In every dolphin pod there is a Splashsinger, who does the traditional dances and songs of the dolphin people. This is always a child. Then, there is a Quaestor, one who holds the authority of enforcing the laws of the pod. This is often a young adult. Then, there's a Seeker, who guides the pod as they travel the currents. This is a middle aged dolphin. Finally, there is always a Speaker, who speaks the words of the oceans. This is usually an elder in the pod.

Qorc was an apprentice to a Speaker. He was still young--about 30--when the Speaker died. Being a small pod, they had no other alternative but to promote Qorc. He did his best, but often, the pod suffered for his ignorance of his position.

In the Age of Terror, near the end, Qorc was one of a large pod of renegades, Runners in all but name, and the mortal enemies of his tribe, the gremkaul, hunted them constantly. Qorc's inexperience made the pod especially vulnerable. Qorc knew it was up to him to rectify the situation, and he set out on a quest to do so.

He found artifacts to allow him to breach the ceiling of the ocean, and he came ashore seeking knowledge and power. In the upper world, he found mostly danger, but a few allies existed, and soon, Qorc had fallen in with other Runners. He never acquired a number, but he did discover the plan to bring the good of the world to another planet. He returned to the seas and tried to rally his tribe, but few listened. He was still the ignorant weakling that had led them to danger before.

He took what few would listen, and he joined the Runners in their Exodus to Ruiz.

When they returned, he found he was more at home above water than below, and he used his hard earned magic powers to follow them up the Mountain of Trials.