Orc

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Druids of the Ancient World

Once Fey creatures themselves, Orcs left the Fey world for good to protect the mortal realms from the chaotic evils of the elementals. Orcs had ancient Druidic circles before magic was gifted to Kith. They channeled energy from the Fey world, or tapped into the primordial elementals for their powers. Some believe that the Dragon Gods were only able to create the world they wanted because Orcs were there to keep the unspoken evils of the Dark Powers at bay.

Many ancient Orc civilizations worshiped the Dragon Gods even after their absence post-Rage of Demons. Ancient rulers of long forgotten civilizations claimed to be direct descendants of the Dragon Gods to solidify their claims.

The Walk of Fire and the Creation of Goblinfolk

When the Dragon Gods created their own species to worship them, Tiamat, the Queen of Greed, tempted many of the Druidic circles into the newly created underground with powerful magic. When they came out hundreds of years later, they did not leave alone nor unchanged: much of the knowledge from their Druidic history was forgotten, and some of them had come out as Goblinfolk.

Warriors of the Mortal World

In the Rage of Demons, Orcs filled the front lines of battle. Many saw it as a chance to return to their Druidic roots of protecting the world from unspeakable horrors. Tragically, they were rewarded for their bravery with a terrible, engineered plague.

The Stone Plague

This curse has destroyed what Orcs had before the Rage. As the world's natural response against evils that threaten it, the birthrate of Orcs would change to account for times of peace or war. The Stone Plague, created hundreds of years ago after the Rage of Demons ended, makes many Orcs infertile. Without the Plague, Orcs would be as common throughout the lands as Humans, Dwarves, and Elves. Now, they're much smaller in number most anywhere in Aeries.

The wisest Orcs of the most ancient Druidic Circles say that this is the first of many omens of doom, for it is foretold that when the Orcs are weak, the world itself is weak. Cures to this plague have been searched for since it's early days, but arcane scholars - often with the backing of state funding - work on constantly changing and adapting the Plague's workings.

Clans

Orcs are defined by the Clan they can trace their history back to. Clans are different from tribes, with clans acting as a larger umbrella that connects several tribes. For example, there are many Orc tribes in the Sword Mountains, often in conflict with one another. However, they are still all under the same clan - the Snowstep clan.

• Snowstep Orc - Hardened by their harsh mountainous homes, Snowstep Orcs are known for their ferocity in battle, sturdy constitution, and frequent raids across the Sword Coast.
  

If you play an Orc,

You might...

Take great pride in the deeds of your ancestors, or Orc people as a whole.

Decorate your tusks to represent your family, occupation, or social status.

Find a death at the hands of a powerful adversary more comforting than a peaceful death of old age.

Others probably...

Fear or admire your strength and bravery, or expect you to be strong and brave.

Notice your physical achievements more often than mental ones.

Value your camaraderie and loyalty in tough situations.