Orc
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Orcs, called euroz in the Flan tongue, are a primitive race of savage, bestial, barbaric humanoids.
Ecology[edit]
Orcs are a species of aggressive mammalian carnivore that band together in tribes and survive by hunting and raiding. Orcs believe that in order to survive they must expand their territory, and so they are constantly involved in wars against many enemies: humans, elves, dwarves, goblins, and other orc tribes. Typically nocturnal, orcs are sensitive to light.
Environment[edit]
Orcs can be found in almost all locales of the Flanaess, but are most heavily concentrated in the Pomarj, the Empire of Iuz, the Bone March, and North Kingdom. There is also known to exist a great orcish city known as Garel Enkdal in the Griff Mountains. The orcs of the Baklunish nation of Zeif are very different from their brethren, having very nearly been assimilated into human society, though they are still regarded as lower-class.
Typical physical characteristics[edit]
Orcs vary widely in appearance as a result of frequent crossbreeding with other species. In general, they resemble primitive humans with grey-green skin covered with coarse hair. Orcs have a slightly stooped posture, low foreheads, and porcine faces with lower caninies that protrude like boar's tusks. Orcs typically have black hair; short, pointed ears that resemble those of a wolf; and red eyes. The average adult male stands slightly over six feet tall and weighs around 210 pounds. Female orcs are slightly smaller.
Orcs prefer to wear colors that most humans think unpleasant: blood red, rust red, mustard yellow, yellow green, moss green, greenish purple, and blackish brown. Their armor and weapons are often dirty and a bit rusty.
Alignment[edit]
Orcs are often chaotic evil, though they were lawful evil in editions prior to third.
Society[edit]
Orcs typically organize into warlike tribes. Tribal rivalries are often severe, and tribes will only cooperate if controlled by a very strong leader. Major orc tribes include the Bloody Head, the Broken Bone, the Death Moon, the Dripping Blade, the Evil Eye, the Leprous Hand, the Rotting Eye, the Vile Rune, and the Dazark of the Fellreev Forest. There are other tribes known which, during the Greyhawk Wars, came out of the Vesve to lay siege to Chendl, the capitol of Furyondy. Though there is no other record of which tribes they were, G. Ivril (a known historian) believes the siege force consisted of at least five major tribes: the Vrunik, Faarsh, Jukko, Haggnah, and Karaki.[1] It is not known why six of thirteen of these known tribes seem to be euroz words, and some seem to be translations describing the symbols they use.
Orcs usually spend their time planning raids and honing their combat skills when not warring with other creatures.
Orcish society is patriarchial. Females are typically regarded as property, though an individual's status may vary from chattel to prized possession. Males take pride in the number of females owned and the number of sons they sire. Battle prowess, territory, and wealth are also signs of status in orc society. Battle scars are worn proudly, and ritual scarification is practiced marking great achievements and significant turning points in an orc's life.
Religion[edit]
Orcs have their own pantheon, led by Gruumsh. These deities include:
The orcish gods teach that all other races are inferior, and that all their possessions rightfully belong to the orcs, having been stolen in the first place.
Iuz is also popular among orcs, especially within his own empire. The Earth Dragon is popular in the Pomarj. Orcs less inclined toward evil may worship other deities, such as the mongrelfolk god Meriadar, or the half-orc hero deity Nazarn.
Language[edit]
Orcs speak Orcish, a language derived from older human and elvish languages. There is no common standard of Orcish, so the language has many dialects which vary from tribe to tribe. Orcish utilizes dwarven runes in its written form.
Orcs sometimes learn to speak local human tongues, but are generally not comfortable with them. Some orcs have a limited vocabulary in goblin, hobgoblin, and ogre dialects.
Orc subspecies[edit]
A fecund race, orcs often mate with other humanoid creatures.
