Ocros

The Ocros are a broad race of humanoids known for their rugged appearances, warlike cultures, and varied subspecies. Once a unified race, the Ocros fractured over millennia into distinct groups, each adapted to their environment and circumstances. Despite their differences, they share common traits of resilience, adaptability, and a talent for survival, whether through brute force, cunning, or community.

Biology and Appearance

Crotis (The Iron-Blooded)

Appearance: Crotis are muscular, broad-shouldered humanoids with grey, rough-textured skin and a fearsome appearance enhanced by their prominent tusks. Females, taller than males, often braid their long hair, while males compensate with impressive facial and chest hair. Their tusks are arranged in a striking configuration: four smaller tusks on the lower jaw and two larger ones on the upper jaw. Their eyes are sharp and almond-shaped, often amber or dark brown.

Traits:

• Height: Females average 5’9”, while males average 5’5”.
• Strength: Unparalleled raw strength and endurance, capable of wielding heavy weapons and enduring harsh conditions.
• Diet: Primarily herbivorous with a preference for fruit and root vegetables, though they supplement with meat when available.

Role in Society: The Crotis are feared warriors and often mercenaries, known for their discipline and combat prowess. While their culture is heavily martial, they are not brutish or simple; their art, storytelling, and crafts reflect the depth of a people shaped by constant strife.

Rogger (The Green-Tongued)

Appearance: Roggers are wiry, green-leathery, taut skinned Ocros with their elongated ears and mushed noses give them a mischievous appearance. Their sharp teeth are perfect for tearing through tough plant matter and meat.

Traits:

• Height: Average 5’6”.
• Build: Lean and agile, with quick reflexes and stamina that make them excellent skirmishers.
• Numbers Matter: Roggers thrive in groups, with their combat prowess increasing dramatically when fighting alongside their kin.

Role in Society: Roggers are opportunists, thriving on chaos and outnumbering their enemies. Their knack for storytelling and music is a cultural cornerstone, and their "warbands" often sing and play instruments as they march, bolstering morale. While not renowned for intelligence, Roggers are natural leaders when it comes to rallying their own kind, as evidenced by mMmork the Unforgettable.

Roggish Culture:

• Storytelling: Roggers weave tales of their deeds, often exaggerating their exploits for entertainment and pride.
• Bands of Brothers: Roggers see strength in numbers and form tight-knit groups that act as family. The phrase, “When you see one, look for the next nine,” is not just a warning but a cultural motto.

Phanteloi (The Stone-Trunks)

Appearance: The Phanteloi carry thick wrinkled grey skin, large tusks, and prehensile trunks capable of manipulating objects with surprising dexterity. Their ears are wide and expressive, helping with thermoregulation, and their heavy frames make them intimidating figures.

Traits:

• Height: Towering over other Ocros at an average of 6’8” to 7’2”.
• Strength: Immense physical power, capable of uprooting small trees or carrying heavy loads for extended periods.
• Stamina and Intelligence: Despite their size, Phanteloi are thoughtful and deliberate, preferring strategy over brute force.

Role in Society: Phanteloi are the builders and protectors of Ocros society, often acting as diplomats or leaders due to their even temperaments and logical minds. They value tradition and are known for their intricate carvings, monuments, and tools crafted from stone and ivory.

Cultural Traits:

• Memory Keepers: Phanteloi hold oral histories passed down through generations, often acting as historians and archivists.
• Honor Above All: Insults to a Phanteloi’s family or herd are met with unrelenting determination to restore their honor.

Daesui (The Sus-Strict)

Appearance: Daesui are stout, pig-like humanoids with pink, tan, or brown skin covered in coarse bristles. Their flat, wide noses and small tusks give them a rugged, unkempt appearance, while their stout limbs and thick bodies make them physically imposing despite their shorter stature.

Traits:

• Height: Average 5’3” to 5’5”.
• Endurance: Daesui are tireless workers, with the stamina to labor for hours without rest.
• Resilience: Their hardy constitutions make them resistant to poison, disease, and environmental extremes.

Role in Society: The Daesui are industrious and pragmatic, often serving as farmers, builders, and laborers. While they lack the refined culture of the Phanteloi or the storytelling of the Roggers, they are fiercely loyal and reliable allies.

Cultural Traits:

• Practical Warriors: Daesui fight with simple but effective tactics, using brute strength and teamwork to overpower their enemies.
• Feast and Fury: Celebrations are a cornerstone of Daesui culture, often involving communal feasts where disputes are settled through contests of strength or endurance.

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Society and Culture

Unified Roots, Divided Paths: While the Ocros share a common ancestry, their divergent adaptations and cultures have created tension and alliances among the subspecies. Crotis often lead in military conflicts, while the Phanteloi provide wisdom and strategy. Roggers and Daesui fill more specialized roles as scouts, skirmishers, or laborers.

War as a Way of Life: The Ocros have a shared history of conflict, shaping their society into one built around survival and strength. While some subspecies, like the Phanteloi, seek diplomacy, most Ocros value resilience and fighting spirit above all else.

Cultural Practices:

• Tusk Carving: Each Ocros subspecies decorates their tusks with carvings or ornaments to signify achievements, lineage, or rank.
• Warbands and Herds: Ocros form tight social units called warbands (Crotis and Roggers) or herds (Phanteloi and Daesui). These groups act as families, often traveling, fighting, and celebrating together.
• Story Circles: Roggers lead communal storytelling events, where each subspecies contributes tales of bravery, loss, or humor.

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Trivia for the Ocros

• Tusk Ornaments: Phanteloi tusks are often adorned with metal caps or carvings, while Crotis tusks are left bare to display their natural strength.
• mMmork’s Legacy: Roggers still sing songs of mMmork the Unforgettable, though each version of his story grows more exaggerated with every telling.
• Meat Myth: The myth that Crotis eat Panimis originated from their intimidating appearance and carnivorous tendencies, though no evidence supports this claim.
• Feast of Tusks: Once a year, all Ocros gather to celebrate their shared heritage, engaging in contests of strength, storytelling, and massive communal feasts.
  • Tusk Wrangling is a famous sport where two members will lock tusks and wrestle until one falls off.
• Daesui Endurance Trials: Daesui host grueling endurance contests during celebrations, including eating competitions, wrestling matches, and labor races.