Orcs settled in the steppes, as despite their individual strength and prowess, Humans began to push them westwards and away from the fertile lands of the east. Here, the Orcs followed the way of Bone, which commanded its followers to learn to fight and live in the wild. They viewed farming as beneath them, hunting and raiding as they pleased. Some, however, saw the strength of settled peoples and their smithing; these Orcs created a new philosophy known as the Way of Iron.
When the Havoc Wars came, those following the Way of Bone sought plunder and worthy foes to fight, caring little about which side their targets were on. However, those who embraced the Way of Iron saw a greater opportunity: they could conquer the Dwarfholds in order to create a powerful empire of their own. These Orcs gathered together and assaulted the Dwarves who had remained behind in the holds while their armies fought against Havoc. The Orcs conquered them with little effort and used their fortifications to rout the Dwarven army when it returned.
These Orcs turned their plunder into trade and built a prosperous realm for themselves in the mountains, known as the Iron Empire, where they reigned over their Dwarven subjects. Yet the more traditional Orcs believed these conquerors had abandoned the old ways and would grow weak in time. The Orcs found themselves divided in two, as some settled in the mountains and others remained on the steppe.
When the Rift opened, it cut directly through the mountains, destroying some of the Orc strongholds, and killing many Orcs in cave-ins. The Dwarves rose up and easily defeated them in the resulting confusion.
The mountain Orcs had no choice but to return to the steppe. Many struggled to return to their ancestral land as they had grown up in the mountains and forgotten many of their traditions. Desperate, they sought to reconcile with their former kin. While the Steppe Orcs have accepted them, peace has been uneasy. Mountain Orcs remain bitter about what they have lost, many of them still wearing salvaged armour and dreaming of building a new empire. Steppe Orcs view their lost cousins as unwilling to accept the traditions which had allowed their people to prosper in their ancient home.
Which path will you guide your people down?
History
Great Steppes
As humanity developed agriculture and began to spread, Orcs found themselves slowly forced west as Humans expanded. Despite their individual strength and prowess, Humans proved too numerous and their defences gradually pushed the Orcs out of the most fertile lands into the west.
The Orc Ways
Most Orcs embraced an outlook which they knew as the Way of Bone, a philosophy that encouraged a focus on fighting and raiding with natural weapons and strength rather than adopting a more sedentary lifestyle and depending upon tools and weapons forged artificially. The Way of Bone taught Orcs to embrace their traditionally nomadic way of life, allowing them to persist as a proud society of hunters and warriors against the pressure of constant human expansion, as they saw a settled life of farming and crafting as beneath them. Some Orcs, however, saw the strength of the Human civilisations and wished to emulate them. They embraced a new philosophy, the Way of Iron, which saw armour and weapons as a means to greater strength.
Havoc Wars
When the Havoc Wars erupted, a prophet of the Way of Iron saw that the Dwarves’ domains were undefended. He gathered as many followers as he could find to conquer the Dwarven Holds in order to create a powerful Empire of their own. The prophet assaulted the Dwarves who remained behind, seizing their holds and routing the Dwarven army when it returned.
The Iron Empire
The followers of the Way of Iron built an empire in the mountains. They turned their plunder into trade and built an Empire, reigning over their Dwarven subjects; controlling the Dwarven mines and even using the Dwarves as cheap labour. The Orcs suddenly found themselves divided in two, as some settled in the mountains and others remained in the steppe. Despite their success, many nomads shunned their successful siblings, feeling that they had lost their way and would only grow fat and weak in the holds.
The Return of Havoc
After the Orb broke, the Rift cut directly through the mountains. destroying many of the Orc strongholds. Many mines and holds caved in and the dwarves used the ensuing chaos to rise up in rebellion. Many Orcs were died by cave-ins and rebellion, while the prophet who led them to conquer the Dwarfholds disappeared, presumably when his hold collapsed. The surviving Orcs took what they could and fled back to the Steppe.