- "Since orcs will breed with anything, there are any number of [creatures] with orcish blood, particularly orc-goblins, orc-hobgoblins, and orc-humans. Orcs cannot crossbreed with elves."[2]
Known subspecies include:
- Half-orcs: These are most often the result of orc-human pairings, though pairings of two half-orc result similarly in half-orc babies. Some are born in unfortunate circumstances of raids in border areas between human and orc cultures. Though sometimes rejected from both sides of their heritage, many half-orcs achieve renown. Some have ancestry far enough back in their lineage they are (rarely) able to pass as unusual-looking humans.
- Ogrillions: These creatures are the brutish, armor-skinned offspring of a female orc and a male ogre.
- Orogs: An orog is the offspring of a male orc and a female ogre. Orogs usually live among orcs; they are stronger, more intelligent, and more disciplined than typical orcs.
- Losels: Losels are orc-baboon creatures bred by Iuz and the Scarlet Brotherhood because they reproduce faster than common orcs.
Publishing history[edit]
Earlier versions of Dungeons & Dragons depicted orcs slightly differently. They were Lawful Evil, and were sometimes described as having porcine snouts (an illustration in the 1977 Monster Manual depicted them with pig-like faces). An insightful passage from the Monstrous Manual reads, "Orcs have a reputation for cruelty that is deserved, but humans are just as capable of evil as orcs."
The half-orc in the original AD&D game was a standard player character race, typically assuming the assassin character class. Half-orcs were removed from the Player's Handbook in the second edition of the game but were revived, albeit altered, in 3e and later editions.
External link[edit]
References[edit]
Notes[edit]
Citations[edit]
- ↑ Greyhawk Wars, Adventurer's Book, Lake Geneva, WI., TSR, 1991
- ↑ Monster Manual (1977), p.76.
Bibliography[edit]
- Cole, Joshua. "Races of Spelljammer." Dragon #339. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2006.
- Conforti, Steven, ed. Living Greyhawk Official Listing of Deities for Use in the Campaign, version 2.0. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2005. Available online:[1]
- Cook, David, et al. Monstrous Compendium Volume One. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1989.
- Gygax, Gary. Monster Manual. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1977.
- ———. Unearthed Arcana. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1985.
- ———. The World of Greyhawk. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1980.
- ———. World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1983.
- Holian, Gary, Erik Mona, Sean K. Reynolds, and Frederick Weining. Living Greyhawk Gazetteer. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2000.
- Moore, Roger E. "Campaign Classics: The Scro." Dragon Annual #1. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1996.
- Reynolds, Sean K., and Chris Pramas. Slavers. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2000.
- Reynolds, Sean K., Frederick Weining, and Erik Mona. "Blood of Heroes." Living Greyhawk Journal #3. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2001.
- Sargent, Carl. From the Ashes. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1992.
- ———. Iuz the Evil. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1993.
- ———. Ivid the Undying. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1995 (unpublished). Available online:[2]
- ———. Monster Mythology. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1992.
- Scott, Curtis M. The Complete Spacefarer's Handbook. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1992.
- Slavicsek, Bill. The Complete Book of Humanoids. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1993.
- Varney, Allen, ed. Monstrous Compendium Spelljammer Appendix II. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1991.
- Williams, Skip, Jonathan Tweet, and Monte Cook. Monster Manual. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2000.
Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index
The Index is based on previous work of Jason Zavoda through '08, and his work as continued and updated by Eric Johnson, Richard DiIoia, Jason "PupickDad" Jacobson, a French fan group, and numerous other fans over the years. The wiki page for the EGI has a list of sources, full product names, abbreviations, and a link to the full, downloadable index.
