Vordul are an incredibly rare hybrid race of elf and orc. They are a strangely beautiful race, both graceful and strong, yet completely alien.
Origin
Elves and orc cannot reproduce naturally. Vordul were created by Gruumsh to be the perfect race. After creating the orcs after his own image, he realized that they were not intelligent enough to dominate the worlds. For this reason, he created the Vordul to lead his orcs and conquer the worlds. Unfortunately for Gruumsh, the Vordul were too free-willed to obey him. Gruumsh cast them out and they have been exiles ever since.
History
The conflict between orcs and Elves has always been fierce. During the most ancient times, Ancient Elves had managed to gain the upper hand against their bitter rivals, the orcs.
Unfortunately for the elves, a group of elite orcs was able to capture an elven demi-god. Knowing that the orcs were doomed, Gruumsh decided to create a new race to assist them. He combined part of himself with the elven demi-god, thus creating the first of the Vordul.
With the help of his new superior race, Gruumsh managed to beat back the elves and almost annihilate them.
After a century the Vordul’s attitude changed. They were too smart and independent to be pawns in the hands of a destructive god like Gruumsh, so they created their own kingdom and stopped worshiping Gruumsh. The kingdom of the Vordul was vast and they enjoyed a time of great power over all of Adellon.
Alas, Gruumsh does not forgive easily. Once he regained his full strength, Gruumsh banished most of the Vordul to another plane of existence. During this strenuous ritual, Gruumsh lost most of his strength, weakening him for years to come and allowing the Elves to gain back their kingdom.
Personality
Vordul are incredibly remote, lost in their own conflicting thoughts. When threatened, they lash out incredibly violently although their emotions are still well concealed.
Physical Description
Vordul are quite tall, usually standing between 6 foot 3 to 6 foot 7, and are almost always remarkably well muscled. They combine the ferocious features of an orc with the natural beauty of an elf and have completely pupil-less, empty eyes. This, more than anything else, makes people suspicious of the Vordul. Some Vordul have a slightly green tint to their skin or slight tusks, depending on who their orcish ancestor was.
Relations
Vordul are almost universally misunderstood and generally hated. Elves hate them for the orcs in them and other races see them as abominations. Some orcs allow Vordul to lead them if they impress them with their martial prowess.
Alignment
The Vordul's detached personality means that almost all of them are neutral. Some, shunned by society, turn vicious and become evil, while others strive to be understood.
Vordul Lands
The Vordul have no homeland, and they are never welcome in the lands of either of their parent races. Therefore, most wander.
Religion
Many Vordul blame the gods for what they see as their own abominable birth, and refuse to worship them or even acknowledge them. Some Vordul cherish Gruumsh for creating them. Many sects that follow Gruumsh have been established, but their clerics have no spells, since Gruumsh shuns the Vordul.
Language
Vordul are generally fluent in whatever languages they encounter most while traveling, which almost always includes common. Gruumsh followers have learned the Orc tongue.
Names
Vordul names generally combine an element of elvish grace with orc roughness. They usually only have first names, since there really aren't any "elf and orc" families for them to attribute surnames to.
Male Names
Elkar, Skornhel, Volskan, and Ketheryl.
Female Names
Velandra, Kajyar, Thelka, and Merrivun.
Adventurers
Vordul adventurers adventure to find a place where they are accepted and more directly, to take out the incredible amounts of aggression they possess. Other Vordul use their higher intelligence to beguile orcs into following them.
Racial Traits
+2 Strength, +2 Dexterity, +1 Intelligence, -2 Wisdom. Vordul are as graceful as elves and almost as strong as orcs, but their detachment makes it both hard for them to notice things and pay attention, and hard for people to really like them.
Size
Medium: As medium creatures, Vordul have no special bonuses or penalties due to their size.
Speed
Vordul base land speed is 30 feet.
Low-Light Vision
Thanks to their orc blood, Vordul have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. They can see in dim light within 60 feet of them as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. They can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.
Elven and Orcish Blood
For all effects related to a race, a Vordul is considered both an elf and an orc.
Athletes
A Vordul gains a +2 racial bonus on Athletics
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