Homebrew Elf-Orc Species Details

Age

Elf-Orcs live longer than humans, but shorter than elves. Generally living around 200-250 years.

The Mark 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 Elf-Orcs, though their Elvish blood and fey ancestry moderates the impact of their Orcish heritage. Some Elf-Orcs hear the faint whispers of Gruumsh in their dreams, calling them to unleash the rage that simmers within them. Others faintly feel Gruumsh’s exultation when they join in melee combat—and either exult along with him or shiver with fear and loathing. Elf-Orcs are not evil by nature, but evil may lurk within them, whether they embrace it or rebel against it.

Beyond the rage of Gruumsh, Elf-Orcs feel emotion powerfully. Rage doesn’t just quicken their pulse, it makes their bodies burn. An insult stings like acid, and sadness saps their strength. But they laugh loudly and heartily, and simple bodily pleasures—feasting, drinking, wrestling, drumming, and wild dancing—fill their hearts with joy. They tend to be short-tempered and sometimes sullen, more inclined to action than contemplation and to fighting than arguing. The most accomplished Elf-Orcs are those with enough self-control and determination to get by in a civilized land.

Tribes and Slums

Elf-Orcs most often live among Tieflings and human. Of the other races, humans are most likely to accept Elf-Orcs, and Elf-Orcs almost always live in human lands when not living among Orc tribes. Whether proving themselves among rough barbarian tribes or scrabbling to survive in the slums of larger cities, Elf-Orcs get by on their physical might, their endurance given by Orcish blood; the Dexterity and charisma they inherit from their Elven ancestry.

Elf-Orc Names

Elf-Orcs are given names fitting to where they were raised. Those raised by a reclusive elf will have an elven name, whilst one raised by an exiled orc will bear a more guttural sounding, Orc name. Alternatively, like Tieflings, some Elf-Orcs adopt a "virtue" name based on a word that they feel signifies their struggle to survive, or an important goal to them.

Look between Elf names, Orc names, and Tiefling "virtue" names and choose one for your character.

Those given away to be raised by others, whether to guardians from another race, a monastery or faction order, or otherwise, could have any name relevant to those.

 

GRUDGING ACCEPTANCE

Each Elf-Orc finds a way to gain acceptance from those who hate Orcs or Elves. Some are reserved, trying not to draw attention to themselves. 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.

Elf-Orc Traits

Your Elf-Orc character has certain traits deriving from your orc and Elven ancestry

Ability Score Increase

Elf-Orcs are often considered a perfect mixture of two opposing races. Still does not stop them from being shunned.

Strength, Charisma, Dexterity, and Constitution all are increased by one

Age

Elf-Orcs mature a lot faster than Elves but longer than Orcs, reaching adulthood around age 16. They age noticeably faster than Elves but slower than Orcs and rarely live longer than 250 years.

Alignment

Elf-Orcs inherit a tendency toward chaos from their Orc and Elf parents and are not strongly inclined toward good. Elf-Orcs raised among Orcs and willing to live out their lives among them are usually evil. The opposite is true, those raised among Elves tend towards good.

Size

Elf-Orcs are usually larger and bulkier than humans and elves but less so than Orcs, and they range from 5 to well over 6 feet tall. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Darkvision

Thanks to your Orc and Elven 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.

Menacing

You gain proficiency in the Intimidation skill.

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.

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.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and Orc/Elvish. 

Fey Ancestry

You have advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic can’t put you to sleep.