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Born beneath the scorching sun and surrounded by a petrified, sandy wasteland, the Orcs are a resilient and hardened race, deeply connected to the practice of shamanism, of which they are the very heart. Where other races honed their scientific practices, the Orcs devoted themselves to preserving their martial and spiritual culture, training their young in the arts of warfare, hunting, and strengthening the soul according to their ways and the relentless climate, almost from the moment they take their first steps.
They are renowned for their exceptional ability to tame wild beasts and command the forces of weather. The structures they raise may appear makeshift and crude, yet they are no less enduring than some fortresses. The Orcs pride themselves on their strength, brotherhood, and simple democracy, in which leadership is determined not by strength alone, but also by spirit and the ability to place the horde above one's own bloodlust.
Like the Dwarves, the Orcs have adopted a runic system to create their own script, though theirs is far less refined, relying on simple pictorial symbols assigned to words rather than the formation of individual letters. Their voices are deep and coarse, almost bestial, instinctively punctuating the ends of their sentences with a distinctive growl.
For centuries, since the very dawn of creation, they have stood watch over the wasteland, ensuring that nothing born of it ventures into the heart of the continent. From fearsome beasts and elemental catastrophes to creatures born of nature itself, the Orcs have learned to tame these threats and, when necessary, destroy them. Yet, in some warriors, the will to fight burns too fiercely to be restrained, giving rise to numerous conflicts among the tribes of the dunes, where order must be maintained at all costs.
The First Tribes
In the beginning, the Orcs wandered the endless dunes of the wastes in small, scattered groups. These dispersed “clans” struggled against the merciless elements and the creatures spat forth by the wilderness. Unlike humans, the Orcs understood that Desolation was not a land to be conquered, but one whose ways had to be learned, adapted to, and ultimately endured. For years, divided amongst themselves, they learned to read the winds, tame beasts, and, in time, draw upon the wisdom of the spirits that surrounded them. Shamans became guides and keepers of this knowledge within their culture, skillfully leading their tribes through the trials imposed upon them by the land.
The longer the clans remained divided, the more blood was spilled in their conflicts. It was then that the spiritual guides came to understand that the feuds had to be put aside and the tribes united under a common purpose, the survival of their race. Thus, the “Circle" was formed, an assembly of shamans representing the various tribes. Through their combined efforts, they sought counsel and succeeded in choosing their first Chieftain- Wu'Thaan of the Makaar clan, known as the Elder. Under his watch, the Orcs began to nurture their shared traditions and uphold their duty to guard the lands beyond the borders of the settlement they had built, known as “The Great Horde”.
Wu'Thaan was chosen for his unparalleled wisdom, strength of spirit, and ambition, which served not himself, but the people entrusted to his care. Under his leadership, the tribes experienced a peace previously unknown to them, and the watch over the wastes truly began.
Wu’Thaan of Clan Makaar, The First Chieftain.
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Physical Traits
An average Orc stands tall and broad, usually reaching from six to eight feet tall, that is both for males and females. Their muscle mass is elevated through the ages of adapting to the harshness of the Desolation, their bones are dense and their skin is thick, some say it is akin to that of leather armor. Their faces are usually decorated by a pair of tusks emerging from their jaws, which do not impede their ability to speak to any degree, along with warpaint and piercings. Given their hulking builds, Orcs are capable of lifting twice the weight a human at their peak could, while also being much heavier, reaching as far as 350lbs. Orcs are widely regarded as the most physically formidable of all races.
Skin, Hair, and Beard
Their skin ranges from shades blue and red to brown and green, depending on their tribe and its dominant elemental practice. There is no particular culture about hairstyles, though most of the species prefer their hair tied, as it is more comfortable in combat. Beards however are kept short or completely shaven, as growing one out is considered untidy.
Eyes
Their eyes are disproportionate to the entirety of their faces as the jaw is significantly wider and more prominent than the rest. The variety of colors is broad and the list is as follows:
Yellow, amber, orange, brown, dark brown for the natural hues. Red, pale blue, grey, green for those more unusual ones. As well as white, silver and violet, which are considered extremely rare.
Physical Prowess
They are naturally hardy, able to endure physical hardship, punishing labour and injuries that would leave others incapacitated.
They are well suited to harsh environments, with a strong tolerance for heat, cold and prolonged exertion.
Their builds and considerable weight make them less suited to activities requiring lightness or delicate movement, such as sneaking up.
Due to the heightened efficiency of their internal organs, orcs can live for up to two hundred years.
Mental Traits
Orcs value adaptability and perceptiveness over mindless, animalistic displays of strength. They respect those who prove their worth through actions, perseverance, and the ability to learn from difficult experiences.
Their culture is deeply connected to the elements, the natural order, and the spirits responsible for maintaining it. Orcs believe that everything has its place in the cycle of existence, whether it be a small insect or a gargantuan beast. Wastefulness and senseless destruction are frowned upon.
Orcish society places great importance on the survival of the tribe through knowledge passed down between generations. As such, Shamans are held in high regard as guardians of this knowledge. Their strong attachment to their culture, coupled with an almost obsessive desire to preserve it, can breed distrust towards outsiders.
FTU ORC SKINS
https://www.planetminecraft.com/collection/142498/free-orc-skins/