The orcs

[Scorchys]

The Urtasz

General Lore

Unlike many races of Shinma, the Orcs, or Urtasz in their language, lived across the great ocean on the same continent as the dwarves and Kuokazo. Despite their continuous attempts at civilizing and growing on their own, their brutal tactics, general lower intelligence and macabre culture they were looked down upon by those of Kuokazo and dwarves. Suffering constant attacks from the earliest days of Ryukyu citizens as well as the holy Dwarven empire, the orcs continued to suffer brutal attacks and had little to no arable land, leaving them with only raiding and attacking others, stealing, to survive. One of Ramfiaus’s followers, Lucifugo, taught the orcs the art of using the leylines to power their magical abilities allowing them to fight against the other races on more even ground.

Despite this knowledge, the Great War was not limited merely to the continent of Shinma and the Urtasz suffered even more at the battle against the Napishtim. Their many separated compounds were outnumbered and even the largest city, Urtzo, was destroyed by the advanced technology of the winged evil. As the angelic beings finally retreated, with their losses mounting, the orcs built large ships upon the beaches and mounted a final, desperate, exodus from the lands that they had called home.

Unfortunately, on the other continent, they quickly found that much of the land had already been claimed and taken by the humans and elves of the continent. Despite this, the orcs decided to try and build their brand new homeland in this new land. They quickly found themselves, again, under attack by the humans and elves, along with several different groups of dwarves. Once more they found themselves raiding and warring with many to try and stake their claim. In this new land, though, they did find that there were several caves and even abandoned holds that dwarves had left behind and more than enough nooks and crannies for them to stake their own claim and survive.

Still the urtasz have now fought their way to be considered a powerful thread within the land of Shinma and oftentimes threaten the land of Tohoku. The powers of the Orc are such that, were they to ever actually unify, then they would become a people as frighteningly expansive as the humans.



Recognizable features include their distinct skin color, large size, and often front facing lower jaw, complete with tusks that will curl over the upper lip. Although seen less among females, many will still have the gnarled teeth peeking above their lower lip. Otherwise their skin color ranges from a light green to a dark brown with no real rhyme or reason behind the colorization. It is not distinct to a region, nor is it a product of adapting to certain climates or exposure to the sun. A green Orc mother could give birth to a brown or green skinned young.

[Scorchys]

Half Orc


Not all unions are forged in the flames of passion and love. Some are wrought from barbarism and savagery, and a half-orc is the result from mixing Humans and Orcs. Because of the latter's primitive and evil ways, half-orcs are considered to be monsters or filthy beasts by all but the most tolerant of societies, a misunderstanding that usually results in poor treatment and then the resulting backlash, serving to reinforce the stereotype when a victim of ostracizing fights back.

Although they appear quite similar to orcs, there are key differences to set them apart. Perhaps the most obvious is their propensity towards wearing appropriate clothing and acting as civil as possible. Any half-orc with intentions of interacting with society is quick to dress and act in accordance to urban environments, as even though they might gain ire and sneers, it's better than being outright misplaced and hunted on sight. Otherwise their brow ridge is less pronounced, and by proxy their gaze softened. Many take care of their hair and style it as a human would. Like an orc, however, their skin hue varies between greens, browns, and even grays, and with their larger, more bulkier appearance it makes sense why they would be confused for their barbaric cousins. Although they would rarely be sited as attractive, like humans they can vary in appearance and some do strike a lovely image.

More than most other races, half-orcs understand solitude at the hands of alienation. A victim of misunderstanding, they are attributed as orcs most of the time, and in the best cases are demoted to being appreciated for what they can offer rather than who they are. For example, a half-orc may be known in town as 'that dirt, green guy who can fix a broken shovel' and that's as close to a compliment and recognition as they might receive. Many other villagers are more likely to see them as a nuisance and a timebomb just waiting to detonate. Orc societies are not much better, as while half-orcs are strong and bulkier than humans, they seem physically weaker than orcs...an attribute that leads to plenty of bullying and abuse. A half-orc that tries to stick around an orc camp may overcompensate with hulking armor or ritual scarring to try and prove their worth. It is this suspicion and foul treatment that often forces half-orcs to strike out into the world to prove themselves, either as strong enough (or stronger) than an orc, or civil and righteous enough to be considered a human.


Half-orc adventurers are usually forged out of necessity rather than want. An outburst after being verbally pushed around by a shopkeep may find themselves exiled from their home, forced to find their way. Alternatively, an orc tribe may find the half-orc pathetic and weak and outright attack them until they flee and are set out onto the world to fend for themselves. Even in the best and most tolerant societies, half-orcs may still feel that innate insecurity that they do not belong, and will adventure out to prove themselves not just to the world, but to themselves.