orc culture

there are three types of orcish groups, banners, herds, and hordes

banners:banners are small groups of male orcs , numbering 50-200 (5d4*10) lead by an especially large and aggressive leader called a nob. who had beaten loyalty into the other orc men ,who would other wise be solitary. after the initial conflict. the other orcs look up to their leader as an elder brother, or father figure. who leads them fearlessly into raids and skirmishes. these groups are named for the poles adorned with grizzly trophies hung from the armor of their leaders

orc herds which travel in large groups of females and children, and a single male. who is much larger and stronger than most others of his kind. though he is not the leader of the orcherd  that position falling upon the largest and most aggressive female. he often brutalizes the banner leaders into following him.when he manages to get a certain number, the herd becomes a horde.

an orc horde is a co-ed group of orcs that has grown large enough to stake a claim on territory, more often than not these will not last more than a decade before arguments over orc women arise. but those that take up maritalfraditions tend to form small but longlasting kingdoms

orc women are among the hardiest in the world . being able to give birth to 7-12 orclets and go back to the battlefield in a manner of hours. though generally orc women are too attached to their young after birth to willingly do.so.

orc babies are suprisingky small. though they grow extremely quixkly being able to walk by three months by 5 years orc boys  look like 13 year old humans , and feel an overwhelming urge to wonder off  and from there these young orcish men learn to fend for them selves or die. those that dont leave often battle to the death with their leader and each other for mating privileges. though the leading lady of the herd will often stop things just short of killing and simply exile all but the most impressive orc.

in spite of stereotypes, orcs are both extremely hygenic, and matriarchal. in spite of males tending to be larger. females are more aggressive, and more than capable of scaring their male counterparts into complying  with their demands. in fact there is a common orc saying, which when translated to the common language as. "do not fear, for even the gods will bow to your mother' and with that said. the only thing an orc man fears is an orc woman.

orcs, in spite of appearing wild and uncontrollable, are actually very compliant with the demands of their superiors. so as long as that superior is a fellow orc.  orcs are as stubborn as the wild boars they descended from when dealing with other races.


the militaries of orcish kingdoms have only four, roughly defined ranks, from highest to lowest. Warlord, Warboss, Nob, and grunt. these ranks also determine an orcish male's place in society

A grunt is a single inexperienced orc either solitary or in a banner of other orcs. they act as the backbone to any orcish army.

a Nob (the word from which the common language drew the word 'noble') acts as the mouthpiece between the warboss and the grunts, they are roughly equivalent in rank to lieutenants , and  they hold a position similar to earls and marques.

a warboss is a fierce aggressive orc. and in situations where a warlord is not present. they act as the leader of any horde's military. on the social ladder. they are close to dukes and kings

A warlord is so rare a sight, it is claimed only one will show up every hundred years. they are what happens when one ambitious warboss decides to grow his kingdom. they will invade other kingdoms, building huge , loyal armies of orcs, among other races. as they continue to assimilate smaller kingdoms. and landholdings. truly the are the emperors among orc kind.sadly, as soon as they die. power struggles by the warbosses and kings they subjugated will tear their landholdings apart within mere decades. splitting them into petty fiefdoms.


orcs are obsessive beings they have a habit of collecting and gathering things that are useful or valuable perhaps only in the individuals own mind
except for ahen that individual is a banner leader
with the leader of a banner being looked up to by the others the orcs that follow will naturally develop the same interests of their leader  and take on monikers , such as 'the burning skullz' ' 'the stone crusherz' and so forth