Orcs

Orcs are a race of monstrous pig/human hybrids which may be encountered in Sosaria, Britannia and within the altered time stream of Minax's Earth. They appear in Akalabeth, Ultima I,  II,  III,  IV and  V.

Description
Primitive, porcine humanoids created by magical experiments in the Age of Darkness, the orcs of Sosaria are not particularly strong or intelligent, but often travel in packs, waylaying and murdering travelers while they steal what they can. Usually little more than a nuisance to a well-equipped adventuring party, the Sosarian orcish band typically attacks above ground, although subterranean enclaves of these creatures have been encountered.

Age of Darkness
During the heyday of the Age of Darkness demented magicians started to experiment with magical mutations and created these hybrid creatures by mating humans with  boars. As the power of Mondain grew, these pig-visaged humanoids became his vanguard of first advance. Although, the forces of Good tried to exterminate these creatures after the death of Mondain, they actually bred as rabbits and joined the forces of Minax who traveled through the time doors to the era outside of time known as "Time of Legends".

Once more they were destroyed. However, they started to appear as Exodus is preparing his plans. These primitive roadside-robbers changed little over the ages, although it was eventually discovered, around the time of the events of Ultima III, that their connection to the physical world was still fragile enough that a simple cantrip could dispel them -- a weakness they shared with their cousins, goblins and trolls.

Age of Enlightenment
The creatures continued to be a threat to travelers well into the Age of Enlightenment. However, they disappeared from Britannia sometime after the exile of Lord Blackthorn, having either been driven at last into extinction or into hiding.

Benevolent Terran Orcs
On the ahistorical Earth created by Minax's manipulation of time, orcs were at one point a common part of Terran reality, although they were eventually destroyed. During the opening wave of the enchantress' machinations, these creatures reappeared dramatically, with the first herald of Minax's plans being a single orc which wandered, injured, into a farmer's field.

The humans who found the beast took pity on it, although they were shocked by its existence. After being tended to by mankind's medicine, the bestial creature grew affectionate towards its caretakers, overcoming its evil nature. From this one individual, a lineage of peaceable orcs eventually descended. These beings, although mute and of limited intelligence, co-existed with humanity admirably, taking on simple tasks (such as fast food shift work) within society. 

Lore






Notable Examples

 * Boris: a smuggler who dealt in black market items for the Guild of Thieves in Buccaneer's Den during the Ultima IV; capable of human speech and eager to speak of his work, Boris seemed more civilized than the rest of his kind, somewhat similar to the benevolent orcs of Earth.

Trivia

 * Along with elves, orcs were scheduled to make a reappearance in the canceled Ultima X. A detailed historical write-up was prepared for them and may be read here.