Savage tribal society was the most common form of social organization for orcs and ogres, as well as other "savage" races such as bugbears.

These races almost inevitably formed tribes out of an inborn need for social life and a common cause. Few "savages" did not devote themselves to one tribe or another.

Tribes

Tribes were commonly seen as the smallest social unit. These consisted of anywhere between a dozen to several hundred humanoids. They had a communal government, usually a single chief with several "advisors" who handled peacetime administration, and lived in a single locations. Depending on the culture, tribes can be nomadic or settled.

Smaller social units could be formed. Sometimes, love led to the formation of family-like groups, which could number anywhere between 2 to 6 people. Different individuals tied by blood often had special bonds: a child would protect their parents, and many inter-tribal alliances or chieftain dynasties were based on blood lines.

Blood ties did not translate to social life. Parents did not form groups keeping their children; often, couples broke up soon after they got children. Pregnant women could stay in special homes and were protected by the whole tribe; usually, a woman stayed in this nursery around three months before term to some months after the birth. Then, children were left to the care of "professional" nurses.

Clans

Occasionally, usually due to outside threats or the possibility of conquering richer areas, tribes formed larger alliances known as "clans". The loyalty and belonging to a tribe was transferred to the greater identity of a clan; Drubark was a prime example of this.

Sometimes, these were disunited political alliances, but sometimes they were powerful federations.