LetsBuild5e:Orc Lore
Mr the Geoff's compilation of orc lore and legend
An extract from the oral history of the xxx tribe, as told by yyy, lore keeper and tale singer and mother of PC (names to be filled in later):
- The xxx tribe have lived in this place since time immerorial, since chief-god birthed the orc race. While other lesser races run from the dark, or shield their faces from the light, the orcs, strongest of the races of the world, endured both. The light side races are like migratory beasts who flee to softer climes and are fit only to be hunted as they pass through our lands. The dark side races are like snakes, cunning but cowardly, knowing only how to strike from the shadows. The orcs are stronger than both.
- When last the world turned dark many tried to defeat the tribe, enslave us or take our lands but none succeeded. When the light returned the tribe was still here in our homeland, unbowed and unbeaten. With the light came the other races. Elves, Dwarves and all the rest but mainly humans. Humans are always the first to spread over the new land, they breed like rabbits. When the first humans came we killed them for food, or took them as slaves. As their numbers grew they became too many to kill them all, so we let them live if they did not come too near our home. Sometimes we traded with them, or ransomed slaves back to them. Sometimes there was a temporary alliance, even a union.
- This brought about the first half orcs. At first they were thought to be weak like humans, but they were smart like humans too, and the light hurt their eyes less. Some became great warriors, even leaders. With status comes the spoils. Human blood became desirable in a mate, and so more and more often a child would be born half orc. In time most of the tribe, and many in the surrounding tribes had both human and orc blood.
- Soon though more humans came. Not small tribes or lone explorers this time, but armies, with iron. We were stronger but our weapons were not. They took this land to build their city and our people had a choice. Some chose to flee to the wilds, continue living the life they knew. Most of those who fled were pure blood, or nearly pure blood orcs. Others, including our ancestors, made a different choice. We belong to this land as much as it belongs to us and so we knew we must stay, even if it meant making peace with the humans and living among them in their city.
- We live here to this day, keeping the traditions alive and passing on the history of our tribe. We know soon the time will come when the races of the light will flee the coming of the darkness, and this will be our land and ours only once more. Until then we bide our time.
Some notes on orc mythology and philosophy:
- The orcs believe chief-god defeated elder-god single-handed, as befits the creator of the orc race. Parricide is acceptable and even praiseworthy in orc society, under the right conditions.
- The orcs definitely look upon the chief god as their creator and role model.
- Less as a saviour because orcs don't need a saviour, they prevail through strength and bloody mindedness, err I mean refusing to give in.
- They do believe that the chief god embodies the traits all orcs should aspire to though, especially strong leadership, self reliance and being an all round badass.
- They nod approvingly at (folk-hero) being eternally punished for the theft of divine secrets.
- They wonder at times why he does not simply destroy trickster-god (who is an obvious threat) while at the same time wondering why trickster-god has not yet made his/her move to usurp chief-god.
- They assume that this means chief-god is even more badass than first thought as he clearly doesn't see trickster god as a threat.
- Orc chiefs are wary of close lieutenants and advisors who follow the trickster but tolerate their presence while pretending they are not a threat, because to do otherwise would be not following the example of chief-god.
- In the end to be an orc, or of orcish blood means supreme self confidence. It means knowing deep in your soul that you are the strongest, toughest person in the room (even if you are perhaps not the smartest or the wisest) and knowing that it is the will of the gods that that is the case.
