Homebrew Half-Orc Tiefling Species Details

Orcs are no strangers to fiendish blood, primarily by way of the demonic corruption of an unborn orc by tanar’ri demons—an abyssal ritual bestowed by the demon lord Baphomet. The result of that union is a terrifyingly vicious and nigh uncontrollable creature known as a Tanarukk.

More wary orcs looking for a tamer but equally ruthless child may have the foresight to choose a tiefling mate for a similar effect that doesn’t inherently endanger the well-being of their tribe.

Horned and Strong
Tiefling-Orcs’ skin tones range from the grayish tones of orcs to the various hues of tieflings, taking on colors anywhere from teal to red to purple. Their tusks and large build mark them as half-orc, while horns and tails show their tiefling blood. They often have other demonic features, as if the mix of orc and tiefling makes them even more prone to non-human traits. These can range from extra horns, to leathery wings, to hooves or scaly raptor claws. They usually have solid-colored eyes like tieflings, as well, but these can be amber, brown, purple, or green, in addition to the typical red, black, yellow, and orange.

 

TRULY OUT OF PLACE

Shopkeepers watch tieflings warily, humans reluctantly accept half-orcs, but all watch themselves around these two races. Generations of mistrust and begrudging acceptance from both sides of the family often make half-orc tieflings feel utterly out of place in the world. If half-elves have a hard time trying to find a foothold, than half-orc tieflings can't even get an idea of where to step. Some will take to living solidarity lives in the woods, or mountains or other uncivilized areas. Others make lives for themselves in large cities, like Waterdeep, where strange folk are abundant. Many spend their entire lives simply traveling from place, to place, never staying too long. All react in different ways to their upbringing, heritage and society's views. Embrace it, or deny it, half-orc tieflings cannot change the way they were born.

The Mark of Fear

Tiefling-Orcs inadvertently spread fear and distrust wherever they go, as other races often have a deep-rooted mistrust of tieflings and orcs on their own. When combined into a Tiefling-Orc, many people can't help their initial jolt of terror at the sight of them. Some Tiefling-Orcs embrace this, turning to dark magic, evil deeds, and crime. Others fight against this prejudice, trying to show that they are nothing to fear.

Tiefling-Orcs often fall into neutral or chaotic, as life seems to be stacked against them. It's rare for them to be Lawful Good, although it does happen. Like many half-orcs and tieflings, they have the ability for evil within them, although that isn't set in stone, and many are Chaotic Neutral.

Orc Crossbreeds

Luthic, the orc goddess of fertility and wife of Cruumsh, demands that orcs procreate often and indiscriminately so that orc hordes swell generation after generation. The orcs' drive to reproduce runs stronger than any other humanoid race, and they readily crossbreed with other races.

 

Tiefling-Orc Names
Tiefling-Orcs usually have names appropriate to the culture in which they were raised. If raised by their tiefling parent, they might sport a more demonic name; if raised by their orc parent, they often have the guttural names typical for orcs. A Tiefling-Orc who wants to fit in among other races might trade an orc or tiefling name for a human one, although this is rare; they are obviously non-human and most accept that to some degree.

Male Tiefling-Orc Names: Feng, Gell, Holg, Imsh, Keth, Krusk, Mhurren, Roc, Thokk, Gorr; Akemenos, Barakas, Damakos, Ekemon, Iados, Kairon, Leucis, Melli, Morthos, Pelaios, Skamos, Therai, Dayus.

Female Tiefling-Orc Names: Emen, Engong, Kansif, Myev, Olga, Shautha, Sutha, Vola, Yevelda; Akta, Bryseis, Damaia, Kallista, Lerissa, Makaria, Nemeia, Orianna, Phelaia, Rieta.

Neutral Tiefling-Orc Names: Gollan, Ingor, Forst, Grim Gorsch, Ribs, Killan, Quhiri; Anakor, Bellisir, Caldan, Grettlr, Monoski, Xir, Yveltir

Half-Orc Tiefling Traits

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

Powerful Build.

You count as one size larger when determining your carrying capacity and the weight you can push, drag, or lift.

Ability Score Increase

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

Age

Half-Orc Tieflings mature a slightly faster than humans, reaching adulthood around age 16. Living around the same length of time--average natural lifespan is about 85.

Alignment

Half-orcs inherit a tendency toward chaos from their orc parents and are not strongly inclined toward good. Half-orcs raised among orcs and willing to live out their lives among them are usually evil. Tieflings might not have an innate tendency toward evil, but many of them end up there. Evil or not, an independent nature inclines many tieflings toward a chaotic alignment. Having the blood of both you feel a strong pull toward chaos and evil but it is easy to resist when surrounded by good people.

Size

Tiefling-Orcs are larger and bulkier than humans, and they range from 5 1/2 to 7 feet tall, although seeing one under 6 feet is rare. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Darkvision

Due to the mixing of demon and orc 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 red.

Infernal Endurance

Your hit point maximum increases by 1, and it increases by 1 every time you gain a level.

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, Infernal, 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. Infernal is a hissing, demonic tongue, often found unpleasant to those who do not speak it.