I’m not steeped in D&D lore, and I generally homebrew. But I’m currently playing a non-WOTC module and it has orcs (being repressed) living in very small numbers in a human-dominated city. The module does take place in The Forgotten Realms.
This had me googling orcs. According to Volo’s, I don’t see how orcs generally would be living – beyond the rare individual – amongst other groups. Not half-orcs, but full orcs.
In The Forgotten Realms are there orcs living among other humanoid groups (humans, dwarves, elves and halflings, particularly)? And if so, how common is it?
And please don’t turn this into a conversation about real-world race. Orcs are not human.
I've only ever heard of anything like that happening in the Underdark, since slavers usually aren't fussy about what they're enslaving on the surface, and orcs make notoriously good slaves for the right kind of work, like gladiator pits. All the Forgotten Realms lore I've encountered always has orcs, if left alone, banding together into groups that then immediately seek independence (e.g. they might form a bandit clan). It also probably wouldn't happen anywhere near Many-Arrows, since the orcs would be more comfortable emigrating.
Part of the reason for this is Gruumsh, whose world-view has no room in it for subjugated orcs. He's firmly of the opinion that orcs are the best and should be in charge (which they should accomplish by seizing power). His pantheon has members in it who might support being subjugated temporarily (e.g. as a trick, or as an emergency measure), but I don't think any of them would countenance accepting life like that on a permanent basis.
Traditionally, orcs tend to be a more nomadic people, but there is nothing to say that enclaves of them existing socially with others is unheard of. If you view them through the lens of their various cultural touchstones, you basically have a semi-nomadic people that would also build some small cities or villages ala Vikings or Visigoths of Europe. People who build cities often trade with others on occasion, and people who trade together develop societal relationships what would allow "outsiders" to feel at least tacitly welcome living among them.
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"The mongoose blew out its candle and was asleep in bed before the room went dark." —Llanowar fable
Newer Forgotten Realms-based stories have softened Orcs in general. A lot of it, I believe, is a side-effect of Half-Orcs being a fairly common race in the realm... how could it be that Half-Orcs are regularly seen across the land if full-orcs aren't as well? So while they're still not a common race in most cities, there's nothing that prevents them from living there. Maybe some towns or villages would be less willing to allow Orcs to live with them, it's easier for them to get into cities without drawing quite as much attention.
Orc's are, as per the MM, nomadic, violent, aggressive, power hungry, BUT accepting of other races (with the exception of elves because an elvish god blinded the main Orc God). Orcs mate with almost anything and often have non-orcs in their armies, particularly large creatures.
I can see the following ways Orcs can live in a city:
The city is in a long standing war, possible in a siege. It hired them as mercenaries, and now they have mostly assimilated into the city. The war keeps them happy and content, though things may go bad if the war ends. Works REALLY well if the war is against elves of any type (including Dark Elves)
The city conquered the Orcs as slaves. They are kept unarmed and often killed when they rebel.
The Orcs run the city and let any non-elf in. (Perhaps elves are allowed in as slaves only). But somehow the Non-Orcs became a major part of the population, making the city much bigger. Perhaps they are the refugees, that flooded the city. Non-orcs put up with the cruel way of the city guards because they have no place else to go.
The Orcs are refuges from barbarian nomads, quite possibly because they worship a god besides Gruumsh. Maybe it is Luthic, the God of fertility, or possibly it is some minor, 'good' orcish god. Still violent, but lots of Paladins of some kind (Conquest, Redemption, etc.)
The city is a pirate city, the Orcs are one of several pirate type fleets based there. They agree to follow the rules because they need a place to resupply and sell goods. Most of the orcs are women, children, and the old, while the young males are usually away raiding.
All of these can work well for a short period of time. Note several of these options require the city to be less of a Lawful Good that some expect. Options 2 can be LN or LE, while #5 is basically Chaotic something.
Option 6: the city is just more cosmopolitan and has a much larger diversity of races living in it than most. Might not be perfect harmony, but the peace gets kept most of the time.
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Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
There's all sorts of possible explanations, starting with how the Orcs got there in the first place. Don't focus too much on how things typically are, especially when looking at a situation that's supposed to be atypical to begin with. The fact of the matter is that, as far as this module is concerned, Orcs do live there. There's no point in arguing whether that's even possible; the situation being what it is makes that discussion moot. It's ok to be curious about the how and the why of it all though, I'd even encourage it (even though it's likely the module doesn't spell this out for your DM, who may have to scramble for answers if the party starts looking into the matter).
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Want to start playing but don't have anyone to play with? You can try these options: [link].
