Valenwood is the home province to the Wood Elves, but it's also home to another race. The Wood Orcs of Valenwood look just like the Orcs of Orsinium, but are natives to Valenwood. They are very similar to their Orsinium-based cousins in appearance and brutish ways, but have some distinct cultural differences.
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Very little is known about them and those who have run into them have interesting stories to tell. They seem just like any other Orc one would run into during their travels in Tamriel. But there's more to these Wood Orcs than appearances. Here are some must-know about these forest-dwelling Orcs.
10 They Value A Different Fighting Style
Unlike the Orcs of Orsinium, who pride themselves on fighting with muscle power and endurance, the Wood Orcs value agility and mobility. If placed inside the Orsinium militia, a Wood Orc would be considered a light skirmisher instead of a large berserker. They are just as good as climbing trees and excellent trackers like the Wood Elves. This along with their innate strength makes them deadly. Very few will fight the Wood Orcs in their territory.
9 They Don't Adhere To The Green Pact
Unlike the Bosmer, the Wood Orcs don't follow the Green Pact. The Green Pact is a pact the Wood Elves made with the forest deity, Y'ffre. In exchange for protection, the Wood Elves are not allowed to harm or eat anything from plants. The Wood Orcs freely mine coal and cut down trees. Because they can't exploit the land like them, the Wood Elves often trade with the Wood Orcs for supplies they can't get. The Wood Orcs are also just as good at blacksmithing as the Orcs of Orsinium. Most of the metal tools and weapons the Wood Elves used are made by the Wood Orcs.
8 They Lost A Great Battle Against The Ayleids
After Alessia's Rebellion, some of the Ayleid tribes traveled to Valenwood and decided to settle where some Wood Orcs lived. The Wood Orcs used their shaman magic, which often involved covering themselves in the Blood of Mauloch (also known as Malacath, the Daedric Prince of Curses) for protection. However, it didn't work, and the Ayleids drove them out and built Abamath on their lands. The Ayleids built their city over the town and claimed it as their own. To this day, this loss brings great shame over the Wood Orcs. They use this as a rallying cry, and any Wood Orc that traces their ancestry back to this event, paint their faces in red warpaint.
7 They Refer To Malacath As Mauloch
All Daedric Princes have different names to the races of Tamriel. While the Orcs of Orsinium refer to the Daedric Prince of Oaths as Malacath, the Wood Orcs refer to him as Mauloch, the Daedric Prince of Curses. Even though Malacath and Mauloch are one and the same, some Orc tribes believe they are two different Daedric Princes. Mauloch is sometimes referred to as an Aedra versus Malacath who is a Daedra.
6 There Is A Book On Etiquette To Deal With Wood Orcs
In The Elder Scrolls Online, there is a book called Civility and Etiquette: Wood Orcs I. This book details how to deal with the Wood Orcs. The tone of the book sounds a little haughty, not too surprising since it was written by a High Elven member of the Veiled Heritance. The book gives some details on introducing one's self to them and what to do to earn their respect.
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Much like their Orsinium-based cousins, one must show off their strength in battle or in a contest of strength. Fighting with magic or stealth is considered a coward's way of fighting.
5 They Don't Like People Trying To Sneak By In The Trees
Another book in The Elder Scrolls Online called In the Company of Wood Orcs was written by a Bosmer that details his experience with them. He writes that he had to deliver a message and traveled by climbing the trees. The Wood Orcs caught him trying to sneak by, and the Bosmer writes that he was surprised by their ferocity. Stating that only other Bosmer have been able to match him in speed. He writes that the Wood Orcs are very agile and can move with frightening speed.
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The Bosmer writer was only able to get away after throwing dirt in his opponent's eyes. The Wood Orc accused him of being a "coward who disguised himself with the forest instead of fighting with it." While they have different fighting styles than the northern Orcs, the Wood Orcs still prize a fair fight.
4 They Don't Have Wise Women In Their Tribes
Most of the Orc tribes usually have a wise woman, the mother of the chieftain in the stronghold. The wise woman serves as the spiritual leader in the tribe. The Wood Orcs, on the other hand, have shamans. Shamans are usually male, but some are female. They are the spiritual leaders of their tribes and give advice and guidance. It is also said that the Wood Orc shamans can collect dreams and put them in dreamcatchers, but it is unknown what they do with those dreams.
3 Their Strongholds Are Stronger
When one looks at the strongholds that most Orcs live in, it's usually made of palisades and wooden towers. The strongholds of the Wood Orcs are defended by huge walls of timber and stone. Some of their strongholds are powerful enough to fend off small armies. With the forest surrounding them, this makes the Wood Orc strongholds a tough defense to crack. The Wood Orcs haven't been driven off as much as the Orcs of Orsinium have and can maintain their strongholds for longer periods of time.
2 No One Knows How Long They've Been In Valenwood
No one knows exactly how long the Wood Orcs have been in Valenwood. In The Elder Scrolls Online, it is said that the Wood Orcs were there before Bosmer came and claimed the land as their own. An Aldmer explorer, named Topal the Pilot, that lived during the Merethic Era, stated that he and his crew ran into Wood Orcs while exploring Tamriel. Though, there is no actual proof of their existence, and they could've been mistaken for Goblins, who can grow to about an average human's height.
1 They've Beaten Several Imperial Garrisons
The Imperial Legion has one of the best armies in Tamirielic history. They've managed to maintain a strong presence and have conquered many areas. However, when they expanded into Valenwood during the First Era, the Wood Orc tribes raided them. Reman's Bluff is the most notorious area that was taken. The Wood Orcs built their home on the remains of it and maintained a stronghold into the Second Era. They also raided other garrisons, which led to the construction of several strongholds. However, the Wood Orcs did work with the Imperials when the town Goldfolly was active.