Monster Essays: Orcs

Another one of these popular little shorties! Orcs are next, as seen in Orc Dates and a few other background roles. I think they’ve been around since basically the beginning, but usually the default jocks and bouncers. I got into why they’d be that way, and being biological fighters and wanderers added up to a kind of muscular ADHD. It was just the twist I wanted, and gave orcs the fun quirks of carrying office toys or trinkets to fiddle with to keep themselves calm.

I’m not sure how soon I’ll have the next one out. Minotaurs are next in mind, and kind of settling on a few things for them, but shouldn’t take long.

Dylan Eywind

History of Interspecies Relations II

Warrior Culture. The History of Orcs

**A. Surprisingly insightful. Very strong start and finish.**

If goblins were evolved to survive, orcs were evolved to fight.

Orcs are green to brown humanoids often compared to larger goblins. While they share similar skin and hair tones, the resemblance tends to end there. Orcs have unique metabolisms that focus on producing large amounts of muscle. This gives them a distinctly bulky and intimidating build, standing around 6’6” to 7 feet tall. Their teeth and jaws are thicker than other races, supporting a pair of deeply rooted tusks. These are presumed to be evolutionary traits for breaking bones to satisfy their natural urge for meat. Orcs are thick-skinned with dense bone structures, and while they lack the healing abilities of a goblin, they are more resistant to damage in the first place. 

Between their highly athletic anatomy, tolerance for pain and nomadic nature as an early culture, orcs are famously known for their need for activity. This instinct has been compared to ADHD or an intense twitch, where orcs must maintain some level of energy output. The earliest orcs traveled, hunted and had scarce few actual villages, so sitting in one place is a biological warning flag to their brains.

This was considered the main cause for what was known in history as The Agrak Conflict. Humans and orcs had little contact, with orcs remaining a relatively low-tech culture. They traditionally avoided humanity until the resources of other species lead to their discovery in European valleys. The tribe was contacted by human diplomats who offered cooperation between the species. The orcs were open-minded at first, but as humans explained themselves over several hours the orc leaders grew uneasy. They erupted in violence, slaughtering the diplomats and their guards in mid-sentence. The British government deployed armed forces to counterattack, leading to the first official interspecies conflict. Named after the chief that led the initial attack, Agrak’s tribe entered a series of guerilla fighting until their chief was killed. After a few more days of fighting, the orcs surrendered and were taken into custody.

Even while most appeared remorseful if not upset by the battle, they were all prone to bouts of aggression and violence. Experiments with medication proved fruitless in controlling their rage given their hardy nature. One fateful day, a researcher sarcastically gave an orc a stress ball. The female orc took to it quickly, and tests found that so long as she used it or even had it handy, her aggressive behavior was almost non-existent. Testing finally pinpointed the problem as the orcish need to move in some capacity, with even the most basic of activity satisfying this need. Orcs were gradually incorporated into society while introducing them to such items. To this day, most orcs make use of stress balls, fidget spinners, Rubix cubes, empty lighters, mobile games, or something to keep their hands busy to regulate their behavior. 

Despite their rocky start, orcs quickly became a valued part of society. They are among the strongest creatures known to date, generally only rivaled by ogres, cyclopses, and minotaurs. Orcs are more prone to athletic pursuits, as they are more lightweight and maneuverable than these stronger races. Their strong sense of kinship makes them often valued for bodyguards and team projects, but orcs are also making their way into conventional office jobs with their behavior kept in check.

With their freshly tribal roots and resistance to injury, orcs are very fond of physical interactions. They are used to close contact with casual friends, making them prone to handshakes, hugs, hi-fives, wrestling, headbutts and other contact with little to no provocation. More intimate gestures are often used to show deeper affection, often before verbal indications. For example, “lockweight” is meant as a sign of being deeply engaged in a conversation. This is when an orc places their foot on top of another person’s, “locking” them into the discussion as an early sign of commitment. Thankfully, orcs were quick to learn that humans and most of the other races were more fragile than they were and tend to adjust these interactions accordingly.

It has also been found that orc sexuality tied in closely to their urge for activity. Sex is obviously required for their species to procreate, so this qualifies as activity enough for them to remain relatively still. They proved relatively similar to humans, but like goblins, they have relatively low odds of interbreeding. The main issue remains that orcs are naturally competitive and physical to begin with, so most species can expect a few bruises from the process. A properly aroused orc can be expected to pull hair, spank, squeeze, or outright wrestle with lovers, ingrained shows of strength and status from their more primitive culture. The experience excites them on several subliminal levels and can be difficult for an orc to overcome. 

Naturally, some experiments with bondage have been attempted, but this was met with mixed results. The experience can excite them to feel so relatively helpless and stuck, in a way not unlike light S&M or humiliation can arouse most creatures. The main issue arises in that this will eventually trigger their instincts to move and lash out, essentially going berserk in the bedroom. If the ties are not strong enough to properly contain them, and bumps and bruises may escalate to bloodshed and cracked bones as their enthusiasm and instincts peak. Deaths from such occasions are extremely rare, but result in more than a few hospital visits when unprepared lovers get kinky.

Overall, orcs are valued members of society and shining examples of communication and hardships overcome. Even with a race built for travel and combat, urban lifestyles and modern day magic can make even the most anxious and primal species feel comfortable. It is with this persisting mindset that we can hope to serve as proper hosts to orcs, half-orcs, dragons and whatever else may come bubbling to the surface alongside the mermaids and dwarves.