Alpine Orcs

Gunneid sniffed the air. Clean and crisp, just a bit greener than in deep winter. No smell of the mountain goats they’d spotted earlier, but the wind was blowing fast enough to dispel those scents quickly. She scanned the air briefly, making sure it was clear before moving out from the treeline.

The path was blocked by the remains of an avalanche, likely triggered by the bells rung in the spring hunting season — a custom developed to ensure that loose snow pack was dislodged before the mountainsides were teeming with hunters. Across the river a group of the Utami appeared to have brought down their first quarry. Gunneid sighed; it was far too clear a border to try to argue that it’d been taken on orcish lands.

Three short blasts from the longhorn rang out, and Gunneid looked up again. For a moment it almost looked like an eclipse, as a huge perkunas passed in front of the sun, its wings casting a shadow over Gunneid’s position. She looked at the treeline: thirty, forty paces maybe. Too far. Smarter to stay still and hope it hadn’t seen her.

The huge raptor ducked into a dive, wings tucked back behind it. For a moment Gunneid’s heart skipped, but the thunder-hawk arced a few hundred feet off to the side. Right in the direction where the herd had been. Whichever ones it didn’t get would be on the run.

Gunneid sighed again. She wouldn’t have a fresh meal tonight. But at least she wouldn’t be one, either. 

Legend has it that the alpine orcs are descended from a raiding party sent to harass the mountains’ dwarves, who found themselves trapped when the Ravaging began. Taking refuge in the mountains, they have become surprisingly integrated with the remainder of the Burkhdyn culture.

Government

The orcs are fundamentally organized into clans, each of which is ruled by its own chief. These chiefs rule through strength, either personal or by controlling enough warriors to keep threats in check. A strong chief may subjugate neighboring tribes, and on rare occasions a particularly powerful chief may declare themselves the chief of all orcs. Such situations tend to be volatile, rarely outlasting the chief’s personal rule.

Depending on the politics between the clans involved, a chief of several tribes may govern them as friendly equals, working together to dominate rival chiefs. Or they may view some of the tribes as vassal-states, demanding tribute and providing protection in return.

The batya is of paramount importance, but it’s also used as a tool when possible: any hint of intrusion on orcish lands is an opportunity to demand payment from the alleged perpetrators, and any hunting party found outside the limits of the mountains is fair game as a raiding target. The sole exception are the goliaths: the majority of orcish hunting parties give them a wide berth rather than risk antagonizing their much larger neighbors.

Commerce

Like most of the high folk, hunting and gathering are the primary means of survival of the orcs. The Burkhdyn orcs have also had some success domesticating a breed of kernu, the meat of which is a sough-after delicacy, especially by the Iswari.

The orcs are fine leatherworkers: their leather clothes and hats are valued most in colder climes, but orcish-wrought backs and packs, wineskins, tack and harness, whips, shoes, and boots are sought after everywhere. The cautious buyer will limit their purchases to products certified by the exchange in Khuldani Purda (including all exports from that city), as craftwork purchased in the smaller orc villages is often wrought from leather of dubious origin.

Their leather items are often traded with other mountainfolk, often in exchange for woven goods. Their fur hats, both the flapped ushanka and the round papakha, have become fashionable in recent years, spurred on by the international popularity of Yegor Menkhin.

Culture and Entertainment

The orcs of the high mountains are consumate dancers. While most famous for their lively squat-dancing, Yegor’s international success has shown an ability to master all forms of dance with poise and grace. Orcish dance is often accompanied by hand-clapping, bass balalaika rhythms, chant-singing, and tambourine, as well as the drums ubiquitous through Burkhdyn culture.

The carnyx of their Iza Mula ancestors does not appear in the mountains, but a long horn perhaps inspired by it is favored by orcish hunting parties to sound the hunt. These horns are also used by war bands and sounded at funerals.

Orcs favor simple, hearty fare: stews of meat and root vegetables predominate. They have a particular affinity for smoked paprika (imported from Moru Kel), and use it liberally throughout their cuisine. Mushrooms and truffles are also favorites: visitors should be aware that not all varieties of mushroom which are palatable for orcs are safe for consumption by other races.

Orcish wrestling is popular but fairly lacking in skill: a quick, brutal affair, they will happily take any advantage. Gouging at eyes, dislocation of joints, throwing of sand in the eyes, and biting are all commonplace. Visitors should refrain from joining in unless they are willing to take the risk of permanent injury.

Orcs do enjoy playing at tusks, and are surprisingly fair gamers.

Kumis, mead, and whisky are all popular in orcish villages, but their signature liquor is a slivovice or plum brandy. Strong fair, it’s usually consumed after dinner as the orcs regale each other with tales of strong ancestors, battles well-won, and dishonest, tricky dwarves.

Orcs take particular pride in their tusks, often joking about how tuskless their goliath friends’ faces are or bragging about the length and sharpness of their own.