Topic | Type | Description | Product | Page/Card/Image
|
---|---|---|---|---|
Alkarmor (Elf-Killers) (Orc) (Borka) | People Group | SJR6 Greyspace | 58, 59 | |
Bloodied Blade Tribe (Orc) | People Group | Tribe, | WGS1 Five Shall Be One | 40, 42 |
Bloody Eye (Orc) | People Group | Clan, | Dungeon magazine #148 | 43, 44, 46, 47 |
Bloody Fist Tribe (Orc) | People Group | Tribe, | Dungeon magazine #073 | 64 |
Bloody Head Tribe (Orc) | People Group | Tribe, | Living Greyhawk Gazetteer | 11 |
Bonescraper Tribe (Orc) | People Group | Tribe, | WGR5 Iuz the Evil | 19 |
Broken Bone Tribe (Orc) | People Group | Tribe, | Living Greyhawk Gazetteer | 11 |
Broken Bone Tribe (Orc) | People Group | Tribe, | Unearthed Arcana, AD&D 1e | 119 |
Celbit Tribe (Orc) | People Group | Tribe, | WGR5 Iuz the Evil | 17, 19, 25, 29, 30, 32, 33, 44, 53, 78, 79, 80, 91 |
Cracked Skull Tribe (Orc) | People Group | Tribe, | Dragon magazine #167 | 12 |
Cracked Skull Tribe (Orc) | People Group | Tribe, | Slavers, AD&D 2e | 83 |
Crooked Claw Tribe (Orc) | People Group | Tribe, | A1-4 Scourge of the Slave Lords | 52 |
Crooked Claw Tribe (Orc) | People Group | Tribe, | Dragon magazine #167 | 12 |
Crooked Claw Tribe (Orc) | People Group | Tribe, | Slavers, AD&D 2e | 83 |
Crooked Tooth Tribe (Orc) | People Group | Tribe, | Slavers, AD&D 2e | 73 |
Dazark Tribe (Orc) | People Group | Tribe, | WGR5 Iuz the Evil | 55, 56, 58 |
Death Moon Tribe (Orc) | People Group | Tribe, | Dragon magazine #057 | 15 |
Death Moon Tribe (Orc) | People Group | Tribe, | Dragon magazine #063 | 16 |
Death Moon Tribe (Orc) | People Group | Tribe, | Living Greyhawk Gazetteer | 11, 74 |
Death Moon Tribe (Orc) | People Group | Tribe, | The Adventure Begins | 125 |
Death Moon Tribe (Orc) | People Group | Tribe, | Unearthed Arcana, AD&D 1e | 119 |
Deathbringer Tribe (Orc) | People Group | Tribe, | Slavers, AD&D 2e | 63 |
Dripping Blade Tribe (Orc) | People Group | Tribe, | Living Greyhawk Gazetteer | 11 |
Eiger Tribe (Orc) | People Group | Tribe, | WGR5 Iuz the Evil | 51 |
Eurork Tribe (Orc) | People Group | Tribe, | Ivid the Undying | 109 |
Euroz Tribe (Orc) | People Group | Tribe - Orc, | Dragon magazine #293 | 89 |
Euroz Tribe (Orc) | People Group | Tribe - Orc, | Ivid the Undying | 10, 44, 46, 50, 54, 105, 109, 160 |
Euroz Tribe (Orc) | People Group | Tribe - Orc, | WGR4 The Marklands | 84 |
Evil Eye Tribe (Orc) | People Group | Tribe, | Living Greyhawk Gazetteer | 11 |
Evil Eye Tribe (Orc) | People Group | Tribe, | Unearthed Arcana, AD&D 1e | 119 |
Evil Eye Tribe (Orc) | People Group | Tribe, | Unearthed Arcana, AD&D 1e | 119 |
Faarsh Tribe (Orc) | People Group | Tribe, | Greyhawk Wars: Adventures | 28 |
Faithful Blood Tribe (Orc) | People Group | Tribe, | WGR5 Iuz the Evil | 19 |
Flaming Skull Tribe (Orc) | People Group | Tribe, | Dragon magazine #167 | 12 |
