Orcs are a tribal, warlike, and shamanistic species. They originated in the eastern half of the Twin Crescents, in Isandor. Their homeland was a great paradise until the volcano Mok'gram erupted. It caused the entire continent’s ecosystem to be upheaved. No longer could the continent support so many tribes. The tribes went to war and fought amongst themselves for survival for many long, bloody years. Eventually, the fighting was deemed pointless; the only way to thrive was to move.
The orcish warlords banded together under General Khaazeem and attacked Hellan in the Battle at the Border, which they lost. After licking their wounds, the orcs faced another near-extinction event when the Afterlife collided with Ilisara. Mok’gram erupted a second time. The orcs fled Isandor for good and settled in the kingdom of Oros in the Isles.
Current Livingplace
The orcs have settled in the Kingdom of Oros for now. Their new capital city is Shok'thes. Rolling green hills and gentle farmland are a stark contrast to the scorched earth, inhospitable desert, and arid land of Isandor. The orcs have struck a bargain with the country's leadership to allow them to remain permanent settlers, so long as they aid in wars waged by Oros and Aldemere. The orcs have readily agreed and now spread across Oros, rapidly multiplying without any geographic inhibitors. Tribes have carved out different territories and begun building cities. A new age of orckind has graced the world.
Personality
Orcs are a vicious, brutal people who have faced extreme hardship. As a result, they focus almost entirely on survival. They slaughter whoever (and whatever) they find before it becomes a threat. This rampant bloodshed and aggression is viewed as a necessity to protect themselves, and their families. Orcs frequently sacrifice blood they spill to Arth.
Any chance to prove one's strength or perform feats of machismo, bravado, or reckless ferocity are taken by orcs. They are fierce and place great value in pushing themselves to extreme limits. Despite the brutality of the orcish species, honor is a cultural value instilled in all. To fight well and fight hard makes a glorious death.
Appearance and Physical Nature
Orcs are notoriously strong and fit. Unstoppable in battle and unmatched in hand-to-hand combat, orcs vary widely in appearance. They tend to stand above 6 feet tall with dark rust-brown skin. Tattoos adorn battle-worn orcs. Ritual scarring, cutting, tattooing, and adorning oneself with bones, furs, or other trophies (such as disembodied hands, necklaces of elf ears, and teeth) taken from dead opponents are the height of orcish fashion.
Most orcs are either combative, reckless, violent, angry, or some combination of these traits. They do not expect kindness, and respect only those who are strong. The weak are quickly culled from their ranks.
Orcs have small tusks. Due to crossbreeding with demons, some orcs have horns. They have dark hair that is usually well-kept. Despite the bloody lifestyles orcs lead, they do take care of their own hygiene and cleanliness. Dying to disease instead of on the battlefield is shameful. Orcs breed like rabbits, which enables their warlike aggression to continue without destroying their species. Orcish lifespans are very short, ranging from 40 to 50 years maximum.
Culture and Society
Despite their innate aggression, orcs are not merely one-dimensional caricatures of evil. They strongly care for their families and protect themselves at any cost. The traumatic destruction of their homeland and perpetual misunderstanding from other races has made most orcs paranoid and wary of outsides. They are an insular people, difficult to understand, and highly traditional. Orcs desire stability above all. Even though their values drive them to destroy others, they seek a future where the fittest and strongest reign over all and prosper.
Cannibalism
Orcs eat humans, dwarves, elves, and even occasionally other orcs. A delicacy is the flesh of dragons, unicorns, gryphons, or other magical creatures. Orcs have well-developed taste buds and can savor the magic in these creatures' blood. They also make excellent chefs. Although most cannot stomach the rawness of meat that orcs like to consume, orcs tend to season and roast their food to perfection.
Blood Sacrifices
Orcs make regular sacrifices to Arth by killing people they have taken prisoner. Shamans practice blood-letting to attain great and horrifying powers. Ritual combat is a cornerstone of orcish society to sate Arth's great thirst for blood -- orc tribes fight amongst themselves, cutting and bleeding as much as possible. Those who die are considered honorable sacrifices to Arth.
Lawlessness
Displays of power and might dictate who is in charge, and what is allowed. Orcs try to avoid pain while brusquely challenging and dominating others around them. Many tribes have simple understandings, such as "stealing is bad". The punishments for a thief can range from cutting off a hand to caving in a skull. It all depends on whether the punisher can identify and overpower the thief. Identification of criminals is notoriously difficult. Often, innocent bystanders can be the mistaken target of a wronged orc's rage.
Cities
Orcs have a few cities that are slowly being built, most notably Shok'thes. Cities are surrounded by farmland. Weaker orcs have quietly managed to carve a space for themselves in an otherwise-grim society as farmers, and cultivators of the land.
Religion
Orcs worship their patron god and creator, Arth. They practice blood magic and use it to enhance their bodies, heal, and destroy others. Shamans practice dark magics and incite their orcish tribemates into religious frenzies. Fervent ritual combat, blood sacrifice, and destruction is wrought wherever they go. Orcs are zealots for the blood god.
Notable Orcs
General Khaazheem was possibly one of the greatest warriors in Ilisara. His prowess on the battlefield was legendary. Standing eight feet tall, he lumbered onto battlefields with incredible strength and slayed hundreds in his long life of 38 years. Some claim Khaazheen was a half giant.
Khaazheem earned his commission as an enlisted warrior in the Uruk clan, one of the greatest militarized clans in the Orcish Warlords back in the days of Orcish supremacy in Isandor. Khaazheem fought in the pits until he had proven himself worthy to the shamans, who proclaimed him an officer. From there, he went on to wage battles against the centaur clans in Isandor. His victory over them is legend, not for the acts of bravery or valor executed by Khaazheem himself, but rather for his mercy at the end of the battle. He offered the centaur leaders a choice: join him and his clan, or be taken prisoners to the shamans. He made sure that when they chose to be his prisoners, that none of his men abused the captives. They were extremely well treated, and honorably respected.
The centaurs would later join Khaazheem anyway, out of respect for him. His soldiers look up to him as a hero, and he is greatly loved by many orcs who tell tales of his past glories. The General is unique in that his family sacrificed more than most to the religious caste. He lost three sons to the fighting pits, and all of his daughters. His lone son went on to become the next General when Khaazheem fell in the Battle at the Border, and led the orcs to a new land.
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