Orc Description

    Orcs vary widely in appearance, as they frequently crossbreed with other species (Goblins and Humans.)  In general, they resemble primitive humans with grey-green to olive colored skin covered with coarse hair. Orcs have a slightly stooped posture, a low jutting forehead, and a snout instead of a nose, though comparisons between this facial feature and those of pigs are exaggerated and perhaps unfair.  Orcs have well developed canine teeth for eating meat and short pointed ears that resemble those of a wolf. These ears are traversable like the wolves and give them a slightly better sense of hearing.  Orcish snouts and ears have a slightly pink tinge.

    Their eyes are human, ranging from grey to green with most being brown, with a reddish animalistic tint in dim light sources or near darkness.  This is actually part of their optical system, which gives them infravision. No Orc has blue eyes but a rare few have yellow.  Orc fingers are capped with hard sharp nails.  These are not claws but cause more damage than normal humanoid hands in combat.  The Orcan hands and feet are covered by a hard callous which protects it and makes it less able to be frozen, burnt or abraded.  This makes the Orc able to withstand more when walking barefooted or using there hands to work or climb but causes a loss of manual dexterity and fine workmanship.  The Orc can travel without any foot covering and not be bothered by any normal hardship.

    The Orc is tall but also slim and have great musculature, their muscle density actually being greater than most other races. This makes the orc deceptively strong. The Orc has bred the healthiest and strongest of the race for thousands of years. A short or weak orc is rarely seen after his first battles of youth. Throwbacks to a time when they were shorter and more stooped have been mostly bred out.  A few are still born, but are almost always culled out quickly in life.  Most females are still stooped more than males.  This seems to have been selected through breeding as a way to better guard the unborn child.  Women were breed mostly for the purpose of giving birth, only.

    Orcs have a strong and distinctive musky smell. This smell is not really offensive but is difficult to cover. The strong musk of the Orc causes fright in dogs and horses. Only such beasts raised and trained in the presence of Orcs may ever be used or ridden by them. Orcs themselves have no difficulty riding, if they choose to, and can find a mount to carry them.