Welcome to another entry of our ongoing deep-dive into the grim darkness of the Warhammer 40,000 universe! Today, we’re turning our sights onto the hulking, brawling, and fascinatingly complex society of the Greenskins – the Orcs.
Now, it’s easy to write Orcs off as nothing more than brawn and brutality. But look a little closer, and you’ll discover a society as wild as it is ingenious. Picture this: Under a strong War Boss, Orcs are not just ruthless warriors, but builders and engineers too. When necessary, they can construct cities and industrial powerhouses that support even the largest Mob Of Orcs. It’s a sight to behold – an Orc city, bustling with activity, every cog and wheel in its place, every Orc with a job to do.
And who does all this labour, you might wonder? Well, the Orcs, in their infinite wisdom, delegate the drudgery of work to the Gretchin. These diminutive greenskins are more than happy to toil away under the watchful eyes of their Orc overlords, who, interestingly, view this slave labour as perfectly normal. After all, why should an Orc lift a finger when there are Gretchin to do it for them?
But don’t be fooled. Despite their potential for industry, Orc cities are a far cry from paradise. They’re chaotic, dangerous, and teetering on the edge of anarchy. Yet, they remain cities with their own form of economy. Yes, you heard right. Orcs, in their own crude way, understand the concept of commodity-money relations. They barter, trade, and even indulge in occasional leisure activities like brawls and races.
Orcs, believe it or not, have an affinity for speed. Nothing thrills an Orc more than a good old-fashioned race to see whose vehicle is the fastest. And let’s not forget about their love for music. Nothing gets an Orc’s blood pumping like rhythmic drum beats and Orcish songs.
Religion too, plays a vital role in Orc society. Their faith revolves around two deities – Gork and Mork, representing brute strength and cunning, respectively. Their influence is reflected in the construction of gargantuan war machines, built in their image. But don’t expect these divine beings to play peacekeepers. Order within the Orc society is maintained, not by divine intervention, but by the authority of the War Boss.
The larger the mob, the stronger the War Boss, and vice versa. A powerful War Boss can even build a full-fledged civilization within the Greenskins. Different clans, languages, trade, warfare – all under the watchful eye of the Boss. Such civilizations can achieve remarkable feats, like the great War of the Beast, which nearly led to the downfall of the Imperium.
And yet, despite their savagery and seeming disregard for order, Orcs remain a major threat to humanity. They survive against all odds, thriving in the chaos and reveling in the grim darkness of the far future.
But remember, Orcs aren’t the only ones out there. In our next installment, we will venture into the territories of the Tau Empire. This young and relatively small interstellar state, located in the Ultima Segmentum of the Imperium of Man, follows the philosophy of the Greater Good, presenting a stark contrast to the Greenskins. But that’s a story for another day. Until then, may your dice always roll sixes, and your armies never falter in the face of the enemy!
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