Black Orc

Black Orcs are the biggest and strongest of all Orcs, and get their name from their dour, grim demeanour as much as from the colour of their skin, which is extremely dark green or black. They are bigger than normal Orcs and pride themselves on being the best fighters of all. They take war much more seriously than other Orcs and have the best equipment. Many of their fearsome weapons are captured in battle, and carried as a mark of their self-evident superiority, while others are paid in tribute by subjugated tribes.

The origins of the Black Orcs are shrouded in mystery, but some maintain they they were created by the Chaos Dwarfs of the Dark Lands, perhaps to serve as slaves or warriors. Certainly, the Black Orcs' sturdy constitution would allow them to prosper in the harsh land of the Chaos Dwarfs when lesser greenskin workers would perish. They first appeared in the Old World during Sigmar's time, perhaps escaping or being expelled from the lands of their supposed creators, a whole band crossing the Worlds Edge Mountains and conquering the other Orcs living in the hills to the northwest of Stirland. When Sigmar first united the Men of the middle Old World into the Empire, he had first to drive out the Orcs and Goblins that lived there. Those battles against the Black Orcs were by far the hardest fought, and only won at terrible cost to Sigmar's armies. Black Orcs regard other Orcs and Goblins with contempt, especially Goblins, who are always running away instead of standing and fighting. In battle, Black Orcs keep a constant eye out for bickering in the ranks, and it takes little more than a dark scowl or a throaty growl from a single Black Orc to bring the lesser greenskins into line. Should that fail, Black Orcs are perfectly willing, and exceptionally able, to wade in and smash some heads together, thus restoring order quick smart at the insignificant cost of the lives of the wrongdoers.