Unknown to the most of the population of the Old World is that of Orc evelotion and breeding processes. These have been studied in detail by the High Elves of Ulthane, and only they and the Slann know the true orgins of the Orcs. The behaviour and society of the Orcs will be discused elsewher; but this artical shall discuss the procreative processes and subsequesnt physical development of the Goblinoid anatomy.
|
The Goblinoid spieces has a unique bio-structure and zenological genetics engineered into them by the Slann who first placed them on the Warhammer World. The Goblinoid species refers to all aspects of greenskin society from the dominant "Orcs", through the smaller "Goblins", "Snotlings" and the sub-animal "Squigs", even the sub-spices of "Hobgoblins" and "Black Orcs". Although phycically and anatomically diverse, these diffrent species all share a common genetic base. |
Evey Goblinoid is, in a sense, a symbiosis of two biologies within a single structure. As well as a standard gene spiral every Greenskin also possesses a secoundary make-up of an algal/fungal base. The standard genetic structure of an Goblinoid remains essentially the same as that of Man, that it dictates, the majority of the creature's form (though see later comments about growth pattens) and biological processes. However, this process occures in combination with the plant-like secondary structure, which gives Orcs their resilience to damage and is the key to understanding their procreative cycle (and many of their social doctrines as well). |
Greenskin Resistance
|
The algal cellular sub-system is comparable in many ways to the bloodstream of a human. It is bound within their anatomiocal structure at a molecular level and works alongside the standard genetic and biological processes. In combination with standard cell repair (blood clotting and so forth), the Greenskins algal structure resonds to damage. This means that even large wounds will be covered with a hard, skin-like layer within a few hours of the injury occuring, as the algal cells rapidly replicate to repair the damage. It has been found that however serious the injury, if the Orc did not die immediately of shock and trauma it was unlikely to die from loss of blood or organ trauma. Thsi regenerative process is aided by the Orcs crude medical knowledge - whole limbs can be grafted on, Organs freely swapped, wounds stapled or nailed tight and so forth with only 0.0023% chance of tissue rejection. The Goblinoid ability to withstand such mortal wounds is a fearsome prospect. |
Despite the symbiosis of the two cell structures, each has its own gene-structure. The Greenskins standard gene-strand defines what type of creature it is (Orc, Goblin and so forth) while the algal gene-strand remains consistant, whatever sub-species of Greenskin. This commen heritage is remarkable and leaves me with no conclusion than that of genetical manipulation and re-structuring by the Old Ones sometime in the ancient past. Along with the exceptional procreative system detailed later, the algal sub-strands of the Greenskins is definite (and remarkably successful) attempt for improved survival. The secondary strand is outstandingly resilient to extrems of temperature, radiation levels, atmosphere consistency and trauma, enabling Goblinoids to survive wherever they happened to be. Cannibalism is also a very nutrition-intensive practice though extensive experiments have proved that at no stage in development is the fungal/algal matter edible by humans. |
Greenskin Procreation
|
The algal sub-strand has a much more insidious and dangerous threat, relating to the strange manner in which Orkoids procreate. The algal matter within an Orkoid contains the genetic make-up of all Goblinoid species (with the excpetion of the genetically altered Black Orcs, Hobgoblins and Half-Orcs), not just the codes of life for the species carrying it. Throughout an Greenskin's life, the creature sheds spore-like cells containing the entire genetic code of the Greenskin race. These are shed in an unconscious manner much as a human replicates skin cells and sheds dead tissue without realising it. These spores are microscopic in nature and fulfil a number of functions. Firstly, they can be detected by the highly sensitive nasal organs of the Greenskins, conveying a varity of information such as status, age and so on. It also enables an Goblinoid to locate other Goblinoids over quite a wide distance (several miles, given wind strength, direction and so on). The spores are also the reporductive mechanism of an Goblinoid. When they settle in the correct coditions, the spores will evolve into the species whose genetic structure it contains. Greenskin spores require dank, dark locations to activate, much liek other algaes and fungi. Caves and forests are the most successful spawning sites for Greenskin spores, but even in the most arid conditions, a proportionate number of spores will land within