What is the lifespan of the Orcs?

[SAMIAM]

Pretty much the subject line says it all.

[collectro]

shorter than that of a human, id say 30-50 years, IF they are healthy and great warriors. Being a battle born race keen on war and the likes, it is quite normal for the average orc to barely make it to 20. Through magicka and healing, or necromancy, it is possible for any single person of a race to become much older, though.

[Dean]

I'm curious to where I can find evidence of the Orc's living shorter lives then Humans, I think I remember reading it before but I can't for the life of me figure out where it was.

[Grove-of-Hares]

It wasn't in that biased, anti-orc book in-game was it? I also feel as if I've read about their lifespan before, but I'm not sure where.

[collectro]

well quite honestly there is only a couple instances of 'documented evidence' of actual lifespans of races, 'The Real Barenziah' states that the elves have thousand year lifespans, but there is a lot of fault to that 'evidence'.

Orsimer are of special note in lore as having slightly shorter lifespans than the Nords. Despite the Orcs' origins as Elves they are cursed with short, violent lives.

here's an older topic on the subject http://forums.uesp.net/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=27306, you will get a lot of good info from there.

[SAMIAM]

Remember the Morrowind Umbra (Orc not the sword)? how long did he have that sword? could it have kept him alive?

[Pilaf The Defiler]

Orcs are considered to have had a curse thrown on them that significantly shortened their lifespans during an early war with the Nords. While they're technically mer, I'd put them as living shorter lives than men - maybe 45 years.

[Dean]

here's an older topic on the subject http://forums.uesp.net/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=27306, you will get a lot of good info from there.

Cheers for the link, hopefully I can find where I saw that elusive information.

Remember the Morrowind Umbra (Orc not the sword)? how long did he have that sword? could it have kept him alive?

Unfortunately it isn't known how old he is, the only things he talks about are 'Dying a Warriors Death' and about the countless people he has slaughtered in his life. I really wish they had expanded on his story a bit, he is one of the most memorable encounters in the entire game, especially if you are a newish player who doesn't know all the tricks and how to overpower yourself. First time I beat him we had the most epic battle, he chased me and we ended up fighting on a cliff in the rain for ages... was beautiful, yet intense... he nearly had me to, but victory was mine!

Erm... Anyway... the sword is suppose to slowly drain the soul of the user, so I guess it is possible that it was keeping him alive. With most of your soul trapped inside it, I doubt it would want you to die before it could finish the job.

[SAMIAM]

here's an older topic on the subject http://forums.uesp.net/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=27306, you will get a lot of good info from there.

Cheers for the link, hopefully I can find where I saw that elusive information.

Remember the Morrowind Umbra (Orc not the sword)? how long did he have that sword? could it have kept him alive?

Unfortunately it isn't known how old he is, the only things he talks about are 'Dying a Warriors Death' and about the countless people he has slaughtered in his life. I really wish they had expanded on his story a bit, he is one of the most memorable encounters in the entire game, especially if you are a newish player who doesn't know all the tricks and how to overpower yourself. First time I beat him we had the most epic battle, he chased me and we ended up fighting on a cliff in the rain for ages... was beautiful, yet intense... he nearly had me to, but victory was mine!

Erm... Anyway... the sword is suppose to slowly drain the soul of the user, so I guess it is possible that it was keeping him alive. With most of your soul trapped inside it, I doubt it would want you to die before it could finish the job.

Whoever thought of Umbra is a genius, and yes my story is basically the same. Save I was a werewolf so once it became dark Umbra was no match for the Alpha Hound of Hircine.

[Pilaf The Defiler]

Umbra really doesn't count. Later lore such as in Lord of Souls seems to imply any person wielding Umbra becomes essentially an immortal wight, although they become gaunt and skeletal after so many years. An Orc would be no exception. This is not good evidence towards a typical Orc lifespan any more than using an Orc vampire or lich would be.

[Assassin540]

Just saying I already made a thread for the lifespans of all ES races so we could merge.

