Half-Orc

We carry hell with us all our lives. It's not somewhere you go. It's something you create for yourself.

— Nax Drolgruu

Whether united under the leadership of a mighty Warlock or having fought to a standstill after years of conflict, orc and human tribes sometimes formed alliances, joining forces into a larger horde to the terror of the lands nearby. When these alliances were sealed by marriages, the first half-orcs were born. Some half-orcs rose to become proud chiefs of orc tribes, their human blood giving them an edge over their full-blooded orc rivals. Some ventured into the world to prove their worth among humans  and other civilized races. Overtime, human advanced and civilized while orcs tended to stick to their nomadic and barbaric traditions, but many half-orcs continued to intermingle much more commonly with the civilizing world and half-orcs are a common sight in any large scale settlement and many smaller ones. True half-orcs (with one orcish and one human parent) are a rarity, but the dominant orcish blood keeps the orcish side of any half-orc prominent for generations, even if the full orcish ancestor provided only 1/64 of the line (great-great-great grandparents) or even less! Such details rarely bother those with orcish blood, however. Over time, half-orc became the accepted term. Many half-orcs become adventurers, achieving greatness for their mighty deeds and notoriety for their barbaric customs and savage fury.
Half-orcs' orcish heritage is visible in their grey or green coloring, sloping foreheads, protruding jaws, large teeth, and towering stature. Half-orcs are 6 to 7 feet tall and weigh between 180 and 250 pounds on average. Half-orcs are often taller and bulkier the closer they are to their orcish origin. Battle scars are regarded as symbols of pride by orcs, whereas ornamental scars are regarded as objects of beauty. Other scars, on the other hand, identify an orc or half-orc as a fugitive or a disgraced exile. Any half-orc who has lived among or near orcs bears scars, whether humiliating or proud, commemorating their past achievements and injuries. These scars could be proudly shown or shamefully hidden by a half-orc living among other species.
Camue the Jester created the orcs in mockery of the elves, and even those orcs who turn away from his worship can't fully escape his influence. The same is true of half-orcs, though their human blood moderates the impact of their orcish heritage. Some orcs hear the whispers of Camue in their dreams, calling them to often fatal pranks that stoke conflict within a tribe - or even war with other cultures. Others feel Camue's exultation when they join in melee combat - experiencing an almost orgasmic joy in the act of the kill. Half-orcs are more mischievous than brutal without Camue's influence, but their orcish heritage can shine through when they feel Camue's influence upon them.
Half-orcs can be highly emotional. In anger, their bodies burn and their pulses race. An insult is as caustic as acid, melancholy saps their strength. Their laughs are loud and heartfelt, on the other hand, and they enjoy the simple pleasure of food, drink, and dancing (as well as more carnal pleasures). Sometimes they may be morose and irritable. They prefer action over thinking and fighting over debate. Half-orcs with sufficient self-control are the more successful in a civilized country, those who give in to their emotions tend to stay away from places with stricter rule of law.
Each half-orc devises a strategy for gaining acceptance among those who are distrustful of orcs. Some half-orcs are reticent, attempting to avoid attracting attention. A few go out of their way to show their piety and goodness in public (whether or not such demonstrations are genuine). Others simply gain avoidance through acting so tough as to be intimidating to others.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Half-orcs usually have names appropriate to the culture in which they were raised. A half-orc who wants to fit in among humans might trade an orc name for a human name. Some half-orcs with human names decide to adopt a guttural orc name because they think it makes them more intimidating. Some example orcish-style names are:
Male Orc Names: Dench, Feng, Gell, Henk, Holg, Imsh,Keth, Krusk, Mhurren, Ront, Shump, Thokk
Female Orc Names: Baggi, Emen, Engong, Kansif, Myev,Neega, Ovak, Ownka, Shautha, Vola, Volen, Yevelda

by Rob Taylor

Half-Orc Warlock

Lifespan

75 years

Average Height

6-7 feet

Average Weight

180-250 pounds

Half-Orc

Ability Score Increase +2 Str, +1 Con

Size Medium

Speed 30 ft.

---

Half-Orc Traits

---

Ability Score Increase

---

Your Strength score increases by 2, and your Constitution score increases by 1.
Darkvision

---

Thanks to your orc blood, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.
Menacing

---

You gain proficiency in the Intimidation skill.
Relentless Endurance

---

When you are reduced to 0 hit points but not killed outright, you can drop to 1 hit point instead. You can't use this feature again until you finish a long rest.
Savage Attacks

---

When you score a critical hit with a melee weapon attack, you can roll one of the weapon's damage dice one additional time and add it to the extra damage of the critical hit.

Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Orc. Orc is a harsh, grating languages with hard consonants. It has no script of its own but is written in the Dwarvish script.