Greater Orcs are more intelligent, though no less vicious than their Common cousins, and they are more suited to the formation of large social groups. They also possess skill as smiths, but show little interest in forging anything other than implements of war.
Since Greater Orcs have a proclivity for being active in sunlight, they are what is often thought of when other races refer to Orcs, as these Orcs are seen much more often than their scrawny cousins.
Basic Information
While Greater Orcs have a more "human" appearance than Common Orcs, they are still heavy with cat-like eyes, tusked teeth, and thick hides. Greater Orcs have longer, stronger, and straighter legs than Common Orcs.
Additional Information
All Orcs have "tusks", long fangs growing from their lower jaw, causing a slight under-bite. They also tend to have yellow to brown cat-eyes. Orc facial hair grows in odd-looking random clumps.
Civilization and Culture
Orc names are almost exclusively Orcish (go figure) in nature. Their names often translate to words or phrases that inspire fear in those that hear them. Additionally, many warband commanders or clan chieftains will assume a title in Common to accompany this.
Greater Orcs do not marry; they breed. The females are receptive only to the fiercest and most attractive (by Orc standards) males.
For Orcs, the clan is everything. This has most likely developed due to the fact that an Orc's clan is the only group likely to have that Orc's back. Even the rare Orcs that have managed to coexist amongst civilized societies will choose clanblood, even if such a decision means they will be throwing away the status they worked so hard to build and earn.
In Orcish culture, all Orcs go through a coming-of-age process referred to as being "blooded". When an Orc is blooded, a biological change occurs in their body. This change causes their tusks to grow larger as well as a distinct and unique pattern to form across their skin (like a painless tattoo). The skin pattern change occurs in a matter of days, while the tusk growth may not be noticeable for months.
An Orc becomes blooded through a ritual performed after committing some brave or heroic act involved in preserving or maintaining the clan's way of life. Usually, this happens after an Orc's first victory in battle. Being an adult unblooded Orc is one of the most shameful things in Orcish society. In fact, most unblooded Orcs are killed outright by their clan chieftain.
In the Champions of Old religious belief system, one member of this pantheon used to be a mortal unblooded Greater Orc before ascending to godhood. Ragash, Master of the Undercroft, is said to have liberated the Underlings from the surface, clearing a path underground for the weaker Orcs to take shelter from the sun's harsh rays during The Severance. Of the Champions, Ragash is the most feared by civilized folk, and is the patron of many Orcs, blooded and unblooded, who seek to reclaim the surface or expand their territory in the depths.
Thanks to their bargain made with Necrus, over 2000 years ago, Orcs are still widely hated and despised among other intelligent races. For this reason, Orcs generally hate all other races. They especially hate Half-Orcs, whom they see as lesser beings and whom they label "Half-breeds" with much malice. It is only the rare Orc to chance crossing paths with a friendly Gnome who finds a kinship with one other than their race.
RPG Datasheet
AG 0;
CO +4;
ME -2;
RE -2;
SD -2;
EM -2;
IN -2;
PR -2;
QU 0;
ST +4;
Appearance -80
Channeling 0;
Essence 0;
Mentalism;
Poison +5;
Disease +10
Body Development 0.7.3.2.1;
Arcane PP 0.2.1.1.1;
Channeling PP 0.2.1.1.1;
Essence PP 0.2.1.1.1;
Mentalism PP 0.2.1.1.1
Soul Departure 1 Round;
Recovery Mult. 0.5x
Languages 4;
Background Options 4
Endurance - Greater Orcs have truly exceptional stamina that allows them to pursue their foes without letup. They can travel for 2 days without sleep, and they receive a +30 bonus to their exhaustion points.
Resistance - Greater Orcs receive +30 DB and RR bonuses versus heat and cold attacks.
Special Abilities - Dark Vision: Greater Orcs possess an unusual ability to see in the dark, about as good as that of Dwarves. When there is barely any light (cloudy, moonless nights; upper caverns, dungeons), Greater Orcs can see at least 30 feet perfectly and fairly well up to 75 feet. In absolute darkness, they can see 10 feet. Additionally, Greater Orcs operate freely in daylight.
Language: Starting Languages - Orcish (S8/W3), Common-speech (S8/W2), Black-speech (S5/W2). Allowed Adolescent Development - Orcish (S10/W10), Common-speech (S10/W10), Black-speech (S8/W8), Giant (S6/W3), Plains-speech (S6/W3).
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