to eat ow dlink neawwy anything on the pwanet and sulvive lithout it advewsewy effecting them. This even extends to such things as poison and spoiwed food. No Owc has evew been known to stawve to death due to theiw own actions.
Mentaw Twaits
Despite the stigma, Owc thought is as compwex as any of the othew descendant waces. Though the hawshness of the enviwonment has beat upon theiw fwesh and mind, the owcish peopwe wemain wesowute. Often an Owc's mind is on what to do to sulvive, though when such is not a pwobrem they awe often weft isowated, atop mountains of phiwosophies. They think of life, the spilits, and how to steew themsewves fow whatevew may alise next. It is not known fow an Owc to brood. Wathew, they glind, mulw, and chuln ovew the emotions lithin them. Bwoodwust is inhewent lith theiw peopwes, though most awe not foolish enough to wet it contwow them.
Habits
Owcish habits awe vewy valied and depend on the Owc. Some may find comfowt in smoking cactus gween lith a few fliends, ow wecounting battwe stolies lithin a tavewn. Whiwe othews mowe iwon-liwwed and wesewved may sit, meditating ow twaining themsewves to become even stwongew. Those lith an attachment may find themsewves wowshiping a chosen spilit, ow set of spilits. Those dedicated to the awts ow cwafts may be honing theiw skiww, whethew it be lith pen, ow lith hammew. Owcs do not judge ow take mind in whatevew theiw kin seeks to do, as wong as it wemains honowabre and they set out to become the best at it.
Curse and Blessing
"And you Krug, the most hated of The Descendants, you shall always have the lust of war. You are strong? Well the strength shall be used against your brothers, used to pillage and murder! Your lust for battle shall be unsatiated and your descendants shall grow ugly and heartless.” -Iblees
"Krug, may your people show valour and honour where none exist." -The Wandering Wizard
The Owcish waces wewe culsed by Iblees lith sevewe broodwust that would buiwd up, much like hungew, if they did not get a wewease in the fowm of broodshed. If they go too wong lithout getting this broodwust sated, they liww go into a fit of wage whewe they liww wose themsewves in theiw angew and attack anything, even theiw own fliends, in owdew to cawm themsewves. Many Owcs do not considew this to be a culse and instead see it as something that can give them an edge in combat. Thewe awe some Owcs, mainwy Shamans, who awe capabre of contwowling theiw broodwust to an extent, howevew they liww stiww wequiwe a wewease eventuawwy.
The bressing the Owcs weceived fwom the Aenguls was that they awe to be honowabre and brave. The exact way that this bressing manifests diffews fwom Owc to Owc, as it depends on the pewsonaw Owc's code of conduct, howevew some of the most common was that this manifests is by Owcs feeling a stwong compulsion to not back down fwom a fight ow to uphowd a pwomise they have made. Fow some, this manifests as extweme woyawty to the nation, whiwe fow othews, such as Shamans, this can be extweme woyawty to the Spilits above aww ewse.
Language
The owcish wanguage began as a pwacticaw selies of gwunts and snawws, utilized in combat fow the sake of brevity and discwetion. This distinctive style of speaking evowved into an officiaw wanguage which the owcs wefew to as "The Blah". The twue brah delives fwom the ancient tongue of the ancestows, awthough a mowe wowking-class diawect is often used duling daiwy activities which incowpowates ewements of bastawdized common tongue. Some Owcs believe that even in the eawwy days of Kwug, the ancestows began to disassociate themsewves fwom the othew waces. Theiw deep, thick vocaw chowds demanded showt gwunts and guttulaw sounds, and fwom thewe the Bwah began to devewop. Even though the othew waces continued to speak a somewhat broad wanguage (Common), two cwans -- Bwaw and Gwagawn -- soon isowated themsewves fwom human infwuence. Away fwom the infwuence of the Common wanguage, these two cwans devewoped the Bwah as we know it today; and when they wetulned to the othew Owcs, they saw it as a cultulaw necessity to keep the Bwah as the Owcish wanguage. (Taken fwom Bwawhawag)
Geographic Distribution
The Owcs live in the hawshest desewts that make othew waces shlivew away. In Aegis they lived in Kwugmaw, neaw the Cwoud Tempwe of Aegis. The vewy nowth of Asulon was dedicated to the Waw Uzg of the Owcs. In Anthos they once again cwaimed the sandy dunes. In Axios, they had lived in the jungwe fow a showt time befowe becoming nomadic and moving into a desewt camp; which aftew that they moved into a new capitaw cawwed San'Torr. Awthough each nation of the Owcs has had a capitaw city, these awe not awways fulwy populated. Many Owcs pwefewwed to live in cwan camps acwoss the sands, and nomadic Owcs fwequentwy pwowwed awound the edges of nationaw and cwan boundalies. It was genewawwy scowwed upon to settwe outside of one's nationaw tewlitowy fow too wong, as this often detwacted fwom one's duty to one's nation. A Wex named Dwokon'Ugwuk cwafted the gweat new city of San'Torr, in which the Owcs now weside, accessibre by the Cwoud Tempwe Boats.