Flaming Skull Tribe (Orc) | People Group | Tribe, | Slavers, AD&D 2e | 83 |
Garel Enkdal city (Orcish) | Settlement | Settlement, | WGS1 Five Shall Be One | 2, 17, 24, 25, 27, 28, 29, 37, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 47, 62 |
Garel Enkdal city (Orcish) | Settlement | Settlement, | WGS2 Howl From the North | 8, 9, 11, 35 |
Gorg the Half-Orc | Non-player character | Half-Orc, | L2 The Assassins Knot | 21 |
Haggnoh Tribe (Orc) | People Group | Tribe, | Greyhawk Wars: Adventures | 28 |
Half-Orc | Monster | Reference | SEE Orc, Half | |
Jagged Blade Tribe (Orc) | People Group | Tribe, | Dragon magazine #167 | 12 |
Jagged Blade Tribe (Orc) | People Group | Tribe, | Slavers, AD&D 2e | 83 |
Jebli Tribe (Orc) | People Group | Tribe, | WGR5 Iuz the Evil | 17, 19, 27, 29, 30, 44, 52, 57, 78, 79, 80 |
Jublizoi, Hill Renders Tribe (Orc) | People Group | Tribe, | From the Ashes: Campaign Book | 26 |
Jukko Tribe (Orc) | People Group | Tribe, | Greyhawk Wars: Adventures | 28 |
Karaki Tribe (Orc) | People Group | Tribe, | Greyhawk Wars: Adventures | 28 |
Kazgund Tribe (Orc) | People Group | Tribe, | WGR5 Iuz the Evil | 17, 19, 33, 36, 37, 41, 43 |
Kazgund Tribe (Orc) | People Group | Tribe, | WGR6 City of Skulls | 16, 18, 25 |
Keiger (Orc) | People Group | Clan, | WGR4 The Marklands | 84 |
Krag the half-orc | Non-player character | Male, half-orc, | Ghosts of Saltmarsh, D&D 5e | 18-20, 33 |
Leprous Hand Tribe (Orc) | People Group | Tribe, | Living Greyhawk Gazetteer | 11 |
Montesser (Orc) | Settlement | Settlement, (576 pop: 600), | Ivid the Undying | 10, 105 |
Neckbreaker Tribe (Orc) | People Group | Tribe, | Slavers, AD&D 2e | 63 |
Nedla Tribe (Orc) | People Group | Tribe, | Greyhawk Wars: Adventures | 15 |
Nedla Tribe (Orc) | People Group | Tribe, | Slavers, AD&D 2e | 109 |
Nedla Tribe (Orc) | People Group | Tribe, | The Scarlet Brotherhood | 5 |
Night Hunter Tribe (Orc) | People Group | Tribe, | Slavers, AD&D 2e | 63 |
Orc {Orcish} language | Verbal communication | Language, | Dragon magazine #075 | 54-57 |
Orc {Orcish} language | Verbal communication | Language, | Dungeon magazine #148 | 41 |
Orc {Orcish} language | Verbal communication | Language, | Ghosts of Saltmarsh, D&D 5e | 9 |
Orc, Half | Monster | Native of: Prime Material, | A1 Slave Pits of the Undercity | 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 |
Orc, Half | Monster | Native of: Prime Material, | D1-2 Descent into the Depths of the Earth | 5, 13, 27 |
Orc, Half | Monster | Native of: Prime Material, | Dragon magazine #315 | 51, 54 |
Orc, Half | Monster | Native of: Prime Material, | Greyhawk Adventures | 113 |
Orc, Half | Monster | Native of: Prime Material, | GDQ1-7 Queen of the Spiders | 82, 83 |
Orc, Half | Monster | Native of: Prime Material, | Ghosts of Saltmarsh, D&D 5e | 18, 87, 88, 92, 145, 166, 168 |
