Orc
Orcs are a form of human that is often seen the furthest apart by... well, humanity. They evolved mostly off the body of lands collectively called Orcasio, where a volcano scorched much life at the center. In the end, the people survived by developing a reliance on fish, tougher skin, and hair that stops growing as the skin matures. As such though, they take on a very different image from their human counter-parts. Sharper teeth, leathery skin of darker tones, and some odd cultural norms mixed in like stitching in wigs, or cropping the ears. Many believe they are possibly more relative to the ogres/troll, and sometimes the orcs themselves feel they're 'better' than human, but plenty of acceptance is also being done.
Orcs are most commonly found across Orcasio, and the neighboring larger continent of Basillua. However orcs are among those running sometimes far-reaching trade vessels across the sea, and have been roughly recorded for a while in other societies. In many cases, they are known for fine metal craftsmenship, and talismans. Their volcanic home, has fostered a culture rich in minerals, and religiously and spiritually celebrating them as a serious point of worth. This has lead to variations of stereotypes, ranging from the savage warrior, to a cold and detached artist of smithing. In truth, elements of their society actually pushed forwards some progressive questions, and they were among some of the first to establish a democracy in Ezqotia - but do also bear similar violent civil war, and some tyranny in their history as the others do.
Naming Traditions
Feminine names
Female names are sometimes more divided up by sounds of hard O vowles, and strange inflections on U's, O's, and Y's. A few examples may be: Yasoolga, Uljami, Yaleunda, Jendaloo, etc.
Masculine names
Male names are often more harsh, and often make use of a strange whooping pitch, or crackle. However, another trend is also naming them with an S-based sounding C letter, attributing to the common worship of Celismen. Its often unseen to start any name with a C unless such a rule follows. So some variations of examples may include, Kraunj, Ceklimek, Tasukdre, and Ceo.
Culture
Shared customary codes and values
- "Blessing" metals is done both figuritively, and literally. Metal charms, and talismans play a very serious role, just as metal does itself. They believe they are at near equal lengths as 'children of the earth', and must show their individual worth through the materials at times.
- Consider magic to be an odd topic. While they practice forms of it, they often don't even like to refer to it as such. Few proudly practice magic, while melee warfare is more key to their pride and sense of culture. Furthermore, even some melee is socially regulated, with a distaste for long reaching weapons like polearms.
- If the orc male has a son, he must teach it to fish and set a goal for the size of the catch. Until they succeed, they must give their catch away to another orc family. If an orc woman has a daughter, she will teach it how to weave and sew, and give their finest craft to the neighbors. These practices are built around a combination of 'training' the respective orc child for their duty, but also reinforce a community-endearing attitude into the young.
- Swords are to be treasured, and cared for as an extension of the individual, and often one is given to every Orc at as little of an age as ten.
- While females are born in a place of possessing less main power, they are thought to never be discarded or treated poor, with special rites of shame often ready for those caught going too far to abuse a woman or young one.
Common Dress code
Orcs wear roughly much of the same clothes as most humans. However, they have much different standards in how they value armor, metals, and talismans. They're more likely to wear charms, be cautious about wearing silver, or sometimes using gold dye to color over things they highly value. Armor of at least a basic form is more casually worn, sometimes even by commoners and serfs. In more casual ideals, hide and hemp are commonly worn as civilian or serf wear. In the military side, the head piece must have a metal worthy of rank or status, with gold and silver being considered very high marks, while Diamond, and sometimes cobalt-alloys are more like a regional lordship in some time periods.
Funerary and Memorial customs
In some periods and regions, it is custom for a new leader of worth to surpass the dead one by carrying their old sword out all day, without sheathing it, or letting go for any serious period of time. Often their own blade fills the sheath, while the captain's is in their grasp, and if the sword receives too much dirt, wear, or is entirely lost or cheated across the span of the sunlight, they are deemed an unfit leader to "carry the burden". If achieving the duty, the new chief will forge and return a "worthy" knife to stab into the grave, and a prayer. If they lose, they will return the sword itself instead, and apologize, where the sword will typically stay planted forever - with some variations that allow the next tryout to do the same.
Ideals
Gender Ideals
Orcs hold to traditionalist human values, if with less rigidness. The man is supposed to be the one that fights, works hard, and brings honor to the family name. However, an orc wife is still highly revered, and in positions of cowardice or death, the male loses his honor and name towards the highest female of the family when there is not a better suited male in its place. This even includes houses of power, where a female will reign if her Chief husband died in a brave act, or greatly disgraced his people in some capacity. Regardless, the female is highly valued as a nurturing parent for the future, and for roles of care and craft.
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