Or'Tesh (High Orc)
Tel’Vania Race Packet:
The High Orcs or Or’Tesh of Tel’Vania inhabit the brackish swampland known as The Bloodmoors, located in the North West of Tel’Vania, neighboring the Sylvanborn to the South and the Dwarves to the East. Their capital city of Thra'kar called The Jewel of the Bloodmoors or The Floating City is a hub of trade and naval power on the western coast of Tel’Vania. The Or’Tesh along with the Hophium control 85% of all naval trade on the western coast of Tel’vania.
The Or’Tesh are organized into two main clans (Iron Spirit Armada ,Shining Tooth clan)with a few outliers, smaller clans, and rough bands of Orcs who have set out on their own over the years, due to either hardship or quarrel.
One of the oldest clans of Or’Tesh are the Iron Spirit Armada. They call Thra'kar home, they are the largest and the tightest knit group of Or’Tesh in Tel’Vania with a deep rooted history and culture.
The Shining Tooth is another clan that has been around awhile but seems to have younger members. The Shining Tooth clan is run by Chief Silvertooth Burning-Blade, a rough around the edges Or’Tesh with a fiery temper. They call Om’Rath home. Om’Rath is also called The Silent City.
The Or’Tesh diet consists of anything really. If it's edible and they're hungry they'll eat it. Or’Tesh are tougher than your average adventurer and almost always have some sort of fighter skills. Except for the few of them who are ranked Wardrum they are the mages amongst the Or’Tesh at sea.
Or’Tesh enjoy being bossy, loud, outspoken, picking fights and don’t have the patience for being proper like the Elves. It is their nature to express great strength and show all of those around them just how powerful they are. They tend to be rather blunt, and rarely do you find an Or’Tesh to be shy or soft-spoken. Tactfulness is not a quality known among high orcs. Although they may not mean to be disrespectful, their society and culture often make etiquette a foreign concept. Or’Tesh tend to love battle and will prefer battle,death, and glory rather than to surrender. Once they develop a not-too-involved plan, they usually stick to it unless modified by a higher ranked member.
Or’Tesh tend to listen carefully and give respect to higher ranking clan members. Curiosity is also a large part of the high orc’s nature. A high orc may interrupt a conversation, no matter how important, just for the sake of understanding what a word means. The high orc society is clan-based, where families and blood relations are regarded as most important. Individual high orcs may leave the family to adventure with other races in order to establish glory and a name for themselves or even create a new clan.
Orcs and Ogres are often found near each other whether it be fighting side by side as friends or as mortal enemies. Orcs and Ogres approach each other for the first time with great caution, sizing each other up at first reading any identifying features, badges, or signs then are greeted with either a deep handshake or sword to sword combat.
When one Or’Tesh meets another, generally they greet each other warmly. High orcs realize that they are a rarity and might not see this person in the morning after a battle and feel that they must make good with all their kind. It is not unusual, after only ten minutes, for two high orcs that have just met to behave as if they are old friends. Depending on a character’s personality, a clannad Or’Tesh would either show an unclanned high orc pity (they were raised without the advantages and knowledge of clan life) or with indifference (they have no clan and, therefore, are nothing). Unclanned high orcs, on the other hand, would either regard their brethren with suspicion (those monsters from the hills) or curiosity (they are my people). Most likely they would seek out friendship with their kindred.
Some of the great wars and pivotal history of the Or’Tesh are:
The Burning Plains War happened before the cataclysm but is still fresh on some of the minds of the Stry’riss and U’grah. The Or’Tesh set fire to the plains of the Stry’riss destroying much needed farmland of the Stry’riss and affected trade and much needed food of the U’grah. In retaliation the U’grah and Stry’riss fought with the Or’Tesh for many years. Decimating the number of U’grah.
