Homebrew Jotun-Ork Species Details

The world has many tribes of Orcs of varying types. Each with a different way of life. Or sometimes they even look very different from one another. But one may come across an oddly docile orc tribe near a mountain, or a volcano, or a glacier. An orc tribe where its denizens seem way taller than the other tribes and have bizarre hair colors, in contrast to an orcs usual brown. Many mistake that maybe this is just how this tribe is. Many spot a rare rune here and there. But if one knew the language of the giants, they would discover that this was a tribe of Jotun-Orks, orc descendants of noble servants that served Ostoria, the Ancient Empire of the Giants.

Just a tall Orc?

Looking like an orc vertically stretched on a tanning rack and a funky hair-do, many adventurers who meet a Jotun-Ork mistake them as just that, a very tall orc with funny hair. Jotun-Orks stand between 6 and 8 feet tall and usually weigh between 230 and 300 pounds.

The Jotun-Orks predecessors, having willingly served the Giants before and during the Thousand-Year War, were orcs blessed by their masters to help serve them better. One specific change was making these servants taller to reach higher things, what with serving very tall masters. Exposure to their master's lifestyle and/or magic had the side-effect on the orcs of changing their hair color based on what kind of giant they served. Changing masters to a different type of giant or changing a giant deity to worship slowly changed hairs to match. All of this characteristics dripped drown to future generations even long after the fall of Ostoria. Jotun-Orks would draw an inert rune tattoo on their body as a form of initiation into adulthood. Usually the color of this rune tattoos matches their hair.

Walking with Giants

Jotun-Orks are orcs who revere Annam the All-Father and worship his Six Sons along with the Orc Pantheon. As servants of the Giants, their predecessors handled the menial tasks that their masters tend to forget or ignore. A Cloud Giant's servants would be those handling petty offerings or transactions that involved chump change. A Fire Giant's servants would lead the construction slaves around or would be manning the forge blower. A Frost Giant's servants would be left taking care of their master's "pets" or cleaning after their master spoils after raids. A Hill Giant's servants would most of the time be delivering food for their master. A Stone Giant's servants would lug around their master's creations or, worse yet, become the subject of their artistry. A Storm Giant rarely had servants but they are mostly relegated to record whatever their master could divine from natural phenomena as perhaps a message from Annam the All-Father. The orc servants would learn many things, including the Giant's renowned rune magic, from observing their masters.

And then came the Thousand-Year War. When the dragons and giants went to war, the Jotun-Orks ancestors and many other races that had affiliated with the Ostorian Empire were caught in the middle of a monstrous war. Many fought with the giants, many perished, many slipped into hiding. Through attrition and exhaustion the war wasted away, and so did Ostoria. Seeing the giants lose their empire and unified purpose, the Jotun-Orks lost their place in the world.

Return to Orc

Long after the Thousand-Year War the Jotun-Ork ancestors tried to join already established orc tribes at the end of the Thousand-Year War but they were shunned for being docile. Or at least being too docile for orc standards. The shunned Jotun-Orks, taking in orcs banished from their tribes, returned to the now decrepit cities or posts that were once the great Ostoria and formed their own tribes nearby as some of them were still occupied by giants. The Jotun-Orks thought the banished orcs what they learned from the Giants, inundating them as Jotun-Orks. In return the banished orcs would teach them the orc ways, as the Jotun-Orks have been quite out of touch. At first the Jotun-Ork tribes formed themselves around what kind of giant they had served but in the long run they all intermingled with each other and they also formed connections with other orc tribes.

Runic Inheritance

In the long run, thanks to the loss of contact with giants, most young Jotun-Orks only know about their old masters in tales and stories. Upon reaching adulthood however, they are thought about the giants, all that they've learned, and how they came to be. After teaching them about the giants, they are told to draw on their body a rune of their choice, signifying that they now carry the blessings of the giants and the burden of passing these knowledge unto the next generation. These lessons are kept close to heart and are rarely shared outside of the tribe.

Call to Adventure

Many Jotun-Orks newly initiated into adulthood tend to become Rune Knights and decide to roam the realms in search of purpose. Whether to find use of their newly found power or, the more ambitious ones at least, seek more power directly from giants themselves. Those who survive return home either battered and bruised, seeking to lick their wounds, or enlightened and wiser, eager to share what they have learned. Many who return take a brief rest only to spring back out into the wilderness, but those who decide to stay become the teachers for the next generation.

Jotun-Ork Names

All Jotun-Orks follow the naming convention of their orc brethren. Except when they are inundated into adulthood they are given giant names to attached to their orc name instead of an epithet. They would introduce themselves as a follower of their chosen Son of Annam. i.e. "I am Korgulg Slirdius, servant of Thrym."

Male Orc Names: Grutok Vamtius, Lortar Acgrog, Shugog Hosgar, Ruhk Vlasvir, Shamog Aerdus, Bajok Trakaos, Rhorog Xidor, Jahrukk Kokrion

Female Orc Names: Kansif Vlubwar, Myev Witheus, Ovak Klugthos, Ownka Craldius, Shautha Rimbor, Sutha Zlothos, Volen Rekthos, Yevelda Dignir

Giant's Blessing Table

Giant Type (God)	Hair and Rune Color	Boon
Cloud Giant (Memnor)	Blue	Sleight of hand & Deception Proficiency
Fire Giant (Surtur)	Red	Tool Proficiency
Frost Giant (Thrym)	Blonde	Animal Handling & Intimidation Proficiency
Hill Giant (Grolantor)	Green	+1 Bonus to Constitution Saving Throws
Stone Giant (Skoraeus Stonebones)	Purple	Insight & Perception Proficiency
Storm Giant (Stronmaus)	Black	Arcana & Nature Proficiency

Jotun-Ork Traits

Jotun-Orks are orcs that once served Giants a long time ago, and were blessed with runic knowledge.

Ability Score Increase

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

Powerful Build

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

Age

Jotun-Orks reach adulthood at age 15 and become elders at the age of 50. But thanks to their exposure to giants, they can live up to 100 years.

Alignment

Although all orcs are vicious raiders, who believe that the world should be theirs, Jotun-Orks tend to be chaotic good, wanting to live in peace and free, by whatever means necessary. They, like all orcs, also respect strength above all else and believe the strong must harshly teach the weak to ensure that weakness is contained.

Giant's Blessing

You gain benefits based on the Giant God that you serve.

Size

Jotun-Orks stand between 6 and 8 feet tall and usually weigh between 230 and 300 pounds. 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.

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, Orc and Giant.