Half-Orc
The half-orcs are one of the nine playable humanoid races in Erelest. Half-orcs are the second most hated race among the playable races, with the first being the nephilim. Racism is greatest against half-orcs due to their heritage; the orcs. Half-orcs will always follow one of three paths of life once they are old enough to strike out on their own. They will either remain with the half-orc community they grew up with or find one of their own (at least 90% half-orcs), try to live life on their own, or seek to take over or join an orc clan. The first and second are most common for those of good or neutral alignment, whereas those of evil alignment often try to take over an orc clan half of the time. All half-orcs possess infravision, and have +1 to strength & constitution, and -2 to charisma.
All half-orcs are more physically fit than most other races save for dracon, which only reinforces the stereotype superstition, however their ugly appearance and heritage upsets most people.
Default starting alignments: Neutral/Chaotic (Any). Rare starting alignments: Lawful (Any)
Basic Information
Biological Traits
Half-orcs have two general features that set them apart from humans. The first is their ears, which are pointed. While this is similar to elfin ears, the other race hates being compared to them. The second is their bone structure. Their skulls are so shaped in a way that pushes their face slightly forward. Their bones are also thicker than usual too.
Genetics and Reproduction
Half-Orcs are the shortest living race, living up to a maximum of eighty years old. Like humans they are more active than most races because of this, however only a handful of half-orcs act on ambition than short-term goals and impulses. Half-orcs are infants up to the age of four. Between the ages five and eleven, half-orcs are all considered children. Depending on what kind of parents the child has, they are either put through training, or treated as most other children in other races. This is due to the unique fact that some half-orcs seek to become the leaders of orc clans, meaning that growing up they could be surrounded by orcs.
Once a half-orc grows to the age of twelve, they are considered a young adult. In general young adults are generally treated as if they were fully mature. Thus parents will send them off on their own, or they'll be made an official warrior, and so forth. This is because of their short lifespan, as they do not have the luxury of patience. Proof of this is that half-orcs only have four years before they become mature. When they reach the age of thirteen, they have become fully mature. Any and all doubts, fears, or hesitation a half-orc may have had when they were a young adult will have vanished by now, determination set in it's place. It is here that they are most active. Even when they grow to be old, the ages of forty six to sixty, they are still active. While most races would retire and rest, the half-orcs stubbornly push on as if they were still mature. And finally, they are forced to either retire or die once they become the age of sixty one. For sixty one to eighty years is when they are venerable.
Additional Information
Social Structure
Half-orcs are hated by most races, so it's hard for them to mingle with communities outside of their own. When they do, they are usually near the bottom of the social class. When half-orcs join an orc clan, they will always aim to become the strongest and overthrow the chief, taking over the clan entirely. When half-orcs join together to form their very own clan or community however, it tends to be one that mimics an orc clan, but far more gracious and understanding. The general rule of thumb is that the strongest and/or wisest half-orc leads the others. The more stronger, wiser, smarter, and skilled you are, the higher up the rankings you are. They often live in a tribe like society. However, while they do not coddle those of the lowest positions, neither do they persecute them. Thus it is a delicate balance that their communities hold.
Half-orc communities are often very resentful towards outsiders due to the heavy racism they endure on a daily basis. Thus, while it is possible to work with them, relations are often tense unless trust is earned.
Facial characteristics
Half-orcs may be half human, but like every half-breed of orcs they appear to others as an abomination. Half-orcs never look pleasant to any race. The lower section of their face, specifically the nose and mouth sections, protrude ever slightly (mimicking, but not duplicating the snouts of orcs). The bridge of their noses are bulbous as the nostrils. Their skin is usually wrinkled and gnarled. Even if one doesn't judge by appearance, this unnatural blending of human and orcs will often upset people.
Average Intelligence
Half-orcs are always bullied, mocked, and insulted by other races as they are often accused of being dumb brutes who act like barbarians and only know how to swing a weapon. This is a very strong misconception based on their orc heritage, all of whom are evil creatures whose only strength is melee combat and in masses. The truth is that half-orcs are just as intelligent as most other races. They may be more blunt with their thoughts and feelings, however this doesn't affect their mental knowledge and wisdom. The greatest difference is that most half-orcs do not have long term ambitions like humans do, and instead often gear their intelligence and wisdom to immediate or short term desires or goals.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Like most races other than human the half-orcs have the capability of looking into the infrared spectrum, which allows them to locate enemies in the dark, and makes it a little easier on them should they suddenly be plunged into darkness. Their infrared vision is limited to sixty feet in range, and while it is powerful it has weaknesses, as any cold object can block heat sources from view.
