Orcs

The orcs are a race of bandits who predate upon all races of Saldaria regardless of who they meet.

History
As another race of non-natives to the continent of Saldaria, they followed humans across the ocean. However when they arrived instead of greeting the Silari and Eborim as the humans did, the orcs immediately began harrassing and attacking all three races. Considered a nuisance by the Silari, all attempts to eradicate the orcs were met with failure as although the orcs are large and powerful, they also have an uncanny ability to hide themselves. This is largely due to the fact that they reside within the untamed wilds of Saldaria avoiding towns and villages, in preference of attacking on roads and then vanishing into the forests.

Biology
The largest by far, orcs stand close to 7" tall at their shortest. These massive brutes cannot be underestimated. Despite their lack of magic, their strength and stamina allows them to fight even the strongest mage. This race burns themselves out quickly, meaning that an orc is considered old at 50. Similar to Eborim, this race is green (but sometimes grey or tan) skinned, suggesting a potential racial link, but no research (or willing candidates) have pursued this. Other notable features include a lack of hair, tusks and solid coloured eyes.

Society
These barbarians forgo any permanent settlements, preferring to move their camps whenever necessary. Although not necessarily a nomadic species they do move in order to prey on new roads before they draw the attention of Osmian soldiers. Orcs prefer to fight as berserkers using rage and overwhelming strength to defeat their enemies. Orcs follow a chieftain who decides how and where the clan will attack, but who has no say on how an orc lives their life. The clans themselves live deep within the wilderness and only send out war parties to act as bandits. These parties return with their spoils to share with the clan. An orc is only considered an adult after having made their first kill (this can be anything, sapient or otherwise), but the harder the kill the more prestige the orc earns.

If the orcs use their own tongue they do not use it around outsiders, instead preferring to converse in the common language. Although this doesn't necessarily indicate intelligence, there must be a level of adaptibility in order to learn a language from a race they have only encountered in violence. Orcs are known only rarely to trade with outsiders and though such occurances are risky, they are worth the trouble as the treasures of an orc clan are without equal.

Notable Orcs

 * Chief Raargést