Homebrew Tanarukk Species Details

Tanarukks are derived from orcish bloodlines, and in the broadest possible sense, they still look orcish. However, their abyssal heritage has left a clear imprint on their appearance. Tanarukks have one or more sets of horns that take any of a variety of shapes: some have curling horns like a ram, others have wide and jagged horns like a bull or ox, and some spiral upward like an antelopes’ horns. They also often have bony protrusions or ridges on their knees, elbows, and shoulders which can make regular armor or clothing difficult to wear, requiring customization. Tanarukk walk on their toes in a manner similar to other digitigrades and their canine teeth are sharply pointed. Their eyes typically have black, brown or red sclera rather than white, and their pupil-less irises are solid black, white, red, orange, or yellow. Their unnaturally tough skin ranges in tone to include grey, red, brown, and mottled green. Albino (white) or melanistic (black) skin tones are also not unheard of. Their hair is short, bristly and usually dark, in shades of black, brown, grey, and dark red.

Tanarukk Traits

Tanarukks are beings that are a combination of demon and orc. They are a consequence of an orc tribe being influenced or tainted by demons or demonic powers. The curse manifests as a mutation that transforms an unborn orc into a demonic creature. This creature, a tanarukk, is much stronger and more powerful than an orc, but they are also completely unhinged and savage.

Ability Score Increase.

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

Fiendish Resistance.

You have resistance to fire damage.

Menacing.

You are proficient in the Intimidation skill.

Natural Armor.

When you aren't wearing armor, your AC is 13 + your Dexterity modifier. You can use your natural armor to determine your AC if the armor you wear would leave you with a lower AC. A shield's benefits apply as normal while you use your natural armor.

Unbridled Frenzy.

In response to being hit by a melee attack, as a reaction you can make one melee weapon attack with advantage against the attacker. Once you use this trait you can't use it again until you finish a short or long rest.

Age

Tanarukk mature slightly faster than humans, reaching adulthood around age 14.

Alignment

Most tanarukk are chaotic evil. There are very few neutral or good, but some, either abandoned at birth or exiled because of their differing beliefs, have denied their natural instincts.

Size

Most tanarukk are slightly larger than orcs and covered in muscle. They range from 6 to 7 feet tall, with some of the largest reaching nearly 8 feet. Your size is Medium.

 

Random Height and Weight

Base Height	Height Modifier*	Base Weight	Weight Modifier**
5′ 10″	+2d12	150 lb.	× (2d6) lb.

 

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

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 gray.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common, Abyssal, and Orc.