Of Orcs, Humans & Void Beasts - 3. Humans beneath the Mountain: A Warning

by Samuel Johannsohn and Josephine Annegretsdochter

Many of us believe that a life beneath the mountain is one of great wealth, free from worries and hardships. This is far from the truth.

It is said that orcs not only have a cultural need to honor their women, but that it is also an instinct. An orc who assaults his consort is a disgrace to his clan, and fortunately, such incidents are very rare. Accusations of this nature are taken very seriously, though false accusations can have drastic consequences.
Nevertheless, a relationship with an orc mate is no easy matter. Since orcs can only superficially satisfy their sexual urges without a consort and there is a need for procreation, most interaction takes place in the bedchamber. Even women with experience or certain desires should be aware that orcs are larger than humans in crucial areas, which can lead to discomfort or difficulties.
The orcs’ larger anatomy must be taken into account not only in the bedroom but also during pregnancy and childbirth. While a human pregnancy typically lasts nine months, an orcish pregnancy lasts only eight because the child grows faster. Birth injuries are common but rarely life-threatening. Added to this is the natural reverence for the number eight, which is why the ideal is to have eight children—a burden that, not surprisingly, places an immense strain on the body.

Women who voluntarily wish to go under the mountain without being chosen may do so as maids. In this role, they become the personal servant and lady-in-waiting to an archmother. If a woman is already the mother of an orc bastard or gives birth to one while in service, she may, under certain circumstances, negotiate a ward contract with her Ruby Lord and Ruby Lady that offers her son social advantages. Should a maid give birth to a human child, she and her child (and, if identifiable, the father) are banished from the Mountain forever.

Depending on the structure and manners of the ruby court, a maid may well be regarded as a second lady. However, since she was not chosen by shamans and priests and is not bound to any chosen and worthy orc, it is not uncommon to hear reports of maids having to deal with unwanted attention. While violence against maids is frowned upon, psychological abuse and manipulation are not uncommon, often with the goal of getting her to “voluntarily” offer her body.

The silk favorites serve as a counterpoint. These are human men who are at the ruby lord’s disposal in the bedchamber when the archmother is unavailable due to pregnancy, childbed, or similar circumstances.
Traditionally, a silk favorite is responsible only for these moments and solely for the lord of the court; many orcs who aren’t actually interested in men (not even as a substitute) still keep one as a status symbol, because silk favorites, too, are cherished and pampered. When they aren’t called upon, they serve as personal attendants or caregivers for the children.

So much for the theory. In practice, while they often wear pretty clothing and are served elaborate meals, they are just as often declared fair game for the entire court by the ruby lord. In such a case, the silk favorite ranks at the very bottom of the hierarchy. If he has no one with influence or clout—that is, the ruby lady, an advisor, or a guard—on his side, his future looks bleak.

While maids are housed in the widows’ quarters in old age or after their lady’s death, silk favorites have no such safety net. If they are no longer considered attractive or useful, they must get by as ordinary servants, as tutors to the children, or hope for the goodwill of a ruby lady.
So let this serve as a warning to any handsome young man hoping to find a good place to live under the Green Mountains.

Newly chosen tithes brides and their families are often told that one of her brothers would certainly be welcome beneath the mountain. At its core, this is not untrue. By the time the bride arrives, most courts are still in the process of being established and consist only of the most essential structures. Helping hands in the form of servants are therefore very welcome, and brothers all the more so, because it significantly reduces the risk of affairs between the archmother and the servant should they be close to one another, compared to what could be the case with a random man instead of a brother. Another advantage is generally having a familiar human face in what is initially an unfamiliar environment.

A common servant in the ruby court has various, though often general, duties depending on the size of the court and the status of the ruby lord. Kitchen duties, cleaning, maintaining the bathhouse, running errands… Service as a personal attending or tutor is also possible.

Since sexual relations within a court—as is generally the case in society—take place voluntarily, an ordinary servant rarely has anything to fear. The exchange of favors does take place through this medium nonetheless, though in a much more peaceful fashion than with a silk favorite, because in the eyes of the law, members of the court are equal, whether they are an orc guard or a human dishwasher.

Craftsmen, on the other hand, who go underground of their own accord experience vastly different circumstances depending on their field of work. What they all have in common is that a free craftsman must compete for customers and is under a certain pressure to be able to support himself adequately.

If a craftsman is invited by a ruby lord—and thus join his court—his life becomes many times easier. Specialized workshops, complete with tools, are rented for them; material costs are covered; and demand for their work is guaranteed. Furthermore, the craftsman is under the protection of his lord and can pursue further training at the lord’s expense. Such invitations are usually extended to family members of the archmother or result from a recommendation.

One profession that rarely receives attention or mention is that of the archer. Even back in the swamp, orcs had little love for ranged combat (they consider it cowardish, not to mention that their eyesight is not as good as a humans), and although forts certainly benefit from it, most of them view archers with great skepticism, if not outright rejection.
They are indeed rarely found beneath the mountain; there are only a few training centers where willing orcs are taught. Otherwise, they live primarily in the forts. Earning the respect of an orc warrior is no easy feat, but there are reportedly archers who have been promoted to deputy commanders.

An archer who signs on with a caravan is paid very well, but also lives a very dangerous life—and possibly not a very long one.

Leaving the Mountain—Dead or Alive

Likewise, the district bathhouses are open to humans, and use is free of charge. Since personal hygiene is very important to the orcs and the bathhouses are sometimes even called “temples of everyday life,” one should avoid breaking the rules of etiquette there at all costs. Anyone who is banned from a bathhouse will be socially ostracized to a greater or lesser extent, depending on the clientele frequenting the establishment.