Main Subraces
Posted: Sat Oct 19, 2024 11:06 am
Always remember
You will find the typical NPC behavior described below, along with a brief description of their society and history. This does not mean that one can't deviate from these traits during the course of their adventure, nor that this is comprehensive of everything. If you seek more information, the Wiki is your friend!
Half-orcs
Half-orcs, colloquially known as half-tusks in Purskul and Zehoarastria of Amn, were humanoids born of both human and orc ancestry by a multitude of means. Having the combined physical power of their orcish ancestors with the agility of their human ones, half-orcs were formidable individuals. Though they were often shunned in both human and orcish society for different reasons, half-orcs have proven themselves from time to time as worthy heroes and dangerous villains. Their existence implied an interesting back story that most would not like to dwell on
Half-orcs were, on average, somewhere from 5 feet and 9 inches to 6 feet and 4 inches (1.8 to 1.9 meters) in height and usually weighed around 155 to 225 pounds (70.3 to 102 kilograms). making them a little taller and stronger than humans on average. Most half-orcs had grayish skin, jutting jaws, prominent teeth, a sloping forehead, and coarse body hair, which caused them to stand out from their human brethren, though their canines were noticeably smaller than a full-blooded orc’s tusks.Half-orcs as such appeared bestial to humans, though amongst orcs they were considered human-like physically. Half-orc hair was most often black, though it grayed very quickly with age. In general, half-orcs did not live as long as humans, maturing by their sixteenth year and often dying before their sixtieth.
Half-orcs that have lived amongst orcs have often picked up the common orcish tradition of ritual scarring. Half-orcs with such a background did not look upon scars as marks of shame or as unattractive blemishes, but rather as marks of pride that demonstrate their skill and bravery in battle. On occasion, however, scars were used for a darker purpose, with orcs marking half-orc slaves with scars in the same manner a rancher might brand cattle.
Like other half-breeds, half-orcs combined the natures of both their lineages into a unique whole, a trait which extended into their mentality as well as their physical qualities. Like humans, half-orcs were quick to action, tenacious and bold, and possessed an adaptability that was unusual among most races. This was useful to the race given that they were considered outsiders just about everywhere; they had the ability to thrive in unwelcome or unusual locations, which was a necessity for a half-orc’s welfare.
From their orcish blood, half-orcs typically took less desirable qualities, which added to the discomfort others often felt around them. Few half-orcs had the patience for the etiquette or protocol that civilization has often imposed and were far from quiet about their opinions on the subject. As a result, half-orcs were often perceived as uncouth savages, a reputation accentuated by the orcish love of physical pleasures such as eating, drinking, or dancing. Impatient and ill-tempered were stereotypes that are not too far off the mark for most half-orcs, but these qualities have not been necessarily negative.
The half-orc personality tended to be short-tempered and sullen, though half-orc mental capabilities have often been underestimated and they were significantly more cunning than full-blooded orcs.More often than not, half-orcs preferred simple pleasures such as feasting, singing, wrestling, or wild dancing to refined pursuits such as poetry or philosophy. Most half-orcs were free-spirited like their orcish brethren, though they had fewer of the evil tendencies that blemished the reputation of orcs and were as likely good as they were evil, at least when raised among humans. Half-orcs were also reputed to be unintelligent and, though this was not true for the entire race, it was a definite trend in some populations.
BONUS
+2 str -2 int -2 cha
Darkvision: Half-orcs are able to see in the dark
Free Language
Orc
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Gray orc
Gray orcs were more civilized orcs than others who lived in the Moonsea and Hordelands
Gray orc males were typically 5 feet and 0 inches to 6 feet and 10 inches (1.5 to 2.1 meters) in height and 154 to 438 pounds (69.9 to 199 kilograms) in weight, while females were typically 4 feet and 7 inches to 6 feet and 5 inches (1.4 to 2 meters) in height and 114 to 398 pounds (51.7 to 181 kilograms) in weight.They were rather hairy, with long "manes" of black bristles on their head, shoulders, and back. They had wolfish ears, and their faces were somewhat less porcine than those of mountain orcs, though they retained the tusks and were still obviously orcish.
