Homebrew Regressed Half-Orc Species Details

Although their fighting edge and dominant genes lay far behind them, even a "Regressed" Half-Orc is as brave as any. A proper diet and enough weight training can make up the difference a Regressed Half-Orc and a regular Half-Orc may have. Let their name fool you not, they will stop at nothing for progress. They have spent to long going backwards not to. They aren't ashamed of where they come from, they see it only as an obstacle to accomplish their goals. Although you wouldn't call them a proud people. No matter what, they are orcs. They are still renown for their brute savagery, and are much nimbler than their counterparts. Although they are revered even less for their intellect.

 

Traditions Learned and Forgotten.

As Half-Orcs come, they are much on the small side. Standing between 5 and 6 and a half feet tall, weighing usually around 140 to 230 pounds.

Most orcs have great pride and tradition with their scars, although regressed half orcs tend to fall short of traditions. One they have created in their time away in caves was to create makeshift tattoos using fire and thin metal, almost a sort of branding. Many of them can be seen with full sleeves, tattoos on their face, backs, hands, anywhere. They are quite a creative race, after all those years bored in the dark.

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 can be said for half-orcs, even those without outside contact for thousands of years can feel his presence. Some say it was Gruumsh visiting their dreams that even caused them to escape in the first place. Some say that was why they closed themselves off underground in the ancient times. Either way, Gruumsh has remained one of the only fragments left of their old life style.

Towns and Camps

Most regressed half orcs live in camps, among the forest. Finding the serenity and quiet much more pleasing. After all, that's all that they were used to, and so much had changed for them already, the stress of towns and kingdoms was too much. Well, for most at least. The most curious and adventurous types escaped almost immediately to towns and began to form lifestyles similar to any other civilized race would. They just want to fit in. 

Regressed Half-Orc Names

Half-orcs usually have names appropriate to the culture in which they were raised. However this is no longer the case for regressed half orcs. The ones who live in towns, as said previously, love to fit in. A few have name changes or name their children human sounding names. However for the most part their broken orcish names stand strong.

Male Orc Names: Denk, Fen, Gell, Hen, Hog, Im, Kes, Kusk, Mur, Ront, Sum, Tok

Female Orc Names: Bag, Emm, Eng, Kanf, Mev, Neg, Okk, Onk, Saw, Sut, Valo, Von, Vedla

GRUDGING ACCEPTANCE

Each half-orc finds a way to gain acceptance from those who hate orcs. 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.

Regressed Half-Orc Traits

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

Darkvision

Dark vision 120ft

Crawling Burst

Increase movement speed to 35ft while crawling.

Ability Score Increase

Your Strength score increases by 2, and your Constitution score increases by 1.

Age

Half-orcs mature a little faster than humans, reaching adulthood around age 14. They age noticeably faster and rarely live longer than 75 years. However regressed half orcs breed like rabbits, and only live to about 45.

Alignment

Regressed half-orcs inherit a tendency toward neutrality from their lack of need to be evil, or for that matter good. Regressed half-orcs raised in towns tend to be rather lawful.

Size

Regressed half-orcs are ever so slightly larger than humans, and they range from 5 to just over 6 feet tall. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

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. Orc is a harsh, grating language with hard consonants. It has no script of its own but is written in the Dwarvish script.