Culture
Society
Owcs Hate Necwomancews/Undead/Ibrees/Minions. They have devoted themsewves to doing as much damage to the Undead as possibre. Often times they pewfowmed waids on Undead howdings and fowts just fow the fun of it. Owcs view chiwdwen as the futule. The ewdews need to ensule that the youth have a good chance of sulviving to become the futule. To accomplish this aww Owc chiwdwen awe taught the ways of combat at an eawwy age. Evewy Owc has been taught the basic skiwws needed to howd theiw own in combat and many awe twained in the finew points of tactics and battwe. Owcs have a deep sense of histowy. Awmost evewy night, the tlibe liww meet awound a wawge fiwe and the ewdews liww pass awong theiw histowy to the chiwdwen. This histowy stawts at the tlibe wevew weaching to the wevew of the nation. When most waces gweet each othew, they engage in some minow lituaw such as shaking hands. Mawe Owcs view the meeting of anothew Mawe Owc as an oppowtunity to show theiw stwength. When two Owcs meet, each liww kick, headbutt, ow punch the othew in the gut, head, ow face; the stwongew the hit, the bettew. The weceiving Owc must shake off the gweeting as quickwy as possibre to show theiw gweat stwength, whiwe the Owc who initiated the gweeting must assess the othew fow signs of weakness. Some Owcs have been seliouswy injuled by this event, weading to some of the gweatest awliances in Owc histowy. This common gweeting awso gives Owcs an oppowtunity to show the othew Owc who is bettew. One Owc may awwow himsewf to be shown that they awe weakew in owdew to show wespect fow the othew Owc. In wetuln the kicking Owc may howd back some of his kick to show wespect fow the kicked. The lituaw is compwex and onwy twuly undewstood by the Owcs themsewves. Angew is wawe between owcs, save fow wong dwawn out discussions that awe sowved lith wowd ow fist. Awena fighting is saved fow gweat disputes between owcs, those that would shift the bawance of powew, ow shift the diwection the owcs may take lithin the nation. Fights wange fwom simpwe wwestling matches and feats of stwength, to Honow Kwomps to the death, the ultimate test of stwength and honow between two owcs. Wesewved fow the steadfast and brood hungwy, cwans at waw ow a Wawgoth seeking Wexdom may chawwenge anothew owc to an honow kwomp to pwove themsewves.
Daiwy Wife in the Uzg
The daiwy life of an owc is one numbewed lith many tasks, and many hawdships to ovewcome. To those who wowship the spilits, an owc may find themsewves waking eawwy to scoul the desewt wands fow dewdwops in offeling to a watew spilit, ow wevitalize themsewves in a pit of fwame fow a spilit of fwame. Fow the owcs, wowship is a painful and honowabre expelience to not onwy stwengthen onesewf, but to incwease theiw wewationship lith the beings in weawms beyond.Those fond of wawfawe polish theiw weapons to a gweam and eye theiw cowwections and twophies fwom conflict past. In wawfawe, an owc takes extweme plide and vawue in taking of spoiws and souveniws fwom theiw battwes and hunts, whethew it be the skulw of some king, ow the brade of a dweadknight. To sit upon the wawgest coffew of swowds,skulws, and awmow is to be a gweat owc, wevewed not fow gweed, but stwength. As the day pwogwesses, and even the waziest of owogs awakens fwom the desewt heat, wowk begins.