In coloring, gray orcs typically had red, orange, or yellow eyes, black hair, and gray skin with mottled patches of darker or lighter shades on the chest and flanks. Unlike mountain orcs, they typically wore more "civilized" clothing, normally in shades of black, brown, blue, and other dark colors
Gray orcs were just as savage and barbaric as mountain orcs, but lacked the drive to conquer and enslave of their northern kin. They preferred to trust their hearts and instincts over logic, and were likely to react suddenly and irrationally to events. Given the opportunity to attack a hated rival, a gray orc would not hesitate even if that same rival had defeated them countless times before. Even so, gray orcs were noted to be calmer and more collected than mountain orcs
As nomads, gray orcs established migratory routes that took them across the remote and desolate parts of northeast Faerûn, traveling between their favorite campsites and caves. Their nomadic travels were seasonal, though they also moved whenever resources in an area ran out. Gray orc tribes were found throughout Damara, the Moonsea, Rashemen, Thesk, Vaasa, the Vast, and the nearby Hordelands.Gray orcs lived in small tribes of normally at least thirty and up to fifty individuals, led by a single individual, the chieftain, whose main duty was determining when the tribe attacked a target. The position of chieftain was, in reality, a temporary title, as chieftains were often killed before long.
Average height: 5′0″‒6′10″ (1.5‒2.1 m)
Average weight: 154‒438 lb (69.9‒199 kg)
Skin color(s): Gray
Hair color(s): Black, gray
Eye color(s): Orange, red, yellow
Typical build: Humanoid
Distinctions: Tusks
ECL
1
BONUS
+2 str -2 int +2 wis -2cha
Skill affinity (Listen): +2 racial bonus to listen checks.
Skill affinity (Spot): +2 racial bonus to spot checks.
Long Gait: The gray orc speed is increased by 10% on land
Gray orc proficiency: They can use greataxe and longbow
Darkvision: Gray orc can see in the dark
Free Language
Orc
You will find the typical NPC behavior described below, along with a brief description of their society and history. This does not mean that one can't deviate from these traits during the course of their adventure, nor that this is comprehensive of everything. If you seek more information, the Wiki is your friend!
Half-orcs
Half-orcs, colloquially known as half-tusks in Purskul and Zehoarastria of Amn, were humanoids born of both human and orc ancestry by a multitude of means. Having the combined physical power of their orcish ancestors with the agility of their human ones, half-orcs were formidable individuals. Though they were often shunned in both human and orcish society for different reasons, half-orcs have proven themselves from time to time as worthy heroes and dangerous villains. Their existence implied an interesting back story that most would not like to dwell on
Half-orcs were, on average, somewhere from 5 feet and 9 inches to 6 feet and 4 inches (1.8 to 1.9 meters) in height and usually weighed around 155 to 225 pounds (70.3 to 102 kilograms). making them a little taller and stronger than humans on average. Most half-orcs had grayish skin, jutting jaws, prominent teeth, a sloping forehead, and coarse body hair, which caused them to stand out from their human brethren, though their canines were noticeably smaller than a full-blooded orc’s tusks.Half-orcs as such appeared bestial to humans, though amongst orcs they were considered human-like physically. Half-orc hair was most often black, though it grayed very quickly with age. In general, half-orcs did not live as long as humans, maturing by their sixteenth year and often dying before their sixtieth.
Half-orcs that have lived amongst orcs have often picked up the common orcish tradition of ritual scarring. Half-orcs with such a background did not look upon scars as marks of shame or as unattractive blemishes, but rather as marks of pride that demonstrate their skill and bravery in battle. On occasion, however, scars were used for a darker purpose, with orcs marking half-orc slaves with scars in the same manner a rancher might brand cattle.
