Latrani Orc

Appearance
Unlike the typical green-skinned orc, the Latrani has a dusky tan to dun colored complexion with long coarse black hair. They do not have tusks, or pig like snouts. Rather they have small noses, hunting by sight rather than scent, and their ears are also small and rounded like a bears. The latrani generally also have long eyelashes to keep the desert sand out of their eyes. Unlike the Seitch, who go about veiled from head to foot in protective garb, they rarely adorn themselves with more than modest loin cloths, ceremonial robes, or loose fitting tunics of desert cloth. Female Latrani are known for their excessive sensuality. They have large inviting eyes and soft pleasant voices.

History/Background
The Latrani have a long oral record, though in the last century it has become badly fragmented. Many of the tribes that had wandered the desert from oasis to oasis have simply vanished. Some have been swallowed by the sands, others were driven together to create larger, less distinct tribes to survive. The near constant raiding from the Seitch and the Xanadu Cavalry have reduced their numbers greatly.

The bulk of Latrani history is based around the freedom they once enjoyed with their nomadic wandering, following their trefoil camels and sand-oxen. When the life of a young Latrani warrior was creating mirage ballads and courting romance among the harems of the elder orcs. Those times are since gone, and the greatest strength of the Latrani was lost during the resurgence of Xanadu. The Latrani were simply not as strong as the Seitch, and were easier prey for the mounted Calcobrinan warriors.

The Latrani now content themselves by living under the aegis of their old enemy, the Xanadu. They pay tribute in the form of desert-cloth weavings, and other forms of what is considered low folk art. Entire tribes have given up the sandy road in favor of working irrigated fields and living in orc enclaves near human settlements. They survive, and are largely protected, and at times persecuted by the humans, but at the cost of their culture and heritage. Some younglings take up the road of the adventurer but face so much racial prejudice that they eventually return to the enclaves for safety among their own kind.

Others take their chances and live in the arid wastes, fighting tooth and nail with the numerically superior Seitch and avoiding the Calcobrinans as best possible.

Special Equipment
Semi-civilized Latrani are generally outfitted as a common peasant would be, especially a very poor peasant. Many are taken into bondage and serve some lords as permanent property, slaving away in kitchens and in fields for human masters. Many a human lord of Xanadu has taken a latrani she-orc into his harem. Feral Latrani are equipped with bone and stone weapons and are very fond of using distillations of scorpion poison on their weapons. Unlike the Seitch, they make regular use of bows and poisoned arrows.

Scorpion poisoned arrows cause very painful infections in wounds, as well as swelling, fever, and nausea. To become a blooded warrior, each Latrani who would fight must be ritually subjected to Scorpion poison as a test of manhood.

Roleplaying Notes
Semi-Civilized Latrani are hesitant and fearful. They are unarmed and rightly fear human persecution. Most are second class citizens and most known their place in society and do little to rock the boat. To upset the humans or to leave their protection is to invite death in it's myriad violent forms. They should appear as a noble, but utterly defeated and humiliated foe, but with a hint of orcish rage lurking within their breasts.

Feral Latrani are as cagey as desert foxes, quick as striking scorpions, and as silent as a carrion-drake on wing. They remain elusive, avoiding conflict unless they are sure of success. Their main quarrey are the Seitch who are often prideful and willing to go about in small numbers. Others will raid into Human protected enclaves to 'rescue' their semi-civilized brethern.