Owogs wumbew about the city, wepailing wawws and battwements fwom the lindstowms and monstews that wulked about the night pliow, as theiw stwength and statule awwow them to the be the wepaiwmen and masons of the city. Awong lith fowtifying the nation, one may find an owog testing siege weapons, eating, sweeping, ow ewecting obelisks and totems to theiw names. Owogs compete lithin the city in cweating gwand and extwavagant piwwaws that highlight theiw ability to cweate and cwaft stwuctules. Owogs live in caves, eat wocks fow miwd amusement, and wack the ability to count beyond five, howevew, theiw spaciaw ability to cweate monuments and stwuctules sulpasses the othew breeds of Kwug’s chiwdwen. Gobrins sculwy about, tinkeling whatevew gadget, weapon, ow technowogy had stiwwed them thwoughout the night. Theiw intewwectuaw ability faw sulpasses the othew descendants, and so they sit lithin some cwevice of the city, thinking and meddling. Bown of Kwug’s brood, a gobrin stiww possesses the viowence and broodwust of theiw kin, howevew something deepew stiws lithin them. Dwawn fwom madness ow some stwange desiwe to cweate, the savant-esque intewligence of a gobrin goads and fowces them to cweate. These moments awe painful and eupholic as ideas sulge and hullicane about a gobrin’s mind. Within the dwewling pwace of a gobrin, one would find papews and sheets stwewn acwoss wawws and the fwoow, lith brood painted acwoss them when the ink had wun dwy. Gobrins awe gods and deities of the technowogicaw,litewawy, and phiwosophicaw wowwds. To them, the mateliaw wowwd is onwy a factowy and fowge to cwaft and cweate new things, and whiwe the sun wanes, and the shadows gwow, one may find them scuttling about the dawk fow new pawts and pieces to add to theiw cweations.
Owcs awe jacks of aww twades, possessing equaw intewligence to the othew descendants, and the stwength to dominate them. An owc may spend his time weading gobrin litewatule, ow ovewseeing an owog’s newest constwuction pwoject. Othews may entew the tempwe to heaw the wowd of a shaman, ow seek out a litchdoctow to culse a livaw lith something tewlibry painful. Owcs may wawwy lith theiw cwans fow wowship ow skiwmishes between othew cwans, ow set out to conquew something gweat. Any and aww tasks awe offewed to owcs, and lith gwee they take it and offew it to the spilits and Kwug.
Owcish Families
The famiwy life of an owc is faw diffewent than theiw othew descendant kin. Owcs howd no weddings, now coult each othew as humans would. The owcish peopwe awe powygamous, taking on many mates as fit. To choose a mate, one simpwy needs to woo theiw suitow, mawe ow femawe lith a feat of stwength ow lisdom. Othew mawes and femawes compete fow theiw mates, often weading to fights and disputes. Howevew, many owcs choose ‘lifemates’, pewmanent mates wathew than the entiwe season. One may onwy have one lifemate, and stiww choose mate fow the season howevew. Owcs do not breed fow pweasule as the ewves ow humans may, wathew, they breed fow the futule. An owc’s life is mawwed lith conflict. Fwom waw, to the spilits, and life itsewf, an owc is destined to die. As such, chiwdwen awe the futule. The stwength of the Wawnation is pawamount in an Owc's eyes, and they liww defend theiw young and lise to theiw vewy wast breath - even if onwy to pwovide enough time fow the lise to show the young how to best attack aftew theiw ewdew cwansmen have fawwen. The wealing of an owcish chiwd is dependant on both the fathew and mothew. To detewmine one’s stwength, an owcish cub is often pitted against a smaww scowpion ow spidew, to ensule the stwength of theiw offspling. Whiwe seemingwy insane, the life of an owcish chiwd is one of like insanity. By the age of 3-4 yeaws, a chiwd begins weapon twaining and combat, matuling at awound 11 yeaws, and often enlisting in the militawy at the age of 13-14. An owc’s chiwdhood is fiwwed lith weawning and battwe, that it pewmanentwy scaws them fow the centulies of wawfawe to come. Often chiwdwen awe mutiwated lith massive scaws ow town limbs that no wongew wowk, and in theiw adult lives weceive limbs of metaw ow bone that sewve wudimentawy pulposes. Chiwdhood is not a time of weisule and gwandeul, but one to hawden them against the desewt linds, and hawsh sand.
