Tale-spinners in taverns across Jemmora will tell stories of frightening warriors from treacherous lands. Descended directly from Norn himself, orcs embody his strength and rage. They seek to conquer civilized lands with their hordes and pillage the countryside in the name of dark vengeance. Their evil and hatred knows no bounds, and enjoy eating their enemies while still alive.
These tales, however, couldn’t be further from the truth.
Feared and Misunderstood
Orcs have an undeserved reputation as bloodthirsty savages due to adventurers exaggerating their own exploits. In truth, orcs live similar lives to most folks in Jemmora – at work, at play, and at rest. Clans know how outsiders view them – some hide to avoid contact, while others make grand gestures of friendships.
While it’s true that Norn created the orcs, they otherwise have no special bond with the god of vengeance. Most clans have shamans that appeal to local nature spirits for guidance and protection through ritual songs. Occasionally, families make offerings to the gods at personal shrines within their homes.
Rhythms of the Heart
One common thread in orc society is a passion of the heart – orcish music, dance, and expression focus on rhythm. Orcs have especially strong hearts, and regard the heartbeat as an important symbol in life. Although the various clans produce written works, orcs have an incredibly rich oral history told in song. Bardic colleges offer several courses on orcish song and dance to help students develop a sense of rhythm and memory.
Many orc storytellers are particularly fond of stories about love. Some boast they know 1,001 stories of all kinds of love, and orcish authors penned the most popular romance novels.
Smoked Provisions
Another staple of orcish life is that of smoked food. It is difficult to preserve food in humid climates like the Wyldlands, so the orcs devised the process of smoking food. Orcish smokehouses are sometimes connected to forges for efficient use of space and to add unusual flavors to the food. Pigs and boar are often primary sources of protein, and orc smokehouses produce the finest bacon and ham.
Orcish trail rations usually consist of smoked bacon or ham, hard cheese, and chips made from dried fruit.
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