Orc
 This article is a stub. You can help 1d4chan by expanding it |
 This page is needs images. Help plz. |
Orcs are a fantasy race that is used in a number of settings. Compare to Ork. They are generally depicted as barbaric humanoids with green skin. Typically, they are stronger than an average human, though generally less intelligent as well.
One usually wonders where the green coloration of Orcish skin came from, in the old myths(ie: Lord of the Rings) the orcs were established as barbaric, crude brutes. True, but the approximate skin color was never truly established, the Orcs were generally described as filthy and mucky, with darkened skin and bestial countenances. It was until the advent of the Hulk comics and GW deciding to make their orcs different, that the common skin of the Orc became green. Because Warhammer's orcs became so memorable, thousands of copycats have followed suite.
This of course may not truly explain why some orcs in DnD have green skin as well, DnD being around before Warhammer, but the a more precise green coloration in it's orcs may have come later.
They enjoy molesting, eating and generally mistreating the Goblins, their smaller cousins. They have relations with Trolls and Ogres, their larger and stupider relatives, whom they con into preformind demeaning menial tasks. Their relations with more distant races are more variable - some may work for humans, for example, while others will fight humans on sight. The exception to this is Elves. All Orcs hate Elves, and this makes them good people.
Historically, the term was used to describe the Normans invading the English in 1066. It is also an Anglo-Saxon word meaning 'demon', according to Tolkien, who lifted the word from Beowulf.