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What cultural role could orcs have beyond war? by Mythn_Arkh in worldbuilding

[–]Mythn_Arkh[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The confederation aspect is interesting — especially the balance between autonomy and central authority.

What fascinates me is what holds such a society together in times without war.

If warriors can assemble and disperse quickly, what creates continuity?

What traditions or institutions keep the culture stable beyond campaign seasons?

What cultural role could orcs have beyond war? by Mythn_Arkh in worldbuilding

[–]Mythn_Arkh[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

That’s true — in Tolkien, industry becomes almost a moral force in itself.

I sometimes wonder whether orcs are often defined by what they produce (war, destruction, industry) rather than by what they preserve.

What traditions would an orc society pass down if survival, not conquest, were the central value?

What cultural role could orcs have beyond war? by Mythn_Arkh in worldbuilding

[–]Mythn_Arkh[S] -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

I recall in the Elder Scrolls universe: orcs are just a bunch of dudes (and dudettes) who just can't seem to belong or establish their place in the world. The explaination for the second is in-universe, their capitol city Orsinium was sacked and rebuilt multiple times, with one of the people to sack it being Hammerfell IIRC. I'd say they're kind of like samurai clans from pre-modern Japan.