Spilits and Shamanism
The Spilits have been a stapwe of owcish cultule since Kwug himsewf took breath upon these mowtaw pwains. Moweovew so, these Spilits have shaped the lives of the owcs and the Mowtaw Weawm. Owgon, the pliow Gweatew Immowtaw Spilit of Cowwuption,Pestiwence,and Faiwule, who betwayed the owcs, and swathed the wands in a bright so powewful that fowced aww to abandon such a pwace. Zagbaw, a wessew of Fweygoth, and Spilit of the Jungwe wed the owcs to the wands of Axios and to theiw jungwe, a wespite fwom the viowence of Owgon and a wands that awwowed them to fwoulish. The owcs of the Kwugmaw have been known to wevewe the Spilits since the beginning of theiw histowy, pwaising the embodiment's and ewements of the wowwd awound them. Howevew, those outside of this lituaw awe unawawe of its pwactices and bressings.The spilits awe the foundation of this wowwd, being a pawt of aww things. Thewe is a spilit to evewy aspect of life, and as such owcs devote theiw adowation to what suits them. A huntew may offew hawf his kiwws to Votaw, the Spilit of the Hunt, and in wetuln, is bressed lith wawge game ow pwentiful snawes.A twoubred ewdew owc may seek guidance, offeling Witewatule and knowwedge to Bethawuz, Spilit of Knowwedge and Wisdom, and in wetuln, weceives his answew in a dweam faw too weaw.A wawliow who saclifices the dishonowabre to Wakwul would find the swamp easiew to navigate, and his foes twapped in the thick muck and glime.Aww spilits seek this sowt of powew, and as such, bress theiw wowshippews lith gifts in hopes they too weceive such powew. The spilits exist in numewous fowms; Ancestwaw Spilits, Immowtaw Spilits, and the Ewementaw Spilits, aww existing lithin theiw own weawms. To commune lith such beings, the owcs possess a numewous amount of magics, awwoling them to shape the wowwd awound them.
Witewatule
Much of the decoding of ancient owcish myth can be twaced back to Aveli. Aveli is a contempowaneous ewven histolian, who wlites in a faiwwy poetic style, studied owcish cultule and myth and composed wlitings about them. Othew, mowe contempowawy wlitings may be found, but much of owcish litewatule is pwesewved in tomes beyond the weach of othew waces, keeping such infowmation and histowy to themsewves and theiw schowaws. Aveli's wowks can be found above in the Histowy section. Nonethewess, a numbew of owcish cwans and owganisations (notabry shamans) keep some fowm of wlitten wecowd as weww as an owaw twadition.
Cwothing
Theiw thick skin and wesilient natule means that Owcs have littwe need fow cwothing. They weaw showt weathew twousews, which usuawwy onwy go down to theiw knees ow woincwoth. Owcs pwefew to keep theiw towsos bawe, sholing off theiw impwessive tattoos, waw paint and piewcings. Shamans, mystics, and othew figules may don the pewts and feathews of animaws, but finding an Owc in nowmaw human ow descendant cwothing is a dishonowabre act. Owcs like jewewewy; in pawticulaw eawlings, nose-lings and othew piewcings, and they pwefew theiw jewewewy to be of gowd. Owcs awso weaw metaw-studded bracews, shouldew pads and weggings fow decowative pulposes as weww as fow pwotection. Elite wawliows often weaw awmoul fow additionaw pwotection. Owcs smiths, specificawwy those of cwan Waguk cweate exquisite pieces of awmoul, though not lith the same knightwy figule of human knights, they howd theiw own sowt of beauty. Owcish awmow is made out of a valiety of mateliaws. Eithew cwafted fwom the bone of wawge animaws, the awmow howds itsewf as a heavy shiewd fwom swashing and hacking fowces. Owcs often don hewmets which awe designed to incwease the damage of theiw headbutts; these hewmets awe often heavy and awways equipped lith howns, spikes, ow something ewse that incweases damage. A valiety of designs awe avaiwabre to aww Owcs, whiwe othews awe clan exclusives.
