Orks. For many species in the Warhammer 40K universe, war is a grim necessity,

a core aspect of their lives that must continue for their own survival.

For orcs, however, spelled with a K, violence is closer to a religion, as practically every orc possesses an innate love for bloodshed.

Orcs are primitive, savage, numerous beyond measure, and one of the most integral aspects of Warhammer

40,000.

In this video, we'll take a look at orc history in the Melky Way, their culture, and their unique physiology.

Orcs did not have a natural creation, but instead were originally engineered by the old

ones, an ancient technologically advanced race in order to help them combat their enemies,

namely the necrons.

The original orcs created by the old ones were called the Crook, and they were made to be essentially living weapons, aggressive, dim-witted, and strong,

some standing as tall as 12 meters.

It's believed that specific knowledge was built into their genetic codes,

such as how to build simple machinery, as well as a collaborative psychic ability that I'll

discuss later. The old ones ultimately lost their war, and Crooks would eventually descend

into the multitudes of different orc subspecies.

Orc physiology is quite unique, essentially a fusion of both animal and fungus.

Orcs are grown, not born, as each subspecies grows from spores that develop underground. Some grow into more simple fungi

used as a food source. Others grow into different life forms such as squigs,

snotlings, Gretchen, or orcs, which are all technically part of the orchoid family.

Squigs are the most basic intelligent life forms in the orcoid family, coming in many different

varieties that are used for food, warfare, or other strange purposes such as providing

hair for an orc.

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