The Siege of Fallen Ash is another historical battle against The Dorn from the Or’Tesh. This Battle however the Or’Tesh don't speak of because they gravely underestimated the power and the reach of The Dorn. The Dorn owed payment to the Or’Tesh for services rendered and refused to pay the interest added. So the Or’Tesh laid siege to The port of Cinderspire. After almost a year of siege, The Dorn devised a plan to decimate the fleet with no chance of escape and no chance of return. Many Dwarven lava-smiths worked for months and directed the flow of lava underneath the chokehold point in the bay. One day when the entire Or’Tesh fleet gathered at the chokehold to regroup for one massive assault. That is when the Dorn decided to attack, with one strike from a lava-smiths hammer the large obsidian stone cork broke and like a shaken up bottle of champagne exploded. For miles around you could hear the rushing lava flow from underground. which released a massive spout of lava underneath the Or’Tesh fleet. Every ship was covered in the molten hot magma burning and sinking into the abyss of the bay, No one survived. The magma flow was so great it created a small island. That island to this day is called Rage’s Rest, the day The Dorn laid the Or’Tesh rage to rest.
The Or’Tesh of Tel'Vania follow a hierarchy unless they are an unclanned orc. Which is a rare occurrence and frowned upon amongst fellow Orcs. The ranks are as follows:
Main citys in the Bloodmoors are called Thra'kar or “The Floating City” and Om’Rath or “The Silent City”.
Land - Clan Ranks
Chieftain – The leader of the clan and the one who has the last word in everything.
Council – The Council is two-four individuals who aids the Chieftain in leading the clan towards Honor and Glory.
Champion - The Champion a single individual chosen each tusk moot in the clan tournament. All clan members may be a part of this tournament and prove themself for this rank. If they lose the rank, they will become an warrior once again (Unless they were a Raider or Spiritrunner)
Raider – The rank concerning the elitist of the clan, the melee combatants who have proven themself worthy to become the face of the clan when in melee combat.
Spiritrunner – The rank concerning the elitist of the clan, the elemental combatants and healers who have proven themself worthy of becoming the face of the clan.
Warriors – This rank is for those who have proven themself worthy of becoming a full-fledged member of the clan. They have proven that they have the mindset to progress in the clan, the mindset to become a part of the clan.
Clan Member - This rank is given to the civilisation of the clan on land, meaning Cooks, Blacksmiths, etc.
New Blood – This rank is for those who are new to the clan, they have been Icly interviewed and now only seek to deem themself worthy of becoming an Warrior.
Sea - Clan Ranks:
Commodore - Chief – The leader of the clan at sea and the one who has the last word in everything. Controls multiple ships.
Council - Captain – The Council of Captains (as a collective) or Captain is generally one individual per ship who aids the Commodore Chieftain in leading the sea clan towards Honor and Glory.
Quartermaster - Scribe controls the finances of the ship and judges breaches in contract. This individual is also in charge of the cargo.
Mercenary - Champion - The Champion a single individual chosen each tusk moot in the Clan Tournament. All clan members may be a part of this tournament and prove themselves for this rank. If they lose the rank, they will become a Warrior once again (Unless they were a Silent Raider or a Wardrum)
Silent Raider – This rank to be given command of a raiding ship. They consist of the melee combatants who have proven themself worthy to become the quiet knife in the dark or a strong back for the clan when the need arises.
Wardrum – Drummer mages of the fleets of Or’Tesh sailors. The rank concerning the elitist of the clan, the magical combatants who have proven themself worthy to elevate out of manual labor they learn spells either to harm their enemies or motivate their allies. (healing magic is taboo amongst the High Orcs and reads as weakness that one would require healing.)
Warriors – This rank is for those who have proven themself worthy of becoming a full-fledged member of the clan. They have proven that they have the mindset to progress in the clan, the mindset to become a part of the clan.
Seamen - This rank is given to the civilisation of the clan at sea, meaning Cooks,, deckhands, Rowers, etc.
New Blood – This rank is for those who are new to the Clan, they have been Icly interviewed and now only seek to deem themself worthy of becoming an Warrior.
Or’Tesh requirements: Or’Tesh have many shades of green to dark green skin and protruding lower tusks. High Orcs must pay double for Read Magic.The extra cost for Read Magic represents the extra time a High Orc must spend in order to comprehend scholarly subjects such as reading and skills that rely on reading. Remember though, once the skill is bought you are just as educated as the next person that has that skill. All High Orcs have a natural talent for learning weaponry, and may purchase all weapon skills at half cost (rounding up). They can also purchase resist poison and racial resolute.