Homebrew Half-Orca Species Details

As I stood on the deck, this majestic creature broke the water and soon thereafter the clouds. It's robust whale-like body must've been more than 100 feet long, yet it flew with a grace unmatched by the most agile of birds. It spun skyward, almost playfully, its body wreathed in fantastic shimmer that can only be described as sunset caught in calm waves on the horizon. I couldn't help myself but stare, enchanted, even long past the milky puffs completely covered its shape, as the song it carried still rang in my ears, like a whisper of a lover wishing me safe return.

— Meliorazio the Wanderer 

Children of Time Immemorial

Great Orcas were born out of primordial forces that wrestled with each other at the formation of the world. Not just the elements, but every form of power that emerged spawned them during particularly powerful clashes. Whether avatars of those powers, or just sparks shooting out of universal bonfire, commanding weather with powerful magic woven into their song they traversed the world, each finding a place for itself. Comfortable in air, seas and on land alike, they asserted dominance over new races, who in time sprung into existence.

Some ruled with fear, some through respect. Some from afar, acting only in times of a crisis, some stood at the front lines of armies or sat at front rows of amphitheaters. It's said that none were like any other and to know them all would be to know everything. While an obvious exaggeration, many old records confirm that they indeed came in great variation of personalities and persuasions not only between their distinctive kinds, but also within them.

As time went on, civilizations rose and fell. Mortals, while comparatively fragile, driven by their short lifespans took upon themselves to close the gap between them and their overlords. And the overlords noticed. If there was one thing that Great Orcas didn't have, it was capacity for change and growth, as they came to be in their ideal form, so mortals, shifting before their eyes, caught their attention. While few such initiatives were treated as signs of a budding rebellion and where quenched fast, most were met with curiosity and admiration. Some Great Orcas bestowed their power to those they deemed worthy, some took more... intimate interest, assuming their shapes and creating powerful progeny. Regardless of the way or reason, primordial powers that came with that flow to this day in veins of many.

Although common folk now consider Great Orcas to be creatures of myths rather than distant past, if you venture far enough into the seas or high enough above the clouds, you may encounter one. And if you cherish your life, you will be wise not to disturb its passage. Since Great Orcas decided to withdraw, they do not take kindly to being interfered with in return. Even the most benevolent of them will respond with swift and devastating attack. Stay silent, stay at a distance, and you may live to call yourself one of the few lucky ones, who saw the living legend.

Enemy Within

Not much is known about the reason why Great Orcas gave up their dominion over the world. Mysteriously, no physical recollections of what is currently known as The Skend. Among many legends that survived in oral form, one that was repeated the most spoke of Betrayer, who discontent with shackles of unchanging nature, decided to elevate itself by carving out primordial sparks out of its kin and consuming them. Some were swayed by the promise of transcending their current form and followed Betrayer's fratricidal plan.

Rather than wait, those who opposed united. Calling themselves Immutable Junction, with their mortal subjects at the side, they met Betrayer's forces and tore them to pieces before they could rise to power of any significance. Thus ended first and last conflict among Great Orcas, but it was hardly end to their worries. They saw to what extent mortals have grown. They saw the powers they commanded, with or without their blood. And, above all else, they saw futility of rule of stagnation in a world driven by beings experiencing more variety in lives that lasted a blink of an eye, than the Great Orcas ever could imagine. So they left. They took to depths, they took to skies and traverse them ever since, leaving mortal matters to their mortal offspring. Thousands of years passed, and yet echoes of the titans, the unchanging, still rumble in the souls of their children.

Alas, that's but a legend, and one of many too.

Bridge Between the Worlds

Half-Orcas vary greatly between themselves. You are just as likely to encounter one in a big city, as you are to find it living in a desert hut. They have no inherent preference to living in a crowded, industrial capitol over small, farm commune. One could say it reflects the diversity of their mythic ancestors. Others, that it makes them just like most other people. There are, scattered across all of the lands, small communes consisting in majority of half-orcas who share the same culture and traditions, usually centered around preserving knowledge of local history of contacts between mortals and Great Orcas.

To a degree, common traits exists though in their physicality. One would be their often towering posture. On average they are taller and bulkier than humans or elves, but rarely firbolgs or goliaths. They also are less prone to get sick and shoulder the elements a bit better.

As for the appearance, prominence of their ancestry can also vary, with the sole exception of the fully functional blowhole located on the back of their necks. They can, however, choose to breathe through their mouth instead, so covering it does not put them in immediate danger. Other features may include webbed fingers and toes, a unique sheen and skin coloration, complex tattoo-like patterns, fin on their heads, back, forearms and legs and similar.

Half-Orca Names

Half-Orcas living within civilization often adapt any naming conventions of the region, however their more secluded communities tend to follow the old ways in naming their offspring. This tradition is based on a facet of freedom especially cherished by the family, and any peculiarities that occurred on the day of the birth. Being born on the day of huge importance is therefore considered a powerful omen, as the child will carry that memory with them wherever they go.

Examples: Storm Unbridled, Floating Blossom, Equinox Shacklebreak, Duty Mourning.

Half-Orca Traits

Your Great Orca ancestry manifests in a variety of traits that accentuate your origin.

Great Orca Descendant

You are descendant of Great Orca. Choose one type of Great Orca from the Great Orca Descendant table. You gain features related to your chosen Great Orca type, including:

- resistance to one type of damage
- a +1 Ability score increase
- starting from level 5 a spell you can cast once requiring no material components. You regain the ability to cast it this way when you finish a long rest. Constitution is your spellcasting ability for this spell.

Great Orca Descendant

Great Orca Ancestry	Damage Resistance Type	Ability Score Increase	Spell
Aurora	Cold	Wisdom	Beacon of Hope
Deep	Necrotic	Intelligence	Spirit Guardians (necrotic damage)
Geyser	Acid	Strength	Haste
Horizon	Force	Intelligence	Tidal Wave
Moon	Psychic	Intelligence	Dispel Magic
Shoal	Piercing	Dexterity	Slow
Shore	Poison	Dexterity	Bestow Curse
Storm	Lightning	Charisma	Call Lightning
Sun	Radiant	Wisdom	Mass Healing Word
Tropic	Thunder	Dexterity	Create Food and Water
Volcano	Fire	Charisma	Erupting Earth
Whirlpool	Bludgeoning	Strength	Wind Wall
Killer Whale	Slashing	Strength	Counterspell

Ability Score Increase

Your Constitution score increases by 2.

Age

Half-Orca grow slower than humans and reach adulthood by 40. They live to be around 250 - 300.

Dive

You can hold your breath underwater for a number of hours equal to your Constitution modifier, with a minimum of 1.

Darkvision

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 blue.

Damage Resistance

You are resistant to one type of damage based on your Great Orca ancestry.

Size

Half-Orca are usually taller and bulkier than humans, standing around 7 feet tall and averaging 220 pounds. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking and swimming speed is 30 feet.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and Primordial, with a distinct Great Orca-related peculiarities, like choice of words and inflection. It is thought to be one of the oldest languages and is often used in the study of nature magic as well as weather phenomena. The language sounds soft and and includes numerous whistles and long vowels.