So I did something I thought I'd never do.. create my first-ever Orc warrior. I've found that I love her to death, but I'm running into a problem: I don't really know what to do with her. So far, I've decided she won't partake in the MQ (unless there's some really good sensible reason that she should). TG and DB seem out-of-character for her, as well as the Companions, since I don't see her

She could travel to the Strongholds. Do a certain daedric quest. Maybe join the war (although whether an Orc would join the Empire or the Stormcloaks would make a whole other topic). She could be a sword-for-hire around all the holds and villages. Maybe even join the Dawnguard.

I don't know about the college.. Would it be awkward for an Orc to be a mage?

There's also the matter of an island..

Idk, maybe I just want more race-specific activities. I guess, for the first time ever I find myself leaning towards the Orsinium dlc crowd.

I guess if you want to roleplay an orc in the sense that you're under the watch of malacath, you can pretty much do whatever you want so long as you continue to challenge and stay strong.
why wouldn't you partake in the MQ? saving the world isn't a good enough reason?

Orcs are great warriors, Companions would seem attractive to her... and she doesn't know the end result of that venture yet, and it can be cured.
Orcs are also pretty epic Smithers as well, so perhaps she could sell her craft. Visit all the strongholds, there's always something to do there.

P.S. Orcs are prone to support the Empire.

It's hard for me to imagine an Orc Dragonborn ._.

Plus my MQ is tired. If I have to set foot inside Bleak Falls or Ustengrav one more time...

Make money for your people Orcs these days lazy and she may be one of those Orcs who can read and write rare ones they are.

There's already an orc mage at the college. Maybe you two could become friends?

Orcs FTW!

Regarding the Companions
Travelling around strongholds is a good idea, you can pick up some quests there and practice smithing.
A travelling mercenary would fit her imo, as would Dawnguard. Going to can be treated as a part of adventure-seeking.

With civil war, when you travel around cities and towns, listen what different people have to say about the war and make up your mind based on that on whether to join at all and on which side.

College of Winterhold would be a bit weird for a mercenary character, but you can always pretend you're sort of "hired muscle" for the mages. The quests hardly require any magic use at all.

I created and love my female orc Borgakh the Brave.

I had every intention of roleplaying her as the first non dragonborn character I ever played. Sadly you can not do either side of the civil war without helping Balgruuf with his dragon problem which always ends with you becoming Dragonborn.

But here is how I played my orc and you can see if some of it works for you.

She is an orc chief's daughter to his forge wife. She was raised with a forge hammer in one hand and metal in the other. Her mother taught her that life was like a forge and she could make anything out of it that she wanted. It just took strength and courage.

When her mother died, her father took a dowry from Chief Burguk of Dushnikh Yal in the Reach for her. It was not known to her if she was to become his wife, or a forge wife to one of his two sons. One of which is from his hunts wife, the other from his forge wife. It did not matter to her for she is a strong believer in orc traditions including if it is her calling, be one of many wives to the chief.

She was taught by her father how to fight and defend the stronghold. She was kind of small but she made up for it in strength and skill. (I set her weight slider to slim and played with the setscale to make her smaller then most)

She likes light armor and duel wielding axes. She also likes hand to hand combat.

Borgakh joined the Stormcloaks after the incident at Helgen. They did not care that she was an orc and were not trying to kill her. Every orc looks for a good fight and it was as good as any. She could not get released from the chief of Dushnikh Yal until she personally earned and paid off her dowry. Which she did. She does not lie, she does not steal. She hunts for what she needs, kills only those that are hostile towards her like bandits and forsworn. She does not bother with any guilds though she may look into the companions. Maybe. Even Dawnguard... turned her nose up at that.

But she is dragonborn. Not something I wished to do with her but ended up having to if I wanted to finish the civil war with her. Because of that she is seeking all she can about being dragonborn. This will include the new DLC Dragonborn. She just got there actually.

But its fun playing an orc. Live off the land. mine every vein you come across. chop wood and sell for coin.

There are plenty of things an orc can do in Skyrim.

She also visited every stronghold and beat every chief you can brawl with. Many wanted her to marry them but... she settled on Ghorbash the Iron Hand heh.

If you worship Malacath.. Just like above you can do anything as long as you defeat your foe.... If you die you must challenge a strong enemy

Look at it this way. Orcs are the children of Trinimac/Malacath. He was once the champion of his "father," Auri-El, the Dragon God of Time. Who better to serve as a Dragonborn of Akatosh than a child of the greatest knight of the Ehlnofey?