J.R.R. Tolkien, " Nomenclature of The Lord of the Rings" in Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, p. 762 The word Orcnéas is once found only in Beowulf (lines 112-113) and is cited as an example of the word “Orc” in Old English text. Actually, its meaning is not clear, and it is thought to refer to corpses (néas) from the Underworld. “Orcs” in Tolkien’s languages William D.B. Loos, Enemies and Miscellaneous: What was the relationship between Orcs and Goblins? at The Tolkien Frequently Asked Questions List (accessed 3 July 2011) Aside from his studies, Michiel is an up-and-coming author, having started out writing short Sci-Fi stories on various online platforms before finally taking the next step. Since then he has improved his craft, honing his writing skills.

In Angmar, Orcs fought for the Witch-king in his campaign against the realm of Arnor. Years later, they invaded Eriador under the remote leadership of the Necromancer (Sauron). The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey: Goblins are again made clearly distinct from Orcs in the film series. They are lesser relatives of Orcs; they are smaller (the very large Great Goblin notwithstanding), less powerful, and generally have pale, diseased skin, riddled with warts. Carpenter, Humphrey, ed. (1981). The Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 978-0-395-31555-2. Wizards of the Coast acquired TSR in 1997, and subsequently published editions of D&D and Monster Manual.The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies: A band of "Goblin mercenaries" appear on Ravenhill during the Battle of Five Armies, but are taken care of by the Dwarves without much trouble. See also [ edit | edit source ] Orcs of the mountains would often not venture very far from their homes unless they had to look for new homes, went to war or went on raids to get food or slaves. In such raids they would often obtain the help of Wargs with whom they then shared the plunder. [18] Orcs gather in tribes that exert their dominance and satisfy their bloodlust by plundering villages, devouring or driving off roaming herd, and slaying any humanoids that stand against them". [39] quoted by Young (2015), p.96. a b c O'Hehir, Andrew (6 June 2001). "A curiously very great book". Salon.com . Retrieved 3 March 2020. Williams, Skip; Tweet, Jonathan; Cook, Monte (1 October 2000). Monster Manual: Core Rulebook III (3ed.). Wizards of the Coast. p.146. ISBN 0-7869-1552-8. Orcs are aggressive humanoids that raid, pillage, and battle other creatures apud MacCallum-Stewart (2008), p.41

Around the year S.A. 1000 Sauron reappeared, took the land of Mordor as his realm, and started the construction of Barad-dûr. It is likely that most of his servants were Orcs at this time that he had gathered under his command. Still, for a long time, Sauron’s foul servants did not play an important role, for the Dark Lord had chosen a more subtle way to overthrow the free people by creating the Rings of Power. With Mount Gundabad as their capital, [9] the goblins had established settlements such as Goblin-town near the High Pass or in Mount Gram. [10] [11] Stirred by Sauron's steady re-emergence, the Orcs of the Misty Mountains began to multiply and harass the Dwarves by TA 1300. [12] Around the same time, the Dark Lord's captain, the Witch-king, called some of the Northern Orcs to Angmar's banner to crush Isildur's Heirs in Arnor. Though the Lord of the Nazgûl was ultimately defeated and Angmar fell, Gundabad continued to be held by the Orcs of the Mountains.

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The D&D orcs are endowed with muscular frames, large canine teeth like boar's tusks, and snouts rather than human-like noses. [41] [39] While a pug-nose ("flat-nosed" [T 20]) was attributable to Tolkien's written correspondence, the pig-headed (pig-faced [42]) look was imparted on the orc by the D&D original edition (1974). [43] It was later modified from bald-headed to hairy in subsequent editions. [43] In the third version of the game the orc became gray-skinned, [44] [45] [46] even though a complicated color-palleted description of a (non-gray) orc had been implemented in the Monster Manual for the first edition (1977). [47] Newer versions seem to have dropped references to skin-color. [39]

J.R.R. Tolkien; Humphrey Carpenter, Christopher Tolkien (eds.), The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, Letter 210, (undated, written June 1958)

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The orcs "multiplied" like Elves and Men, meaning that they reproduced sexually. [21] Tolkien stated in a letter dated 21 October 1963 to a Mrs. Munsby that "there must have been orc-women". [T 16] [22] [23] In The Fall of Gondolin Morgoth made them of slime by sorcery, "bred from the heats and slimes of the earth". [T 17] Or, they were " beasts of humanized shape", possibly, Tolkien wrote, Elves mated with beasts, and later Men. [T 18] Or again, Tolkien noted, they could have been fallen Maiar, perhaps a kind called Boldog, like lesser Balrogs; or corrupted Men. [T 9] An orc (sometimes spelt ork; / ɔːr k/ [1] [2]), [3] in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth fantasy fiction, is a race of humanoid monsters, which he also calls " goblin". In the early Third Age, Orcs of the Misty Mountains - whose chiefs were great Orcs from Barad-dûr- ambushed Isildur and his escort at the Gladden Fields. In the ensuing battle they slew the High-king of Gondor and Arnor and his guards. [8] Finally, Orcs were the core force of the Dark Lord's legions during the War of the Last Alliance, and fought in great battles such as the Battle of Dagorlad and the Siege of Barad-dûr.