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The '''Brain Boyz''',{{Fn|1}} or '''Brainboyz''',{{Fn|2}} are the ancient progenitor species of [[Greenskin]]s which instigated the Ork's technological development, and possibly created the [[Gretchin]]s and the [[Ork]]s themselves.{{Fn|5}} Ork legends, told by [[Runtherd]]s,{{Fn|2}}{{Fn|5}} remember them as '''The Lost Race''' and believe them to have devolved into the species now known as [[Snotling]]s.{{Fn|1}}{{Fn|2}}{{Fn|5}}
==Overview==
Ork legend (such as it is) is generally passed down by the [[Runtherd]]s. They speak of a legendary caste of greenskins who created the Orks of today. This ancient race was extremely intelligent, and held dominion over the Ork castes. They were much smaller than their servants, so they bred the Orks to be as strong and fierce as possible to protect them from predators and invaders.{{Fn|2}}
[[Snotlings]] are also thought to be remnants of this lost race. It is believed that the underground cave fungi, which the Snotlings are symbiotic with, caused a genetic mutation in their brains. Over the generations, the Snotling brains developed to their full potential due to this fungus, and this intelligent lost race of Snotlings (Brainboyz) eventually developed Ork-kind, with the [[Gretchin]] as an intermediary development. These less intelligent creatures were fed [[Squigs]] rather than the intellect-enhancing fungus the Brainboyz consumed. However, over time the Orks began to question why such diminutive creatures were giving order, and began to acquire the special fungus for themselves. This fungus did not have an effect upon Orks, and without the fungus, the Brainboyz eventually regressed into a juvenile state. The Orks, as crude and harsh as they were, now the most intelligent of their kind and inherited the civilization of the Brainboyz.{{Fn|3}}
==Ork Mythology==
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|quote = '''"Da only lost race I ever 'eard of woz when Hef crashed 'is sickle in da final stretch of da Cross-Desert rally," said Nuzzgrond irritably. "Cost me a few teef, dat did." He spat out a large gob squig, which bounced off the rocks and plopped into a nearby slime pudle.<br><br>"Nar," said Hef, idly picking one of his warts,"Pulg means da legendary Lost Race 'oo created da Orks an' stuff, don't yer, Pulg?"<br><br>The young Ork nodded enthusiastically. He was bright-eyed and keen to learn all about Ork Kultur.<br><br>"Yoo bin talkin' to da Gretchin again?" asked Nuzzgrond suspiciously. "Dis all sounds like Gretchin talk ter me."<br><br>"Nar, twas one of da Runtherdz was sayin' dat snotties used ta be a lot smarter in da old days. Dey used ta boss us Orks around."<br><br>"Yer don' wanna believe everfing da Oddboyz say, Pulg. Dey finks dey're speshul 'cos of all the snots and grots dey 'ave. Da only way snotties could boss us about wuz if dey woz seven foot tall. An' den dey would be Orks not snotties, hur hur!"<br><br>The Boss laughed roucously at his own wit and gave Pulg a comradely slap across his shoulder.<br><br>"Da Runtherd said dat da snotties used ter be smarter," persisted Pulg as he extracted himself from the thorny-bush and started to pick spines from his clothes. "'E said it woz all ter do wiv dis fungus-stuff dat dey ate. It made dere brains swell an' everybody listened ter dem 'coz dey woz smarter."<br><br>"When did an Ork ever listen ter anybody just coz dey woz smarter?" sneered Nozzgrond. "Snotties eat fungus all da time, an' dey're still stoopid little gits. An' anyway, Orks are – er – 'telligend, an' if anyone tellz ya otherwise, shoot dem wiv yer bolta!"<br><br>"It's possible," said Hef, considering the matter. "Maybe da fungus woz a drug an' it boosted da brain or sumfink."<br><br>Nozzgrond glared at him. "Like dat stuff you took last summer, dat had yer seein' pretty colours an' swearin' ya knew da secret of da ooniverse," he retorted. "Nar, dere's no fungus makes yer smarter, no lost race of super-snotties. I'm an Ork an' I should know. It's all rubbish!"<br><br>He poked around in the slime puddle with the end of his bolter, extracted the gob squig and popped it back into his mouth with the barrel.''' – conversation among the [[Black Skulls]]{{Fn|2}} on "Da Lost Race"{{Fn|5}}
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==See also==
*{{Endn|3}}: [[White Dwarf 118 (UK)]], pg. 9
*{{Endn|4}}: [[Codex: Orks (2nd Edition)]], pg. 4
*{{Endn|5}}: [[Waaargh: Orks]], pgpgs. 54-6
[[Category:Orks]]