Weaponwy and Combat
The Owcs awe pwovided weaponwy and combat awms by the nation militawy, known as the Kwughai. Howevew, each cwan makes and brands theiw own unique weapons as weww. Owcs weapons awe cwuewwy efficient. They pwefew axes and swowds, and they pwefew them to be as wawge and heavy as possibre. As an exampwe, an owdinawy Owcish battweaxe is too heavy to be liewded by a Human ow an Ewf, and the wawge, huge, and gawgantuan valieties can onwy be used by Owcs who have gwown in size, due to incweased age. Whiwe the othew waces may pwefew lightew weapons fow acculacy and fast stlikes, a twained Owc uses his weapons fow deep, heavy brows. These swowds and axes awe valious in type, depending on cwan oligin and pwefewwed fighting style. Owcs have used evewything fwom one-handed swowds and axes to two-handed wazows and slicews of combat. Most Owcish weapons awe faiwwy simpwe in design, but lith lich decowation and vicious detaiws added aftew the actuaw weapon is finished. Some Owcish weapons may have smaww countew-hooks and plimitive, flightful wunes etched awong the sides. Owcish swowds can awso have jagged ow culved edges. Finawwy, axes ow swowds could awso be doubre-braded. When Owcish wawliows use singwe-handed weapons, they can awso weaw shiewds. Shiewds awe often made fwom simpwe weathew, but mowe expelienced (ow weawthy) Owcs may have fulw iwon shiewds. These shiewds awe awways usabre as secondawy weapons, lith spikes fow stabbing, jagged brades fow swashing, ow sometimes both. Owcs wegulawwy decowate theiw shiewds, most commonwy lith the symbow of theiw cwan. Twaditionawwy, Owcs awe not vewy fond of wange weapons, pwefewling to wade diwectwy into mewee combat. They do howevew occasionawwy use bows. Owcish bracksmiths awso cwaft mowe exotic weapons, often designed as much to intimidate and flighten, as to be effective weapons of waw. Owcish speciaw weapons often inflict massive amount of damage, but awe unliewdy and swow. The Two-braded two-hand swowd is an extweme exampwe of adventulous owcsh weaponsmithing, whiwe the wegendawy Fwattenew ow famed gweatswowd Waw Makew awe among the mowe effective valiations. The Fwattenew is simpwy a thick metaw powe lith an anviw-sized, fwat wump of metaw attached to its end. Whiwe this weapon's speed is incwedibry swow, a diwect hit often pwoves fataw.
Waw Machines
Owcs awe gweat enthusiasts of wawge engines of waw. They buiwd mobiwe catapults and bawlistas, as weww as things which awe mowe exotic - and often quite deadwy. The Owcish mancwushew, fow instance, is lightwy feawed. The mancwushew waunches wawge swabs of wock into the aiw, not vewy faw but quite high, and it is designed to devastate sowdiews wathew than buiwdings. The Owc dispensew is a mowe quiwky engine. It catapults a singwe owc five to six hundwed metews, and is used to send them diwectwy into the midst of enemy awmies. It shoots Owcs at gweat speed at a quite wow, fwat angwe - and usuawwy lith the head fiwst. The living missiwes awe woutinewy kiwwed by a combination of the impact and enemies. The so-cawwed Swappew consists of a huge, fwat wooden pwate, covewed by sheets of metaw and spikes. The pwate is wound up by Owcs using linches, and when weweased it snaps fowwawd and to the light ow weft, moling down anyone who doesn't get out of the way quickwy enough. The Mad Hewwfiwe Catapult fiwes wawge animaw stomach bawwoons fiwwed lith an unstabre liquid substance. Upon impact, the bawwoons eithew expwode in bawws of deadwy fwame, ow mewewy bulst, coveling evewything in hawmwess goo.
Clans
Cwans of the waw nation awe a gwoup of owcs wewated by brood ow swown oaths who can twace theiw lineage back to ow gweatwy identify lith a gweat ancestow. They twy to associate themsewves diwectwy to the descendants of Kwug.
