Orsinian Tribe

The structure of the Orsinian Orcish tribe is nebulous, as it is not one tribe truly, it is multiple, scattered throughout the complex layers of the bowels of Mount Orsimer - from the Fire-Starters of the peaks to the Black-Hearts of the depths, their rules, rituals and customs vary. Its primary goals dictate survival, the removal of outsiders from the mountain and the suppression of the rowdy locals within, namely Drow and Duergar, as well as beasts of the Underdark. However, their fundamental Orcish nature dictates that they organise themselves in relatively similar structures, like so:  

Leadership:

  Tribe Chief - All Orcish tribes must have a chief, elected not by a council or some foolish senate, but by the sweat of their brow and the strength of their will. Above all else, Orcs follow strength, living in a harsh environment such as Mount Orsimer, the Orsinian tribesfolk respect hierarchy, brutality and tradition - believing this to be what has led them to survive violent struggles time and time again. The clan chief has many responsibilities, prime amongst them ensuring the survival of the tribe, selecting young Orcish males to fight, establishing primary food sources for the tribe, ensuring the tribe pleases Gruumsh through sacrifice, war and maintaining their way of tribalistic living, as well as organising and appointing war chiefs to see off the enemies of the tribe, perform raids and bring captives back to ensure the continuity of the Orcish bloodline. These responsibilities of course, pale in comparison to the ultimate responsibility of a Chief, which is to be the strongest of their tribe or, failing that, be slain in single combat as the old ways demand to make way for new blood.  

Subordinates:

  War Chief - The Tribe of Orsinia currently possesses three Warchiefs, Bathmog, Fargeer and Gothulot. War Chiefs are appointed by the Tribe Chief, though this is mostly ceremonial, as if a War Chief is weak enough to be challenged and killed, his killer automatically takes his place. War Chiefs are responsible for more than just the waging of war, though a large portion of their duties is dedicated to training, organising and leading hordes of Orcs into battle, in peace time they deal with matters of blood law and the subjugation of other Orcish tribes beneath the hegemony of their own. They are also responsible for carrying out the Tribe Chief's orders without question and are sworn to lay down their lives in defence of the Chief, with the exception of a challenge of single combat, wherein they must kill themselves if the chief is bested.   Beastmasters - Beastmasters carry equal weight to the War Chiefs within the Tribe of Orsinia, though this is not the case in other tribes, as within the Mount of Orsimer many monstrosities lie in wait to slay unwary bands of Orcs who delve too greedily or foolishly. Currently, the Tribe of Orsinia possesses two Beastmasters, Glasha Cloak-Skinner and Snog. Their responsibilities primarily focus on the capture, taming and training of animals for warfare, as well as the extermination of monstrosities that refuse to be tamed and threaten large numbers of Orsinians. During peace time, they primarily oversee hunting parties which gather food for the tribe, though this is seen as baby sitting duty.   The Eye of Gruumsh - A revered role almost on par with the Tribe Chief himself due to their innate connection with Gruumsh, God of Orcs. Not all tribes have an Eye, though the Mountain tribe certainly does, as they are seen as a gift from Gruumsh given to only the strongest and worthiest of tribes, a symbol of his call to arms or support in times of great war. Their duties include reminding all Orcs of Gruumsh's teachings, ensuring none stray from the path of Gruumsh, excessive violence towards non-believers, maintaining icons and relics of Gruumsh, as well as providing routine and ritual sacrifice to him in exchange for increasing power. These are powerful spellcasters and warriors not to be trifled with easily, earning the respect and fear of all in the tribe.   Mountain Kin - Mountain Kin lie at the bottom rung of the Tribe Chief's subordinates, responsible for the maintenance of the Orsinian tribes' relationship with the great mount upon which they reside. Currently, the only Mountain Kin within the Tribe of Orsinia is missing, a fire-wielding Orc named Magmot, presumed killed and successor unappointed after a quest to the top of Mount Orsimer to parlay with the Fire Genasi tribes left him unreturned. Their day-to-day duties included flame-reading, obsidian gathering and various other religious duties.   Blood-Tusk - A title and rank reserved for those Orcs that have seen combat with monstrosity, Drow and Duergar, claiming each an ear from all their encounters. Ceremonial, with no official duties beyond honorifics and the presumption of training lesser Orcs.   Blood-Kin - An honorific title bestowable by War Chiefs and Tribe Chiefs upon worthy non-Orcs that have done a great service for the clan, through trade, blood or magic.   Stock - An Orcish way of referring to female Orcs of low combat prowess or weak Orcish males, as well as non-Orcs, their uses revolve primarily around fetching, carrying, slave duties, reproduction of Orcs, sacrifices and, most importantly, a fresh food reserve in times of chaos or for an army on the march.

