Or’Kati

Not to be considered second to any, the Or’Kati are a race defined by a warrior culture that has seen them to the brink of annihilation or ascension. Few races are more likely to strike fear into the hearts of those that witness them than the Or’Kati, who maintain equal parts savagery and brutality, overcoming their hatred for each other only so long as it permits them to exact some form of vengeance against their sworn enemy: mankind.

Origins
Following the Glacial Age, the Or’Kati began to appear in the far north of Syv Nova. By their lore, they are the sons and daughters of frost giants that were given the strength of rage to fill their hearts and fuel them through the coldness that abounded. Regardless, they are most prominently found in the north or the west, across the Bramble.

Organization
Or’Kati are not known to gather in large groups, which may be their ultimate downfall. Nevertheless when a truly impressive leader is found among their people, he is given the title of Vatal and organizes his people into a thrust into “civilized” land.

Outside of this larger form of organization, Or’Kati organize themselves by villages that move somewhat frequently depending on nearby game. They do not hold much reverence for anything that is not immediately important to them, save for the idea of taking the land the humans have from them.

An Or’Kati that has not yet killed anything is considered Bloodless, and one that has is called Blooded. This distinction is important, as the Blooded may cap their tusks with red to indicate they are full members of their society. They often gain ritualistic tattoos and scarring to indicate success in battle as well.

Military
Or’Kati, despite their solitary system of governance, do adhere to absolute loyalty when they are called to battle. They form bands known as “death thrusts,” that will charge into combat heedless of life or death. Honor in battle is the only form of honor they believe in.

Though lacking knight orders and the like, they have impressive warrior cultures built around various weapons native to their various tribes.

Enemies
Or’Kati hate humans and elves and will attempt to kill them whenever they can. They view half-orcs as a mistake, often, and will spare them little in the way of pain to toughen them.

Religion
Or’Kati worship Vojna the Warbringer.

Historical Significance
The perennial enemy to humanity, orcs have always pushed their counterparts to new heights. Their savagery and merciless drives have destroyed many human kingdoms only for them to be stopped at Bastion or Volantris. Though these two kingdoms “remain,” the toll that the Or’Kati have taken on the minds of humans as a whole makes them a nightmare.

Vatal Murn’s willingness to side with the Drow in the Dread Tumult led to the Or’Kati nearly shattering Volantris at long last, but before their final victory the Drow abandoned them and they were defeated by Ser Chronika the Bold. Thus, if Chronica is a saint for vanquishing the Or’Kati, then Murn is a demon for forcing her hand.