Note: this is still in process.
The orcs of E'n have a long and confusing history. Much of their history and mythology seems very odd to the other races, if not completely contradictory. Elves have long referred to orcs as "The Upside-Down" because of their alien thinking. In many ways, orcs are quite different compared to the other races.
The origin of the orcs begins far underground. It is said that they have vast empires completely unseen from the lands of humans. Orcish Religion also tells the story of orcs as a race that started out deep within the bowels of the earth, and eventually breaking through to the surface.
The bizarre attitude of orcs can be understood as the inversion in two concepts: rising and falling, and darkness and light.
Most cultures see rising or upward motion as good and showing greatness, while falling and downward motion as bad and showing failure. For orcs, the opposite is true. A structure requires its strongest materials at the bottom, and the most fragile materials can survive only at the top. Deep underground, the orcs have safety. Gravity is revered as the generosity of their gods. An orc who quickly becomes a great leader is said to "sink to the bottom" while a slave would "rise to the top." This manifests itself in many surprising ways. For example, it is a grave insult to bow, kneel, or prostrate yourself in front of an orc chief, as it suggests your superiority--many an uninformed dignitary has been summarily executed in this fashion. Most of the time, the orc chief is the only person allowed to sit down at his court. The greatest title for an orc is that of "Underlord," for he is beneath everything.
Because orcs are easily dazzled and blinded in bright light, but are able to see in complete darkness, orcs view darkness as a revealing influence and light as a concealing one--an inversion, once again, from most cultures. If someone is "in the dark," he understand the situation. A poor tactical move, on the other hand, might be called "brilliant."
InVinoVeritas 04:09, August 15, 2010 (UTC)