"We are hunted because we are the hunters, man, elf, Dragonskin, they know nothing of Gruumsh... but they will... " Orcish proverb.

Origin:

  The identity of the Tribe of Orsinia can be found in its ancient soothsayer's tales, explaining to young, battle-hungry Orcs that they are descended from the first Sons of Gruumsh, his chosen to spread his rule across the continent of Medolania, to rip down the lawful Empires of Man, Mer and Dwarf, in their place erecting great statues of Gruumsh, living, breeding and dying as he intended - violently. In this way, the Mountain, a raw symbol of chaotic natural energy, rage and power, drew the awe and love of the first Orcs to settle upon its peaks. Some would argue that divine providence interfered, creating a natural home for the Orcish peoples that perfectly expressed their personality - hostile, rage-filled, destructive and, from a distance, awe-inspiring.   In truth, how the Tribe of Orsinia first came to settle the mountain is a tale lost to time and retelling, since, until the rule of the Poison-Spear, none had kept records within the mountain. Archaeologists and explorers brave enough to trespass upon their mountains have brought back tales of destroyed cities in the earth, indicating a much larger civilisation once housed itself within the mountain but was lost or destroyed by causes unknown. The Tribe has a different perspective, one of over-working and over-running, Fortress Orsinia being overrun by waves of displaced Orc-kin from Rozani, Dragonborn or Dwarvish wars, causing mass hunger and movement, which leads to raiding, which in turn led to more wars between the Tribe of the Mountain and the flatland dwellers.   If legends are to be believed, along with midling archaeological evidence, a civilisation as mighty as the Rozani Republic once stemmed from the Mountain, across the now sunken Beogradian Plains, snaking all the way to the Hellish Peaks and claiming all the land inbetween. Nowadays, she is a sorry shell of herself, defiantly pouring magma, pyroclast and smoke into the world, reminding it that though the Tribe of the Mountain has seen better days - to write it off would be many a fool's last mistake.

Settlements:

  The Tribe of Orsinia predominantly settles in the mid-ranges of the Mountain, well away from the usual daily pyroclasts and magma flows, digging deep within the mountain to carve a settlement for themselves. Their settlements are divided into hive-like structures of varying size, usually separated by clan or blood, linked by a great internal road called "The Path of Gruumsh." The Path is ever expanding, digging deeper in search of resources, creating new living-space, crafting-space, training areas and breeding areas to restore the fire beneath the mountain.   The largest clan settlement, of Clan Burntblade, from which War Chief Bathmog is descended, is housed in a great natural cavern beneath the lesser settlements above - connecting itself to portions of the Underdark wherein they trade with merchants from above and merchants from below, goods and a position which is highly sought after by friend and foe alike. It is in effect, a large military fort which takes a tithe of crops grown on the surface world, as well as seeds from the underdark which grow regardless of rain or shine, providing a much needed source of sustenance for the ever growing population. In addition, it also acts as a gateway to the Underdark for surface dwellers willing to parlay with the Orc-folk, though not many are willing or able to make the journey.   Perhaps the most infamous settlement is a frontier-settlement beyond the might of Clan Burntblade, of Clan Bloodhollow, a Clan of "Delver" Orcs which have lost their sight entirely but instead have gained greater vision - the ability to navigate the Underdark without light, guide or sight. Considered freaks of nature but Orcs nonetheless by other Clans, their skills are highly sought after by raiding parties, traders and young Orcs looking to prove their worthiness for Chiefdom by surviving a year with the Bloodhollow clan - who barter the skins of slain monstrosities, their organs and strange salves in return for weapons, food rations and access to the surface world if necessary.   Other noteworthy settlements include the Flamefort, of Clan Infernalskin, the highest located Orcish settlement within the mountain - dedicated to the worship of the fires of Mount Orsimer. They are the most skilled in dealing with the Fire Genasi, elementals and other creatures that occasionally burst forth from the wroth of the mountain, as well as being great practitioners of fire magic, their skills are well sought after by all of the clans to further their own ambitions in the overworld, as well as the Underdark, for having wielders of the sacred fires on one's side should always bode well.   The Shimmering Grove, an unusually named settlement, is another Clan settlement of Clan Fogstep, a settlement deep within the mountain, bordering on Drow territory, which only appears when the moons are at their weakest - spurning forth practitioners of shadow magic and wielders of weapons of great power to raid in the name of Orsinia, slaying enemies of the clan beneath the surface world, as well as allegedly parleying with fell creatures and demons from the Otherworlds in exchange for these great boons.   Orcish settlements within the mountain are overall, quite varied and not traditional in any sense, having departed from the horde-like tradition in favour of settlement, they have become avid tunnelers, craftspeople and wily diplomats dealing with the destructive and devious subterranean civilisations, as well as maintaining their own position in the surface world as a dormant but feared power.

