Half-Orc
Size: Medium
Speed: 30 feet
Lifespan: 75 years
Languages: Tanglish, Orcish
Overview
TBD — DM
Physical Description
Half-orcs are somewhat larger and bulkier than humans, ranging from 5 to well over 6 feet tall. Their appearance blends features from both their human and orc parents, creating a distinctive look that can vary widely. Some half-orcs have more pronounced orcish features—greenish or grayish skin tones, small tusks, pointed ears, and eyes that may be red or yellow. Others have subtler orcish traits that might only be noticeable upon close inspection—slightly larger build, a hint of green in their complexion, or a more robust frame. The variation in appearance means that some half-orcs can pass as human, while others are unmistakably half-orc.
Society and Customs
Half-orcs are the lost children of the orcish people. When alliances between humans and orcs were sealed by marriages, half-orcs were born. These unions created a people who inherited strength and resilience from their orc parents while gaining the adaptability and integration capabilities of their human heritage.
The Flight from Athan'Khar
When Athan'Khar was destroyed during the Enchanters' Bane, half-orcs found themselves in a unique position. Unlike full-blooded orcs, whose distinctive appearance and fierce independence made them obvious targets for suspicion and prejudice, many half-orcs were able to pass in Tiraan culture. Their more human-like features allowed them to blend into the Empire's population in ways that full-blooded orcs could not.
This ability to pass became both a blessing and a curse. Half-orcs who fled Athan'Khar were able to find refuge in the Tiraan Empire, escaping the worst of the prejudice and persecution that full-blooded orcs faced. They integrated into Imperial society, taking jobs, building lives, and establishing families. Over generations, they became part of the fabric of the Empire.
A People Without Heritage
However, this integration came at a terrible cost. Half-orcs are functionally a people without a heritage. They cannot fully claim orcish culture—they were not part of the orcish clans that survived, and they lost their connection to orcish traditions when they fled. Most half-orcs have only fragmented memories or stories passed down from their orcish ancestors, leaving them with an incomplete picture of their heritage.
At the same time, they cannot fully claim human culture either. While they have integrated into the Empire, they are still marked by their orcish blood. Their appearance, their strength, their resilience—all remind others that they are not quite human. They live in a liminal space, accepted enough to function in society but always aware that they are different.
This loss of heritage creates a deep sense of disconnection for many half-orcs. They know they come from a proud people with a rich culture, but they have only fragments of that culture. They know they are part of the Empire, but they are never fully accepted as Imperial citizens. They are caught between two worlds, belonging fully to neither.
Current Status
Half-orcs have integrated into the Tiraan Empire, but their integration is complex. They are found throughout the Empire, working in various professions, building lives, and contributing to society. Some half-orcs rise to positions of prominence, their mixed heritage giving them unique perspectives and capabilities. Others live quiet lives, trying to blend in and avoid drawing attention to their orcish blood.
Many half-orcs become adventurers, seeking to prove their worth and find their place in the world. Some seek to reconnect with orcish culture, traveling to Sifan or seeking out wilderness clans in the hope of learning about their heritage. Others embrace their Imperial identity, dedicating themselves to serving the Empire that gave them refuge. Still others struggle with their dual nature, feeling lost between two worlds.
The half-orc experience is one of resilience and adaptation, but also one of loss and disconnection. They are a people who survived when their homeland was destroyed, but in surviving, they lost the very thing that would have given them a complete identity—their connection to their orcish heritage.
Alignment
Half-orcs inherit a tendency toward independence and self-reliance from their orc parents, but they are not strongly inclined toward good or evil. Their alignment depends largely on their upbringing and experiences. Half-orcs raised in the Empire often adopt the values of the culture they were raised in, while those who seek to reconnect with orcish heritage may develop the fierce independence and neutral alignment that characterizes orcish culture.
Half-orcs are a diverse people, and their alignment reflects their individual experiences, choices, and the complex position they occupy between two worlds.
Population and Distribution
TBD — DM
Role in the World
TBD — DM
Ability Score Increase
Your Strength score increases by 2, and your Constitution score increases by 1.
Racial Traits
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. Your orcish heritage and physical presence can be intimidating, even when you don't intend to be.
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. This reflects the resilience inherited from your orcish ancestors—the ability to push through pain and injury that would fell others.
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. Your orcish blood gives you the ability to strike with devastating force when the opportunity presents itself.
Related: Races Index | Orcs | Mechanics Index | Ability Scores