A Writers Guide to Orcish Courting
Orcs are descended from East Elves captured by Melkor, their minds and bodies distorted and corrupted. Changed by such corruption, Orcs were now a new race. Originally created for fighting, rarely do we hear about their culture and customs. Despite common belief, not all Orcs are completely distorted or disfigured, some still hold their elvish beauty (Consider Azog, he is not as ‘disfigured’ looking as his legion, but he is noticeably different compared to an elf). Orcs, a quiet breed, known for their battle skill and physical brawn, quite little is known about them outside of this.
Being a distorted race, Orcs have a strong sense of smell. It is believed that when they smell the one meant for them, they instantly will know that this is their beloved. Now, not all relationships are determined by this. Several courtships and marriages have been successful based on just pure affection for one another.
Besides this, the courtship starts with a gift. Once an Orc decides who they would choose to marry, they will try and woo the courtee by crafting a gift for them. Similar to their Elven ancestors, they want to show off their craft skills. This gift must be handmade and can be anything from a carving, weapon, baked good, or jewelry. Most choose either weaponry or carving a rune or figurine for their chosen. This shows the time and effort that he or she is willing to put forth in their relationship. The more intricate the design, the more willing the orc seems to be to follow through with the relationship.
The second step is caretaking. Have a leak in your roof, it’ll be fixed by them. Your fence is broken? Fixed. You slip down a faulty step? They fix the step and take care of you while you’re injured. It isn’t expected of the courtee to partake in this step, however, if they so choose, they may join as well in the caretaking. For most, this involves helping the orc make their home more home-like.
Orcs are usually almost always on the move, and while they do have a permanent home, it truly isn’t much more than a bed and a dining table. Having another’s ‘home’ touch would show how much you are willing to take care of the relationship as well. The whole point of this step in the courtship is for the two to show how they will improve their relationship. If something is broken (like a fence,) you don’t throw it away, you fix it. Or with a home, you build it to be a home, it’s not something that is already there.
The next step is the showing of strength. Orcs are very built and very strong. This step of the courtship is to show that besides in the home, they can take care of you. They can protect you. Showing of strength includes taking you on a hunting trip with them to show off their strength with wrestling a boar or getting into a brawl at the tavern with another Orc.
Another sign of strength can be simply them showing off things like how much they can carry in one arm, or how much wood they can chop without being tired, or even asking you to ‘help them’ with their workout regimen just to show off their muscles. This step is mostly to show that they can protect you, but it also gives the Orc in question an ego boost. This step also shows off any physical traits that they would like you to view attractive.
The final step of proving they can take care of you is a meal. Orcs don’t believe in gender roles when it comes to who should cook and take care of who, it’s about equality to them. Plus, sexism won’t help anyone when you’re starving and all alone. This part of the courtship is to show that not only can they take care of you physically, such as their strength and doing repairs to the home, but internally. They can take care of your wellbeing, they can nourish you.
A common belief about the Orc-race is that they’re man-eaters, flesh eaters, cannibals. This is true for the race of the Uruk-Hai, who were bred by Saruman simply to destroy and take havoc on the world. A traditional Orc meal would be presented to you in this step. Typically a roasted pig or slices of wild game that they hunted themselves, as well as a side of vegetables and rice.
Orcs have a diet of things that can last long in their pantries, such as nuts, rice, and salted meats. However, just for their courtee, they will create a meal with fresh ingredients like vegetables, fresh rice from the farms, and freshly caught meat instead of the salted kind that they have stored away for the winter.
If at the end of all of this, you choose to still continue on with your courtship, the Orc will present you with a bead. Unlike the dwarves and the elves, these beads will not have any specific design to them, but they will have a specific color.
Each color has a meaning, and each color holds energy for a relationship in the Orcish culture. In an example, if you’re given a green bead it shall symbolize growth and harmony in your relationship, but if you’re given a blue bead, it symbolizes a relationship full of trust and loyalty.
Unlike other races, Orcs don’t beat around the bush when it comes to marriage. While Dwarvish and Elvish courtships can last for years, Orcish courtships typically last around six months. This is to prevent a person feeling stuck in their courtship and to encourage honesty. In Orcish culture, they love for a lifetime. It’s very difficult for them to fall in and out of love, so if they begin courting someone, they already know that they want to marry them. In other cultures, the courtship is about getting to explore your love, while in Orcish culture it is about proving your love to be true. Because of this, Orcs are not celibate before marriage, for they believe the heart is the most sacred thing, not sexual activity.
An Orcish marriage ceremony is commenced by the Chieftan or Legion ruler’s mate, who will take the two into a separate building outside of the clan’s territory and commence the ritual. The ritual consists of the two sharing a large blanket, sitting across from the ruler’s mate who will give them a foul tasting brew out of a potion jar. This is the final test for the couple, if both can drink it without any complaint, they are truly meant to be. Once married, the two are now considered lifetime Mates, not husband or wife. (A very gender neutral term tbh)
Orcs are quiet about their culture, so it is very unlikely for outsiders to know of these customs, so if you find yourself experiencing any of these steps, ask your local Orc if you’re being courted.
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