Orc

From Sedes Draconis

Trade Tongue:
Image:Kiratuu Kedan.png
("Kiratuu")

Notolopha torviris pelagica

• Class Mammalia
• Subclass Marsupialia
• Order Diprotodontia
• Superfamily Phalangeroidea
• Family
• Genus Notolopha

Orcs are one of the two sub-species of torvir (the other is the gobins). The torvir originated along the northern coast of the Kellsith, but around -400 GR some torvir came to the Hajasith and became the goblins and orcs. No torvir are known to have survived on the Kellsith. A version of the orcish oral tradition of this exodus is The Story of the Tide of Blood and the Bringer of Hope.

Distribution

Traditional orc societies are maritime, and about 9 million (out of 10 million) orcs live along the southern coasts of the Hajasith or on islands off those coasts. Orc settlements extend almost all the way around the continent, from 30° to 135° (Theâdn Polar Coordinates).

The relative difficulty of the sailing in the waters immediately on either side of this range, in addition to the less trading oppurtunity have given the orcs little reason to extend along the last quarter of the coast.

Physical Characteristics

Females range from 155 to 185 cm and 60 to 80 kg. Males average 18 cm taller and 25 kg heavier.

Life Cycle

As marsupials, orcs have extremely short gestations periods, after which the minimally developed newborn is transferred to the mother's abdomnial pouch, where it attaches itself to a nipple until more fully developed.

Gestation Period: 38 days

Incubation Period: 230 days

Skull Fusion: 3 years

Weaning: 2.5-4 years, average 3 years

Physical Maturity: 12-14 years

Life Span: 80 years

See the Life Cycle Key for definitions of characteristics.