Orc, Half | Monster | Native of: Prime Material, | Living Greyhawk, Living Onnwal Gazetteer, D&D 3.5e | 22, 27, 38, 41, 61, 107 |
Orc, Half | Monster | Native of: Prime Material, | MC1 - Monstrous Compendium Volume 1 | Insert (Orc) |
Orc, Half | Monster | Native of: Prime Material, | Monster Manual 1, AD&D 1e | 76 |
Orc, Half | Monster | Native of: Prime Material, | Monster Manual 1, D&D 3.5e (Premium Edition) | 204 |
Orc, Half | Monster | Native of: Prime Material, | Oerth Journal #09 | 15,19 |
Orc, Half | Monster | Native of: Prime Material, | Oerth Journal #10 | 57,59 |
Orc, Half | Monster | Native of: Prime Material, | Oerth Journal #11 | 81 |
Orc, Half | Monster | Native of: Prime Material, | Oerth Journal #14 | 12,37,42 |
Orc, Half | Monster | Native of: Prime Material, | Oerth Journal #17 | 4 |
Orc, Half | Monster | Native of: Prime Material, | Oerth Journal #18 | 4,13 |
Orc, Half | Monster | Native of: Prime Material, | Oerth Journal #19 | 5,17,28,29,30,46,48,49 |
Orc, Half | Monster | Native of: Prime Material, | Oerth Journal #20 | 30 |
Orc, Half | Monster | Native of: Prime Material, | Oerth Journal #21 | 15,19,30 |
Orc, Half | Monster | Native of: Prime Material, | Oerth Journal #22 | 4,8,11 |
Orc, Half | Monster | Native of: Prime Material, | Oerth Journal #23 | 5,11,31 |
Orc, Half | Monster | Native of: Prime Material, | Oerth Journal #25 | 5,9,10,12,13 |
Orc, Half | Monster | Native of: Prime Material, | Oerth Journal #29 | 16,25,32,41 |
Orc, Half | Monster | Native of: Prime Material, | Oerth Journal #30 | 4 |
Orc, Half | Monster | Native of: Prime Material, | Oerth Journal #31 | 30,31,32 |
Orc, Half | Monster | Native of: Prime Material, | Oerth Journal #33 | 10,33 |
Orc, Half | Monster | Native of: Prime Material, | PHBR10 - The Complete Book of Humanoids | 9, 49-51, 66, 79, 80, 81, 82, 86, 87, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120 |
Orc, Half | Monster | Native of: Prime Material, | Saltmarsh Encounters, D&D 5e | 8 |
Orc, Half | Monster | Native of: Prime Material, | SJR6 Greyspace | 37, 57, 84 |
Orc, Half | Monster | Native of: Prime Material, | Vortext #08, Spring 1993 #08 | 21 |
Orc, Half | Monster | Native of: Prime Material, | World of Greyhawk boxed set (1983) | 30 |
Orcish Empire of the Pomarj | Kingdom | Reference | SEE Pomarj, Orcish Empire of | |
Pomarj, Orcish Empire of | Kingdom | (576 pop: 20000), (591 pop: 476000), | Dragon magazine #195 | 94 |
Pomarj, Orcish Empire of | Kingdom | (576 pop: 20000), (591 pop: 476000), | Dungeon magazine #073 | 58 |
Pomarj, Orcish Empire of | Kingdom | (576 pop: 20000), (591 pop: 476000), | From the Ashes: Campaign Book | 50-52, 57 |
Pomarj, Orcish Empire of | Kingdom | (576 pop: 20000), (591 pop: 476000), | Living Greyhawk, Living Onnwal Gazetteer, D&D 3.5e | 109 |
Pomarj, Orcish Empire of | Kingdom | (576 pop: 20000), (591 pop: 476000), | Living Greyhawk Gazetteer | 17, 40, 42, 51, 59, 63, 72, 116, 118, 119, 121, 129, 131, 148, 150, 152, IBC |
