# Orcs of Raak'war ## History ... ## Government The orcs do not have a central government. There is occasionally one orc who claims to be the King Chief, and by virtue of claiming that title they could claim dominion over other warbands not currently under contract, but the need for such a figure is exceedingly rare, the privilege of such a title is fleeting, and the risks of claiming such a title are great. The functional rulership of the Orcs has two elements. The first are the warbands. There are thousands of warbands scattered across Temnia. Some are a meager collection of a few families, other are legions of ten thousand or more. Size varies so greatly because each chief has a different idea of how to balance the work available with the needs of their people. Large warbands can collect on lucrative contracts, but smaller bands find work more often and need less food to continue on. Within the warband, the contract is king, and behind that is the Band Chief. Band chiefs are chosen by kraal eshten gruuphsk, the right of strength. Any member of the band can challenge the chief for rulership, but making such a challenge put their own life at risk. Band Chiefs are immune from challenges while they are under contract, so that the terms of the contract are maintained. Chiefs have different titles and organization methods for their band, typically a number of sub-chiefs to command smaller segments of the force, an emissary to liaise between the band and the client, and a camp chief to ensure that the ancillary needs of band are attended to. However, each band has one honored position in common: the attestant. It is the attestant who keeps the contract, ensures payment is rendered, and records the actions and history of their band. Should their band fall, it is the writer who returns to Raa’kwar to ensure that his band’s memory is retained within the annals. Orc attestants can be picked out by their clean shaven heads. Orcs will not raise a weapon to an attestant (even on a direct order of a client), nor will an attestant pick up a weapon (even if his live is in peril). If one happens to die, the chief immediately picks out a new one, who then forevermore retains that title. Most warbands also have a Regaler, who spreads the history of the orcs to their warband. Through the power of those stories they can channel the essence of Kana’an, the unborn god. Regalers, typically serve the chief as an advisor, but that station is at the chief’s discretion, it is not a position owed to the Regaler. The second element is the gathering at Raa’kwar. Those who are unable to fight in a warband live at the gathering. They raise young, work the mines and forges, build and repair ships, and perform the various tasks needed to allow warbands to earn food for them. The gathering is lead by the keeper of the annals, who is known simply as the Keeper. Those who work directly beneath the Keeper are the Audients. Most Audients are assigned to work within the annals, but a handful are sent out to aid in the Keeper’s other duties. In addition to curating the annals, the Keeper is responsible for coordinating contracts that involve two or more warbands, and he is responsible for the maintenance of Raa’kwar and the domestic orcs that live there. The Keeper typically has three “delegates” who control each of these spheres separately, though the number of delegates and the level of trust the keeper gives them has varied widely over the years. The keeper signs contracts with a warband or several warbands to maintain civil order and to defend the people should the city or annals ever come under attack, though no one has ever bothered to attack the dead city in all of the recorded history of the orcs. In addition to Audients, keeper oversees the Clerics of Kana’an, who spend their time reading through the annals, learning of the great orcs throughout history. These are known as readers. Readers who have demonstrated sufficient knowledge are permitted to join warbands as a Regaler. Domestic orcs perform much needed services for the warbands, but there is an inherent disdain for those who cannot fight for their people. The most skilled craftsman, the most accomplished builder is much less respected than even the simplest soldier. Much pride is taken from being part of the annals, but even those among the faithful would rather be in a warband rather than languish in Raa’kwar. Some of the more renowned warbands are described below Band of the Red Hand: Made famous by Mok’al the Bloodthirsty, these orcs wear thick leather gloves stained red as their insignia to symbolize the blood of their enemies which covers their hands. While they hold with the beliefs of the modern orc, they channel the rage and lust for destruction that fueled the desires of their ancestors. Band of the Black Tooth: It is believed that the Band of the Black Tooth is the wealthiest of all the orc warbands, for they are the most professional and efficient of all orc soldiers. Students of battlefield tactics, they seek the most straightforward means to accomplishing the goals set out by their employers—while they are not loathe to kill, they would much rather secure a hill or supply route with as few casualties as possible. Band of the Wyvern’s Tail: Known for the poison they extract from the tail of the wyvern, the Band of the Wyvern’s Tail employs subterfuge to accomplish their goals. One of the smaller warbands, their lack of numbers have given them cause to learn methods of guerrilla warfare. Utilizing hit-and-fade tactics and striking from the shadows, the Band of the Wyvern's Tail uses fear and surprise where another warband would use an overwhelming numerical superiority. Band of the Rhino’s Horn: A band of mounted cavalry that ride into battle on the backs of rhinoceri. Nations have been known to hire the Rhino's Horn warband in large-scale engagements, using both the physical qualities of the rhinoceros as well as their intimidating image to keep lines of soldiers from maintaining tight ranks. >[!hidden] >## Geography > >The city of Ra’kwaar lays at the southern edge of the ashfields the Ylvani named “Amelye Tasalaman.” Orcs do not travel very far inland, as the proximity to the ocean is the only thing that makes Ra’kwaar even remotely tolerable, and the few explorers have ventured into the desolate wastes and returned have confirmed that nothing lives there. ## Inhabitants ... ## Society and Culture ... ## Faith and Religion ...