“The orcs of the northern continent developed slightly differently to their cousins in the south, partly because of the different environments they lived in. While the southern orcs and goblins eked out a living at the lighter areas of dense rainforests and tropical jungles, or upon islands where land was a premium, the ones in the north lived in wide, open prairies where they were free to roam at will.

As such, while the tribes in the southern continent based their life around fortified, well-defended villages and generally remained static, those in the north instead lived out a nomadic lifestyle as they followed the seasonal migrations of their herds of prey animals. Naturally, a nomadic lifestyle meant that agriculture was rarely done, as the tribes subsisted as hunter-gatherers instead.

The rich amount of wildlife of the northern prairies easily allowed them to survive that way with room to spare, however, and a multitude of small tribes, which the northerners generally called clans, flourished on the wide prairies, where they remained the masters of the near-pristine land even to the present date.” - Excerpt from “The Tribal Life” by Fergus Harrington the IIIrd, sociologist and researcher of tribal society from Caroma, circa 403 FP.

“We are near,” said Orica from atop her mount, the mighty black-skinned rhinoceros that had been her mount for decades, as she led the entire clan’s journey north. It was the sixth year of Aideen and Celia’s stay with the Bloodfang Clan, and that year, it turned out that there was a special occasion, as the orcs had packed up a month earlier than usual compared to the date they migrated the previous years, and had headed north instead of south.

Both Aideen and Celia rode next to the orcish Warchief, each atop a sturdy horse that closely resembled the sort of draft horses used as beasts of burden in the Empire. By then the two of them were no longer considered guests, but as honorary members to the clan, something that was displayed prominently by the markings made on their exposed arms and face in paint. With those markings they would even be able to freely travel the prairie, as the other tribes would recognize - and respect - the meaning of those markings.

“Where are we headed, Warchief?” asked Celia from atop her steed. By then the once timid young woman had gained far more confidence in herself, and past few years of active living had also helped sculpt her body into a slender yet toned shape. Celia spoke the orcish tongue fluently, if with a slight accent, the fruits of her studies over the past years, and part of why she was more confident with the nomadic orcs these days.

“This year is the tenth since the last great meet,” replied Orica from the front, to which the other orcs within earshot nodded solemnly. “Us clans of the prairie gather to meet and talk every ten years, where we would discuss matters that concerned the prairie as a whole. This year just happened to be the time for another meet, which is where we’re headed.”

“I see a copse of trees in the distance… could be a grove by the size. That where we’re headed?” asked Aideen from atop her steed across from Celia.

“Indeed so, Everlasting Giver of Life,” replied Orica with evident respect in her voice. The past few years, Aideen’s gifts of healing had helped many orcs of the clan, including some of which who would have certainly lost their lives had she not been present. The clan had over time taken to calling her by that title instead, out of respect for what she had offered them freely. “The Grove is the land of Clan Greentusk. They do not move around like we do, so their land was a convenient place for us to meet on.”

“I don’t think I’ve met any of the Greentusk before,” said Celia with some curiosity. Over the past few years they had met many orcs from other clans, clans that had amicable relations with the Bloodfangs and regularly traded with them, but the Greentusk was a new name to her as well. “Do you have bad relations with them?”

“Oh, no such thing. It’s just that they’re pretty self-sufficient and rarely needed to trade for things. That and they’re also pretty far away from our usual lands, so there’s that too,” explained Orica quickly. From the tone of her voice Celia thought that the orcish matron seemed pretty fond of the Greentusk. “Keep in mind that they’re pretty unusual even for us, though, so take care not to offend them unnecessarily.”

“Strange how?” asked Aideen as her curiosity was piqued as well by that comment.

“The Greentusk had long maintained friendly… and familial relationships with a tribe of long-ears who originally lived in the grove. They even consider them members of the clans, and often had children with them, as well,” said the orcish matron with a tone not unlike how she described an odd yet good friend. “I hope neither of you had bad blood with long-ears in general? They had often told us tales that they used to be pretty hated in your lands.”

“If there’s any bad blood for me to have in these lands, it would be new ones I created myself,” replied Aideen nonchalant with a smile. Since she came from the southern continent, naturally she had not exactly had much in terms of grudges or hatred in the northern continent, and the few she might have created in Posuin, she might well have outlived already by then. “As for her, she’s not lived that long yet, and I don’t think she had any either. Just plenty of tall tales at most, I bet.”

“Not too unlike the tales they told about the orcs where I came from, yeah,” admitted Celia with a nod. “It shames me to say it, but my kind seemed all too eager to slap on a denigrating label on others rather than try to understand them.”

“Eh, even we got those types as well from time to time, so I totally get what you meant,” said Orica with an amused chuckle. “Anyway, we’re one of the first to arrive this year, it seems. There’s barely anyone else already camped, so let’s pick the best spot before they come!”