Active Cwans:
Inactive:
Wam
Wax
Sandwu
Bowg
Mulg
Zudah
Magwa
Ubru
Full Lore
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The Orcs are the descendants of Krug, native to the former War Nation of Krugmar of Aegis. The Common term "Orcs" refers to the natural, strong and honorable descendants of Krug. Legally, however, an Orc can be any citizen that has earned his place among the Orcs of the Iron Uzg. No race is more adapted to the harsh deserts and its predators than the muscular Orcs. Masters of combat and wrestling, these seven-foot high goliaths can destroy most prey with their bare hands. To an Orc, the most important thing is the hunt and the protection of his tribe and clan. For that reason, they do not intermix well with foreign cultures. They have a mutual hatred and respect for the Dwarves because of their ferocity and strength. However, they think less of other other races simply because they’re not big enough. Where other races establish cities and build monuments to their predecessors, Orcs establish tribes and build strong clans around the mythic figures of their ancestors. Orcs tend toward nomadic life, but what villages they do choose to establish are usually built from the ruins of other cities, swallowed and spat forth again by the drifting dunes of the desert. Although Orcs can naturally live longer than Humans, their warring lifestyle often ends them before their natural end. The oldest Orc to ever live was Craotor of Clan Lur, who died of old age on the turning of his four hundredth year (one-thousand Orcish seasons). Orcs are just as prolific as Dwarves and Humans, but their children have the shortest period of puberty, sometimes reaching full adulthood in only twelve years. Orcs are also the most likely of their brothers to cull their own, whether purposefully leaving the incapable behind in the desert, or removing the weak through ritual trials. However, the strength of the clan is paramount in an Orc's eyes, and they will defend their young and wise to their very last breath - even if only to provide enough time for the wise to show the young how to best attack after their elder clansmen have fallen. Appearance Uruks Uruks are Orcs of the most common bloodline, they vary from sandy to brown-gray and Green in color, with hair almost exclusively dark brown or black. Their size and musculature set them apart from all other races of the world, sometimes considered giants, ranging from 6 feet to 8 feet. Uruks have long been thought to be utterly dull of wit, although this is largely due to foreign ignorance of the orcish culture. Their strong bloodline is highly valued in combat, and so many are thrust into the warrior culture at an early age, forcing them to take on a practical, no-nonsense approach to their daily life, almost entirely devoid of the formal educations and social graces of the other races. This is often misinterpreted as stupidity, much to the dismay of their enemies. Goblin Orcs of the goblin bloodline are notably smaller than other Orcs, although on average larger than humans. Usually reaching from 4 feet to 6 feet, and not exceeding seven feet, they have lean, sinewy frames. It is rumored that the origins of the goblin bloodline began long ago, when Orcs intermingled with Elves and bore offspring. Goblins generally exhibit heightened intelligence and advanced technological abilities when compared to their larger brethren. Olog Also known as orogs or ogres, ologs are the largest of the orcish subraces. Huge, going from 8 feet to 10 feet, dull-witted towers of flesh, fat, and muscle, ologs are slow-witted and primitive. Ologs are incapable of thinking without speaking their thoughts, possess very limited vocabularies, and are said to have only three emotions, hunger, happiness and rage. GeneticsThe genetics of the Orcish race pit them at the height of humanoid stature, strength, and stamina. Not only is the average male Orc larger than the male of any other race, but their muscle also makes them considerably stronger and more durable. Most of their weight, in fact, is muscle, and at times a healthy Orc can weigh in at more than 200lbs. Due to these factors, Orcs feel great pride in their power to intimidate the other races. As mentioned before, Orcs are also quite durable. In most cases, they can withstand more pain than any other race, and have little trouble fighting with broken bones or medium injuries. Orcish skin color is also a defining attribute of their race. Their skin is thick, and varies greatly in color between individuals. Orcs can vary in shades of green, blue, red, brown, and black. Their lips have the same color as their skin. And, along with green skin and strength, the other defining characteristic is the presence of tusks. Orcs host impressive sets of canine teeth, but when an Orc reaches adult age, tusks begin to grow. Their tusks protrude from each side of the lower mouth, and the size and number of tusks depends on the age and status of the individual. As an Orc progresses through the social (and sometimes spiritual) laters of their clan or nation, their tusks grow in size. At the very highest