Half-Orcs

"Half-orcs ably straddle two worlds: the civilized culture of humans and the tribal nature of orcs. Their hard work and brave hearts are valued by many. Half-orcs are powerful combatants, too, with their great strength and the advantage of darkvision. Humans and orcs have been living together in the Shadow Marshes for two thousand years, leading to the race of half-orcs. Having existed alongside humans for millennia, half-orcs tend to be accepted among other races when found."

"Half-orcs are rare, due in large part to the isolated and insular nature of the orc tribes. In the Shadow Marshes, shared orc and human settlements host large half-orc populations and a single orc-human culture."¹ Their mixed heritage often grants them respect and trust as negotiators and inquisitives.

They combine the spiritual wisdom of orcish traditions with the pragmatism of human society. Most embrace the druidic ways of the Gatekeepers, and all possess enough druidic magic to speak with animals. Some combine druidism with worship of Balinor god of the wild, blending ancient orc spirituality and new traditions.

Most half-orcs are deeply proud of their mixed heritage, and some see themselves as bridges between two worlds. They tend to strongly value familial and clan connections, and insults to their heritage rarely go unanswered. Raised in rugged lands such as the Shadow Marshes, many half-orcs gravitate toward bold careers in prospecting, bounty hunting, and mercenary work, finding excitement and honor in dangerous tasks.

Three main nationalities of half-orcs dwell in Khorvaire: Eldeen Reaches half-orcs, Shadow Marshes half-orcs, and Droaamish half-orcs. (See "Half-Orc Nationalities, below.)

Description

Physique. Half-orcs stand between 6 feet and over 7 feet tall and weigh an average of 240 pounds. They have powerful builds that reflect their strength and resilience, and their skin tones range from pale gray-green to deeper shades of olive or slate gray. Many half-orcs decorate their bodies with detailed tattoos. Their prominent orcine facial features lend them an imposing presence. Those raised among orcs frequently bear tattoos depicting their clan's symbols or spiritual icons.

Age. Half-orcs reach adulthood at age 14. They hit middle age around 35 and are considered old past age 50.

Size. A half-orc's size is Medium. To set your height and weight randomly, start with rolling a size modifier:

Size modifier = 2d10
Height = 5 feet 9 inches + size modifier in inches
Weight = 160 lb + (2d6 lb × size modifier)

Suggested Names. Aashta, Anika, Baruk, Bravejo, Devent, Drovomar, Fuddok, Jhentreik, Jhourka, Kad, Kalaash, Ket, Khundar, Khundran, Klintros, Lithra, Maagrim, Maiazak, Ramaal, Rraac, Ruusk, Saala, Svash, Timmok, Torrn, Urlev, Yevgen, Zarra.

Racial Traits

Creature Type. Your creature type is Humanoid.

Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by 2, two other ability scores of your choice increase by 1.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Darkvision. Thanks to your orc blood, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Relentless Endurance. When you are reduced to 0 hit points but not killed outright, you can drop to 1 hit point instead. You can’t use this feature again until you finish a long rest.

Speak with Small Beasts. Through sounds and gestures, you can communicate simple ideas with Small ar smaller beasts.

Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Orcish. Orcish is a harsh, grating language with hard consonants. It has no script of its own but is written in the Dwarvish script.

Half-Orc Nationalities

These are the principle ethnicities of the half-orcs of Western Khorvaire. You do not need to pick one of these. If you want your half-orc to be from somewhere else where half-orcs live some other kind of a way, that's fine. That said if you prefer to pick from predefined choices here are three.

Droaamish Half-Orcs

Half-orcs are a people shaped by the land and sharpened by necessity. They are born and raised in a wilderness that demands strength and decisiveness. They are survivors, proud of their heritage and loyal to their kin. Most live in forested compounds or hillside steads. These are high-trust societies: tools are communal, meals are shared, and training yards echo with sparring or instruction at nearly all hours. From a young age, children are expected to contribute as participants in the work of survival. To the half-orcs of Droaam, service earns standing. Most half-orcs of these lands speak a distinctive patois of Orc and Common, rich in poetic imagery drawn from their homelands and spirituality.

Shadow Marshes Half-Orcs

Known among their kin as jhorgun’taal, or “children of two bloods,” the half-orcs of the Shadow Marches are born into a legacy of union, woven into the long tapestry of orcish clans and human bloodlines that have lived side by side in the marshes for millennia. Marsher half-orcs are raised in lands where every footstep can vanish into the bog and every fogbank might hide a forgotten ruin. Their settlements are rustic but resilient, often built on stilts or into the sides of trees or stone outcroppings. The living is communal, with shared meals, tools, and child-rearing responsibilities. Most clans include both orcs and half-orcs among their ranks, with little distinction in status or role.

Eldeen Reaches Half-Orcs

Half-orcs of the Eldeen Reaches embody the rugged independence and quiet strength of their homeland. Their heritage springs from generations of human and orcish ancestors whose bonds have created a resilient shared culture. The traditional ways of Eldeen half-orcs reflect a blend of practicality, tradition, and personal freedom. They tend to settle in small border towns, remote farmsteads, or quiet woodland villages. Leadership in these communities arises organically, with respect earned through action, courage, or wisdom. Warriors, artisans, hunters, and healers all find their place equally valued, each contributing uniquely to the strength of their community.

License

Content on this page is licensed under the CC0 1.0 Universal License, excluding quotes and images.

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1. Races of Eberron pp.92-93 ↩