Orcs



Whether united under the leadership of a mighty warlock or having fought to a standstill after years of conflict, orc and human tribes sometimes form alliances, joining forces into a larger horde to the terror of civilized lands nearby. When these alliances are formed, some orcs are accepted. Some orcs rise to become proud chiefs of orc tribes, Some venture into the world to prove their worth among humans and other more civilized races. Many of these become adventurers, achieving greatness for their mighty deeds and notoriety for their barbaric customs and savage fury.

Scarred and Strong

orcs’ grayish pigmentation, sloping foreheads, jutting jaws, prominent teeth, and towering builds make their orcish heritage plain for all to see. orcs stand between 5 and 7 feet tall and usually weigh between 180 and 250 pounds.

Orcs regard battle scars as tokens of pride and ornamental scars as things of beauty. Other scars, though, mark an orc or orc as a former slave or a disgraced exile. Any orc who has lived among or near orcs has scars, whether they are marks of humiliation or of pride, recounting their past exploits and injuries. Such a orc living among humans might display these scars proudly or hide them in shame.

The Mark of Mog Bal

The chaos god Mog Bal created the orcs, 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 Mog Bal in their dreams, calling them to unleash the rage that simmers within them. Others feel Mog Bal’s exultation when they join in melee combat—and either exult along with him or shiver with fear and loathing. orcs are not evil by nature, but evil does lurk within them, whether they embrace it or rebel against it.

Beyond the rage of Mog Bal, orcs feel emotion powerfully. Rage doesn’t just quicken their pulse, it makes their bodies burn. An insult stings like acid, and sadness saps their strength. But they laugh loudly and heartily, and simple bodily pleasures—feasting, drinking, wrestling, drumming, and wild dancing—fill their hearts with joy. They tend to be short-tempered and sometimes sullen, more inclined to action than contemplation and to fighting than arguing. The most accomplished half-orcs are those with enough self-control to get by in a civilized land.

Tribes and Slums

orcs most often live among orcs. Of the other races, humans are most likely to accept orcs, and orcs almost always live in human lands when not living among orc tribes. Whether proving themselves among rough barbarian tribes or scrabbling to survive in the slums of larger cities, orcs get by on their physical might, their endurance, and the sheer determination they inherit from their human ancestry.

Orc Names

orcs usually have names appropriate to the culture in which they were raised. A orc who wants to fit in among humans might trade an orc name for a human name. Some orcs with human names decide to adopt a guttural orc name because they think it makes them more intimidating.