Monster Essays: Ogres

I haven't used ogres much in the modern setting. Tough to find something for them that's not orcs or something. They've still got their quirks and you don't wanna fuck with em. Felt like they needed an essay to tell you what they are and why they may not show up all the time.

Dylan Eywind

History of Interspecies Relations II

Life Is Ogre.The History of Ogres.

**A-. Please refrain from Shrek memes in your titles. Minor capitalization errors with titles and semi-proper names. Understandably short given their direct and peaceful approaches.**

Like most things about them, ogres have a fairly simple and direct history with humans. They were discovered relatively late into the age of revelations, emerging from their small familial tribes and groups in a gradual reveal to the world. Ogres were understandably late to emerge not only from their widespread and small gatherings, but from their incredibly sturdy natures. Ogres left to their own devices often live deep in mountains, snowy regions or deserts, with their thick skins and adaptable diets making them able to inhabit places too difficult for humans or more particular races.

While considered the physically strongest of the intelligent species, ogres are genetically the closest relatives to humans. They resemble larger, slightly more primitive humans, as ogres had little interest in the pursuit of technology. Their sparse and widespread cultures left them varied and unable to share much information or developments, so their isolated ways left them relying on strength and stamina.

Ogres average somewhere around 6’6'' for females and 7 feet for males, with skin tones closely resembling humans. They tend to weigh 350-400 pounds due to incredibly dense muscles and thick bones, which can give them a broad and brutish appearance. Their separated living spaces leave them some variety, but they generally appear as oversized and physically thicker and cruder humanoids. Common traits include thick and leathery skin, larger mouths and hands, longer arms and thick, increased body hair, and oily hair.

Despite legends of them being violent and dimwitted, ogres proved to be quite friendly. They enjoy simple pleasures but can be very capable craftsmen and cooks. Their habits of living in harsh environments and wielding incredible strength and weight make them heavily consider their actions, which has led to them being slow but steady thinkers rather than quick to react. Despite this, some very famous novels (such as The Dime Store Dollar) and research have been produced by ogre minds operating at their own pace.

Although calm and peaceful, ogres must live in a world where their size, strength and survivability significantly outweigh their fellow creatures. When they can crush certain races underfoot or lift a man by their head, they exercise caution and a lumbering gait in more crowded areas. While they lack the all out athleticism of orcs, they are plenty capable of moving quickly when needed. Their durable nature leads to them enjoying more physical activities, particularly thrill-seeking acts such as mountain climbing or skydiving.

While ogres are sexually compatible with humans, orcs, minotaurs, and other large enough races, they maintain some social stigma in these circles. Their large and hairy builds don’t appeal to traditional standards of beauty, but these were quickly overcome. The fact that they are so particularly strong and heavy makes mating difficult in certain positions, leading to the stereotype of ogres unintentionally leaving bruises or worse on their non-ogre partners. Numerous sites and resources exist (including loremaster Hawke’s website Ogrebedroom .com) with advice and exercises that can make this more manageable. 

Even in the open, ogres remain relatively small in numbers. While some inhabit cities along with the other races, many prefer to keep to themselves in their more dangerous terrain to make the most of otherwise unusable land and housing. Their physical capabilities are even being considered in recent research to form a team of ogres, demons and goblins to begin work on colonizing Mars. While skeptics remain, these strong allies and close friends of the modern world share their strength with the rest of us.