Ork Names
Names amongst the greenskins are almost always mono-syllabic, but there are exceptions. Unlike most languages, names are not usually given with meaning behind them. If an Orkz name happens to translate into "strong" or "mountain" in Black Speech or any other language, it is likely purely coincidental. Names are chosen or given on a whim based on whatever random sounds and/or grunts are spat out.
Last names are not inheireted but earned. Only upon the recognition of being worthy by his superiors is an ork given a name, usually in recognition of a great labor or feat he has completed. Rarely, and more often if it is decided by a living relative, an Ork may inheiret the last name of his father or other close family member. This is more likely to happen amongst bloodlines famous for breeding great warriors.
Physical Characteristics
Orkz are large and brutish, with red eyes and sharp teeth, the males in particular having a set of tusks that jut upwards from their lower jaws. Skin colors generally range from light green to dark green, sometimes darkening enough to be described as black. This effect is usualy the result of aging, younger Orks with lighter skin, elders with dark.
An abnormaility that is sometimes perceived as divine favor is red skin. Less than one percent of all Orkz are born with this, hence it's association with divinity.
Several sub-species of Ork exist as well. For example, "Snow Orkz", whose skin is pure white with black eyes. As they age, their skin begins to blue, finally settling roughly the same color as old sea ice.
Ork Language
Black Speech could most readily be described as the Orkz "native" tongue, but many Orkz lack fluencey in it as it is a somewhat secretive part of their culture. More often than not, they will speak an Orkish dialect of Common Tongue. This usually comes across sounding very thuggish and low brow, scattered with slang words and overemphesized vowels.
Orksih writting is equally as inconsistant. Whether there is some sort of structure can be debated, but a likely explination is that writting systems are caste based. Less intelligent Orknoids are likely to communicate in pictograms, while shaman seem to have a set of runnish characters for ceremonial and secretive purposes.
Further obscuring the exact usage of this is the availability or writing utensils. If chalks or paints are not available, or if it is deemed neccesary for other reasons, runes and/or glyphs might be carved instead. In all likelyhood, the only one capable of reading a message would be whoever it was meant for.
Religion
Urk Kuldar's religion is based around a pantheon of Ghodz who form the foundation off of which much of the unit's theme is based. All Klanz have a patron diety that have at least some influence on Da Bohyz of that Klan.
The Krimson Eye Klan has dedicated itself to the Chief Ghod of this pantheon, Gruumsh, father of the other ghodz, patron of territorial expansion. Gruumsh chooses to symbolize himself with a red, unblinking eye, the symbol from which the Krimson Eye Klan took it's name. Bhoyz of the Krimson Eye will mark their right eyes with blood before battle to display alliegence to Gruumsh and to envoke his favor.
Lunar events such as an eclipse and blood moons are considered favorable omens from Gruumsh, with Mid-Winter Night marking his Holy Day.
|