a site suitable for development. The spores grow downwards at first, with tiny rootlets that seek out nutrition and moisture just like any other plant. However, once the algal stage is established the Goblinoid cells are generated in tandem development, and the Greenskin literally grows like any vegetative tumour. It is an amazing process to observe! It takes quite a long time for an Orc to grow, while the smaller Squigs, Snotlings and so forth take a proportionately shorter length of time to develop. Greenskins do not emerge singly once they have reached the required age of maturity. Due to the nature of the spore process, dozens or even hundreds of Greenskins will emerge within a short space of time. The algal cells contain the gene-strands for the diverse Goblinoid species, so a single type of Goblinoid can still propagate an entire community on its own. Goblins, Orcs, Snotlings and Squigs can all be generated from the same source, settle in the same area and grow proportionatel. The squigs emerge first and breed faster, creating a substantial food source, followed quickly by Snotlings who can start to prepare the area. The the Goblins arrive and pave the way for the emerging Orcs to establish a whole thriving community. Tests have shown that a lone spore, even if it lands in an agreeable enviroment, generally will only evolve into a simple fungus. Those rare few that evolve into one of the high Goblinoid forms and manage to hatch generally wither and die within a matter of hours. They show regressed development compared with a newly emerged Greenskin surrounded by his own kind. Spores that land close to an existing settlement also tend to do this. |
Some sort of magic energy has been enginnered in to the Orc race, proberly by the Old Ones. It is possible to see that whatever limits the Goblinoids growth in certain circumstances strengthens the race rather than weaken it. On the most simple level, this means that spores which land close to a group of Greenskins will evolve into fungus and squigs to provide food for that community. Only some kind of magical energy cretaed by the Greenskins can explain this pattern. This mechanism also enables the rapid spread of the Orc race, as spores that land outside the magical aura of an Orc settlement willevolve fully, as long as the spores are closely grouped with each other. It is highly probable that the spores themself, while no means sentient, also have a magical trace which will trigger growth in nearby spores. As the dormant Goblinoids and fungi grow, this latent magical communication intensifies thereby stimulating even higher growth, and evolution into higher Goblinoid spieces. In this way, no area will become over-populated by the Orcs and even as their community spreads their food source will be proportionately increaesed around them. As an Goblinoid grows older, it sheds more spores. When an Goblinoid dies, its body becomes a rich source of nutrition for its own surviving spores, and old Orcs desert their communities to seek out the dank, shaded spots which favour breeding before they finally succumb to old age. It should be noted that the Orcs, the largest and longest-lived spieces, rarely survive to more than thirty years, although exceptional and powerful individuals live longer than lower ranking ones. The dormant Goblinoids are almost undetectable with only a patch of fungus or algal growth to indicate something amiss. Emerging Orcs are almost at their mature state, nearly fully grown, much like a human adolescent. Within a short period of time, the Goblinoid will have all the charecteristics of a full adult, inclueding the facility of speech as well as a basic understanding of some basic technology. Skills seem to have been genetically enginnered into the greenskin race. A small pecentage have mechanical, magical or other skills which fulfil a basic role in Orc society. |
Greenskin Strength
|
Lastly, by fighting Orks we make them stronger. As insane as it may sound, the Goblinoids (Orcs more than other sub-species) literally thrive on warfare. Most Orcs have similar physical dimensions when they have fully matured. Howerev , the more belligerent and aggressive the Orc is, the larger it grows. Due to the way Orcs hierarchy is structured, with fighting to determine ranking, the most high ranking Orcs are also the largest. This is not because they are better at fighting but due to the fact that a belligerent, aggressive Orc - one who has beaten his opponent - will put on several pounds of additional muscle tissue over the next few weeks. |
Orcs preparing to challenge a superior will also put on weight as their psyche develops the necessary aggression, and so the highest ranking Orc will be able to detect this and fight the usurper before he reaches full development. Over extended fighting, the average size of fighting Orcs has been seen to increase by several inches is height and almost a stone in solid muscular tissue. |