Homebrew Elf-Orc Species Details
Few races share a hatred of each other like the orcs and elves. In many ways they are opposites. One beautiful, the other grotesque. One strong, and one agile. One intelligent, one that could not think its way out of a parchment satchel. The truth is this contempt runs deeper than their differences, their blood and their history. This is a hatred that weeps from their very gods, and any pitiful creature born of an unthinkable union between them is doomed to a life of anguish.
Strong, agile, and utterly unpredictable, an elf-orc is formidable, yet despised by both their parent races among others. Those being born to elven mothers are sometimes raised in secret (the lucky ones at least), or taken to human lands and raised there instead. However, those born to orc mothers aren't usually allowed to live, the main reason being the loathing between both races cuts to the very core of their beings, and the rare child that is sired between them is usually condemned to death, or the life of an outcast.
Dexterous Yet Durable
Elf-orcs are blessed with the natural beauty of elves, this however is marred (to elvish standards) by varying degrees of prominent jaws, tusks, a heavier build, and bulging muscularity. Elf-Orcs can typically stand between 5 to 7 feet tall, yet lack the broad, bulky bodies of their orc parent, instead, they possess slim builds with an assortment of natural corded muscle wrapped tightly beneath the flesh. Their skin tones tend to reflect that of their elven parent however are sometimes tinged with a grayish, dulling hint.
There is an almost elegant quality to their purposeful movements, reminiscent of lion or tiger—powerful, yet precise and fluid. Elf-orcs are not as strong as full orcs, nor as agile as pure elves, they instead embody a near-perfect balance between might and speed. Complimenting this they are impulsive and erratic, making them all but impossible to anticipate in battle; a trait that earns them the respect of some of their parent races, but not their acceptance.
Turmoil Within
To Orcs, they look like elves, and to elves, they look like Orcs. An Elf-Orc is a race that not only struggles with others, but also conflicts with themselves. The whispers of the orc god Gruumsh do not directly reach their minds, kept at bay by their fey ancestry, yet his influence still burns in each and every Elf-Orc. It's this influence that amplifies their already chaotic tendencies, a gift also of their elf blood, and sees them act on instinct—which is unpredictable but often reckless, with little regard for law and the established order. It usually drives them to violence, and only the fine control granted by their elven heritage allows them to—mostly—rein in these urges.
Likewise, their elf blood steers them toward doing good—a task made difficult by the fact that they are widely shunned by almost everything, along with that too they possess vicious cravings and an aloof/solitary nature. These often futile desires commonly lead to frustration, and see more Elf-Orcs maintain a neutral or evil alignment rather than doing any form of good.
It is common knowledge that within Orcish culture, Orcs regard ornamental or battle scars as tokens of pride or as things of beauty. Other scars, though, can mark an orc as a former slave or a disgraced exile. Even any half-orc worth anything, who has lived among or near orcs, has these forms of scars, whether they are marks of humiliation or of pride, recounting their past exploits and injuries. And as such a half-orc living among humans might display these scars proudly or hide them in shame. This is contrasted to the Elf-Orc however as they, due to their Fey side, subconsciously strive to retain the beauty and grace within their bodies and stray from their Orcish nature. Which is another reason the Elf-Orcs are shunned
Misunderstood by both their parents and almost every other race, even including other part-orc people. Elf-Orcs feel most at ease among Tieflings, who know what it is like to be scorned and shunned by the masses. The very few elf-orcs in existence often find a home among the slums of human cities or wander the lands as lone drifters. Those with power who come to accept elf-orcs find them to be both capable and efficient, often employing them as personal bodyguards, lethal assassins, bounty hunters, or shock troops.
Elf-Orc Names
Elf-orcs are given names fitting to where they were raised. Those raised by a reclusive elf will have an elven name, whilst one raised by an exiled orc will bear a more guttural sounding, orcish name. Alternatively, like Tieflings, some elf-orcs adopt a "virtue" name based on a word that they feel signifies their struggle to survive, or an important goal to them.
Look between elf names, orc names, and tiefling "virtue" names and choose one for your character.
Those given away to be raised by others, whether to guardians from another race, a monastery or faction order, or otherwise, could have any name relevant to those.
Elf-Orc Traits
Your elf-orc character has certain traits deriving from your mixed ancestry.Languages
You can speak, read, and write Common, Elvish, and Orc.
Ability score increase
Your Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution scores each increase by 1.
Age
Elf orcs mature quickly due to their orc heritage, usually at the age of 15-16. Their elven heritage, however, increases their lifespans, and they have been known to live up to the age of 300+ years.
Allignment
Elf-Orcs' share the chaotic bent of their elven heritage. By this, they value both personal freedom and creative expression the most, demonstrating neither love of leaders nor the desire for followers. They chafe at rules, resent others’ demands, and sometimes prove unreliable, or at least unpredictable.
This is contrasted by their Orcish nature because. Orcs are vicious raiders whom believe that the world should be theirs. They respect strength and mastery above all else and believe the strong must bully the weak to ensure that weakness does not spread like a disease. Regular Orcs are usually chaotic evil.
These two racial alignments meld together to form a passionate race, who are given to powerful emotions, a fondness for stoicism and personal freedom for all the race, and a respect towards power and the hierarchy of their designated group. They are generally chaotic, but can be any alignment if they so choose.
Size
To Orcs, they look like elves, and to elves, they look like Orcs. In height, they’re on par with both parents, though their build is neither as slender as an Elves nor as broad as an Orcs. They range from 5 feet to 7 feet tall, and from 130 to 250 pounds, with the men being only partially taller and heavier than women.
Hybrid Physiology
Aggressive. As a bonus action, you can move up to your speed toward a hostile creature that you can see.
Elf Weapon Training. You have proficiency with the longsword, shortsword, shortbow, and longbow.
Fey Ancestry. You have advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic can’t put you to sleep.
Keen Senses. You have proficiency in the Perception skill.
Menacing. You have 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.
Trance. Elves don't need to sleep. Instead, they meditate deeply, remaining semiconscious, for 4 hours a day. (The Common word for such meditation is “trance.”) While meditating, you can dream after a fashion; such dreams are actually mental exercises that have become reflexive through years of practice. After resting in this way, you gain the same benefit that a human does from 8 hours of sleep.
Darkvision
Thanks to your mixed 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.
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