Orc (Orca, Orcanthropus Piltdowni)

Orcs have been defined in nearly every fantasy setting in one way or another. This is the RuneQuest.orc take on orcs.

Orcs are burly, well muscled humanoids. Although somewhat squat in nature, they are roughly the same SIZ as humans with a tendency to be broader in the shoulder and chest. Their skin generally appears light yellow in colour, although a vaguely green tint is evident under sunlight. Prolonged exposure to the sun increases the green tint in the skin, and a much tanned orc may appear to be bordering on dark green in colour.

Orcs have elongated lower canines which are sometimes confused as tusks. These canines differ from orc to orc, some being barely visible while other specimens being large enough to support the tusk theory. Their ears are elongated and pointy, more like that of a dog than an elf. (Never tell an orc he has elf ears unless you are suicidal.) As with the canines, ears differ in shape and size from orc to orc. Ears are also the subject of body modification in many tribes and are oft clipped and pierced to such an extent that they no longer resemble olfactory organs at all.

The orcs of history may have at one time been a nocturnal species. The habits of the modern orc are however generally diurnal. The evidence that they were once a nocturnal species becomes evident in the darkness, where their sight is far keener than that of a human in the same circumstances. In the case of utter darkness where there is no source of light at all they are equally disadvantaged with humans.

Orcs are wily, cunning creatures. In some ways they are almost human in their mannerisms and actions, in others they are brutish, barbaric and unfathomable of motivation. They are boastful creatures who enjoy nothing more than having the last say on any matter. Beware the adventurer who gets embroiled in an orcish boasting session! (Boasting is a specific communications skill that orcs learn as a matter of course).

While orcs have quarrelsome nature and are constantly on the lookout for how they may gain from any given situation, they also possess a keen sense of self preservation. An orc who feels threatened in a situation will not hesitate to turn tail and retreat if such an opening to save his skin exists.

Orcs use a varying array of weapons. Certain tribes may prefer certain weapon types. One item which unifies all orcs is that only the females will use a bow. This is possibly why orcs think that all elves are females, because the concept of a male using a bow is very alien to them. Males of certain tribes have been known to make use of crossbows although they do face ridicule and the occasional thrashing by less broadminded orcs.

The origin of orcs is unknown. Orcs are NOT related to elves in any way! What is known is that they are mammals whose ancestors were non simian. Apart from a non common ancestor, orcs share many anatomical similarities with humans. Internal organs are in roughly the same locations although orcs tend to have larger hearts and lungs, which accounts for their greater resilience in tasks that require muscular activity.

The female has a gestation period of roughly 170 days and gives birth to a small orcling which she will initially suckle at one of two tiny teats, one of which is located below each breast. These secondary breasts are usually hidden from sight beneath the bulge of her main breasts and secrete and thin, clear substance which sustains the newborn orlcing during the first days of its life. Gradually the orcling is weaned from the small secondary breasts onto the more regular milk of the main breasts. Due to the short gestation period it is not uncommon for a mother to have two or more orclings of varying ages on the breast at the same time.

Newborn orclings are far smaller than their human counterparts and require a larger degree of care from their mother than a newborn human. Although less robust at birth, an orc grows fast and is soon more robust than a human of the same years. Once weaned (one and a half to two years old) an orcling grows fast and may reach the same height although be less bulky that an adult within nine summers. While they may look like adults physically, they are however still children and lack worldly experience. Although orcs may grow quickly, their bodies only mature sexually many summers later – in fact humans reach sexual maturity earlier than orcs do. On average an orc will be ready to start breeding after twenty summers.

The bodies of young orcs (both male and female) produce large quantities of testosterone during their adolescent stage. Adolescents compete fiercely between each other and differentiation between male and female is difficult. The females even possess an enlarged clitoral sheath that resembles a penis during this stage of development. As sexual maturity approaches the clitoral sheath shrinks and breasts develop as the female’s body replaces testosterone production with oestrogen as it readies itself to bear children.

It is during the adolescent stage of development that many young orcs are encountered. As they compete to establish themselves within society they will journey into other lands to raid and do battle with whomever they believe that can win an encounter with. This is not to say that older orcs do not do the same – the adolescents just tend to go further and take more risks in order to establish their rank.

Orcs are not great believers in magic and most have no time for it. Those who do use magic tend to tread the divine path although the occasional shaman practitioner of spirit magic may be encountered. This is not to say that orcs do not recognise and respect the gods just that they do not rely on them very much. Sorcerers are reviled and anyone found to be practicing the dark arts will be expelled population if they are lucky. The less fortunate will simply be killed.

Orcs can be divided into three main types. These types can interbreed but usually do not due to clannish ways and geographical separation.

Common orcs are the most prolific and widely spread of the three and are thus the most likely to be encountered. The common orc has a greater tendency to bear twins than the other two types. They prefer to settle in habitable lands, the same as humans which as often as not brings them into conflict for resources. Fortunately common orcs are least hostile of the three types and peaceful trade is as possible as war between them and their neighbours. Their culture is barbaric but civilised populations are encountered from time to time.

Great orcs tend to live in more hostile regions such as mountains, apparently by choice. They pride themselves in their fighting prowess and look down upon the other orc types as inferior. A tendency towards isolation means that they are rarely encountered outside of their mountain strongholds unless it is raiding season. Their hostile homelands necessitates that they breed slower than their common orc cousins. Twins are also a far rarer occurrence. The great orcs have a barbaric culture. Those who do leave their homeland and journey into the world generally end up selling their sword for a living. In an army situation, great orcs will invariably be in some sort of specialised unit as they do not co-operate well with others. Do not think that great orcs are stupid, they are as cunning as their common orc cousins.

Mottled orcs are a rarity in many regions. As their name implies, their skin is usually blotched in appearance, some blotches being natural, others scar tissue. Their culture is usually primitive or barbaric. They have a lean, wiry build and are known for their aggressiveness toward strangers. When not fighting among themselves they have been known to make the occasional raid. Mottled orcs are the most sadistic of the three types. They enjoy inflicting pain on their captives and are the least likely to flee an adverse situation. They breed as fast as their common orc cousins but have been known to abandon their infants when food becomes scarce.