Condotierri Orcs of Darokin
by Marc SaindonWhile Humanoids were originally created to reincarnate evil souls, they have since become their own breeds, and probably have their own moral compass along with it. The DDC might not know that, but they do realize that for all their friendliness, the neighboring Hin would turn to raiding if crops just started failing, and so, a bunch of starving Orcs might be paid off. Or at least, you could pay half to fight the other half.
While in a precarious economic situation after the war with Hule, Darokin was also low on military effectives, and the recent rise of Aengmore in Canolbarth Forest meant looking for new options. Meanwhile Thar's leadership in the Broken Lands grew contested each day, and while no Orc wanted to step up against the despot, some wanted out.
And so, after much wheeling and dealing, the Orc Condottieri were created as a mercenary company in service to Darokin. Called 'Brutos' by the populace, they play a part similar to Spaniards in Italy during the Renaissance, seen as an occupying force of mercenaries, disliked but feared too much to display contempt openly.
The 'Orcos' (no relations to MOTU) are naturally kept away from sensitive areas: they're assigned border patrol, but the merchant-princes are smart enough to not place them near the Broken Lands where the Condotierri could betray them to invaders from their former homeland (and join the raids). Rather, they're assigned to other locations like the Sind border in the west (where Hulean remnants survive as brigands), Aengmore to the east or (more likely) in the south to contain threats posed by both the Children of the Jaguar (or "Tiger" if you keep canon) and lizardmen of Malpheggi swamps.
While still second-class citizens in Darokin, the Condotierri Orcs get access to a much better arsenal than their brethren in the Broken Lands, and enough coin to keep themselves in a comfortable lifestyle, which not buy their loyalty to Darokin, but at least encourages them not to return to their old ways. The upper echelons of this "Foreign Legion" are also not just content with cashing in, but eventually they figure out that amassing a large enough war chest might buy themselves a place among the merchant-princes, or at least provide the necessary funds to raise a larger army and conquer a new homeland (far from the wrath of Thar) for themselves, possibly on the Savage Coast or in Davania.
(art from: https://www.artstation.com/artwork/03mJnE)