Politics:

  In all seriousness, Orcish politics are more layered than those who detract from them give them credit for - especially within the Mountain where they act as a gateway between Underdark civilisations and the surface world. Currently known tensions in the mountain are an outright war between the Duergar of the Depths, a Dwarf-like civilisation that has long since tried to assail the fortress of the Burntblade clan to seize control of the gateway to the surface world, though each time they have been repelled. Furthermore, in recent memory, the Poison-Spear's decision to continue settlements within the Mountain, his reluctance to war with the surface world and his advancing age have many within the mountain vying for control of the Tribe, indeed, it is a tense political climate internally and threatens to break down into civil war if a successor is not immediately apparent and violent in their control of the Tribe.   Furthering onto this, the loss of the Mountain Rebellion, with their staunch allies the Goliathfolk, has left a sting in the pride of the Orcish peoples in the shape of a Dragonborn tail. Their disdain for their scaled foes has only grown stronger over time, helped and harnessed by tales of Orcfolk being ridiculed or killed in the flatlands below.   As a final nail in the political coffin of the Orcish peoples, it is said that the Poison-Spear will call a Council of Clans within the next half-year, an unprecedented action in anything other than a time of war. What will happen or be said at such a moot of might, who can say?

Daily Life:

  Daily life within the Mountain can vary, though for the average Orc, it will consist of building, fighting, raiding, eating, reproduction or sleeping. Orcs are encouraged to live like beasts, performing only the necessary tasks for survival and the continuity of the clan, ignoring personal calls other than the call of Gruumsh, acting purely on instinct and for the pleasure of contributing to the survival of their clan and, overall, the Tribe. That being said, the daily life of a member of Clan Bloodhollow would vary differently from the life of a member of the Burntblade, the former typically dedicating most of their time to skinning and killing beasts, whilst the latter dedicates most of their time to ensuring the continued operation of their settled territory, governing it with an Ironfist and beating back the waves of Duergar, Drow and other civilisations bent on taking what is theirs from below. In this way, it is difficult to accurately portray their lives without seeming too general, though, as one scholar crudely puts it:  

"Orcs believe Gruumsh put them on Medolania for three reasons: eating, fighting and fucking. If they're not eating, they're fighting, if they're not fighting, they're eating and if they're doing neither... they're producing additional bodies for their clan. All is done in service to the clan or nothing is done at all."   Torrowin Stargazer, Rozani Scholar

Friends of the Tribe:

  Perhaps the most stalwart ally of the Tribe of Orsinia has been the Goliaths of the Mountain. A quiet people, driven up to the mountain peaks for their likeness to Orcs and tribal ways, they are readily welcomed in most settlements within the mountain, seen as Orc-kin and treated as such. Indeed, they were such staunch allies that they rose up in rebellion and numerous wars against the Rozani with the Mountainfolk, proving to be great allies on the field of battle, though in peace time their trading game leaves something to be desired.   Amongst other allies of the Tribe have been, at one point or another, Goblins, Lizardfolk, Giantfolk, Drow, Duergar and Dwarvenkind. Minor clans and tribes work together with these races, though, in recent years, the Tribe of Orsinia has taken to operating as a lone entity, keeping its politics internal, utilising its unique position to enrich itself, becoming more (to some's disdain) civilised as their great enemies have become.  

Enemies of the Tribe:

  Enemies of the tribe, perhaps the greatest enemies, are the Rozani Peoples and the Dragonfolk. Both civilisations have inflicted great wounds, suffering and humiliation and, in return, offered great wars, combat and prowess. It is a begrudging rivalry that the Tribe has with the flatland dwellers, who, through time and patience, have whittled away what was once a great power into little more than squabbling clans and tribes, dabbling in fire magic and dealing with crackpots from the depths of the earth.   This grudge is not lost on many modern Orcs, some of whom break away from the Tribe and begin to wreak havoc upon the world below, the last of which being the Terror of the Plains Vagreer, a one-eyed Orc said to have been possessed by Gruumsh himself, leading a great host of Orcs on a tear from Drakkenhaus to the Gates of Rozan, before they were defeated by the Rozani Legion in the year 211 TA, but not before reminding the world what an Orc with a blade and a grudge can do.   To many modern Orcs, he is a hero of the old ways, a reminder of what Gruumsh tasked them to do but which they have turned or been forced from. Yet they hold out hope, for one who will lead them against their enemies, to victory or defeat, but to a glorious death in battle and a continent of blood from which the One-Eyed Chief may drink.   Other rivalries also include all the Elven races, Duergar, Cloud Giants, Fire Genasi (occasionally) and an old Fire Giant named Harsk, who has defeated over a dozen Clan Chiefs in combat who sought to take his head as proof of their divine power.