Return to the Steppe
Those who followed the Way of Iron were forced to seek shelter in the Steppe. Whether they reintegrated the old tribes or formed new ones, they had to admit that their Way had failed. Many have struggled to return to their ancestral ways, as most had grown up in the mountains. Some of them still hold out hope of building another Empire, devising far-fetched plans for another conquest. But for many of the former Iron followers, that time is over for good.
An Uneasy Reunion
While some tribes have accepted the returning Orcs, the peace has been uneasy. Mountain Orcs remain bitter about what they have lost, still wearing salvaged armour. Some still hope to rebuild their old empire. Steppe Orcs view their lost cousins as clinging to a lost hope, unwilling to accept the demands of their true home and god.
Society
Orcs are organised in clans, often formed around a specialty. One clan might be experts at long-distance tracking, another might claim to be the best of the big game hunters, or the most skilled spear throwers. While they often define themselves as hunters first, they cultivate many skills in order to remain autonomous nomads. From toddlers to elders, everyone contributes by crafting tools, processing carcasses, cooking, repairing and so on. Some clans claim a long history, but any orc with a vision and some followers can start their own clan.
The Ways of Iron and Bone
Orcs are often separated into two categories: the Steppe Orcs, those who remained faithful to the Way of Bone, and the Mountain Orcs, those who followed the Way of Iron. Steppe Orcs often wear little clothing, carry bone and wood amulets and jewellery, and have elaborate tattoos. They pride themselves on their capacities as predators and their attunement to nature. Mountain Orcs wear metal armour, often salvaged since they don’t control the Dwarven forges anymore. They carry gold and other jewels as a show of wealth and status and tend to reside in stone buildings. Many of them do not have a lot of crafting knowledge, so they resort to looting other civilisations or associating with them. They see themselves as conquerors, temporarily embarrassed but destined to rule over empires.
The line between Steppe Orcs and Mountain Orcs is blurry. Some Steppe Orcs still have reverence for some of the teachings of the Way of Iron and will appreciate metal weapons or trinkets, and some Mountain Orcs have renounced their conquering ways and are on a path back towards the traditional lifestyle of their people. Some clans are hardliners and completely denounce the other Way, refusing to adopt any aspect of either Bone or Iron. Some clans, out of conviction or circumstance, are a mix of Steppe and Mountain Orcs with varying degrees of faith. This rivalry is a major cause of conflict within the species, but it still comes down to individual clans.
Memories of the Iron Empire
Many in Orc society remain bitter over the causes and consequences of the Way of Iron's defeat and the loss of their empire in the Dwarfholds. Those who have embraced the old ways claim the fall of the Empire proves that only the Way of Bone can keep their people strong. Tales circulate about the Rift being a punishment caused by the Orcs straying from their rightful path. There are also visionaries who wish to revive the Way of Iron, believing they might escape the mistakes of their ancestors. While some Orcs believe that the prophets of Iron were fools, delusional Orcs who refused their true nature, others believe that the followers’ Way of Iron will have another chance. No matter their personal beliefs, the fall of the Iron Empire has left a mark upon every Orc.
Proud Warriors
Orcs have a reputation of impulsivity that is partly earned. They are often prompt to anger, but forgive easily. Valuing strength over wealth, their judicial system relies heavily on ritual duels, with many rules, exceptions and conditions. They believe one’s conduct should reflect one’s values and are quick to challenge perceived hypocrisy. They appreciate drama and often break into theatrics, whether they are haggling, taunting an enemy in battle, or recounting their high deeds around the campfire. They are violent but not particularly cruel; they rarely attack civilians and take decent care of their prisoners. Rather than worrying about survivors coming back for revenge, they see it as a welcome challenge and a reminder to stay sharp. They do not see fleeing as dishonourable, as a useless death is an insult to the Way they follow.
The Role of Gods
Differing from many sentient species, Orcs do not adhere to a specific religion or pantheon. An Orc is free to worship any God as long as it doesn’t come between them or their clan. It is not rare to see a group of Orc warriors wearing amulets praising several Gods. They tend to see Gods as helpful spirits that can help them achieve their goal, but should not become dominating patrons. They are often puzzled by the blind devotion that many other species manifest towards their deities.
