Orcs are a brutish, aggressive race of humanoid creatures from Celtic mythology and that have appeared in many works of fantasy-based literature and other media. In the majority of such works, they are regarded as evil creatures bent on conquest and plunder. The earliest definition of orcs was first written in the poem Beowulf, describing them as corrupted descendants of Cain, the firstborn of Adam and Eve. The term "orc" would later be adopted by author J.R.R. Tolkien, best known as the author of The Hobbit and The Lord Of The Rings. Since Tolkien's works, orcs have been made quite popular in many other fantasy-based novels, films and games.
Appearance[]
Orcish appearance tends to differ between mediums, but they are always regarded as being ugly, repulsive humanoids. Physical details between mediums have described orcs as having grimy skin of sickly pigmentation, such as dirty green or ash grey. Their faces have been described as resembling apes or pigs, with dirty unkempt hair, pointed ears and often tusks jutting out from their lower lips.
Behaviour[]
Ruthless, bloodthirsty and uncivilised, orcs are often regarded as the natural enemies of elves. They see themselves as being stronger than other races, going great lengths to prove as such by waging wars against human, elven and dwarvish nations. Orcs are well known for their brutality, taking great pleasure in murdering their enemies and torturing innocents. They are notorious carnivores, eating the flesh of elves, humans, even their own.