Warbreed
The Warbreed, colloquially termed "half-orcs," are an arcane sub-species created by a powerful wizard who blended humans and orcs to create a new fighting force with the "desired traits" or each. While Orcs and Humans are unable to procreate with each other naturally, the new half-breed managed to maintain the ability to procreate with either species, with the first few generations of offspring often being indistinguishable from other warbreed.
Warbreed have a widespread range, and live in amongst human- and elf-kind, where they are often seen more as an eccentricity (or even at times an asset) than second class citizens. This has afforded the species the ability to grow from its original size and intersperse in such a manner as to have very little culture of their own. Warbreed rarely form homogeneous societies but have pretty fairly integrated into the common culture they find themselves. They do face discrimination in some remote communities that may not have any other dealings with them, and in northern Talanthia, there is an undercurrent of distrust (as Orc tribes are a major threat across Talanthia's northern border), but for the most part they can come and go freely and are seen as valuable members of society. On the other hand, warbreed can often be subject to misrepresentation due to their physical prowess. It is the case in many circles, that a warbreed of a thoughtful and philosophical bend must combat an assumption on the part of the masses (and even at times fellow warbreeds) that they are of a physical "type" and therefore not interested (or at its worst not-skilled) in academic pursuits. This being said, there have been a number of high profile scholars, artisans, and diplomats in recent years, and this has gone a long way to balancing their image, particularly in more metropolitan centres.
There is a dream that all warbreed have: That of a tower in a deep cavern. A crypt. And the face of a man cold of heart, taut of skin, wan of life, with contemptuous grey eyes, a sceptre and a needle in hand. There are other warbreed there too, and the dead all about, and the words which echo throughout the dream and pound inside the mind of every warbreed like a migraine whenever battle strikes or pain comes. "Honour. Obediance. Loyalty. Sacrifice. Service." It is perhaps because of this that many warbreed use iconography of caverns, towers, and crypts in their heraldry, and it is not uncommon to find half-orc organisations promoting ideals similar to The Words. It has been theorized that this association may at times be unconscious, and that some sort of arcane spell was woven into the very magic that created the warbreed in the first place. If this is the case, it is certainly a worrisome proposition: That a species could be created with not just inherited traits, but also inbuilt mental and emotional tendencies creates uncomfortable questions about the nature of magic and its power over the will of intelligent creatures. If there is one good thing to be said, however, it is that despite the hard-wiring that the warbreed seem to have been given, they seem to be able to overcome and break it with some regularity, particularly once they realize their own tendancies.
Additional Information
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Worldwide
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
Naming traditions tend towards occupational names where it is culturally applicable, but otherwise will generally follow the naming conventions of their current land and context. A Talanthian example would be Weaver Stillpond, though even there, it is not uncommon to find regular Talanthian first and last names instead of following this pattern of occupational first names.
Major Language Groups and Dialects
Warbreed most often speak whichever is the primary language of the culture they live in. Often, this means they understand Ruddish, though a Warbreed from Vistara is just a likely to speak Vistaran and not Ruddish, as they are to speak both. There have been some attempts by some Warbreed unity movements to create a sort of unique culture and language (and therefore identity) of their own, this has only really resulted in a few small outliers, and does not necessarily constitute a natural cultural or linguistic identity.
Common Taboos
Half-Orcs as a term has been often seen as a oversimplification, and not necessarily polite terminology for the species. True Orcs, in particular, bristle with resentment at any thought of the relationship between them and these "lesser beings." For their part, the Warbreed itself has mixed takes on the term. Some have tried to come to terms with their rather obvious links to the orc heritage, and in doing so have attempted to find ways to link themselves to it, and are therefore in favor of the term, whilst others see it as a statement belittling their self-determination as a species and people.
Meanwhile, in recent years, there has been pushback in some circles against even the name "warbreed," in saying that it is too one-note and a rather vicious portrayal to be the primary way in which the species is known. A few other terms have been suggested, including "the Children of Deepstone," "The Loyal," and "Valeborn," though none of these have necessarily grown into any sort of common use.
Scientific Name
Humanoid
Origin/Ancestry
Hybrid humanoid species/subspecies created through arcane means, blending Orcs with Humans to create a "new breed."
Lifespan
70-80 years
Average Height
5' - 6'8"
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Light blue-grey tinted skin, with variation from a darker leaden blue to a light grey.
Related Organizations