To the best of my surprise I met with an orc who didn't try to rip me limb from limb. A scholar he said he was, more interested in knowledge and history than pointless violence. He shared with me the origins of his people.
Circumstances have changed in Illy and I have been been condemned to be sent to The Long White as reparations for my evil past. So Be it.
I will turn that hellhole into paradise just to spite the Illy Gods.
Orcs are the least prolific race in Illyriad and the least understood. The Orcs originally hailed from a harsh alien world. They were once a noble shamanistic people and cultivated a mighty tribal society that was centered around survival, regulating themselves through ritualized combat and personal honor. They were tragically betrayed by one of their spiritual leaders who had gone insane and were delivered into the armies of the Burning Legion, and those that survived were forced into slavery.
Yet the shamanistic tradition of the Orcs managed to rekindle from the ashes, and a young shaman by the name of Thrall arose to become a living symbol of his people's true identity in their darkest hour, causing many of the Orcs to rise up against their slavemasters and break free from their control. Those that broke free traveled to Illyriad to reclaim their identity from the demonic influences of the past and fought no more for the sole sake of causing destruction as directed by their slavemasters. Instead their new path was to fight for their right to survive as a free race in their new adopted home.
To their enemies they are fearsome and savage adversaries, without parralel in their cunning and ferocity. To their allies, they are fearless and honorable people, renowned for ther strength and persistant determination. The Orcs who followed Thrall to Illyriad form the largest group of a race that has rediscovered its true spirit, shunning the demonic powers and cruel ways they were forced into by their slavemasters for the path of strength and wisdom of their shamistic ancestors.
To Orcs, prowess in battle bestows great personal honor on an individual. The notion of honor pervades every echelon of Orcish culture, and the loss or gain of honor has equal consequences to all Orcs regardless of their stature in Orc society. Even the naming of Orcs is temporary until they have performed rites of passage; only when Orcs bring honor to themselves and their cland do elders grant them adult names based upon their deeds. Orcs may appear quick to anger but they are tempered by the wisdoms of the shamans, who are revered across Orc society. While many in Illy still perceive the Orcs as brutish or even mindless, they have forged a complex culture embracing many occupations and Alliances that have them value their significant contributions.
Though prone to beserk rage in warfare, Orcs tend to display a curious feral grace that can rival even the finest fencing of any elf or human. They reach physical adulthood quickly, causing them to reproduce earlier than other races. This is fortunant because Orcs instinctively respond to conflict with a reckless tenacity, to the point that incidents of Orcs who fight to the death over trivial issues is not uncommon. Despite this the Orcs of Illy continue to stand in stark contrast to those that were enslaved by the Burning Legion, who embodied bestial and diabolical force which was barely controlled by warlock dark magic. Few of these demon worshipping Orcs exist in Illy and the remanants of such groups are being hunted down not only by Alliances but by the Orcs themselves.
Orc society has always been characterized by hardy and rugged living. As a result they are staunch pragmatists, and never shy away from killing if it will protect the future of the Orc or his clan. All Orcs, regardless of gender or station, are expected to pull thet own weight and any weakness is considered a grave liability. The weakness of one contaminates the strength of all. and it is punishable by the greatest humiliation an Orc can receive: exile and banishment. Different Orc clans have different personalities; Thrall and the Frostwolves are notable for having brought a measure of mercy and compassion to the Horde, typically seen in the kinder treatment for peons, who were once viewed as despicable and not worth any training.
Yet regardless of their clan affiliations, Orcs prize honor over all other things in life. First to bring honor to their clan and second binging honor to the self and to their sense of selfworth as an individual. Likewise hospitality is considered one of the greatest honors that ca be bestowed.
There is no discrimination between genders in Orc society. Females are able to pursue the same career choices as males, rise to positions of power and are expected to answer the call for battle just as men are. Traditionally, children are seen as children of their parents, but are raised as children of the clan.
Orcs begin weapon training at age 6, when they are nearly the size of an adult human. When they are 12 they are considered strong enough to fight and are allowed to participate in hunting parties. This is also the age they become eligible for the Om'Riggor rite of adulthood and for the courting hunt making them full grown adults.
The origin of shamanism among the Orcs remains a mystery shrouded in unwritten history. As far back as recorded Orc history, shamans have been mentioned. Learning to speak with the elemental spirits was a pivotal achievement in destiny in the Orc clans. Many clans claim the mythical "First Shaman" arose from their clan but the truth is no one is sure of his or her alliegence.
Ocs instinctively revere the rugged forces of natural elements, and as such, shaman are held in high esteem. They generally have a close relationship with the natuaral elements and angering them is a grave offense. Over the ages, the shaman, like Thrall have communed with these spirits and through patience and dedication, learned to sooth roaring infernos, bring rain to sun-scorced lands, and otherwise temper the harsh elements in Illy. In Orc culture, any shaman that has been spoken to by the spirits is given equal respect and honor regardless of age or experience. When young Orc shaman become of age, they embark on a pilgramage to the "Throne of the Elements" at a secret spot in the frozen wastelands of Jurgor to seek the blessings of the furies. The entire journey is fraught with risk, but the ceremony itself is the most dangerous part of an Orc's life. It is not clear what happens to those who are not strong or wise enough to complete the jouney and succumb to ghostly visions and unearthly screams and whispers during what should be the triumph of their life. Those Orcs who fall to the otherwordly voices flee their clan and become the pale Orcs, withered remains of their former selves, and eek out an existence in the Ice Caves of Jurgor babbling incoherently to themselves.
The practice of slavery has historically existed in in Orc society, and while in current times it seems to occur less, the practice still continues. Despite Thrall's effort to ensure that no Orc would be cast into slavery again, a small number of Orcs have been found enslaved by other clans in the Horde. It appears that some Orcs are willing to enslave members of other races, both Horde and Alliance. Many of these slaves were once criminals who elected slavery over a sentence of execution.
Long ago the Orcs tamed the swift and large wolves of Illy and through selective breeding developed animals that could carry heavy loads at remarkable speeds for long distances. These massive canines provide fast transport and are the chosen companion of the Orc. The wolves are bonded to their owner and will defend them with their life. When in battle they are as feared as the Orc himself. The wolve's unflenching temperment made them ideal for battling large prey and they routinely hunt independently to provide meat for their Orc companions. Orc families compete among themselves to raise the finest wolves and some Orcs specialize in training the best of these wolves for battle. Those not fit for battle are used as beasts of burden to transport women and children and act as protectors of the family.
The Orcs also captured wild horses and bred them to an enormous size through cross breeding with wild buffalo. These "demons of the plains" are three times the size of the Heavy War Horse commonly used by humans and are an essential component to the Orc calvery. These demons have enormous appetites and need to be moved to new pastures daily. Their diet is supplemened with "blood meal", a combination of cattle blood from the tannery and grain from the flour mill. Due to their wild buffalo heritage they are mean and agressive beasts which are difficult to train or manage and only those Orcs who have extensive calvery training are able to ride these demons of the plains. They are often used to power war wagons, that are fortified chariots that can carry multiple warriers and their gear to a battle. They are often used to lead an attack on militia and clear a path for the wolfriders.
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