Half Orcs

The Accursed

Summary

Half Orcs were often seen as outcasts, living through many hardships that were created by those around them rather than their own shortcomings. Initial impressions would have one believe that these beings get the best of both worlds, a more human like appearance than an Orcs, yet with most of the brutish strength from their inherited ancestry. This is quite true for the most part, but due to the difficult adaptation of genes between an orc and other races, there are some complications. Half-Orcs are notably more aggressive then any other half breed and even some orcs themselves, and they carry a strange trait that causes any form of magical healing to scar over instead of heal completely. Many struggle with their aggressive attitudes and inability to keep calm under stress, causing them to be further shunned by the people around them.

History

Most of the Half-Orcs history is confounded in myths and legends, creating a line between reality and fantasy. As it goes the first born Half-Orc was brought into this world with a loving orcish mother and human father, despite the notion that it was impossible for them to bear a child of their own. Though on the contrary some tales tell of how one parent will outcast their child, or perhaps both due to them being the unwanted side product of a one night stand. Each orc chieftain changes the story of how half orcs were brought into the world, though they all carry the same weight of the idea being viewed as impossible. If not impossible, then certainly against any form of moral code. In almost every tale of a Half-Orc’s creation, they have been given some form of magical curse by a powerful magi, making them struggle to be healed by magical means due to the mage viewing them as sick. In other tales, the parents were cursed in order for their half-bred offspring to be inept at healing at all, though no one knows for certain as to why they struggle in this manner to be healed through magic.

Physical Description

A Half Orc’s physical appearance is a mixture of the two races they call their parents. They are able to be seen clearly in a crowd or orcs, humans, or elves, as their skin is a strange, sometimes mottled mix of an orcs and a humans. They boast small tusks that are easy to hide when not speaking, and their ears scale between being semi-rounded, or excessively pointy, save for the constant drooping no matter the shape. Their height is always somewhere between the two parents. They often have bigger foreheads than humanoid races, heavy brows and distinctive noses. Their eyes are often sunken, with some grooves between the bridge of their nose and eyes. A half orc is usually adorned with numerous scars due to their rough upbringing, however it is not uncommon to see one without, though this usually confirms that they’re not a combatant.

• Common Height:
  • Male: 6'1" - 8'
  • Female: 5'8" - 7'4"
• Common Build: Half-Orcs tend to have a blend of builds between each parent. They tend to be stockier than humans on average and thinner than orcs.
• Common Eyes: Determined by lineage, may be orcish or other human/elvish.
• Common Hair: Determined by lineage, may be orcish or other human/elvish.
• Common Skin Tone: Mottled or non-mottled versions of the following: Yellow-green, Reddish-Tan, Gray, Brown, Green, Light Orange.

Culture

Half-Orc’s were often seen in either orcish or human society, never making a society of their own due to their numbers being so few and their upbringings being so varied. In either society that they grew up in, it is very common for them to be hated or considered outcasts, odd beasts that shouldn't have been born. This often causes them to lash out at those around them, growing resentful and disliking the people they grew up with. Others take pity on those of their kind, and do their best to try and prove to others that they’re not what think they are, that being monsters.

Most of the time they are solitary, as it is quite common for them to be forced out of their birth civilizations. Half-Orcs are naturally omnivores, and take their morals and culture from either parent. This includes religion, though often times they decide to forsake the lost gods due to believing they were abandoned by them. Half-Orcs generally have gray moral compasses due to the harsh treatments they’ve been given by the world, and so often prefer taking things into their own hands.

Mechanics

• Lifespan: About 100 years on average. They reach adulthood around age 14.
• Half-orcs have strengthened immune systems, much like their orcish parents. Their mixed heritage carries on to fight off infections, and causes them to be less prone to illness.
• Half-orcs have strength slightly lower than their orcish parents, though clearly above that of a human or elf. This however can degrade to that of their non-orcish parent without training to upkeep this.
• Half-orcs are able to keep their concentration easier than most other races.
• Half-orcs are able to have a ‘last stance’ when on the verge of death. They are able to use their full force and strength for their last fleeting minutes of life where they would otherwise be weak, causing their deathly process to be tripled in speed in exchange.
  • Should it take a half orc three turns to die and they choose to last stance themselves, they will die the next turn. However if they were to die in two turns, they are unable to enter last stance as they unfortunately don’t have enough energy to spare.
• Half-orcs are able to be healed through magic, but any form of magical healing will in scarring by their bodies and instead worsen the wound at first.

The Realm of Ephimoria • Beyond the Fracture