The Shadow Clan Orcs are perhaps the oldest roleplaying group on the Catskills Shard. Today they are certainly the largest. Part of the reason for the success of this group lies in the dedication of its leaders, and in the strength of its rules. The Orcs are an excellent group to join if you are a fledgling roleplayer. They have a well tested entry process. Also the large number of orcs mean you have many players to look to for advice and inspiration. Still, the process can be difficult for some. This essay is intended to give a new player a few hints on how the process works, and how to create a new orc.

The Orcs possess a hierarchical rank structure. The lowest rank is the Gruntee. All players who create an orc player start at this rank. The first step a prospective orc player should take is to review the Shadow Clan website. The current address is http://members.xoom.com/Hoowah/index.html. There is much information contained therein. The new player should concentrate on three sections. The first is the history part concerning the Wargod. The Orc's worship of the Wargod underscores their entire roleplay, so an understanding of the Wargod is essential.

The next section to concentrate on is the Clan Rules section. Pay particular attention to the rules and restrictions that apply to being a Gruntee. Next, read the section on creating a Gruntee. Follow the step for character creation careful, for a mistake here means that the character you create will be unable to join the clan. Also, spend some time considering a proper orc name. There are several places to look for good examples. Necro Sanct's Simple Site has an extensive list of names. You may also look on most of the Orc Tribe's websites for lists of member's names.

Lastly, you must decide on a blood line. The Sneek-R, Majoka, and As-sas-un blood lines are all closed to new characters. The Mak-R blood line is open, but requires the player to contact the head of that blood line prior to joining for some specific instruction. The other four blood lines are all quite different. Each has its own equipment restrictions, and more importantly skill restrictions. After reviewing these, chose a bloodline and you are ready to create your orc character.

When creating your character, there are several things which are a must. Your strength must be 45. A skill of 50 in hiding is a must as well. There are no exceptions. No hair is also a must. Proper skin color is also necessary, and is a fairly common mistake many new orcs make. In choosing your two other skills, you have some latitude. Be careful to remember the skill restrictions of your chosen bloodline. For example, you can not take healing as a skill unless you are in the K'igg-R bloodline. Create your orc character, start in Yew, then head south for the orc fort. The first thing a new orc should do after being created is to come directly to the fort. Do not get any equipment, and do not spent any time purchasing or practicing any skills. All new orc characters are required to be newly created and without any previous training.

The entire entry process is roleplayed at the fort. Come to the fort and announce that you wish to join the clan. At that point you will be directed to a suitable orc which when then give you a test. You will be asked questions that will test your knowledge of the basic rules of the Shadow Clan. You will also need to demonstrate your hiding ability. This test is very difficult to fail. Even if you don't understand certain things, they will be explained to you provided you show a respectful and eager attitude. Once the test is passed, you will be given suitable orc equipment and your instruction on orc life will begin.

Actually getting on the stone can take a day or two. There are two separate stones that Orc Gruntees are placed on. The high volume of orcs joining however means that the two Gruntee Captains that control the stones have a fairly large workload. This is particular true on weekends when as many as 10-15 new Gruntees show up to be tested. Patience at this point will serve you well. A sure way to start off on the wrong foot is to constantly pester other orcs to place you on the stone.

As a last note of caution, be aware when joining you may receive a fair amount of verbal abuse. Orcs tend to yell and shout quite a bit. This is the way orcs are roleplayed. It will all be good natured and should be taken in stride. The process is in no way similar to hazing and should not discourage you. The fundamental rule of being in the Shadow Clan is to have fun and to not ruin any other player's fun. If you become uncomfortable at any point, just let someone know. While the life of a new Gruntee can be hard, it is also very rewarding if taken with the proper attitude.