1. Notes

Orcs of the Nordmark

Species

Tribes

There are eleven orc tribes: Sabrecat, Red Tusk, Frostwolf, Stormreaver, Bonemaul, Boulderfist, Bearfang, Stormcloud, Nightclaw, Bloodmoon and Stone Crow.

Religion

The chief deity of the orcs is Mok’Norgal, The One Eye. He is aided by other gods, though they are not well known by those outside of the tribes.

Orcs believe that their gods are invincible. The orcs see the principles that define them and their gods at work every day in the world around them: nature rewards the strong and mercilessly eliminates the weak and the infirm. Orcs don’t revere their gods as much as they fear them, and this deep-seated uncertainty and fear comes forth in the form of brutality and relentlessness. Orcs believe that victorious combat will appease the gods and prevent their terrible wrath.

Society

Orcs give an account of their exploits through ritualized scarring. Every time they slay an enemy in combat they make another cut in their skin. Every orc is able to proudly describe the details of each of their scars. Some of the more seasoned warriors have much of their bodies covered in scars.

History

Some orcs assimilated into the Empire, abandoning their clans and joining the Imperial Army Auxiliaries and thereby gaining their citizenship. Many half-orcs can trace their lineage back to orc veterans.

Most full-blooded orcs view half-orcs as outcasts, reminders of the orc’s lack of sovereignty and the loss of the old ways. Before the Empire, before the first men, The Great Horde roamed Eressea, taking whatever it desired, locked in a deadly dance with the Elves.
Now the tribes squabble and fight amongst themselves. Constant suspicions and backstabbing as the tribes jockey for primacy. The tribes are as likely to fight each other as they are goblins or the Empire. Some tribes and chieftains have attempted to reunite the clans into the Great Horde. These attempts have met with poor results.
Under the leadership of Sark One-Eye, chieftain of the Sabrecat Tribe, the orcs united and utterly defeated three Valorian legions in the wooded area thenceforth known as The Bone Forest. The emperor was forced to rush additional legions to the Nordmark, and there was extended fighting in the Corpsefeld until the Horde was finally defeated and pushed back north. However, the line of demarcation became the Quicksilver River rather than the Goldendrim River.
The Second Treaty of Rivain governs the relationship between the Empire and the Tribes. Some of the provisions of the treaty include:
The tribes are to make peace with one another. Inter-tribal warfare is forbidden
The Empire would be allowed access to orc lands for specific reasons (surveying, travelling, constructions of roads…)
Lands north of the Quicksilver River are to be Orcish. Only authorized access is allowed.
The Empire will punish its citizens for crimes against orcs, and the tribes agree to turn over orcish criminals for punishment, and to reimburse any losses suffered by injured parties.
The Boulderfist Tribe has allied itself with the Valorian Empire. In exchange for their allegiance they are given weapons and supplies and given free reign to cross the Windrunner River and battle with the goblins of the Iron Mountains. This alliance has made the Boulderfist tribe hated amongst the other tribes.
Tul’roc Stonearm, chief of the Stone Crows, has been accused killing Valorian settlers and prospectors. Some would point out that the settlers and prospectors were north of the established boundary. Various military excursions have not been able to capture him, or any sizable portion of his tribe.
When not fighting, the orcs are hunting. They are as skilled at hunting as they are at combat, and a great hunter is honored just as a victorious warrior would be. Loss of their traditional winter hunting grounds south of the Quicksilver river has made survival more difficult for the tribes, and required the taking of more dangerous game.

Most of the “non-civilized” orcs deal in trade, rather than coin.