Dungeons and Dragons Lore: Orc
AJ Pickett・2 minutes read
Orcs are a popular fantasy trope with roots in various mythologies, serving as malevolent beings in works like Tolkien's and influencing role-playing games. They value strength, survival skills, and raw power, with different subraces and cultures shaping their characteristics and beliefs.
Insights
- Orcs, originating from various mythologies and popularized by Tolkien, are depicted as aggressive beings serving evil masters, with gods like Gruumsh and Luthic playing significant roles in orcish society, emphasizing rituals, sacrifices, and values of strength and usefulness.
- Orcs exhibit diverse subraces and cultures, with mountain orcs forming settled tribes, gray orcs living nomadically, and half-orcs being a distinct race bred for specific roles. Crossbreeding with humans and demons results in unique subraces like Tanner Orcs and Bugans, each with distinctive physical traits and abilities, showcasing a complex and varied orcish society.
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Recent questions
What are orcs known for in fantasy fiction?
Orcs are depicted as aggressive, malevolent beings serving evil masters in fantasy fiction, influencing popular works like Dungeons & Dragons, Warhammer, and Warcraft.
Who are the prominent orcish gods in Forgotten Realms?
In the Forgotten Realms, orcish gods like Gruumsh, the god of storms and war, and Luthic, the goddess of fertility and medicine, play significant roles in orcish culture and rituals.
How do orcs value strength in their society?
Orcs value strength and usefulness above all in their society, instilling this belief from childhood and emphasizing survival skills honed by harsh conditions.
What is the lifespan of an orc without medical aid?
Orcs have a short lifespan, with adults considered middle-aged at 17 and rarely living past 40 without medical aid due to their harsh living conditions.
What are half-orcs in orcish culture?
Half-orcs are considered a distinct race in orcish culture, resulting from crossbreeding with humans and possessing unique physical characteristics and abilities for specific roles like scouts, archers, and shock troops.