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Fauna, Companions & Familiars
| Creature | Description |
|---|---|
| War-Boars | Massive, tusked pigs bred for strength and aggression. Used as mounts, pack animals, and battering-ram assists during sieges. An Orc's war-boar is a lifelong companion. |
| Thunder-Hawks | Large raptors that nest in the highland peaks. Trained as scouts and message carriers. Their screeching cry can be heard for miles, used as a battle signal. |
| Iron-Wolves | Stocky, armored wolves with metallic-hued fur. Pack hunters used for patrol and guard duty. Fiercely loyal to their Orcish handlers. |
| Cliff-Crawlers | Giant, spider-like insects that scale vertical rock faces. Occasionally used to scale fortress walls during sieges. |
| Rock-Serpents | Large, burrowing snakes with stone-scaled hides. Semi-domesticated for tunnel excavation. Their venom has medicinal applications when diluted. |
Legendary Beasts
- Old Ironback
a Stone-Bull of legendary size said to roam the deepest Ash-Vein Plains. Hunters claim its horns are pure iron and that it has lived for over two hundred years. Several expeditions have sought it; none have succeeded in capturing it, though tracks matching an enormous bull have been found near Gorrak's Anvil. - The Storm-Serpent of Blacksmoke Peaks
a creature of myth said to dwell within the volcanic summit, feeding on lightning. Stone-Keepers believe it may be a corrupted earth-spirit rather than a true animal.
Beast-Bonding Traditions
The spiritual bond between an Orc and their companion animal is formalized through a ritual overseen by a Stone-Keeper. The Orc and the animal share a meal of iron-salt, and the Stone-Keeper inscribes a matching rune on both the Orc's forearm and the animal's hide. From that point, the bonded pair shares heightened awareness of each other's emotions and physical state. The death of a bonded animal is mourned as deeply as the death of a clan-mate.