Pomarj, Orcish Empire of | Kingdom | (576 pop: 20000), (591 pop: 476000), | Living Greyhawk Journal #3 | 26, 29 |
Pomarj, Orcish Empire of | Kingdom | (576 pop: 20000), (591 pop: 476000), | Living Greyhawk Journal #4 | 28 |
Pomarj, Orcish Empire of | Kingdom | (576 pop: 20000), (591 pop: 476000), | Player's Guide to Greyhawk | 5, 25, 59, 61 |
Pomarj, Orcish Empire of | Kingdom | (576 pop: 20000), (591 pop: 476000), | Return of the Eight | 32 |
Pomarj, Orcish Empire of | Kingdom | (576 pop: 20000), (591 pop: 476000), | Slavers, AD&D 2e | 2, 5, 8, 27, 33, 34, 38-40, 43, 44, 46, 60, 62, 63, 67, 86-90, 98, 106, 123 |
Pomarj, Orcish Empire of | Kingdom | (576 pop: 20000), (591 pop: 476000), | The Adventure Begins | 3-6, 8, 16, 33-36, 42, 44, 47, 54, 62, 63, 64, 66, 69, 74, 76, 79, 86, 90, 100, 101, 119, 123, 125 |
Pomarj, Orcish Empire of | Kingdom | (576 pop: 20000), (591 pop: 476000), | The Adventure Begins: Adventure Maps | 2, 3, 4 |
Pomarj, Orcish Empire of | Kingdom | (576 pop: 20000), (591 pop: 476000), | LT1 The Star Cairns | IC |
Potion of Half-Orc Control | Item | Dungeon Masters Guide 1st Edition | 126 | |
Potion of Half-Orc Control | Item | Dungeon Masters Guide, AD&D 1e (Premium Edition) | 126 | |
Potion of Half-Orc Control | Item | Encyclopedia Magica - Volume III | 872 | |
Red Fang Tribe (Orc) | People Group | Tribe, | Dragon magazine #167 | 12 |
Red Fang Tribe (Orc) | People Group | Tribe, | Slavers, AD&D 2e | 83 |
Saltburner Tribe (Orc) | People Group | Tribe, | Dragon magazine #167 | 12 |
Saltburner Tribe (Orc) | People Group | Tribe, | Slavers, AD&D 2e | 83, 97 |
Shadowmoon Tribe {Shadowdoom} (Orc) | People Group | Tribe, | Dragon magazine #167 | 12 |
Shadowmoon Tribe {Shadowdoom} (Orc) | People Group | Tribe, | Slavers, AD&D 2e | 83 |
Sors Invicta (Unstoppable Destiny) (Orc) (Borka) | People Group | SJR6 Greyspace | 58, 59 | |
Spinning Sword Tribe (Orc) | People Group | Tribe, | Slavers, AD&D 2e | 63 |
Thunderous Hate Tribe (Orc) | People Group | Tribe, | Slavers, AD&D 2e | 63 |
Uroz Tribe (Orc) | People Group | Tribe, | WGR5 Iuz the Evil | 36, 40, 41, 43, 52, 55, 57, 80 |
Urzun Tribe (Orc) | People Group | Tribe, | Living Greyhawk Gazetteer | 59 |
Urzun Tribe (Orc) | People Group | Tribe, | WGR5 Iuz the Evil | 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 40, 44, 46, 47, 66, 78, 79, 80, 81, 90 , 94 |
Urzun Tribe (Orc) | People Group | Tribe, | WGR6 City of Skulls | 10, 16, 24, 25 |
Vile Rune Tribe (Orc) | People Group | Tribe, | Dragon magazine #057 | 14 |
Vile Rune Tribe (Orc) | People Group | Tribe, | Dragon magazine #063 | 16 |
Vile Rune Tribe (Orc) | People Group | Tribe, | Living Greyhawk Gazetteer | 11 |
Vile Rune Tribe (Orc) | People Group | Tribe, | Unearthed Arcana, AD&D 1e | 121 |
Vrunik Tribe (Orc) | People Group | Tribe, | Greyhawk Wars: Adventures | 28 |