Like other half-breeds, half-orcs combined the natures of both their lineages into a unique whole, a trait which extended into their mentality as well as their physical qualities. Like humans, half-orcs were quick to action, tenacious and bold, and possessed an adaptability that was unusual among most races. This was useful to the race given that they were considered outsiders just about everywhere; they had the ability to thrive in unwelcome or unusual locations, which was a necessity for a half-orc’s welfare.
From their orcish blood, half-orcs typically took less desirable qualities, which added to the discomfort others often felt around them. Few half-orcs had the patience for the etiquette or protocol that civilization has often imposed and were far from quiet about their opinions on the subject. As a result, half-orcs were often perceived as uncouth savages, a reputation accentuated by the orcish love of physical pleasures such as eating, drinking, or dancing. Impatient and ill-tempered were stereotypes that are not too far off the mark for most half-orcs, but these qualities have not been necessarily negative.
The half-orc personality tended to be short-tempered and sullen, though half-orc mental capabilities have often been underestimated and they were significantly more cunning than full-blooded orcs.More often than not, half-orcs preferred simple pleasures such as feasting, singing, wrestling, or wild dancing to refined pursuits such as poetry or philosophy. Most half-orcs were free-spirited like their orcish brethren, though they had fewer of the evil tendencies that blemished the reputation of orcs and were as likely good as they were evil, at least when raised among humans. Half-orcs were also reputed to be unintelligent and, though this was not true for the entire race, it was a definite trend in some populations.
BONUS
+2 str -2 int -2 cha
Darkvision: Half-orcs are able to see in the dark
Free Language
Orc
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gray orc
Gray orcs were more civilized orcs than others who lived in the Moonsea and Hordelands
Gray orc males were typically 5 feet and 0 inches to 6 feet and 10 inches (1.5 to 2.1 meters) in height and 154 to 438 pounds (69.9 to 199 kilograms) in weight, while females were typically 4 feet and 7 inches to 6 feet and 5 inches (1.4 to 2 meters) in height and 114 to 398 pounds (51.7 to 181 kilograms) in weight.They were rather hairy, with long "manes" of black bristles on their head, shoulders, and back. They had wolfish ears, and their faces were somewhat less porcine than those of mountain orcs, though they retained the tusks and were still obviously orcish.
In coloring, gray orcs typically had red, orange, or yellow eyes, black hair, and gray skin with mottled patches of darker or lighter shades on the chest and flanks. Unlike mountain orcs, they typically wore more "civilized" clothing, normally in shades of black, brown, blue, and other dark colors
Gray orcs were just as savage and barbaric as mountain orcs, but lacked the drive to conquer and enslave of their northern kin. They preferred to trust their hearts and instincts over logic, and were likely to react suddenly and irrationally to events. Given the opportunity to attack a hated rival, a gray orc would not hesitate even if that same rival had defeated them countless times before. Even so, gray orcs were noted to be calmer and more collected than mountain orcs
As nomads, gray orcs established migratory routes that took them across the remote and desolate parts of northeast Faerûn, traveling between their favorite campsites and caves. Their nomadic travels were seasonal, though they also moved whenever resources in an area ran out. Gray orc tribes were found throughout Damara, the Moonsea, Rashemen, Thesk, Vaasa, the Vast, and the nearby Hordelands.Gray orcs lived in small tribes of normally at least thirty and up to fifty individuals, led by a single individual, the chieftain, whose main duty was determining when the tribe attacked a target. The position of chieftain was, in reality, a temporary title, as chieftains were often killed before long.
Average height: 5′0″‒6′10″ (1.5‒2.1 m)
Average weight: 154‒438 lb (69.9‒199 kg)
Skin color(s): Gray
Hair color(s): Black, gray
Eye color(s): Orange, red, yellow
Typical build: Humanoid
Distinctions: Tusks
ECL
1
BONUS
+2 str -2 int +2 wis -2cha
Skill affinity (Listen): +2 racial bonus to listen checks.
Skill affinity (Spot): +2 racial bonus to spot checks.
Long Gait: The gray orc speed is increased by 10% on land
Gray orc proficiency: They can use greataxe and longbow
Darkvision: Gray orc can see in the dark
Free Language
Orc