In the Forgotten Realms, the Orcish Kingdom of Many-Arrows proved they could be civilized. They are violent, aggressive, barbaric in nature and also fast breeding folk, so them permanently living in a human city would be prone to frequent violence towards orcs and non-orcs as they constantly trying to show their strenght towards one another or when trying to overpower their neighbors. They could even be occasional commoner's death because orcs are powerful. The more control able would find position among guards and militia. Their number would also grow much faster than other human and demi-human families around and wouldn't be surprised to see birth rate control law passed for them, named ORCB to keep their number in check.
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I’m not steeped in D&D lore, and I generally homebrew. But I’m currently playing a non-WOTC module and it has orcs (being repressed) living in very small numbers in a human-dominated city. The module does take place in The Forgotten Realms.
This had me googling orcs. According to Volo’s, I don’t see how orcs generally would be living – beyond the rare individual – amongst other groups. Not half-orcs, but full orcs.
In The Forgotten Realms are there orcs living among other humanoid groups (humans, dwarves, elves and halflings, particularly)? And if so, how common is it?
And please don’t turn this into a conversation about real-world race. Orcs are not human.
Yes, in forgottern realms there are orcs living example in Neverwinter which is major city. It is not very common tought.
I've only ever heard of anything like that happening in the Underdark, since slavers usually aren't fussy about what they're enslaving on the surface, and orcs make notoriously good slaves for the right kind of work, like gladiator pits. All the Forgotten Realms lore I've encountered always has orcs, if left alone, banding together into groups that then immediately seek independence (e.g. they might form a bandit clan). It also probably wouldn't happen anywhere near Many-Arrows, since the orcs would be more comfortable emigrating.
Part of the reason for this is Gruumsh, whose world-view has no room in it for subjugated orcs. He's firmly of the opinion that orcs are the best and should be in charge (which they should accomplish by seizing power). His pantheon has members in it who might support being subjugated temporarily (e.g. as a trick, or as an emergency measure), but I don't think any of them would countenance accepting life like that on a permanent basis.
Traditionally, orcs tend to be a more nomadic people, but there is nothing to say that enclaves of them existing socially with others is unheard of. If you view them through the lens of their various cultural touchstones, you basically have a semi-nomadic people that would also build some small cities or villages ala Vikings or Visigoths of Europe. People who build cities often trade with others on occasion, and people who trade together develop societal relationships what would allow "outsiders" to feel at least tacitly welcome living among them.
Newer Forgotten Realms-based stories have softened Orcs in general. A lot of it, I believe, is a side-effect of Half-Orcs being a fairly common race in the realm... how could it be that Half-Orcs are regularly seen across the land if full-orcs aren't as well? So while they're still not a common race in most cities, there's nothing that prevents them from living there. Maybe some towns or villages would be less willing to allow Orcs to live with them, it's easier for them to get into cities without drawing quite as much attention.
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Orc's are, as per the MM, nomadic, violent, aggressive, power hungry, BUT accepting of other races (with the exception of elves because an elvish god blinded the main Orc God). Orcs mate with almost anything and often have non-orcs in their armies, particularly large creatures.
I can see the following ways Orcs can live in a city:
All of these can work well for a short period of time. Note several of these options require the city to be less of a Lawful Good that some expect. Options 2 can be LN or LE, while #5 is basically Chaotic something.
Option 6: the city is just more cosmopolitan and has a much larger diversity of races living in it than most. Might not be perfect harmony, but the peace gets kept most of the time.
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
Look up Shadow Marches on this site and that might get you started. It explains a lot about cohabitation and half races/half orcs, etc.
There's all sorts of possible explanations, starting with how the Orcs got there in the first place. Don't focus too much on how things typically are, especially when looking at a situation that's supposed to be atypical to begin with. The fact of the matter is that, as far as this module is concerned, Orcs do live there. There's no point in arguing whether that's even possible; the situation being what it is makes that discussion moot. It's ok to be curious about the how and the why of it all though, I'd even encourage it (even though it's likely the module doesn't spell this out for your DM, who may have to scramble for answers if the party starts looking into the matter).
Want to start playing but don't have anyone to play with? You can try these options: [link].
In the Forgotten Realms, the Orcish Kingdom of Many-Arrows proved they could be civilized. They are violent, aggressive, barbaric in nature and also fast breeding folk, so them permanently living in a human city would be prone to frequent violence towards orcs and non-orcs as they constantly trying to show their strenght towards one another or when trying to overpower their neighbors. They could even be occasional commoner's death because orcs are powerful. The more control able would find position among guards and militia. Their number would also grow much faster than other human and demi-human families around and wouldn't be surprised to see birth rate control law passed for them, named ORCB to keep their number in check.