The Orcs

Talun-karku and Khepri by ~Atlantean6 on deviantART
To everyone outside of their lands, the orcs are nothing more but rapine savages. They are a barbaric race that barely knows how to eat with a fork or a spoon, much less than a knife. Orcs would sooner rape a human than they would try to marry one of their own kind. The rape is irrespective of gender, which does make them monstrous in human eyes. They are cunning, they are cruel, and nothing has been done to fade the memories of the wars against the orcs of the past. In time, the Makonde tribe of orcs: a loose gathering of tribes really, became the horde and was used for warfare for many days.

That is, until two young orcs changed everything for the Horde. The two young orcs became the leaders of the Makonde, slaying the former Warchiefs and the dark warlocks who guided them. They were brothers, Anghâsh Greywulf and Talûn-karkû. Born of Darûk, known as the rat; the brothers became known in battle. However, they felt that war had consumed the orcs. So, they carefully planned an idea that would preserve their race. And in a major campaign against the humans of Caithness, Anghash and Talûn-karkû made their move. They slew Warchief Shakgriig, known as the the Hammer and killed most of the leaders of the Shadow Council. After that, the orc horde was defeated and the brothers led what few clans would join them into isolation. With Anghâsh Greywulf as the leader, and his brother Talûn-karkû as the Shaman; they reshaped the tribes of the Makonde into clans and led them to the lands of Kallirond across the sea to forge a new nation.

The orcs are brutal in combat to be sure. But they fight with a style, a grace, and a passion that matches the best fencing student. The orcs believe that skill in battle brings them honor and prestige among their peers. This concept of honor was brought into orc culture by Talûn-karkû, who introduced personal honor as a step towards law and order for the orcs. The adoption of honor is much more thorough than many believe. Honor, the orcs believe, is what separates the savage orcs from the civilized orcs.

The Orcs, known as the Makonde horde, is one of the most populous races of the Caithness Isles. They control two fourths of the island of Kallirond, forging a new nation in the process. While the elves of Massalia, Tir'Tangier, and the humans of Caithness and Umber, and the strange people of the island of Saxony regard them as brutish and savage; they have managed to create their own complex society.

Technology: Orc technology is an oddity. In GURPS (General Universal Roleplaying System) terms its tech level 0; they use animal skins, leather, and other primitive devices. They don't have the wheel, and they don't have organized roads or other devices of transportation. However, they are capable of smelting iron and creating steel. As weapon smiths, they are unparralleled, creating more flexible weapon blades. They have the astrolabe, an aid in Navigation, and they also have managed to create a government under one person. They do not, however, have walled fortresses. Their main building materials are wood, stone, horn, and leather. The boats they use are still paddle boats, but they are quickly developing sails. They managed to domesticate cotton and grains. So they are Neolithic (tech level zero) but very advanced in navigation, metalworking, and government.

Appearance: Orc males are massive and brutish looking creatures. Weighing in at 250 to 300 pounds and standing from 6 to 7 feet in height, they are not a small race. Even orc women tend to be only a half-foot or so shorter than most males (and some of them are equal in stature to their male counterparts), having broad shoulders and muscular, powerful bodies. Males range from muscular to husky, and females range from cut to voluptuous to husky.

Orcs tend to have bristly hair and beards, often black or brown in color. Their skin ranges from a light green to a dark drab olive. Eyes range in color from a fierce red to a pale blue. Orcs have broad, flat noses. Males have tusk-like teeth jutting from their lower and sometimes upper
jaws. Females have fangs. Both sexes have large, pointed ears. They favor clothes of hide, and armor and arm themselves with a variety of gear.

Names: Male names stem from the Black Speech, while female names are Ancient Egyptian and Indian. Male names: Aklash, Anghâsh, Bagronk, Búbhoshum, Burzum, Dugbúrz, Ghâshbúrz, Glob, Globuk, Globum, Gûlbúbhosh, Gûlburzum, Gûlghâsh, Ologbúrz, Pushdug, Sharkû, Snagabúrz, Snagaburzum, Snagaghâsh, Snagagûl, Snagasharkû, Talûn-karkû, Urukbúrz

Female names: Afrikaisi, Akana, Bahiti, Banafrit, Dendera, DJABENUSIRI, EBIO, EMUISHÉRÉ, Femi, Halima, Haqikah, Hasina, Hathor, HETSHEPSIT, Iboni, Irisi, Jendayi, Khait, Khepri, Monifa, NAFRETIRI, Nofritari, Theoris, Zahra

Orc Racial Traits
• +2 Stamina, –2 Intellect. Orcs are incredibly tough,
but they are more likely to follow their passions instead
of reason.
• Medium: As Medium creatures, orcs have no special
bonuses or penalties due to their size.
• Orc base land speed is 30 feet.
• Low-Light Vision: Orcs can normally see two times
farther than a human in starlight, moonlight, torchlight
and similar conditions of poor illumination. Orcs retain
the ability to distinguish color under these conditions.
• Battle Rage: Orcs long ago learned how to harness
the ferocity that dwells within their fi erce hearts. This
ability functions exactly as a barbarian’s rage, except for
the differences noted below.
The orc may rage only once per day.
If the orc belongs to a class that already
allows access to a rage-like ability (such as
the barbarian class), the orc’s racial battle rage
ability allows him to rage one additional time per day.
Regardless, an orc may rage only once per encounter.
• +2 racial bonus on Handle Animal (wolf) and
Intimidate checks. Intimidate is a class skill for all orcs.
• +1 racial bonus on attacks against humans. Orcs
have a longstanding enmity with humans.
• Weapon Familiarity: Orcs may treat orc claws of
attack as martial weapons rather than exotic weapons.
• Automatic Languages: Common and Orcish.
• Bonus Languages: Goblin, Low Common, Massalian, Taur-ahe.
Orcs tend only to learn the languages of their allies.
• Favored Class by clan: Silverwolves: Shaman; Desert Vipers: Rogue; Black Talons: Hunter; Elks: hunter; Battered Axe: Barbarian; Shining Sword: Fighter; Flaming Sword: Warlock. A multiclass orc’s favored class does not count when determining whether he suffers an experience point penalty for multiclassing.