Gargu-Hyeka, the Common or Brown Orc
The common orc represents half of Hârn’s gargun population, usually in colonies with populations between 1,000 and 2,000, most living in large mountain cave complexes. However, there are occasional nomadic tribes of up to 300. The Hyeka are excellent mining engineers and passable weaponcrafters.
Basic Information
Growth Rate & Stages
The Hyeka reach adulthood in about a year.
Ecology and Habitats
The Hyeka prefer to dwell in mountains or hills where they can mine and create underground complexes.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Hyeka are strict carnivores and not above cannibalism. They often keep stocks of animals and continuously sending out hunting and foraging parties for supplies.
Additional Information
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
As a nocturnal species, they can see well at night and in the darkness but have limited vision in daylight. The Hyeka have an excellent sense of smell and hearing.
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
Gargu-Hyeka names are basic usually related to the appearance of the Orc or notable events in its past.
e.g., Broken-tooth, Tongue-eater, Head-splitter, One-eye, White-stripe, or Dwarf-strangler.
Major Organizations
The Gargu-Hyeka tend to form colonies starting from several hundred rapidly growing up to and sometimes over two thousand.
One of the most powerful and prominent is the Colony of Korego.
Average Technological Level
Gargu-Hyeka have excellent mining skills, equal to or better than the best human miners. They can smelt metal and forge simple but serviceable metal tools and weapons. Some have even developed scale, chain, and ringmail.
Major Language Groups and Dialects
The Common Orc is hatched with the ability to speak Gargu-Hyeka, which is distinctly different from other Orcish languages and the common Orcish sign language.
Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals
Kill or be killed.
Dominate and take what you can.
Violence or the threat of violence is the best way to get what you want.
Religion
Like all Orcs, the Gargu-Hyeka believe they have been abandoned by the gods and do not follow or worship any. Priests of Morgath and Agrik have occasionally forcefully converted some orcs, but they always abandon any faith at the first opportunity.
History
Imported to Hârn from some other world by Lothrim the Fowlspawer to serves as warriors in his armies. After Lothrim's death 600 years ago, the Hyeka have spread over the isle of Hârn and onto the Lythian mainland.
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
Like all Orcs, the Gargu-Hyeka have eternal hatred of Dwarves and happily sacrifice themselves to kill their old enemy. Elves are treated in a similar manner but with more fear and caution.
Most Humans are seen as enemies or food, but a few, such as the Pagaelin Barbarians, are seen as potential allies or business partners.
A imported species, like from another world.
This subspecies may have been subject to magical manipulation.
Most Hyeka are covered in brown fur of various shades, although blonde, black, and alburn are not unknown.
Eyes coloration varies from brown, yellow, green, grey, hazel to violet.
Violet-eyed Hyeka are said to have sorcerous talents.
5E Orc Rules
Gargu-Hyeka uses standard Monster Manual Orcs as a template.
They can act in daylight normally but in bright sunlight attack at disadvantage.
A small number of Hyeka have residue magic from Lothrim's experiments and this is based on Blood Magic.
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