Jim Deutch
Well-Known Member
If we take literally the words "Orcs multiply in the manner of the Children of Illuvatar", then we have to eliminate all the wildest schemes: they can't be marsupials, or egg-laying monotremes, or r-strategy reproducers.
But note that the only Orcs we ever encounter are soldiers. We have no information whatever from the books on Orc home-life other than Bilbo's reports of Gollum's observations on hunting their young. Which he might have made up for dramatic effect.
But note that the only Orcs we ever encounter are soldiers. We have no information whatever from the books on Orc home-life other than Bilbo's reports of Gollum's observations on hunting their young. Which he might have made up for dramatic effect.