Half-Orc
Like other half-breeds on Eurra, Half-Orcs combined the natures of both their lineages into a unique whole, a trait which extended into their mentality as well as their physical qualities. Like Humans, Half-Orcs were quick to action, tenacious and bold, and possessed an adaptability that was unusual among most races. This was useful to the race given that they were considered outsiders just about everywhere; they had the ability to thrive in unwelcome or unusual locations, which was a necessity for a Half-Orc’s welfare.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Half-Orcs’ grayish pigmentation, sloping foreheads, jutting jaws, prominent teeth, and towering builds make their Orcish heritage plain for all to see. Half-Orcs stand between 5 and 7 feet tall and usually weigh between 180 and 250 pounds.
Growth Rate & Stages
Half-orcs mature a little faster than humans, reaching adulthood around age 14. They age noticeably faster and rarely live longer than 75 years.
Additional Information
Social Structure
Half-Orcs most often lived among Orcs. Of the other races, Humans are most likely to accept them, and Half-Orcs almost always lived in Human lands when not living among Orc tribes. Whether proving themselves among rough barbarian tribes or scrabbling to survive in the slums of larger cities, Half-Orcs get by on their physical might, their endurance, and the sheer determination they inherited from their Human ancestry.
Being outside the tribal lifestyle meant having to integrate into the cultures of other races more often than not. As a result each Half-Orc found a way to gain acceptance from those who hated Orcs. Some were reserved, trying not to draw attention to themselves. A few demonstrated piety and good-heartedness as publicly as they could (whether or not such demonstrations were genuine). And some simply tried to be so tough that others just avoid them.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Half-Orcs were commonly found across the northern half of Vyrania for much of recorded history due to the roaming nature of the Orcish half of their heritage. Through the ages their range of territory of Orcs was diminished by the growing power of kingdoms to police their borders and this left lingering generations of Half-Orcs in their wake from relationships both consenting and not. In the present, Half-Orcs are largely found in the northernmost regions of Vyrania where Orcs remain, especially Glayswen.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Thanks to their Orcish blood, Half-Orcs had superior vision in dark and dim conditions. They could see in dim light up to 60 feet as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. However, they could only discern shades of gray within the darkness.
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
Half-Orcs usually have names appropriate to the culture in which they were raised. A Half-Orc who wants to fit in among Humans might trade an Orc name for a Human name. Some Half-Orcs with Human names decide to adopt a guttural Orc name because they think it makes them more intimidating.
Major Organizations
Beauty Ideals
Depending on the culture a Half-Orc is living within, they may seek to downplay or accentuate their Orcish features to fit in more with the dominant race's standard of beauty. Any Half-Orc who has lived among or near Orcs has scars, whether they are marks of humiliation or of pride, recounting their past exploits and injuries. Such a Half-Orc living among humans might display these scars proudly or hide them in shame.
Gender Ideals
Defined roles and preferred gender features are largely based in which culture raised each particular Half-Orc.
Courtship Ideals
As with their beauty ideals, males and females face hardships when it comes to courting someone due to their features. Try as they might, the party they are interested in may see too much of the wrong aspects within the Half-Orc pursuing them. Forging acceptance and trust within their chosen society is key to seeking someone that will accept them in return.
Major Language Groups and Dialects
Half-Orcs usually speak Common and Orcish. The Orc language is harsh and grating with hard consonants. It has no script of its own but has been adapted into the Dwarvish script.
History
Half-Orcs have existed in the world for many, many centuries, although like most half-breeds they’ve never had an independent cultural history. Originally the progeny of Human and Orc procreation, though Half-Orcs can mate with either species and create Half-Orc children. Half-orcs occupy a border in society. Although orcs are recognized as a civilized race they are none-the-less looked down upon by the more civilized races. Half-Orcs of historical note have made their impact not through a civilization of their own, but by excelling at whatever path they’ve taken within another people’s culture. Since the formation of the Confederacy, however, Half-Orcs have come somewhat more unto their own, especially with the outbreak of the Great War. Since then, relations between orcs and humans, along with the other Confederate races, have eased, as have the circumstances from which half-orcs are born.
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
The troubles that their heritage has brought them teaches most Half-Orcs to be mistrusting and suspicious. Some Half-Orcs had as much trouble forming bonds with others as other races have had accepting them, making friends with great difficulty and losing them with much greater ease.
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