Rampaging across the many worlds of Dungeons & Dragons are savage hordes of murderous warriors who leave destruction in their wake. These beings were crafted by a spurned god for one purpose: endless war. Feared and hated by the civilized races they terrorize, Orcs are bloodlust and death incarnate.

But the Orcs of D&D are not mindless, despite how frenzied they battle. In actuality, the orcs have a well-developed culture that is entirely their own; it just happens to be centered on destroying the races crafted by other gods. The Orcs have a separate pantheon of deities, and worshiping them informs every aspect of Orc culture. Chief among their pantheon is Gruumsh One-Eye, He Who Watches.

Long ago, when the gods were crafting the realms, they divided the land amongst each other and populated it with their creations. Moradin claimed the mountains for the Dwarves, Corellon Larethian claimed the woods for the Elves and Yondala took the hills for the Halflings. According to Gruumsh, when he tried to claim his piece of the world, he was denied. The other gods spurned and mocked him, but Gruumsh would have his revenge. With his spear, he ravaged the world, toppling mountains and razing forests.

Such is the role of Orcs. He crafted the green-skinned brutes to continue his war and make the races of the world suffer for the sins of their creators. When raiding settlements of most races, Orcs are primarily interested in goods and plunder to support their tribes. The elderly, women, children or any they deem weak have a chance to escape with their lives. By letting them mostly survive, the Orcs can return to raid again once the settlement has recovered.

However, this is not the case for Elves, for whom the orcs have a particular hatred. When Orcs raid an Elven village, they leave no survivors and take no plunder other than the heads of the slain. They also tend to kill all Dwarven opposition, but are more interested in taking over the superiorly crafted Dwarven homes. They'd be okay with a Dwarf or two getting away.

According to the Orcs, Elves earned this spite as a result of Corellon Larethian, who blinded Gruumsh One-Eye with a well-placed arrow, thus earning him his moniker. Orcs live in constant fear of Gruumsh's wrath, as showing weakness and failing to enact his will can result in dire consequences.

Orcs must prove themselves to Gruumsh, hoping to be one of his Chosen. Gruumsh visits those he deems strong and worthy and grants them a vision of conquest. The experience frequently mutates and drives the Orc mad, but some are imbued with incredible power and rise quickly in the ranks of their tribe. Some of those Chosen are gifted with a small piece of Gruumsh's rage, the ultimate honor which propels them into a frenzy during battle. They are called the Eyes of Gruumsh, and to join their ranks, they must gouge out one of their eyes. These god-touched Orcs are revered among their tribes and are the few who retain respect from their kin as they grow old and infirm.

Strength is the ultimate status for the Orcs, and tribes will frequently agree to serve evil beings stronger than themselves like Green Dragons or Frost Giants. Enacting their evil plans allows them to slaughter, which serves Gruumsh's will quite nicely. Not the most intelligent of creatures, Orcs are susceptible to manipulation by these stronger beings and often find themselves enslaved or used as cannon fodder.

Orcs typically stick to tribes a few hundred in size, as they find it harder to maintain the resources needed for larger groups. This leads to Orc tribes fighting each other just as viciously as they fight the other sentient races. Very rarely, an Orc War Chief with enough cunning can rise to unite tribes into a massive horde, but this is nigh-impossible to achieve. Usually brought together against a common concern, when an Orc horde descends upon the world, they are a wave of death that is brutal beyond imagining.

To help Gruumsh keep his creations frothing for combat, he is assisted by lesser gods of the Orc pantheon. Ilneval the War Maker is the god of strategy. He is said to guide the hand of every War Chief as they plan for battle, ushering them towards victory. Bahgtru the Leg Breaker is Orc god of bloodlust and ruthlessness. If Ilneval guides their hand while planning, Bahgtru is with the Orcs on the battlefield, ensuring each blow of an Orc's weapon is devastating and cruel.

But there is more to Orc life than just battle. To ensure his people don't fight themselves into extinction, Gruumsh imbued the Orcs with an overwhelming urge to reproduce. Orcs proliferate indiscriminately, both amongst each other and the members of other races they deem strong and worthy. Half-Orcs are the result of Orc mating with an Elf, Human or Dwarf. Sometimes, they have been known to couple with Ogres, resulting in the imposing half-breed Ogrillons.

The Orcs urge to proliferate is the domain of Luthic, the Cave Mother. She is Gruumsh's wife and is defined as the force which keeps his rage from exploding into uncontrolled chaos and tearing the Orcs apart. Beyond fertility, Luthic is the Orc goddess of hearth and home. She is associated with bears, and her followers are only found in an Orc den serving as its defenders. The followers of Luthic are also responsible for the raising and instruction of Orc broodlings. They ensure that every Orc is instilled with rage and cruelty as Gruumsh demands. Without Luthic, the Orcs would not be such a feared foe.

Joining them in the den are the followers of Yurtrus the White Hand and Shargaas the Night Lord. Shamans of Yurtus oversee the dead and dying, assuring that Orcs who die well move on to their promised afterlife of Acheron -- the eternal battlefield. The Night Lord is the patron god of rejected Orcs. His followers skulk in the darkness of the den, culling the tribe of its weakest members. The act is considered an unspoken taboo, but one the Orcs also view it as necessary to ensure their continued strength.

Orcs are a staple villain in D&D, appearing in many classic adventures. Understanding what makes them tick only helps to enforce what a terrible threat to life they truly represent.

KEEP READING: Dungeons & Dragons: Exploring Chult, the Dinosaur-Filled Jungle