Homebrew Half-Orc Halfling Species Details

The Half-Orc Halfling Zug Zog roused himself from the brush at the edge of camp and sniffed at the burning trash and signs of debauchery from the previous night.  He stretched his four foot frame to its full height, flexing his back and shoulder muscles to greet the day.  He was an unusual sight, appearing to be slightly larger than a Halfling, but with Orcish features and coloring. He usually rose before most of his raiding party companions, who grudgingly accepted him into their group, but still did not trust the Orc/Halfing hybrid who they still referred to in whispers as an abomination.  The Small Orc Rogue had proven himself useful to the group, having more strength than any Halfling they had ever seen while still being able to harness stealth as his ally.  But it was often true that their outcast upbringing gave the uncommon mixed breeds a streak of anger and rage that made them unpredictable. Zug Zog had proven that during the swampmarsh raids, when he had caused all out mayhem with the unnecessary assassination of a dwarven merchant guildmaster that led to their current flight from Neverwinter Calvary..

— Andy Holland, Ragemidget

When Orc raids take slaves of all races, the slaves occasionally become participants in unorthodox unions. When an orcish female and a Halfling male mate, in very rare occassions, half-orc halflings, or Small Orcs, are born. These Small orcs are incredibly rare, as they are the result of very specific happenstance.  Their halfling blood gives them various advantages and disadvantages over their full-blooded orc kin, and half-orcs from human backgrounds. Half-Orc Halflings tend to be shunned by both their Halfling and Orc kin, and typically have anger issues due to their inability to belong in normal orc or Halfling societies.  The rare ones who survive to adulthood venture into the world to find their place and prove their worth among humans and other more civilized races. Many of these become adventurers, achieving greatness for their mighty deeds and notoriety for their loyalty to their allies and savage fury against those who incur their ire.

Scarred, Strong, and Cheerful

Half-orc halfings’ have gray-green pigmentation, mildly sloping foreheads, prominently Halfling ears and facial hair, slightly jutting jaws, prominent teeth, and larger than normal Halfling builds that make their orcish heritage plain for all to see. Half-orc halflings stand between 3.5 and 4.5 feet tall and are tremendously dense, usually weighing between 100 and 150 pounds.  They are too small to fit in with Orcish society, and too Orcish to fit in with Halfling society.

Orcs regard battle scars as tokens of pride and ornamental scars as things of beauty. Other scars, though, mark an orc or half-orc as a former slave or a disgraced exile. 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. Half-Orc Halflings typically have more scars than regular Half-Orcs, owing to being viewed as abominations by both Orcs and Halflings.

Half-Orc Halflings are slow to trust due to the outcast nature of their upbringing, but are affable and cheerful people around the small group of individuals who they accept as friends and extended family. They cherish the bonds of family and friendship due to the rare nature of both in their lives and are fiercely protective of the small group of individuals that fall into these categories. They have an affinity for cooking, and love learning new cooking recipes and techniques.  Half-Orc Halflings are easily moved to pity and hate to see any living thing suffer, unless they are in a rage, in which case they kill quickly and feel remorse after.  Sometimes. They are generous with the select few who they view as family and friends, happily sharing what they have even in lean times.

The Burden of Gruumsh

The one-eyed god Gruumsh created the orcs, and even those orcs who turn away from his worship can’t fully escape his influence. The same is true of half-orc halflings, though their halfling blood moderates the impact of their orcish heritage, being ostracized and viewed as abominations typically results in deep seeded rage issues. Some half-orc halflings hear the whispers of Gruumsh in their dreams, calling them to unleash the rage that simmers within them. Others feel Gruumsh’s exultation when they join in melee combat—and either exult along with him or shiver with fear and loathing. Half-orc halflings are not evil by nature, but evil does lurk within their rage, whether they embrace it or rebel against it.

Beyond the rage of Gruumsh, half-orc halflings feel emotion powerfully, exacerbating both happiness and sadness. Rage doesn’t just quicken their pulse, it makes their bodies burn. An insult stings like acid, and sadness saps their strength. But they also embrace their Halfling heritage, laughing loudly and heartily, and simple bodily pleasures—feasting, drinking, wrestling, drumming, and wild dancing—fill their hearts with joy. They tend to be extremely affable around those they trust, but around the populace at large they appear short-tempered and sometimes sullen and reserved, more inclined to action than contemplation and to fighting than arguing. Most half-orc halflings have more general self control than their half-orc brethren with human backgrounds, but are more prone to fits of anger. 

Friends and Family

Half-Orc Halflings most often live a nomadic existence at the fringe of mercenary groups, or with a very small group of trusted friends who they regard as an adopted family. Orc tribes will allow Half-Orc Halflings to live amongst them, but an second class citizens regarded as abominations.  Halflings tend to passively shun them, being frightened by their orcish features and fits of anger and do not allow them to live among them as a normal member of the community.

Half-Orc Halfling Names

Half-Orc Halfllings have names representing their mixed heritage, with the first name almost always being "pigadnumork" , which is orcish for "Small Orc", as the orcs view them as abominations unworthy of a true orc name,  and the last name (if used) taking from their Halfling heritage. A half-orc halfling who wants to fit in among humans will often accept a shortened nickname from their more civilized companions or go by the father's surname if they know it.

GRUDGING ACCEPTANCE

Each half-orc halfling, at their core, seeks to gain acceptance and find their place in the world, as they have never naturally had a place in orcish or halfling society. Some try to blend into the world at large in normal roles, while others try to rage against the world and mold it to their liking. A few demonstrate piety and good-heartedness as publicly as they can (whether or not such demonstrations are genuine). And some simply try to be so tough that others just avoid them.

Half-Orc Halfling Traits

Your half-orc character has certain traits deriving from your orc and halfling ancestry.

Ability Score Increase

Your Strength score increases by 2 due to your orcish heritage, and your Constitution score increases by 1 due to your stout Halfling heritage.

Age

A half-orc halfling reaches adulthood at the age of 17 and generally lives up to 110 years, with the orc blood lessening the normal halfling life span.

Alignment

Most half-orc halflings are chaotic good. Though they may hide it well, as a rule, they are good-hearted and kind, and hate to see others in pain, except when they are in an orcish rage. Owing to their upbringing in an environment where they don't belong, they act as their conscience or impulse directs them, with little regard to the expectations of others.  

Size

Half-Orc Halflings range between 3.5 and 4.5 feet tall and weigh between 100 and 150 pounds. Your size is Small, but due to your Orcish blood, you move like a medium creature. 

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet, higher than a normal halfling due to your orcish strength.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common, Orcish, and Halfling. The Halfling language isn’t secret, but halflings are loath to share it with others. They write very little, so they don’t have a rich body of literature. Their oral tradition, however, is very strong. Almost all halflings speak Common to converse with the people in whose lands they dwell or through which they are traveling.  Orc is a harsh, grating language with hard consonants.  It has no script of its own but is written in the dwarvish script.

Darkvision

Thanks to your orc blood, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions but more limited than other half orcs due to your halfling blood. You can see in dim light within 30 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.

Menacing

You gain proficiency in the Intimidation skill.

Savage Attacks

When you score a critical hit with a melee weapon attack, you can roll one of the weapon’s damage dice one additional time and add it to the extra damage of the critical hit.

Lucky

When you roll a 1 on the d20 for an attack roll, ability check, or saving throw, you can reroll the die and must use the new roll.  Limit 3x uses per short rest.

Brave

You have advantage on saving throws against being frightened.

Halfling Nimbleness

You can move through the space of any creature that is of a size larger than yours.

Stout Resilience

You have advantage on saving throws against poison, and you have resistance against poison damage.