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
Half orcs may live in isolation most of the time, but they always long for their more humanoid lives. Whether their humanoid half was human, gnome or halfling, their names tend to reflect, or at least be similar in meaning to the naming traditions of their heritage. However most races do not recognize it, because their names are always in the language of the half-orcs. While it is similar to orcish, it is not the same, for as a race they do not want to be known as orcs. Their language is still of a guttural and course language though due to how their protruded mouth's are shaped.
Major Organizations
There are several half-orc societies and clans, but the largest one is the Shadow Skull Clan. Overall they are a lawful neutral clan. Their punishments for breaking their laws are rather strict, however this was mostly born out of necessity than cruelty. They are not fond of outsiders, and any visitors must go through much processing, examination, and vows before they can even step inside, but the half-orcs of this clan do not oppress or bully outsiders who come into their city. Their leader commands much respect and power among the other half-orc societies, and while they aren't an official leader of the entirety of their race, should they call for aid there's hardly any half-orcs who wouldn't heed the call.
Beauty Ideals
The half-orc's values on beauty varies based on the community they grow up in. If they grew up among humanoid communities, they often feel depressed regarding beauty as they share the same ideals as their peers, but will never live up to them more often than not. If they grow up among half-orc communities, they'll often try and find things they like about one another, but often are not picky. Those who grow up among the orc clans do not care whatsoever about beauty.
Average Technological Level
While half-orcs are not dumb brutes as most people pick on them for, their technological state is based mostly on their strengths: Their high strength and constitution. As a result, there are less magic casters and the like within their communities, though they do indeed exist. They do have a multitude of technologies that aid in constructions, combat, farming and the like. They mostly select technologies that aid in the tedious affairs so that they can focus on combat training, spell mastery, worship, and so forth.
Major Language Groups and Dialects
All half-orcs speak the languages of half-orc, orcish, halfling, gnomish, goblin, and the "common tongue" of mankind. Depending on how high the half-orc's intelligence score is, they can learn between one to two additional languages.
History
"Monster. Animal. Brute. Abomination. I've heard them all. These are names you will hear all the time when born a half-orc. You never expect someone to call you hero, genius, miracle or the like. Even when you save their lives. That's just our lot in life. We all accept it. Doesn't matter if we join the orcs, form our own communities, or mingle with the other races. The majority of us are doomed to be ignored by history. That doesn't mean we're all like that though. Just look through your history books and you'll find one or two scattered through the ages who made an impression. We're hated. But we're not forgotten." --Arigark KelazurThere have been countless arguements on whether the half-orcs truly belong among Erelest's official races. The half-orcs insist they belong, especially since they've been around since the dark ages and breed half-orcs when they mate with one another. The races who hate and despise half-orcs have insisted they be deemed demi-humans as orcs have created many forms of orcish abominations to increase their ranks. Others believe half-orcs should be known as semi-races of the world like the nephilim who came into existence more later in the timeline. Regardless of what people debate, argue over or insist, some countries accept half-orcs as an official race, while others do not, and others treat half-orcs as if they were full blood orcs. The earliest half-orc community actually traces back to the first year of the Epoch of Renewal. Not much is known about it's time during that era, however eventually they formed an official clan outside of the full blooded orcs. The Shadow Skull Clan as it was named, gave hope and inspiration to the other half-orcs that began appearing all across the world, and eventually more half-orc societies began to form. While they would never grow to be nearly as big as the Shadow Skull Clan, their numbers did grow considerably. This horrified the other races who were terrified that this new breed of orcs was spreading so fast. The result was them reacting in fear and attempting a total genocide of every half-orc that lived. This event was named by every race afterwards as "The Death of Innocence". For at the end of it, a single human made the majority of each and every race ashamed of what they had wrought, though very few elves and dwarves still thought they should be ended for one reason or another. After this, the half-orcs became even more isolated than before. It drove more half-orcs to join the orc clans and oppose those who sought to exterminate them like vermin. Relations continued to be incredibly tense over the years, and nothing seemed to change until the War of Sin. Every half-orc who did not join an orc clan refused to join the Nephilim. The half-orcs that tried to mingle with mankind offered themselves to the war, even if it was in the form of labor. Around halfway through the war, the half-orc communities finally made the decision to aid them, surprising the alliance when a massive army of half-orcs arrived as their reinforcements. After the war of sin, a document was signed as an official acknowledgement of the half-orcs and official peace was established for the race. With this being a massive turning point in their history, the document was named "The Word of Ukumir". Since then the half-orcs haven't done anything of significance as a race, though a handful of half-orc names have risen up to this day, not including adventurers.
