Orcs

The Blood Binding, excerpt

Thark, Master of Unbreakable Chains, in your fire we temper this soul. Bind it to your will, so it may never know peace, only the insatiable hunger for strife and turmoil.

Scattered across the world of Taelgar small orc bands roam, raiding and pillaging in the name of Thark, the god of war without end. Although most orcs live in small groups, but when a leader blessed by Thark arises, they can bind many orcs together into a fearsome battle horde.

Imposing and Violent

Orcs are robust and imposing figures, often standing over 6 feet tall, usually with tusks protruding from their lower lips. Their skin tones range from shades of green to a dull gray, typically with black or red eyes. Most orcs die in battle, but those who manage to survive or who escape Thark’s chains have lifespans similar to humans, although they mature much quicker than humans.

Orcs are a decentralized and often chaotic race, driven to violence and conflict by their patron deity, Thark. Because of this, orcs have a fearsome reputation, and free orcs who have escaped Thark’s chains often struggle to distinguish themselves from their Thark-cursed breathren.

Families and Hordes

Orc communities are generally small. They lack centralized governance, and a group of orcs often extend no further than a large family group. Compelled to violence by Thark, these orc groups frequently fight each other, although they raid settled areas when they can. This constant war, even with high birth rates, usually keeps orc population sizes fairly low.

However, sometimes a leader blessed by Thark will unite many small groups together, forming a horde that can number in the hundreds or thousands. These hordes always form under the influence of a strong leader who can turn the violence of individual orcs to external purposes, and usually take on the name of the leader as their identity. These large hordes will often emerge out of marginal lands unexpectedly, threatening the cities and kingdoms of other races.

Thark, the God of War Without End

Orcs are tightly bound to, and cursed by, Thark, the embodied god of war without end. Through Thark’s dominion, orcs are compelled to violence without purpose, war for the sake of war.

Orcish religion, the manifestation of Thark’s will in the world, glorifies strength and resolving conflicts through violence. But the real power of Thark’s curse is enforced by a mysterious rumored ritual known by many names, and often referred to as the Blood Oath of the Crimson Blade by human scholars. While few details of this ritual are known to non-orcs, it is rumored that this ritual, performed on all newborn orcs, infuses them with the strength and fire of Thark’s will. Those who cannot or will not accept the curse of Thark do not survive the ritual.

Unchained Orcs

Rumors circulate throughout Taelgar of unchained orcs, free orcs that have broken the bounds of Thark’s curse, and live without the burning fire of Thark’s divine will driving them to ceaseless violence.

The most famous of these orcs are the People of the Rainbow, living in the deserts east of Dunmar.

Free orcs live in the constant shadow of Thark’s hunters. Thark watches over his orcs, driving them to fight each other, bringing strength to the victors. But none are more hated by Thark’s orcs than those who have broken free: any tribe that tries to turn from Thark’s way is quickly subject to unceasing attacks until they are defeated and subjugated, unless they can find a way to hide from Thark’s probing eyes.