CastleGreifenghast on DeviantArthttps://www.deviantart.com/castlegreifenghast/art/Flag-of-the-Low-Kingdoms-of-Orcneas-656848012CastleGreifenghast

Deviation Actions

CastleGreifenghast's avatar

Flag of the Low Kingdoms of Orcneas

Published:
1.5K Views

Description

A fantasy world needs orcs. That, since Tolkien, has been an immutable law of the genre. However, fitting orcs into Outlandish Tales was rather tricky. Generally when making a fantasy race for my setting, *I go back to the original myth, and then extrapolate from there. For example, Dwarfs in my setting are vermiform, since in Norse mythology they were originally spawned from the maggots in the flesh of the Ice Giant Ymir at the beginning of time. The problem was that orcs, despite a few etymological hints in things like Beowulf, were created by Tolkien.  There were some intriguing suggestions that orcs were originally conceived as an aquatic monster, but I already had the sirens in that role. In the end I decided to make orcs literally Neanderthals, which neatly makes half-orcs a thing as well.

Rvbomally suggested that the Orcs could be the only faction in this setting with the traditional fantasy feudal government, and I have developed to take this a little further. The Orcs are the Low Fantasy faction. This neatly still keeps the orcs as a ‘primitive’ faction, if not as primitive as the actual barbarians. Orcs have no aptitude for magic and are rather unimaginative (not stupid, just a lot less creative than the other young races). As such they have carried on trucking with feudalism long after everyone else has developed more complicated forms of government. This has not ended well for them. Orcish society is not an accurate depiction of medieval social organisation, but is the crapsacky exaggeration popularised by things like ASOIAF. They also of course tend to paint their faces with green *wood before battle, for maximum braveheart.

The flag had to be pretty feudal, but also incorporating the traditional orc colours of green and red. I went for a quartered flag, meant to be similar to the flag of Angevin England. The symbology of the flag is pretty simple, the crenulations on the quarters, and the castle, of course represent good ol’ feudalism and baronial rule. The six-pointed mullet represents the six Chained Gods, who the orcs worship as a pantheon.  

Image size
1000x667px 8.12 KB
© 2017 - 2024 CastleGreifenghast
Comments6
Join the community to add your comment. Already a deviant? Log In
I think stone castles actually sort of undermine the idea of the Orcs.

I feel like Low Middle Ages might even be going too far: maybe make them more of a Dark Ages Anglo-Saxon/Arthurian/Frisian faction. That would be both in fitting with their Tolkenian origins and the possible allusions in Beowulf. Have them mostly based around hillforts, which are stone in all but the richest fiefs. Have no actual laws but an extensive collection of Common Laws, based on their long tradition and reverence for freedom and their regard for themselves as freemen.

In the same sense there are few High Kings, that usually only occurs during war (with the High King presiding over an Arthurian Round Table, built by the first High King who repulsed invasion in the Arthurian manner).