Orcs of Sojourn

Orc (Also known as a plains orc)  
The most common and readily known of the orc breeds, at first glance there is not much to say about the most common of orc kind. They’re big, mean, green, smelly, savage and monstrously strong. This is the most common image, and for the most part it is wholly justified. What most don’t seem to consider about the orcs is their survivability and widespread nature. Though primarily plains dwellers, in truth orcs live in any area they CAN live, often in places where other races can’t or won’t live. Despite there being more specialized breeds of orcs around, in truth the common Orc is EVERYWHERE save for the ocean and sky. Primarily dwelling in semi-nomadic tribes, these dangerous beings are to never be underestimated. More then one elvish and dwarven kingdom met its end at the blades of the orcs, and it wasn’t dumb luck that enabled them to triumph…

Grey Orc (Note: Not to be confused with the grey orcs of the forgotten realms)
Orcs are the masters of brute force tactics and berserker fury. When one fights orcs, one can always expect to face your opponent from the front. To those used to fighting greenskin orcs, grey orcs come as a nasty surprise. The grey orcs would rather not face a foe in the open; they’d much rather sneak into an enemy encampment and ambush their enemies, or pick them off from afar, or poison them. Leaner and smaller then their common cousins, the grey orcs are weaker but more agile then their larger cousins. While almost all orc breeds are suited for living underground, grey orcs are the one breed that is truly adapted to such living, possessing the greatest night vision out of all the breeds… consequently, they are almost totally blind in daylight. Whereas plains orcs are berserkers and warriors, grey orcs are thieves and assassins, using stealth and silence to their advantage in a conflict. These exclusively underdark dwelling orcs are the bane of drow and duergar merchant caravans, and are frequently in conflict with these two species, both of whom are viewed as intruders; grey orcs lived in the underdark long before drow or duergar came into the picture. Grey orcs only come to the surface at nighttime to perform raids against surface dwellers, terrifying orgies of blood and destruction that rival any plains orc raid. Grey orcs worship Shargaas instead of Gruumsh. Due to their slight frames and sneaky dispositions, grey orcs are sometimes called “goblin orcs” by other orc breeds; an insult the greys simply cannot stand.

Mountain Orcs (Note: Again, not to be confused with orcs of the same name living in Faerun)
Discipline. Strategy. Planning. These words are often foreign to the orcish mindset. But not to the terrifying orcs who dwell exclusively upon the mountains. Mountain orcs physically are no different from their plains orc cousins, however in terms of intellect they are VERY different, being smarter and more charismatic then the majority of orc kind. The mountain orcs are all members of a strict, regimented and highly militaristic society not unlike that of the hobgoblins. Whereas the average orc horde is just that, a screaming horde, a mountain orc army is an entirely different beast, one that plans and observes then strikes with blinding ferocity. The mountain orcs are a settled people, living in their vast fortified mountain strongholds, from where they head down to the lowlands to commit their raids. Despite the despotic nature of the their society, mountain orcs possess the most advanced society out of all the orcs, as well as an appreciation for the finer things in life usually lost to most other orcs. Though physically identical to their less intelligent kin, the best way to tell the difference between a plains orc and a mountain or is in grooming and the maintenance of equipment; mountain orcs tend to be impeccably groom and their weaponry and armor well kept, as opposed to the less then diligent outlook on cleanliness showed by plains orcs. Mountain orcs, unlike most other orc breeds, are also willing to do trade with their neighbors, and are run by a brutal code of honor and conduct that NONE may break. Mountain orc cities are run by nobles of great martial and tactical skill, though curiously they are known by the tribal title of “Chieftain”. Unlike plains orcs, mountain orc females have a chance of advancing into positions of leadership through legitimate means.

