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Arena Description
(Orcs were considered to be part of the Bestiary.) Orcs are a larger version of goblins. Indeed, scholars have often speculated that these two creatures are somehow related. Nevertheless, they are stronger than their cousins, and very dangerous, often equipping themselves with weapons found on their opponents. They are not overly intelligent, but are cunning enough to stalk their prey and set up ambushes.
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Daggerfall Description
(Once again the Orcs are seen as little more than a beast to be killed.) From a distance, an orc may resemble a large, squat, muscular man - before the tusks become evident, and the green skin and the piggish eyes are seen. Usually, when the viewer is that close to an Orc, he or she is not taking notes about the details. Orcs are among the most common encounters around Iliac Bay, particularly around the southern half of the Wrothgarian Mountains. They are a consistently savage group, ready for a fight no matter the odds. Some rather eccentric researchers have suggested that the Orcs have a culture as ancient and sophisticated as ours, and that their seeming mindless barbarity is somehow related to rites of passage or tests of courage. It is highly likely that these researchers have never felt the sting of an orc captain's barbed axe.
Battlespire Description
No Description. Race not present.
Morrowind Description
These sophisticated barbarian beast peoples of the Wrothgarian and Dragontail Mountains are noted for their unshakeable courage in war and their unflinching endurance of hardships. In the past, Orcs have been widely feared and hated by the other nations and races of Tamriel, but they have slowly won acceptance in the Empire, in particular for their distinguished service in the Emperor's Legions. Orcish armorers are prized for their craftsmanship, and Orc warriors in heavy armor are among the finest front-line troops in the Empire. Most Imperial citizens regard Orc society as rough and cruel, but there is much to admire in their fierce tribal loyalties and generous equality of rank and respect among the sexes.
Shadowkey Description
No Description. Race not present.
Oblivion Description
The people of the Wrothgarian and Dragontail Mountains, Orcish armorers are prized for their craftmanship. Orc troops in heavy armor are among the finest in the Empire, and are fearsome when using their berserker rage.
History of the Orc
"Orcs are thankfully easy to recognize from other humanoids by their size -- commonly forty pertans in height and fifteen thousand angaids in weight -- their brutal pig-like features, and their stench. They are consistently belligerent, morally grotesque, intellectually moronic, and unclean."
-From The Pig Children
One can easily see the prejudicial view of the Orcs that many inhabitants of Tamriel share. Even their supposed origin leaves little to wonder why the Orcs are termed ‘The Pariah Folk’, which the ancient name of the Orcs, ‘Orsimer’, means. In the popular tale The True Nature of the Orcs, it is said that “the Orcs are actually the children of Trinimac, strongest of the Altmeri ancestor spirits. When Trinimac was eaten by the Daedroth Prince Boethiah, and transformed in that foul god's insides, the Orcs were transformed as well.” Trimimac was trying to halt the Velothi dissident from leaving when Boethiah ate him. While inside, Trinimac was corrupted, and when he ‘emerged’ from Boethiah, Malauch was born. Malauch is better known as the Daedroth Prince Malacath , 'whose sphere is the patronage of the spurned and ostracized, the sworn oath, and the bloody curse.' This seems to be a fitting patron for the orcs (The True Nature of the Orcs).
The Founding of Orsinium
After their alleged transformation, they quickly fled to the northern wastes, near Saarthal (The True Nature of the Orcs). The orcs came together and created a home for themselves called Orsinium, which means ‘Orc-Town’ in the early Aldmeris. It was founded during the Camoran Dynasy, after hundreds Orcs were set free by the Altmer and allowed to settle in the lands north of Valenwood. The Orcs chose an uninhabited mountain region near Old H'roldan in High Rock for their home (The Wild Regions).
Orsinium continued to grow during the First Era, especially as Orcish refugees fled the Ra Gada invasion of Hammerfell and settled there. Eventually, Orsinium’s army was determined to take control of the Bjoulsae River and force the kingdom of Wayrest to pay for its use (The Wild Regions). This did not go over well with the neighboring kingdoms. In 1E 948, King Joile of Daggerfall sent a letter to Gaiden Shinji of the Order of Diagna, proposing a joint attack on Orsinium (Tamriel Timeline - First Era). An alliance was formed between the Order of Diagna and the armies of Daggerfall and Sentinel. The siege began (The Pig Children).
The Siege of Orsinium
Known as the Siege of Orsinium, the Bretony forces of Daggerfall, the Redguard army of Sentinel and Order of Diagna invaded Orsinium (Tamriel Timeline - First Era). The orcs proved to be a strong and fearsome opponent. “The Siege of Orsinium lasted thirty years and ended in its ruin” (The Wild Regions).
The Rise and Fall of Orsinium (Again)
The orcs continued to fight to restore their homeland. During the second Era, Orsinium briefly became an Imperial territory under the rule of Akaviri Potentate, but it was short-lived and ended with the death of Savirien-Chorak in 2E 431 (The Wild Regions).
Orsinium Returns to the Orcs
In the year 3E 399, on a mountainside between Menevia and Wayrest, an arbitrator came to listen to claims from a Lord Bowyn and an orc named Gortwog gor-Nagorm.
Both had ample documention to claim the disputed land. "The law is very clear that if two claimants with equal titles to the property are set in deadlock, a duel must be held. Now, the rules are fairly archaic, but I've had opportunity to look them over, and I think they're still valid. The Imperial council agrees” (How Orsinium Passed to the Orcs ).
Lord Gortwog chose the armor and weapons: orcish; Lord Bowyn chose the location: Lord Berylth's palace in Wayrest, his cousin’s courtyard. Both combatants chose to fight for themselves instead of appointing someone in their places.
Lord Bowyn trained hard; he even had an orc to train him to use the armor and weapons.
In the end, Lord Bowyn lost badly, but he was able to put up a fight for more than three hours. Gortwog, the winner, declared, "I will name the land Orsinium after the land of my fathers" (How Orsinium Passed to the Orcs ).
Orsinium was once again in the hands of the orcs. Now, they needed the Empire to recognize their claim (How Orsinium Passed to the Orcs ).
Daggerfall
In a story of political intrigue and mystery, Lord Gortwog, King of the Orc, Warlord of the Subterranean Realms, competed for a powerful object called the Totem. This item is rumored to control the Numidium, a giant automaton once used by Tiber Septim to forge the Empire. Once he has this item, Gortwog claims, "My goal is not to conquer Tamriel, but to create the orcish homeland" (The Totem of Tiber Septim). If he is given the totem, he has his wish: "Under the command Gortwog, Numidium destroys the other powers of Iliac Bay: Daggerfall, Sentinal and Wayrest. The new orcish homeland is carved out for Orsinium. And the Empire will never be able to dispute Gorthwog's claim to orcish equality" (Orsinium Ending).
The Warp in the West
It is unclear who exactly was given the totem, but it matters little: for several destinies were carved out simultaneously. This event is referred to as the Miracle of Peace or the Warp in the West.
"Among the most significant results of the Second Numidian Effect are the foundation of the orc city-state Nova Orsinium; the transfiguration and apotheosis of Mannimarco, King of Worms; and the return of Zurin Arctus, the Underking, to the affairs of men."
-from Niso's LIVES OF THE EMPERORS
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