Ogres

Ogres are large, greenish humanoids. They are generally larger and stronger than the average human. They live at a moderate level of interaction, living in village or tribal groups. They are omnivores eating both meat and vegetable matter.

There are two distinct populations of Ogres in Valorn. One is strongly matrilineal; the other appears comprised of individuals who left female-dominated society. They appear to have a form of written communication (and not merely scribbles) as there is at least one human who appears able to translate it.

Forest Ogres

The Ogres in the forest north of Dundee build shelters, although not of the strongest construction, perhaps indicating little need to have protection from the elements. Their other structures are built more sturdily showing they do have the skill when required.

The Forest Ogres also possess the ability to work metal. Their chainmail and full platemail are strongly constructed, if of poor appearance, and they bear an offensive odor. It has been suggested that lavender or thorough airing out in the magma fissure may reduce the stench.

They show a tactical sense, building their village in such a way it is difficult to move troops towards their temple. The fact that the village still stands, despite numerous attacks by Adventurous, also indicate their stubborn, territorial nature. The tunnels they make are of stone, mortared together, again showing a level of skill not indicated by the haphazard village below. This could also indicate the relatively low status of the ogre villagers.

Their temple is the most solidly build structure in the village and filled with statues and icons to unidentifiable deities. It has so far been impossible to have a conversation with an ogre about the temple. Even the lone ogre merchant doesn’t converse as much as point at items and give coin for them.

The higher ranked ogres dwell in the temple complex as well. As the only ones observed there have been female, although males guard the outer tunnels, this again is a reflections of the matrilineal nature of this population. Indeed, caste appears a strong influence on the Ogre life. The weaker ogres dwell on the fringes of the village with the stronger ones dwelling with in it.

When discussing the Ogres who dwell in the forest, it is necessary to bring up a distasteful subject – their diet. Among the other creatures that make u their diet, the forest Ogre eats humans as well. The temple kitchen area is well appointed for dealing with carcasses of that size. Recent excursions into the forest may be an indication they are attempting to resupply.

Cave Ogres

The second known population of Ogres is between Fartown and Branishor. This group dwells in a cave complex that appears only roughly shaped by them. While there is none of the building ingenuity evidence by the forest Ogres and indeed brute force seemed used in making the tunnels, there is rudimentary farming. The Cave Ogres appear to raise fungi in well manured, warm caves. Basic equipment such as rakes has been reported. Remains of Adventurous have been found, but not in an area resembling a kitchen. Instead the bodies were piled and apparently left to rot and decay. From this the deduction can be made that the Cave Ogres do not eat humans as a normal part of their diet, if at all.

From a search of the complex, a large number of nonhuman (and nonogre) bodies have been found. From the eyeless state it appears as if this cave complex may have been inhabited before the Ogres came to claim it as their own.

The Cave Ogres appear more homogenous in makeup than the Forest Ogres, perhaps further support for the theory that they are a breakaway group that felt unduly strained by the matrilineal social structure. If that is the case, it is logic to suppose that those at the top of their allowed place in the hierarchy would be the most resentful and most likely to leave.

While the Cave Ogres have an altar of some sort, it cannot be ascertained what exactly they may worship. The number of clean bones used structurally about the altar can lead the more theologically minded to their own conclusions.

Topaz the Poet

There once was a warrior named Raffe.
From ogres he seldom was safe.
He went to their village
to flirt, not to pillage,
with each ogre lady or waif.

by Asrai