Homebrew Blood Orc Species Details

Proud and Strong

 

Blood Orcs are generally taller than a typical Orc, ranging from about 8 feet to 10 feet tall, though some seen even taller. They share many similarities in anatomy with the Orcs known in Neverwinter, including weight. However, all Blood Orcs have a dark red pigment in their skin. By social status, the skin color pigmentation differs. Those who are of royal descent, have a more crimson hue to their dark red skin color, whereas those who were born lower, have a more pale, dark red hue to their skin.

 Blood Orc tribes show off their accomplishments with the use of body tattoos or taking trophies, but having both from the same accomplishment is considered as overly boastful, which is punishable by having their “bonus” tattoo literally skinned off and the tattoo artist executed. Some Blood Orcs may have burn scars or skinning scars due to dishonor or criminal past, which may be put on top of a tattoo to symbolically nullify a specific accomplishment. Slaves, being either a Blood Orc from another captured tribe or any other race, are marked by body piercing rings. No other Blood Orc would use these types of piercings because ring piercings are a symbol of submission.

 

The Hand of Kama’o’Pua’a

 All of the Blood Orc tribes worship many gods and goddesses, but the eight-eyed boar-god of blood rain, Kama’o’Pua’a is the king of the gods. Many Blood Orcs worship him zealously, declaring war on other tribes, for sacrificial victims, slaves, and Poi( magical energy). However, those who wish to deviate from this way of life would worship Paniwea’a, the goddess of fire and serpents, who is the queen of the goddesses. Both deities are compatible with each other, so their worshippers don’t fight religious wars.

 Because of their seriousness with the need of accomplishment and battle, they will look for whatever looks like a worthy adversary or a challenge, but they will not engage in a fight that they will not win, because they will not join the ancestors in the afterlife if they fail to accomplish anything honorable and even if they already have, they will still aim to receive more tattoos. So, Blood Orcs would persevere, endure, and overcome anything, as long as if they know it’s possible to do so. They are unpredictable, resourceful, and at sometimes clever. They do have code of honor however if they kill a non-combatant, they are dishonored and punished as a result, killing another warrior gains them renown from their tribe and king. They also have a deep shamanistic system, in which even warriors must participate in. All Blood Orc males, especially the king, must also descend from a bloodline of shamans, to be considered a full-fledged Blood Orc. Blood Orc females must also follow the same bloodline, which is mostly successful because almost all Blood Orcs are descended from shamans.

 

Tribes and Villages

 Blood Orcs commonly live in villages or fortified outposts along rivers, lakes, or beaches. Very few outsiders are invited into a village, but they are also seen as a perfect way to do away with their unwanted children, giving them away as a gift to any visitor that they may find. Some Blood Orcs would leave with these visitors to bring back trophies from their adventures, but others leave the tribe indefinitely. Whether or not they are a part of a tribe or not, the weather of Xicotlan tempered their bodies, strengthening their endurance.

 

You have 3 Poa tokens per long rest

Blood Orc Traits

Your Blood Orc character has certain traits deriving from your orc ancestry.

Ability Score Increase

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

Age

Unlike their Orc cousins, Blood Orcs age far slower. They reach adulthood when they reach age 50, and they live as long as 1000 years.

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.

Size

Blood orcs can be 8–10 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.

Terrifying

You gain proficiency in the Intimidation skill.

Ancient 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 Blood Orc. Blood Orc is spoken with loudly with harsh pronunciations, with letters meaning words, if it were to be translated in Common. Blood Orc is similar to the Abyssal script.