Lore24 Jan 26: Peoples pt. 1: Orcs

There are a multitude of different peoples in the known world. Most are quite similar, sharing a basic bodyplan of one head, two arms and two legs, but some can be quite different. In the age of great empires one could travel and trade all over the world, so it’s no wonder that all kinds of people exist basically everywhere. It is true, however that certain peoples are more numerous in certain parts of the world. Of course people aren’t a monolith, and even among, say the orcs, there are multiple ethnic groups, different languages, and multiple kingdoms, each with their own history, friends, foes and agendas. And of course an orc living in Nashat-Ippur will have more in common with their bronze elf neighbors than with their kin living on the western islands. The following are just some of the various peoples one can meet.

Orcs are thought to be masters of combat, on account of having four arms and fearsome tusks. This allows them to fire two bows, if rather inaccurately, to wield a shield and three spears while on foot, or to drive a chariot while shooting arrows. Orcs are said to be the best charioteers, and a lot of them are quite good sailors as well. Their skin colors range from dark olives to vibrant greens. They are most numerous to the west, living on rolling grasslands, and small islands on the sea.

Image by Ashere

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Lore24 Jan 1: Nashat-Ippur

Image
  The city of Nashat-Ippur was once a seat of great empire, now after plagues , a volcanic eruption , famine, and rebellion it is a shadow of its former self. The great firestorm burned the docks on the great river Sem, the quaint wooden houses, and the great bazaars. Now in their place stands a ramshackle collection of cheap tents, shacks, and huts inhabited by the ever-growing number of the desolate, hungry and sick. The palaces, temples, and gardens of the old imperial elite still stand in the middle, separated by a great mudbrick wall some ten meters high, from the problems of the lower class. Therein the old aristocracy still pretends at imperial grandeur, though the sources of wealth have dried up, and the great edifices of old have begun to crumble under the pressure of greed, nepotism, and plain old incompetence. As the nobles’ estates crumble, their eyes are ever vigilant for new sources of wealth. Indeed many have their gaze turned onto the sprawling necropolis on the other
Read more

Lore24 Jan 2: The White Lady

Image
The White Lady is one of the hundreds of Underworld deities mentioned in the clay tablets rescued from the ruins of the drowned city of Ab-Cir. She holds the keys to the nine gates of the Underworld, and the souls of the dead are only allowed to leave on her authority. Legends of heroes delving into the Underworld often feature bargaining with or straight-up threatening her to allow for the release of the hero’s loved ones. She is worshiped more out of fear than reverence, as in her displeasure she is wont to unseal the gates of the Underworld, allowing the spirits of the dead and other, even worse creatures to wreak havoc on the mortal world. She may alternatively bar spirits from entering the underworld, rendering the souls of the dead cursed to wander the lands of the living. She is most commonly depicted as a woman wearing a long white dress and a white veil, or as a white snake or sparrow. Her temples are made out of marble where possible, and out of limestone where practical.
Read more

Lore24 Jan 3: Priests, Priestesses, Champions, and Mystics Oh My…

Image
There are many ways for a person to relate to the gods. Most people don’t dedicate themselves to a specific god, but offer sacrifices and prayers to the gods as they relate to what’s happening in their lives. If you are building a house, you might go to the temple of Atarash, the Scorching Flame and pray for him to help you get the mudbricks right, and offer a sacrifice so that he doesn’t burn down the house once it’s built. You might also stop by the temple of Moss-Covered Nir of the Woods and promise burn some expensive incense in their name if the cedar trees you want to use for the roof are of excellent quality. When going fishing, you probably say a prayer to Brilliant-Scaled Esir, so that she sends some of her children to your net, and when a family member dies, you take a white goat to the temple of the White Lady and ask her to grant easy passage to the Underworld. A person might also join the clergy of a specific god of goddess, becoming a priest or priestess. Usually god
Read more