Orc

For more information on all races, see: Races

Orcs are aggressive, callous, and domineering. Bullies by nature, they respect strength and power as the highest virtues. On an almost instinctive level, orcs believe they are entitled to anything they want unless someone stronger can stop them from seizing it. They rarely exert themselves off the battlefield except when forced to do so; this attitude stems not just from laziness but also from an ingrained belief that work should trickle down through the pecking order until it falls upon the shoulders of the weak. They take slaves from other races, orc men brutalize orc women, and both abuse children and elders, on the grounds that anyone too feeble to fight back deserves little more than a life of suffering. Surrounded at all times by bitter enemies, orcs cultivate an attitude of indifference to pain, vicious tempers, and a fierce willingness to commit unspeakable acts of vengeance against anyone who dares to defy them.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Powerfully built, orcs typically stand just a few inches taller than most humans but have much greater muscle mass, their broad shoulders and thick, brawny hips often giving them a slightly lurching gait. They typically have dull green skin, coarse dark hair, beady red eyes, and protruding, tusklike teeth. Orcs consider scars a mark of distinction and frequently use them as a form of body art.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Traditional orcish culture is extremely warlike and when not at war the race is usually planning for it. Most orcs approach life with the belief that to survive, one has to subjugate potential enemies and control as many resources as possible, which puts them naturally at odds with other races as well as each other. Most orcs are part of a confederation of tribes, loosely held together by a despotic chieftain. Bands within these alliances might wander far from their homelands, but continue to greet those orcs who belong to the same tribal network as kin. Orc bloodragers are champions of their tribe, who use primal strength and ferocity to overcome their enemies. Most are bodyguards or lower-ranking chiefs within the tribal structure.
Male orcs dominate most orcish societies and females are usually, at best, prized possessions and little better than livestock at worst. Male orcs pride themselves on their number of wives and sons, as well as their scars from battle and rituals. Orcs also prize the possession of slaves, though relatively few own them.
Orcs usually live amid squalor and constant mayhem, and intimidation and brutal violence are the glue that holds orc culture together. They settle disputes by making increasingly grisly threats until, when a rival fails to back down, the conflict escalates into actual bloodshed. Orcs who win these ferocious brawls not only feel free to take whatever they want from the loser, but also frequently indulge in humiliating physical violation, casual mutilation, and even outright murder. Orcs rarely spend much time improving their homes or belongings since doing so merely encourages a stronger orc to seize them. Most orcs do not build cities of their own, instead relying on those left behind by others and improving their fortifications or operating out of small camps and dens, often in natural caves. Orcs manage ironwork on their own, as well as stonework, though their tools are often inferior to those of more disciplined races.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Male Names: Arkus, Carrug, Felzak, Murdut, Prabur.
Female Names: Durra, Grillgiss, Ilyat, Krugga, Leffit, Olbin, Trisgrak.

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

Orcs admire strength above all things. Even members of enemy races can sometimes win an orc's grudging respect, or at least tolerance, if they break his nose enough times.
Orcs regard dwarves and elves with an odd mix of fierce hatred, sullen resentment, and a trace of wariness. They respect power, and, on some level, understand that these two races have kept them at bay for countless ages. Though they never miss a chance to torment a dwarf or elf who falls into their clutches, they tend to proceed cautiously unless certain of victory. Orcs dismiss halflings and gnomes as weaklings barely worth the trouble of enslaving. They often regard half-elves, who appear less threatening than full-blooded elves but have many elven features, as particularly appealing targets. Orcs view humans as race of sheep with a few wolves living in their midst. They freely kill or oppress humans too weak to fend them off but always keep one eye on the nearest exit in case they run into a formidable human.
Orcs look upon half-orcs with a strange mixture of contempt, envy, and pride. Though weaker than typical orcs, these half-breeds are also usually smarter, more cunning, and better leaders. Tribes led, or at least advised, by half-orcs are often more successful than those led by pure-blooded orcs. On a more fundamental level, orcs believe each half-orc also represents an orc exerting dominance over a weaker race.

