Homebrew Frostwolf Orc Species Details

As war after war raged across the north of Kepler, Broxigar the Red led his people to the southernmost reaches of the planet, building dwellings and villages in the mountains there.  Brox worked his best with the Frostwolf Council to prepare his people for life, but barbarians and raiders have been known to attack villages on a failrly normal basis.

The Capital of the Frostwolf nation was known as Frostfire Ridge. Here, they built a thriving civilization. 

Scarred and Strong

Frostwolf Orcs' red pigmentation, sloping foreheads, jutting jaws, prominent teeth, and towering builds make their orcish heritage plain for all to see. Half-orcs stand between 5 and 7 feet tall and usually weigh between 180 and 250 pounds.

Orcs regard battle scars as tokens of pride and ornamental scars as things of beauty. Any Orc who has lived among or near Orcs has scars, whether they are marks of humiliation or of pride, recounting their past exploits and injuries. Such an Orc living among humans might display these scars proudly or hide them in shame.

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 the Frostwolf. Some Orcs hear the whispers of Gruumsh in their dreams, calling them to unleash the rage that simmers within them. Others feel Gruumsh’s exultation when they join in melee combat—and either exult along with him or shiver with fear and loathing. Orcs are not evil by nature, but evil does lurk within them, whether they embrace it or rebel against it.

Beyond the rage of Gruumsh, 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.

Mountain Villages

The Frostwolf Orcs most often live among the mountains in the south. Frostwolf Orcs survive by their physical might, their endurance, and their built-up resistance to the cold.

Orc Names

Frostwolf Orcs usually have names appropriate to the culture in which they were raised. An Orc who wants to fit in among humans might trade an orc name for a human name. Some Orcs with human names decide to adopt a guttural orc name because they think it makes them more intimidating.

Male Orc Names: Dench, Feng, Gell, Henk, Holg, Imsh, Keth, Krusk, Mhurren, Ront, Shump, Thokk

Female Orc Names: Baggi, Emen, Engong, Kansif, Myev, Neega, Ovak, Ownka, Shautha, Sutha, Vola, Volen, Yevelda

Frostwolf Orc Traits

Your Frostwolf character has certain traits deriving from your orc ancestry.

Ability Score Increase

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

Age

The Frostwolf Orcs mature a little faster than humans, reaching adulthood around age 16. They age noticeably faster, but are known to live up to 150 years.

Alignment

Frostwolf Orcs inherit a tendency toward neutrality, seeking goodness for their own kind.

Size

Frostwolf Orcs are the same size as an average Orc, 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 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.

Mountain Born

You have resistance to cold damage. You’re also acclimated to high altitude, including elevations above 20,000 feet.

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.