Few games have managed to stay relevant for as long asThe Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrimhas. As one of gaming’s longest-running franchises, andSkyrimbeing one of the most popular gamesever, there’s been a ton of lore for fans to research as they await the inevitableElder Scrolls 6.And while that game is likely still years away, that hasn’t stopped lore-hungry fans from learning everything they can about Tamriel, the continent whereThe Elder Scrollstakes place.
One particular area of interest inElder Scrollshas been the races, as each distinct in their own way, coming from radically different cultures, though frequently overlapping in major cities and densely-populated areas. The Orcs, in particular, are one of the more intriguing races in the series, andSkyrimoffers perhaps the best look yet at their tribal lifestyle and customs.
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Orcs are big, muscular, and absolute devils in a fight in theElder Scrollsfranchise. Tribal Orcs have strict customs that only allow chieftains, the strongest Orcs, to have children, leading to large pockets of fierce warriors throughoutSkyrimand High Rock, the two areas with the densest population of Orcs. The latter, in particular, contains Orsinium, the orcish capital city.
That doesn’t stop some Orcs from leaving the tribal strongholds that dot the landscape of northern Tamriel, though those that do are branded outcasts and forsake their previous lives. For them, their association with violence makes them sought-after sellswords and mercenaries, backed up by theirmastery of combat.
Orcs are also visually distinct from the other races, not as human-like asBretons, Nords, Imperials, or Redguards, or as strange as the Argonians or Khajit. They bear the most similarity to elves, except far, far larger, but that’s simply because they are elves, or at least used to be.
How Elves Became Orcs
Otherwise known as Orsimer, Orcs originate from an elf called Trinimac, who was also an incredibly powerful deity. Trinimac tried to stop the exodus of the Chimer, the early ancestors of the Dark Elves, from the Summerset Isles to Morrowind, though ultimately, Trinimac was consumed by Boethiah, theDaedric Princeof plots. Boethiah turned Trinimac into the Daedric Prince Malacath, and cursed his followers, turning them into the Orcs that the denizens of Tamriel know today.
Now, many Orcs worship Malacath as their god, though worship of Malacath has shifted throughout the years, and not all Orcs follow Malacath so loyally.However, withinTheElder Scrolls,Orcs' status as elvesis of some debate.
High Elves are quick to discredit Orcs as elves, largely due toHigh Elve’s superiority complex. It isn’t uncommon for people to frown upon Orcs, in part because of what some perceive as a violent nature. One of the books inThe Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim,dubbed “The Pig Children” is even a sort of anti-Orc manifesto.
And while racism is surprisingly rampant inThe Elder Scrolls,Orcs hold themselves to a strict code of honor, the Code of Malacath. Tribal Orcs follow no imperial laws, instead operating strictly under the code as a way of self-governance. The code compels Orcs to fight with honor, not to attack without reason, and not to steal, among other things.
Instead of going to prison for breaking the code, Orcs pay the price in blood or gold, until a chieftain determines that the debt has been fulfilled. It’s a tough, but just system, allowing those that live by it to live fairky. It may sound cruel for crimes to be punished so severely, and in many ways it is, but it also ensures that Orcs retain their independence, which they value immensely.
That type of self-governance ensures that the weak perish and the strong thrive. It’s understandable then, why other cultures in Tamriel view the Orcs as a brutish race.Elder Scrollsgames always feature a few characters that are fools, just look at the unwavering devotion — and frustrating persistence — ofOblivion’sAdoring Fan. And hile there are some Orcs that can be described as fools, for the most part, they tend to have good heads on their shoulders.
There are a lot of factors that go into that nature, too. Orcs believing living to old age is a shameful thing, and as such will leave their villages to find honorable deaths as they grow old. Of course, that isn’t that common, as chieftains are the only Orcs allowed to have children, and when those children grow up, they’ll challenge their parent — eventually leading to the chieftain’s death.
Additionally, while the other races of Tamriel have fought and enslaved one another, Orcs have abstained from the oppressive rule other races practice with shocking frequency. Orcs value independence, and that comes across in their actions towards outsiders and their own brethren.
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Orcs have also had a troubling time finding a true home. The capital city Orsinium has been built and destroyed many times over. Orsinium has also been built in different regions, almost making it more of an idea than an actual, tangible place. It’s a symbol that Orcs can rally around, no matter where they’re at in the world.
Orcs are one of the more tragic races inThe Elder Scrollsfranchise. They didn’t suffer the same fate as the Falmer, also known as the Snow Elves, which became twisted beings that dwell underground, but the hatred for Orcs, largely, is unfounded. They come from the same noble beginnings of the other elven races, though fate has deemed them monsters. Fansdon’t know much aboutElder Scrolls 6,but it’s possible that it shows more of the defining features of Orcs. They’re often unappreciated, and it will certainly be interesting to see where the next entry in the franchise takes them.
There are rumors thatElder Scrolls 6will take place in High Rock, which would be a good chance to show off more of the Orcs, maybe as a sidequest line or as part of an additional DLC. Orcs are amazing smiths, and while their armor looks pretty rugged, it could be a good way to introduce cool weapons with more of a background.