Alternate Racial Traits

Replaces Ferocity

Reckless Climber

Mountain-dwelling orcs thrive on taking insane risks to defeat foes and show up rivals. They gain a +4 racial bonus on Climb checks without rope and on Acrobatics checks to maintain balance. This racial trait replaces Ferocity.

Squalid

Some orcs exist in surroundings so filthy and pestilent that even other orcs would have difficulty living in them. Orcs with this racial trait gain a +2 racial bonus on saving throws made to resist nausea, the sickened condition, and disease. This racial trait replaces Ferocity.

Replaces Ferocity, Weapon Familiarity

Smeller

Orcs with this racial trait gain a limited scent ability with half the normal range. This racial trait replaces Ferocity and Weapon Familiarity.

Replaces Light Sensitivity

Dayrunner

Orcs refuse to yield to any foe, including the sun. Some spend hour upon hour glaring at the sun until their ruined eyes acclimatize to bright light. Orcs with this racial trait take a –2 penalty on all ranged attack rolls. This racial trait replaces Light Sensitivity.

Replaces Weapon Familiarity, Languages

Feral

Orcs have the ability to fend for themselves long before they master the rudiments of their language and culture. Having needed to hunt bugs and tiny animals for food to survive while still infants, feral orcs fight all the harder to survive when at the brink of death. Orcs with this racial trait gain Survival as a class skill and gain a +1 racial bonus on melee weapon attack and damage rolls when at negative hit points. This racial trait replaces the orc’s Weapon Familiarity and automatic languages. Feral orcs without additional languages due to high Intelligence scores or ranks in Linguistics can only communicate with grunts and gestures.

Favored Class Options

Instead of receiving an additional skill rank or hit point whenever they gain a level in a favored class, orcs have the option of choosing from a number of other bonuses, depending upon their favored class. The following options are available to all orcs who have the listed favored class.

Alchemist: Add +10 minutes to the duration of the alchemist's mutagens.
Barbarian: Add +1 to the barbarian's total number of rage rounds per day.
Cavalier: Add +1 to the cavalier's CMB when making bull rush or overrun combat maneuvers against a challenged target.
Druid: Add +1/2 to the damage dealt by the druid's animal companion's natural attacks.
Fighter: Add +2 to the fighter's Constitution score for the purpose of determining when he dies from negative hit points.
Ranger: Add +1 hit point to the ranger's animal companion. If the ranger ever replaces his animal companion, the new animal companion gains these bonus hit points.
Shifter: Add 1/5 to the damage dealt when using the shifter claws ability.
Witch: Add one spell from the witch spell list to the witch's familiar. This spell must be at least one level below the highest spell level she can cast. If the witch ever replaces her familiar, the new familiar knows these bonus spells.

Racial Traits

+4 Strength, –2 Intelligence, –2 Wisdom, –2 Charisma
Orcs are brutal and savage.

Orc
Orcs are humanoids with the orc subtype.

Medium
Orcs are Medium creatures and have no bonuses or penalties due to their size.

Normal Speed
Orcs have a base speed of 30 feet.

Darkvision
Orcs can see in the dark up to 60 feet.

Ferocity
Orcs can remain conscious and continue fighting even if their hit point totals fall below 0. Orcs are still staggered at 0 hit points or lower and lose 1 hit point each round as normal.

Light Sensitivity
Orcs are dazzled in areas of bright sunlight or within the radius of a Daylight spell.

Weapon Familiarity
Orcs are always proficient with greataxes and falchions, and treat any weapon with the word “orc” in its name as a martial weapon.

Languages
Orcs begin play speaking Common and Orcish. Orcs with high Intelligence scores can choose from the following languages: Dwarven, Giant, Gnoll, Goblin, and Undercommon.

Average Lifespan
25 years

Average Height
5 ft. 3 in. – 7 ft. 1 in.

Average Weight
170 – 320 lbs.