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
Dracon: Antipathy/Neutral - While not meaning to be cruel to the half-orcs, the light dracon do not like them overall, though the same could be said for half-orc's feelings towards the light dracon. They hate the dracon for their high and mighty attitudes, constantly praising the gods, and consistently criticizing their every actions telling them how they should be living their lives. It's safe to say that neither of them like the others. Regarding dark dracon they are neutral towards one another. Half-orcs don't trust the dark dracon, even when leading orc clans. Thus any interaction between them is strictly business related, and only if it's in favor to the half-orcs.
Dwarves: Hatred - Half-orcs rarely trust any race whatsoever. However the dwarves are the race they despise the most. This is because of all the races that participated in the extermination of them in the "Death of Innocence", they were by far the most active, and the last and most hesitant to stop. The grudges on both sides have lasted for ages. While the dwarves hate the half-orcs because of their heritage and deep seeded hatred for orcs, the half-orcs hate the dwarves for their murders and discrimination.
Elves: Antipathy - The half-orcs incredibly dislike the elves as a whole. However it isn't only for the discrimination, judgement, and distrust the elves show the half-orcs on a daily basis. One of the primary reasons that most everyone is unaware of is that the half-orcs are immensely jealous of the elves. While humans often aspire to outgrow and overcome the elves, the half-orcs understand that everything an elf is, is out of their reach. They are envious of their beauty, their high status, their strong magic, and their incredible ties to most of the other races. And this envy comes out in the form of antipathy and aggression more often than not.
Gnomes: Hatred - Just as many half-orcs were slain by the gnome's technologies and traps as other races. However it's worse for the gnomes because no half-orc who has lived near a gnome ever enjoyed it's company. With the consistent chaos they bring, the constant pranks (more often dangerous when aimed for half-orcs), and the constant noise of their technology, the half-orcs just hate being around them. This and the many lives lost to the race has allowed the seeds of hatred to grow and flourish. Though there is no open war between the races, neither prefers to be with the other.
Half-Elves: Neutral - The relationship between half-elves and half-orcs is on average neutral. However when compared to the other races, the half-orcs look at the half-elves with relief, and gratitude. Among all the races, it was them who did not participate in the "Death of Innocence" as a race. While the half-orcs can often get impatient with the half-elves, they are willing to not only work with them, but live with them. This has often made the half-elves the ambassadors between the half-orcs and the other races.
Halflings: Neutral - The halflings see the good side of half-orcs far more often than the other races. For they are the most kind to the half-orcs and most patient. While they are often annoyed at the halfling's distaste of their appearance, and the occasional reminders of their lot in life, the more peaceful half-orcs often share a kindred spirit with the halflings. For those who do not fill their lives with conflict will often choose to spend it in laboring such as farming. And it is here the halflings excel at. More importantly, so long as they do their part in the work, the halflings do not cheat them out of their share as many of the other races do.
Humans: Neutral - They view humans as the very definition of 'give and take'. They are willing to accept the half-orcs into their communities so long as they provide their services. The half-orcs are as trusting of humans as humans are of the half-orcs. As a race neither looks at one another very often, and tend to leave each other alone to their own devices. Individuals however can find friends in the other's race if they put in the effort. And humans with all their ambitions are more often than not going to be the ones to both draw the sword and/or pen when an encounter is met.
Nephilim: Tolerate - The half-orcs do not like the nephilim. They do not trust the nephilim. And they do not mingle with the nephilim. Many call the half-orcs an abomination, but even the half-orcs view the half human half devil creatures to be a spawn of evil. Even if they do not mean to they act on sin and evil, and often have some ulterior motive to their every word and deed. Despite this, the half-orcs are willing to tolerate them because of their shared strife and woes. Orc clan leaders will often team up with them for business purposes, but that's usually as far as it goes.
Lifespan
Most half-orcs live up to eighty years.
Average Height
Most half-orcs stand between five foot six to six foot two.
Average Weight
Most half-orcs weigh between one hundred and twenty to one hundred and forty pounds.
Average Physique
Half-orcs often tend to be physically fit, and often muscular.
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
The skin of half-orcs is never smooth, always being rough and often with blemishes. The coloration of their skin is often a dirty brown to muddy green. Never in pleasant shades, always discolored and ugly shades.
Related Organizations
