The orcs were once an honorable, shamanistic society on their homeworld of Draenor. Then, through the corruption of the Burning Legion, they became the bloodthirsty, demon-possessed Horde, invading Azeroth and conquering all that stood in their way. Now they have escaped demonic control, but Draenor is no more. The New Horde must now try to rediscover their true culture in a new land.
Orcs are massive, green-skinned, tusked creatures with a fearsome appearance, a reverence for the spirits of nature, and a love for honorable battle. They are united by their respect for their High Warchief, Thrall, who seven years ago freed all his brethren from the Alliance prison camps they'd been held in since the Second War. The unity and racial pride that the orcs feel is tainted by the atrocities of their past, but with Thrall's unique combination of gentle wisdom and unbending ferocity, the Horde is rapidly becoming an unstoppable force. The orcs are proud to call the Tauren their soul-brothers, grudgingly accept the friendship of the cunning Darkspear trolls, and tolerate the Forsaken... for now. Their strongest racial hatred is aimed toward the demons - and the humans - who once enslaved them.
Available Classes:Warrior, Rogue, Shaman, Hunter, Warlock
Names: Orc first names, particularly the males', have a harsh sound, and are rarely more than two syllables long. Orcs do not have family names, usually adopting a surname based upon some great battle deed. In extraordinary cases, a great hero may pass on his deed name to his children to preserve the story of his deed through future generations. Examples: Grom Hellscream, Elka Maneater.
Hair: Usually dark, occasionally red or silver. Natural full or partial baldness is not uncommon, even in females. Hair tends to stand straight up in bristles unless braided.
Eyes: Those with lingering demonic taint often have red eyes. Natural orc eye colors include dark violet, black, copper, or very rarely, a pale sky blue like Thrall's.
Skin: Varying shades of green or olive.
Height/Weight: Males are six to seven feet tall and 250-300 pounds. Females are noticeably smaller, but still broad-shouldered, stocky and muscular.
Age: A new adventurer will be between 22 and 32. 40 is "middle aged." The average orc will die around 65 years of age, though heroes can live as long as 100.
Social Status: There are no orc "nobles." Respect is earned through deeds in battle, though the children of a great hero might have a social head start.
Family: Orcs marry and care for their children in much the same structure that humans do, but with completely different principles. Baby orcs are fed mother's blood with mother's milk. A smack to a child's head or a knock-down brawl between husband and wife is often a sign of affection, as orcs do not injure very easily. Families share a fierce bond of love which is not often publicly demonstrated.
Hometown: Most orcs call Orgrimmar, the great city of the orcs, their home these days, though the city itself is only a few years old. Most young adventurers actually grew up across the sea in human-run internment camps, which varied in their practices from humane but humiliating to downright cruel.
Sample concepts: Bloodthirsty warrior, lusty free-spirit, skulking assassin, serene spirit-talker, bossy surrogate parent, merciless bounty hunter, demon-possessed rebel, humble soldier, vengeful lover.
Good Diamond Words: BRUTAL, CUNNING, FERAL, FEROCIOUS, HONORABLE, LOYAL, NOBLE, PASSIONATE, WISE
Generic Backstory: You are 25 years old. You were brought through the Dark Portal as an infant, and by the time you were six years old you were already in a small Alliance internment camp, most of your clan dead or dying. You grew up as a prisoner, watching your fellow campmates grow lethargic and even die as the demonic influence left them. Then, when you were nineteen, you heard whispers of a great blue-eyed hero, Thrall, who had embraced the old ways, thrown off his shackles, and was freeing the orcs one camp at a time. By the time a group of Thrall's orcs came to attack your captors, your campmates were more than ready to assist from the inside. You and your brethren then sailed west to the lands of Kalimdor in stolen human ships. Though Thrall himself was not present the day you were freed, and you have yet to actually meet him, you are now a member of the Horde's forces in Durotar. You know that you will have the chance for a personal interview with Thrall one day very soon...
Official Orc Page