[Chaos the N'wah]

I think the implication of "short, violent lives" is more on the fact that their culture essentially kills off any Orc unable to pull their weight or to find a "good death" in combat before they "carry on" into old age. They could have short lives normally, but some how, I think their lifespan's length is measured by their path, not time.

[azabranth]

There's a random event in skyrim where I found an orc by windhelm he had dead saber cats around him and he said that when and orc gets older like middle age they start looking for a glorious death in battle then he asked me to fight him to the death dunno if this is relèvent just felt I should say it lol he looked fit only indication he was old was grayish hair

[SAMIAM]

I've had this one too, I guess his honorable death was getting shouted off into the water and sniped with arrows? I'd go to Sovengarde if that happened to me.

[Ralok]

probably a lot longer, possibly even comparable to other mer, if they didnt get an axe in the face!

[Berzerker]

Umbra really doesn't count. Later lore such as in Lord of Souls seems to imply any person wielding Umbra becomes essentially an immortal wight, although they become gaunt and skeletal after so many years. An Orc would be no exception. This is not good evidence towards a typical Orc lifespan any more than using an Orc vampire or lich would be.

So Umbra's the One Ring crossed with Soul Edge?

On topic: I'd say they're lifespans are comparable to humans least that's what I think.

[CorneliusFunk]

Orcs are considered to have had a curse thrown on them that significantly shortened their lifespans during an early war with the Nords. While they're technically mer, I'd put them as living shorter lives than men - maybe 45 years.

That's interesting. I knew the whole Trinimac event altered their appearance but I couldn't remember any mention of their lifespans being affected. I'd thought that one on hand being at least somewhat a race of mer, they would maintain several hundred years, but due to their warrior culture most of them wouldn't make it past middle age. Middle age in terms of man, that is. I ought to look into it to see if it affected their actual physiology like you said...

[metaphysician]

Honestly, if I had to guess, I'd say their natural lifespan isn't any less than that of man, maybe even greater. However, very few orcs are going to live nearly that long, for cultural reasons.

[Pilaf The Defiler]

Orcs are considered to have had a curse thrown on them that significantly shortened their lifespans during an early war with the Nords. While they're technically mer, I'd put them as living shorter lives than men - maybe 45 years.

That's interesting. I knew the whole Trinimac event altered their appearance but I couldn't remember any mention of their lifespans being affected. I'd thought that one on hand being at least somewhat a race of mer, they would maintain several hundred years, but due to their warrior culture most of them wouldn't make it past middle age. Middle age in terms of man, that is. I ought to look into it to see if it affected their actual physiology like you said...

My source for the Orkey story. Keep in mind this is a series of Nord legends, but there may be a grain of truth to them. Legends often explain real life phenomenon even if the reasons are fantastical. This is a legend about why Orcs don't live as long - which means they probably don't in real life, but for another reason possibly.

Old Knocker

The third song of King Wulfharth tells of his death. Orkey, an enemy god, had always tried to ruin the Nords, even in Atmora where he stole their years away. Seeing the strength of King Wulfharth, Orkey summoned the ghost of Alduin Time-Eater again. Nearly every Nord was eaten down to six years old. Boy Wulfharth pleaded to Shor, the dead Chieftain of the Gods, to help his people. Shor's own ghost then fought the Time-Eater on the spirit plane, as he did at the beginning of time, and he won, and Orkey's folk, the Orcs, were ruined. As Boy Wulfharth watched the battle in the sky he learned a new thu'um, What Happens When You Shake the Dragon Just So. He used this new magic to change his people back to normal. In his haste to save so many, though, he shook too many years out on himself. He grew older than the Greybeards, and died. The flames of his pyre were said to have reached the hearth of Kyne itself.

[Dark Spark]

probably a lot longer, possibly even comparable to other mer, if they didnt get an axe in the face!

Shoot them in the knee, and they'll trudge off into the wilds looking for a good death.

[Dunmerdude]

Or become a Nord and take up law enforcement.