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Language & Symbols

Orcs

10.1 Languages / Writing Systems

  • Orcish Tongue (Gor-Mok)
    guttural, consonant-heavy language with a rich system of honorifics.
  • Runic Script (Stone-Glyph)
    angular basalt carvings representing both phonetic sounds and magical concepts; used on siege-engine panels, legal tablets, and ceremonial stones.

Linguistic Structure

The Orcish language has no written alphabet in the traditional sense. The Runic Script serves dual purpose: each glyph represents both a sound and a concept. For example, the glyph for "krag" means both the sound "krag" and the concept of "unyielding strength." This dual nature makes Orcish runic inscriptions simultaneously linguistic and magical, as writing a word literally invokes a fraction of its meaning. There are approximately 340 known glyphs, though Stone-Keepers claim ancient tablets contain glyphs no longer in common use.

Common Words and Phrases

  • Krag
    strength, endurance, unyielding.
  • Thar
    chief, leader, one who speaks for many.
  • Gor
    iron, metal, the bones of the earth.
  • Mok
    fire, forge, transformation.
  • Drak
    storm, lightning, power from above.
  • Krag-Thar
    chieftain (literally "strength-leader").
  • Gor-Mok
    forge-fire (also the name of the mythological first Orc).
  • Drak-hai
    "storm greetings" (a common greeting).

10.2 Symbols & Iconography

  • The Iron Heart
    stylized iron core surrounded by runic circles; appears on banners, armor, and seals.
  • The Hammer & Anvil
    symbol of creation and war; often paired with a lightning bolt to denote the Storm-Age.
  • The Broken Chain
    symbol of liberation and the right to overthrow tyranny; associated with the Rite of Broken Chains.
  • Three Tusks
    a symbol of alliance and unity, depicting three interlocking tusks. Used on diplomatic documents and trade agreements.