Location
Orcs live primarily in the Orc Lands east of Cimmeria. Within the Orc Lands, approximately half the population is in tribes while the other half is Clanless. The lack of resources and pressure on the Clanless sends many of them outside of the Orc Lands. These ostracized orcs end up forming raiding groups that head west. Without a place in the society of other races, the exiles harass and attack the communities of Eastern Cimmeria. It’s due to these groups that orcs have a negative reputation in Cimmeria.
Relations with Other Races
The other races of Cimmeria have adversarial relationships with orcs. While the Conclave races cooperated during the Goblin War, those days are long gone. Orcs that come into Cimmeria are often raiders and bandits. They are met with preemptive violence more often than not. Some orcs are able to prove their peaceful intentions and coexist without overt conflict. They are still viewed with suspicion and a watchful eye. The outlaw nature of many orcs in Cimmeria also means they are targeted by slavers. Many strong slaves in Cimmeria are orcs, with a large demand for them to work in the mines of Aractrash.
Orc settlement in the Orc Lands initiated a symbiotic relationship with the goblins that lived there since ages past. Goblins are everywhere in orkin society but always distinctly separate. The two cultures exist alongside each other, occupying the same spaces but rarely interacting socially. There is an unspoken business relationship between the two races. Goblins take care of the small household chores such as washing clothes, dusting, weeding, and feeding chickens. Orcs do most of the hard labor such as mining, smithing, and, most importantly, defending the tribe’s territory. Both races understand their responsibilities perfectly. Commonly, an orc will grow up surrounded by goblins but never engage them in conversation. All interaction is simple instructions to the other race to take care of their tasks when they are needed. This silent alliance between the two races has existed for centuries without disruption.
Orcs form occasional alliances with hobgoblins and all manner of giantkin. These partnerships are often made for the practical purpose of attacking a well-defended target or powerful mutual enemy. Once the raiding begins the alliance quickly dissolves. While the violence may be agreed upon, the splitting of the booty is rarely discussed before combat. In some cases, orcs turn upon their previous allies before their foes are even defeated, leading to chaotic three-way battles between the orcs, their allies, and their confused enemies.
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