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From Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum
cleaning up the mess left for me
==Origin==
There are two theories relating to why Orks have such a unique biology. The first is that they were adapted by their masters the [[Snotling]]s, a race that soared to intelligence upon eating a particular species of mushroom, spread across the galaxy with the help of their less intelligent Ork slaves, and were then deemed stupid again when the Orks consumed all traces of the mushroom which only grew on their home planet.{{Cite Marker EndFn|7}}
The more modern one is that they are the '''Krork''', created as a survivor race by the [[Old Ones]] (referred to in Ork legend as the Brain Boyz) in their wars against the [[Necrontyr]]. The fact that an entire ecosystem can be constructed of Orkoids, and their total war-readiness, suggests that this is the more likely of the two. In early forms of this theory, the Brain Boyz were an Orkoid subspecies, along with Orks, Squigs, and Gretchin.{{Cite Marker EndFn|8}}
==Ork Biology==
===Diet===
Orks eat fungi of all kinds as well as meat. A particularly favoured ingredient in their diet are [[Squigs]], short for 'squiggly beasts' - a variety of symbiotic races about the size of a cat, but legless. Often the only ones consumed are those known as the 'Eaten Squigs', a limbless blob which feeds on fungus. Their development is often seen as that of pack predators, although it is unlikely that they are hunting Eaten Squigs, limbless as they are and not providing much in the way of a challenge.{{Cite Marker EndFn|7}}
===Genetic Knowledge===
Ork behaviour is dominated by the [[Waaagh!]], a [[Wikipedia:gestalt|gestalt]] psychic field they generate that has affects on the Ork psyche, as it allows Orks to instinctively recognise who is 'bigga' and therefore who is in charge. All Orks generate this field, and it grows stronger as the Orks enjoy themselves, generally while fighting. The Waaagh! helps give momentum (and the name) to the Orks' planet-crushing Waaagh!s. These Waaagh!s are a cross between a crusade and a [[Wikipedia:pub crawl|pub crawl]], with a bit of [[Wikipedia:Genocide|genocide]] thrown in for good measure. Thousands of Orks will gather together, drawn to the power of a single dominant Ork called a '''Warlord''', who is bigger and more intelligent than the Orks around him. Then the Orks will set off to find an enemy to fight - any enemy. Ork Waaagh!s will sweep whole planetary systems away and destroy armies and fleets in tides of bloodlust and carnage, and only once the Orks have killed every available enemy will they start to fight amongst themselves again.
The [[Adeptus Mechanicus]] has theorised that this gestalt psychic field also has a [[Telekinesis|telekinetic]] affect, allowing Ork technology to work.{{Cite Marker End}} This argument has been debunked, even by the Imperium itself.{{Cite Marker End}} It is believed that the reason this argument came into existence is that the Imperium believes that a 'Machine Spirit' inhabits all technology, and that this machine spirit serves humanity. If this is the case, without a machine spirit Ork machines could not work, requiring some psychic effect to justify their often devastating effect. However, Genetor [[Lukas Anzion]] has noted that many Ork-built weapons will not function unless wielded by an Orkoid. It is thought that this is the reason red Ork vehicles go faster: simply because the Orks think they should! But accounts from Imperial Guard units using captured Ork equipment (such as during the [[First Siege of Perlia]]) confirm that Orkish technology is merely extremely crude and unreliable.{{CMEFn|2}}
==Sources==
*{{Endn|5}}: [[Rogue Trader: Into the Storm]], pg. 59-61 ''Ork Physiology''
*{{Endn|6}}: [[Flight of the Eisenstein (Novel)]], Part One, Chapter One
*{{Endn|7}}: [[Waaargh: Orks]], pgpgs. 5-6*{{Endn|8}}: [[ Codex: Necrons (3rd Edition)]], pgs. 26-28
===Uncited===
