Orcs

Text and images provided by Ascaron, the Original Post is updated regularly by Carolyn Hacker.

Race Summary:

Enemy Type: Orc
Class: Warrior Krieger
Family: Goblinoid
Behavior: Aggressive, courageous
Distribution: Northwest Ancaria
Class Size: Humanoid
Combat Strength: Dangerous
Alignment: Chaotic
Quote: If it doesn't run, eat it. If it runs, kill it. Then eat it.

Orcs have always been a warrior nation. Their hearts long for battle, and each of them is willing to sacrifice their life for their or their clan's honor - if they really have to. There is an ancient Orcish proverb: "Only when they tear the sword from my cold dead hand am I defeated!"

Orcs are also very social creatures. They live in groups, clans and village communities. There, away from the battlefields, everything is clearly structured. Women enjoy the warriors' protection and in return educate the children, provide and prepare food and take care of each day's errands.

The Orcs' culture, craft and art may seem primitive at first glance. Still, they follow strict rules with both clear and practical laws. Orcish weapons in particular bear comparison to Elven weapons when it comes to effectiveness and durability.

Orcs live in huts and houses that they adorn with detailed wood carvings, bones and horns. They usually dress in furs and dyed fabric clothes, and use bones and horns to make their appearance even more frightening. Only warriors of the highest rank are allowed to wear plate armor.

Civil war has been raging in the Orcish realms of northwest Ancaria for years. Two clans, the Ore-Thag and the Grurag, are fiercely fighting for dominance. While this struggle occurs, many smaller tribes stay neutral – ready to start flying the victorious side's colors at just the right moment.

	The Orc Archer: Many enemies of the Orcs have made the mistake of underestimating their archers. As opposed to the ranged units of other armies, Orcs prefer to face approaching enemies with the sword rather than back off. Orc archers wielding a sword are just as deadly as any other Orc. They only use their bows to thin the ranks of their enemies before slaughtering them for good.
	The Orc Shaman: Shamans hold a special rank in the Orcs' hierarchy. All Orcs respect magic, and since shamans are Orcs who have learned to harness that strange force for their own purposes, Orc shamans are highly respected members of Orcish society. At the same time, they are considered to be rather weird and potentially dangerous. Orcs mistrust anything they don't understand. Orc shamans have a sizable range of spells, which mainly focus on harming their enemies. Before battle, shamans always concoct a special broth to boost the warriors' courage. Opinions differ on whether that broth is actually any good at all.
	The Orc Champion: Orc champions are particularly well trained Orcs with matching combat experience. Orcs worship them as heroes and praise them in many poems and songs. Champions always fight in heavy armor, which is usually adorned and painted. The additions add even more to their awe inspiring presence on the battlefield. Orc champions are always to be found in the very first line of combat. Their battle cry inspires younger and less experienced Orcs to excel in the fight against their enemies.
	The Orc Warrior: Orc warriors form the bulk of the Orcish armies. There, young Orcs eager to test their mettle in combat as well as older Orcs, who never managed to join the ranks of the elite, fight side by side. Still, common Orc warriors are deadly enemies who can make perfect use of their weapons. In combat most Orcs prefer blade weapons, the looks of which already strike fear into their enemies' hearts. The Orcs' fighting technique focuses on disabling the enemy with a single strike. "You may ignore flesh wounds - but not broken bones" is dogma to Orcish combat trainers. In general Orc warriors are not afraid of wounds. According to rumors, Orc warriors actually yearn for the pain caused by wounds to get into some sort of combat rage. Allegedly, with every new wound, their strikes with the mighty two-handed weapons become more powerful. Thus far, no one who has ever returned from a battle against Orcs was able to confirm those rumors...
	Armored Orc Warrior: Armored Orc warriors willingly sacrifice part of their maneuverability for better protection in combat. They share the same rank as ordinary Orc warriors, and are mainly deployed against enemies which should be faced in heavy armor. Each Orc is free to use the weapons of his choice. Anything goes, from normal swords to massive two-handed axes.

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