Orc Society and Status

These are the notes on Orcish Society that I had written for the GURPS Orc campaign, "An Orc's Lot." When I finally clean up the Guide, I'll also post the "An Orc's Lot" version of the Lumaras Player's Guide that I had arrogantly written way back when.

Orc Society

Control Rating: 4/0 (Obedience to superiors is expected, but murder is hardly illegal)

Tech Level 2 (no goddamn tonfas)

Magic

Orc magic has been somewhat stunted. It takes longer for an orc to develop magical styles and spells. The most magically-developed races of the dwarves, elves, gnomes, and humans are hostile to orcs (or vice versa, depending on who speaks). Despite these setbacks, there are orc mages. They often fill the role of shamans, since unlike many shamans, the spells they practice generally take shape. Those who weren’t born with magery often make bargains with spirits and extraplanar entities for powers (taking pacts), or plead with the orc gods to invest them with power.  

Sacrifice

Orcs had practiced sacrificial magic for so long as any orc can remember. The orc gods often demand sacrifices, anyway. The practice of directing the sacrificial energy into Manastones is a practice imported from goblinkin mages.

Status

Status and Military Rank are tied (or, if you like, military rank replaces status).

Status Level	Examples
5	Warlord (Lord)
4	Chieftain (Chief)
3	Captain (Boss)
2	Sergeant
1	Warrior (Grunt; tribe-name)
0	Trades/craftsorc (Builder), herdsorc
-1	Serf (Scraper)
-2	Slave

Warlords

Warlords are the Orcish approximation of dukes or minor kings. A warlord is a powerful chieftain who brings to submission other chiefdoms to control their armies. Thus, warlords manage to accumulate fairly large armies. The morale of these armies vary depending on the strength, charisma, as well as a few other qualities, of the warlord. If the warlord dies, the armies typically scatter, each chiefdom independent again and each chieftain scrambling to replace the late warlord. Warlords have Administrative Rank 4, Social Regard 3 (feared) and an Ally Group (Orc Horde, 100-1,000) (which may also be represented by a Patron organization).

Chieftains

Chieftains are the leaders of tribal settlements. A tribe may consist of a number of different settlements, and there may be lower, local chiefs who swear fealty to the Chieftain of the tribe. The Chieftain, however, rules the tribe and coordinates its military. The Chieftain has Social Regard 2 (feared), an Ally Group (50-300), and Administrative Rank 3. If they swear to or are subjugated by a Warlord, they have that Warlord as a Patron. If subjugated, Chieftains have a Duty to a Warlord.

Captain

Captains are the leaders of warbands sent out by Chieftains or Warlords. They command a band of warriors to protect the tribe and to perform raids upon other tribes. There are usually only a handful (3-5) of Captains in a tribal settlement. A Captain has Social Regard 1 (feared), an Ally Group of Orc Warriors (21-50) and a few sergeants (6-10). Captains have a Duty to their Chieftain. Those captains who manage settlements outside of the principal settlement (that one wherein the Chieftain resides) and serve their Chieftain as administrative agents also have Administrative Rank 2.

Sergeant

Sergeants are Warriors who have displayed combat prowess and leadership capability. They can be assigned a very small squad of grunts to command for various tasks. They may take a small Ally Group of Warriors (6-10). Sergeants have a Duty to their Captains or the Chieftain.

Warrior

Warriors are fairly self-explanatory. Warriors follow their assigned (or preferred) Captains to raid, patrol, scout, and defend for the Chieftain. Warriors have Status 1 [10] and often try to cultivate a Reputation among their tribe, and, hopefully, among other orc tribes [variable].

Builders

Builders are a broad social class. They include herders, tradesorcs, craftsorcs, and smiths. If attacked, Builders also constitute the tribe’s militia. Showing bravery and combat prowess in a raid and exhibiting their ability to follow the Orc’s Code of Honor may allow them to improve their rank and status. Some Builders (as well as some Warriors) who serve the Chieftain as assistants or aides also have Administrative Rank 1. Those orcs are known as the Chief’s Free Servants.

Scrapers

Scrapers are the equivalent of human serfs. They are known as Scrapers because they attempt to wrench from the inhospitable earth whatever crops they can. This is to say, the orcs’ farmers constitute a semi-enthralled caste. They have the Social Stigma (Second-Class Citizen) and Status -1 [-10]. They are generally seen as tied to the tribe – wherever travels the tribe, the land of the destination is their concern.

Slaves

Most slaves are non-orc captives, taken and enthralled by the warriors who took them. Slaves have little to no chance of emancipation. Slaves take Dead Broke [-25], Social Stigma (Subjugated) [-5] and Status -2 [-20].