Desert Orcs
The desert orcs are the descendants of a large group of orcs who headed out into the desert regions, seeking new lands to conquer and pillage. What happened however was quite the opposite; in order to survive the new lands, these orcs adapted new lifestyles to better suit themselves in the harsh lands. It was through this way that the desert orcs learnt it was better to cooperate with other races rather then antagonize them. The desert rocs are a nomadic people who constantly travel across the great deserts, looking for whatever patch of green or puddle of water they can to raise their herds of camels, for food, clothing, and transport. The deeply spiritual desert orcs long ago forsook the teachings of Gruumsh, instead practicing the worship of their ancestor-god Baltoril. Desert orcs are physically the toughest and hardiest of the orcs, able to go days without water and expose themselves to great amounts of heat without any discomfort. Desert orcs for the most part look like plains orcs save for some key differences; for one thing, their skin is orange and for another their hair is a sun-bleached color that can range from blonde to white. The desert orcs have long abandoned their grudge against elfkind, living and trading peacefully with the desert elves living alongside with them as well as the other similarly civilized races. However, their relationship with the rapacious wasteland dwarves is nowhere near as idyllic, and the desert orcs fight frequently and fiercely with these fierce raiders. Due to their habit of herding camels and their own abilities, desert orcs have earned the rather derogatory nickname of “camel orcs”, which a desert orc considers a personal insult worthy of death.

Frost Orcs
The blue skinned, white furred orcs of the far north are settle people who have given up the warrior’s life to herd cattle… but up in the far north, this profession is little different from a warrior’s lot in life. Because they possess what others want, Frost Orcs have become frequent victims of raiding from their neighbors, and as such have developed into a highly xenophobic and paranoid people. While not necessarily evil, frost orcs never take chances with strangers, and as such will raid settlements on the mere suspicion that one day that settlement would one day lash out against them. However, frost orcs are not savages, and do not do more damage then what is absolutely necessary. Because they live out in the open, amidst the fierce snows and blizzards, they have the weakest night vision out of all the orcs, being able to see far only in starlight. However, their thick fur not only protects them from the cold, but also makes superb natural armor. A frost orc looks like a regular orc, but is covered in thick white fur that covers the arms, legs, body and head, but not the face, hands, feet, chest or ears, giving them the appearance of great white snow apes. While they still feud with the dwarves living in the frozen lands, frost orcs are far more concerned about the machinations of the highly militaristic and aggressive frost elves, who find it fashionable to hunt, kill, and skin a frost orc as a show of strength. On more then one occasion have the frost orcs and glacial dwarves united against this common threat, amongst others in the cold lands. They worship their own deity, Huruk.

Forest Orcs
Orcs suffer from a cursed, rather unfair stereotype of having piglike faces… that is, it is an unfair stereotype in most cases. Not in the case of the exclusively woodland dwelling orcs. These orcs not only posses a nose resembling that of a pigs, but also sharper and more pronounced ears, providing them with the sharpest overall senses out of all the orcs. Despite living in forests, these orcs are not especially reverent of nature, no more then their plains dwelling cousins. As such they are regarded as a major threat to the forest by other, more respectful creatures that are unfortunate enough to share a forest with forest orcs. Forest orcs and plains orcs are frequently mistaken for one another, due to the fact that most don’t separate from the fact that plains orcs live anywhere whereas forest orcs live EXCLUSIVELY in the forest. Their sense of smell is especially powerful, comparable to that of a bear’s sense of smell. As such, ALL forest orcs are superb trackers, as well as being extremely sensitive about offensive odors. They have an especial hatred for wood elves, and treat forest gnomes as a delicacy.

Jungle Orcs
The greatest irony is that the largest and strongest of the orc breeds, is also the kindest and gentlest. Standing in at well over seven feet, the reclusive and peaceful jungle orcs are nothing like their relatives. These enormously strong beings live in harmony and balance with the environment around them, leading gentle lives marred only by the needs of survival. Jungle orcs have a mottle kind of deep green skin that enables them to camouflage expertly within their jungle homes, and even more miraculously display a number of spell like abilities, including the ability to summon lights and walk without leaving footprints. The druidic arts is common among these orcs, as they worship nature itself as an expression of divinity. However, they are also the least technologically advanced orc race, using weapons armor and tools made from bone, stone, wood, and whatever else might be useful at a time. Jungle orcs hate conflict, and when faced with intruders tend to flee and hide, which their abilities allow them to do expertly in spite of their size. When forced to fight, Jungle orcs make great use of blow guns that fire darts covered in sleep inducing venom. Despite their gentleness, it is never wise to enrage a jungle orc tribe, for they become extremely fierce when provoked. Having never seen elves or dwarves, they do not know what they are and as such treat them with more curiosity then raw hatred.