I like my orcs rough-and-tumble, but not literal scum of the earth^^ In this particular continent, I figure they were brought over as soldiers in a time when things were totally anarchic, got abandoned/killed their own overlord when they found out the results of his experimenting on them (greatorcs, like Uruk-hai), and then threw their lot in with the one fellow who was bringing everyone under his rule without demanding they convert or anything. As a reward, they got a big stretch of turf called the Roaming-lands for those who wanted to get back to tradition, and a place in the empire.

Orcs aren't necessarily *dumb*, they just sometimes have to designate someone calmer to do their thinking for them. That's what priestesses and officers are for^^ Their philosophy tends to be about the only true peace is death, life is competition, be willing to take a stand and defend it.