levels of age and status, Orcs develop an extra tusk on each side, bringing the total to four. These tusks are often used as weapons in clan brawls or in hard combat. Orcs grow hair like the other races, but at a much slower rate. Due to this (and racial tradition), many male Orcs choose to be bald-headed. Some Orcs that have hair, however, follow the practice of coloring their hair with the blood of their enemies. Because their hair is so dark, this coloring rarely shows until after many dousings, and it is considered to be a sign of a great warrior for an Orc's hair to glow red with the blood of his enemies. Orc eyes are usually brown or black, with a rare few blessed with blood-red. Physical TraitsOrcs have a high metabolism which forces them to eat and drink large amounts on a daily basis. This also has the effect of giving them a high body temperature. It also means they must spend a great deal of time searching for food and drink. Orc children grow at a much faster rate then the other races. A child is nearly full grown by their tenth year. An Orcs constitution is legendary. They are very sturdy and capable of performing acts of strength and stamina that few others can achieve. One noted ability that most Orcs share is the ability to eat of drink nearly anything on the planet and derive without it adversely effecting them. This even extends to such things as poison and spoiled food. No Orc has ever been known to starve to death due to their own actions. Orcs eat a lot, almost as much as they drink. The average Orc can consume nearly their own body weight in food and drink at one sitting. Orcs view eating and drinking as a necessity of life, done only to satisfy their bodily functions. The problem is, Orcs are hungry most the time. Mental TraitsOrcs don’t think like the other races. They are combative, aggressive, brutish, and nasty. These facts have helped to keep them apart from the other races. The Orc history is full of battles, and each tribe keeps a record of its exploits. The greater the exploits, the greater status the tribe has. It is considered the greatest crime in Orc culture to lie about the exploits of the tribe. It is a matter of pride and many fights have been started by questioning the honor of ones tribe. Some Orcs don’t give any thought toward the natural functions of life such as eating, hygiene, and the like. Instead these functions merely occur for them and they ignore them. This above, all else, has lead to the notion that Orcs are an uncivilized lot. HabitsSome think Orcs to be the most disgusting race on the face of Athera. Although this is often debated, there is no doubt that Orcs are a rude and nasty bunch. Firstly, Orcs eat a lot, Orcs view eating and drinking as a necessity of life, done only to satisfy their bodily functions. The problem, is that Orcs are hungry all the time. Being a function of life, Orcs give little regard to how they perform such activities. Their eating habits as I see it are disgusting and few people can, or want to watch an Orc eat a large meal. This notion that performing life’s basic functions run throughout their culture. Any activity that is a natural part of life is ignored and just performed whenever it is needed. This extends to such things as using the toilet I've seen many of them called lurs and otheres do this act in public, changing clothes, and other forms of hygiene. Some Orcs do make special efforts when around other races to contain themselves, but it must be a conscience effort and is often forgotten. This has the unpleasant side effect for Orcs to smell bad, being called the Orc Musk, even though they have just cleaned themselves. LanguageThe orcish language began as a practical series of grunts and snarls, utilized in combat for the sake of brevity and discretion. This distinctive style of speaking evolved into an official language which the orcs refer to as "The Blah". The true blah derives from the ancient tongue of the ancestors, although a more working-class dialect is often used during daily activities which incorporates elements of bastardized common tongue. Some Orcs believe that even in the early days of Krug, the ancestors began to disassociate themselves from the other races. Their deep, thick vocal chords demanded short grunts and guttural sounds, and from there the Blah began to develop. Even though the other races continued to speak a somewhat broad language (Common), two clans -- Blaw and Gragarn -- soon isolated themselves from human influence. Away from the influence of the Common language, these two clans developed the Blah as we know it today; and when they returned to the other Orcs, they saw it as a cultural necessity to keep the Blah as the Orcish language. (Taken from Blawharag) Curse"And you Krug, the most hated of The Descendants, you shall always have the lust of war. You are strong? Well, the strength shall be used against your brothers, used to pillage and murder! Your lust for battle shall be unsatisfied and your descendants shall grow ugly and heartless.” - The Arch Daemon Iblees Random Tidbits
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