Orc

One of the cursed Elven races, the Orcs were amongst the three races cursed by the gods for worshipping others then the Trogur pantheon: they received the same curse as the Goblins... 'to appear as beastly as boars, and never reach the heights they desired'. However, the Orcs proved to be too hardy for the shrinking effect, and only grew tusks while their skin turned green. As a reward for their refusal to accept their fate, the Orcish pantheon gifted them with immense strength after the Trogur pantheon banished them to the Underground. While the Orcish gods couldn't undo the curse, they could at least gift their people the raw power of the boar. These traits have carried on through many generations: where it takes 5 strikes of a longsword to fell a Human warrior, it takes 8 to fell an Orcish one. They also boast a great constitution: an Orc will rarely fall ill, and will often only catch the disease near the end of an outbreak. Where a Human can get drunk after around 2 tankards of the famously strong Earthshaker Ale brewed by Dwarven masters, it will take an Orc 4 tankards to start getting inebriated.    

Breakers of Chains

But what the Orcs are most well known for is their physical prowess: their infamous strength reaches so far, that no steel chains can hold them. Stronger Orcs will even be able to break even mythril or ice-hardened steel chains. The only thing truly capable of keeping an Orc captive is a Dwarven alloy infused with magic: it will sap their infamous strength, rendering them incapable of escaping. The Orcs describe this physical prowess as 'a blessing from Mama Balieh', the main goddess of the Trogur pantheon. It is said that during the times where Orcs were enslaved by overlords alongside the Goblins and Dark Elves, she could no longer idly watch them suffer, and breathed this blessing into them so they could end this madness once and for all. It was indeed Orcish slave riots that sparked a deep hope for freedom across the land,  and the slave riots spread across the world and freed all three of these races, despite the final forces marching upon the tower of Alfric the Cruel being outnumbered 3 to 1. This historical rage against any form of oppression and thirst for tyrant blood still burns within the Orcs today: no abuses of power, no matter on how small of a scale, can hope to stand against a good-aligned Orc. The Orcish Chieftain at the time of the Cult Crisis famously did not doubt Sayen's claims for a second, and it is said the Orcish part of the coalition to defeat the Cult of Azdar fought their way through at least one third of the Cultist forces. An Orc will also feel emotions in a stronger way then a Human will: Their laughs are bellowing, their sadness deep, and most infamously: their rage is terrifying. Historically, their rage combined with their strength and hardiness made them a terrifying sight in any overlord's army. However, they were just as enslaved to these devilish lords as the Goblins and Dark Elves were.    

Politics: The Right Orc for the Job

Orcs usually live in tribes living within strongholds, led by a chieftain. These chieftains are advised by shamans, and overseen by a board of more powerful chieftains named the Wise Ones. A chieftain manages the tribe from day to day, and is often chosen by the people based mostly on physical prowess: a duel is held to decide who holds this position. However, if an Orc has never held a leadership position in their life, they are not allowed to participate in this practice. However, they are allowed to train a champion to usher a challenge for the chieftain's place instead. Should this champion win, the honor of chieftain will go to the champion themselves: the Orc who once held a leadership position may only advise them. If an Orc has never held a leadership position in the life, then they may choose to challenge the current Chieftain at any time: the day of the duel will then be scheduled in response, and announced to the rest of the tribe. These duels often attract big crowds of onlookers in the tribe. While these duels have been to the death in the past, traditions have changed in the present day and both participants in the duel can walk away with their life. A Chieftain who has proven themselves unfit to rule due to either abuse of power or mismanagement of the tribe (seen as a sign of weakness in a leader) is very likely to get ousted by a more capable leader in this manner, due to the pressure put on them both by their shamans and the Wise Ones to accept the challenge. To refuse it is considered an act of great cowardice, and a sign of an incompetent leader.    

Military Might

The Orcish victory over their historical oppressors stands as a testament to the might of an Orcish army: Any ruler would deem it unwise to go to war with an Orcish chieftain. Their people are known to produce the strongest and bravest soldiers in the world: an Orcish army would not fear being outnumbered, and their soldiers have incredible stamina in battle. It is said that an Orcish soldier counts for 2 Human ones, and there is a saying in Orc culture towards their soldiers: 'Return either with your shield, or on it', as a warrior's funeral according to Orc customs involves carrying the deceased home on the shield he wielded in battle. Despite the studies of tomes not often being within their talents, a wiser Orc makes for either an incredible military tactician, or a powerful shaman. They often favor flanking tactics, and getting the most out of the terrain of the battlefield. To walk into a bottleneck with an Orcish battalion waiting within has proved fatal to many an attacking overlord seeking to re-enslave their people. Soldiers were deeply respected in Orc culture ever since the success of the Overlord Slave Revolts: to join the army of their tribe is dream of many a martially-minded Orc. To this day, pubs ran by Orcs are known to quietly offer discounts to soldiers drinking there, and many Orc blacksmiths specialize in the fabrication of weapons and armor. Historically, their people have won many wars to keep would-be overlord usurpers at bay, and keep their newfound freedom. However, they were never the warmongers that overlord propaganda at the time made them out to be, and will not put this kind of military might to use lightly: most Chieftains will only act if one chooses to attack them first.    

More Than Just Dumb Forces

Shamans are often highly respected in Orcish culture, with higher-ranked ones directly advising the chieftains on matters that the chieftain tends to doubt on. Some shamans also act as village elders, priests, soothsayers, or consultants on matters of the arcane. While the physical strength of Orcs in positions as these is nothing to write home about, the Orcish culture also acknowledges what their people call 'mental might', which they praise these shamans for. In Orcish culture, it's seen as a detriment to one's overall power if one can't back their physical prowess up with either the tactics to survive, or the capabilities to outwit your opponent and use their own strength against them. Therefore, the Orc warriors tend to show a deep respect to those wiser then themselves. Orcish Clerics and assorted mages are all referred to as shamans, and they refer to the schools of magic as the shaman's specialization. An Orcish soldier will often seek religious council from a Cleric before a battle, hoping to gain the favor of the gods beforehand.