'Ello! I saw that the 'Orcs' had a 'Needs a Makeover/Improvement' verdict and so...

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[b][i][u]Orcs[/u][/i][/b]

A warmongering, humanoid creature that can be found in all of Marduk. It is unknown where they originated from as they seem to predate even the earliest of records. What is currently known is that they terrorize the people of Marduk and will likely continue to do so until, perhaps, the end of time.

Regular Orcs resemble well-built human males save for the pale skin, the lack of genitalia and the faceless visages; no mouth, no nose, no eyes. The last one a mystery that baffles scholars since the creatures function like they have eyes. Some speculate that they have an advanced sense of hearing while others say a magical cause is the reason. The absence of the nose also is also a question posed and speculations range from magical causes to comparisons to plants. The lack of a mouth means one can only hear silence from these creatures. Until they are 'raised', that is.

Another mystery is their reproduction since Orcs lack any sort of reproductive parts. They also do not produce seeds nor spores to grow from. The only sources the civilized world of Marduk has are the stories and reports of adventurers which most, if not all, point one common detail: Orcs emerge from caves, particularly those that lead very far down underground. Some of the caves contain the ruins of an ancient but unknown civilization or at least in close proximity of one leading some to believe that the Orcs may be a product of said civilization or at the very least, connected to them but it is not certain yet.

Orcish culture and behavior is simple yet brutal. The Orcs' entire lives revolve around slaughtering any sentient being that's not them. Save for a couple of races, not one race in Marduk is exempt from their wrath and they kill indiscriminately, no matter who they are nor how powerful (in all senses of the word). With such aims, the Orcs travel in warbands wandering around Marduk and razing any unfortunate village or tribe that stood in their way. Fortunately, such warbands are uncommon in territories within, even just near, a civilization thanks to its organized forces dealing with the rampage.

However, fighting the Orcs is no easy task as those who had fought them would admit. If one thing can be agreed upon, it is that the Orcs are good at what they do, whether in combat or in battle plans and strategies. Ambushes, feigns, formations, these are all viable tactics for the Orcs and much more since it does not matter how they defeat their enemies, only that they defeat them. The Orcs are also creative in their endeavors as a wall of a human city sunk to the ground since the earth where it stood was made hollow by the creatures.

Outside of combat, the Orcs do very little besides train and refine with their chosen weapons and forge weapons. If one can observe an Orcish camp without being seen, all they would see is the formation of targets and weapons then the weapons striking the targets. This routine seldomly changes and it happens day and night without rest. However, one regular break from the routine is when a group of Orcs gather and 'talk' to each other. This usually meant that a major action was going to be done soon and such information is vital for any nearby villages.

A specialty of the Orcs are the Raisers, the dark-robed mages of the race. Besides casting regular defensive and offensive spells, Raisers have the special ability to raise any fallen but physically intact Orc back to life but with significant changes. Raised Orcs' bodies become more muscular as their behavior becomes more feral. They also grow a mouth filled with jagged, sharp teeth with which they can growl with to intimidate enemies. Raised Orcs do not use weapons but instead lunges at their enemies like wolves, biting and chomping with their newly-acquired mouths. Heavy armor is usually enough to stave off the bite attacks but the Raised Orcs' increased muscle mass can pull off worn armor.

The next question is what would happen if fallen Raisers are raised. Unlike regular Orcs, raised Raisers gain eyes instead which are pitch black in color and seem to be leaking blood. It is not advised to let these type of Orcs to escape which they will try if possible for when they return, they now wield magical crossbows which automatically superheat the metal bolts it is primed with. By then they are now Orcish Snipers and true to their name, their skill and accuracy with the crossbow is comparable to the most elite archers of Marduk. The crossbows are not magical themselves as they will lose their heating ability if pilfered from a dead Sniper and therefore, it is agreed that the Snipers are the ones that magically charge the crossbows.

Besides the special Orcs mentioned above, there are several varieties of Orcs like a sufficiently experienced Orc usually becomes a master of a chosen weapon. Swordmasters, Spearmasters, Bowmasters are some examples and these warriors join the battlefield topless, showing their well-toned muscles, as it is theorized that armor impedes their graceful yet deadly dance in the field. Soldiers who have seen these Orcs in action are usually struck with awe and fear as the faceless warriors make short work of their allies in a quick but elegant way, likening them to theater performers with the well-timed spins, ducks and jumps.

Orcs, again, only care for slaughter and not much else, even then they do not seem to express any visible joy in what they do. They do not offer their victims to any deity nor do they take anything (besides weapons and usable items) from the villages or cities they raze. Diplomacy is an impossibility but Orcs take advantage of those who do not know that, often via ambush. The creatures are, unsurprisingly, generous to anyone who seeks release from the hellish prison of life and to strange cults who happily throw themselves to be slaughtered.

Savvy thieves and vagabonds can lead Orcish warbands to villages so they could take loot the place clean with little trouble. Such tactics are frowned upon by many the criminal underworld but a trove of goods await those who can pull this off perfectly. People who could use these tactics include strategists and generals seeking the destruction or weakening of a town or army and people with a vengeance who want to deliver 'justice' to a village or city who had wronged him. Again, pulling off these feats requires luck and skill so as not to be caught upon the Orcs' rampage.

Orcs are strangely friendly with the massive Trolls and the enigmatic Ghosts. (<-----This line is subject to change.)
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If y'all want a non-warlike Orcs then that's fine. We can call these guys 'Faceless'. You know, if it gets approved...

Also, if it isn't clear yet, I'd like to stay and write the sequel. If it's alright with you guys, that is.