Homebrew Golric Species Details

Physical Description

The offspring of goliaths and orcs, Golrics are truly fearsome specimens. With their massive stature, raw power, and imposing presence, they prove to be quite intimidating for even the most savage of foes. Often larger than goliaths and more thickly-muscled than orcs, Golrics are often observed performing feats of incredible strength with ease. They usually bear a mixture of their bloodlines' physical traits: the markings, coloring, and eyes of goliaths; the thickness, sharpened canines, and pointed ears of orcs. Bone structure is typically angular and solid, and about half of males and most of the females are able to grow hair. Golrics also share a mixture of their parent races' personality traits, known for having the even temper of goliaths, but subject to the powerful emotions and heightened senses of orcs.

History

The sad truth is that these Half-Breeds are often the result of force or revenge. Between warring tribes of orcs and goliaths, brutal displays of dominance — particularly instigated by the orcs — are certainly not unheard of (as seen in the history of half orcs). There are cases of goliaths exhibiting similar behavior, but they are almost exclusively acting of vengeance rather than instigation. Because of the harsh nature of their conception, and the hostility they are shown from birth, Golrics tend to develop one of two ways: either with lofty ideals, trying to leave their mark on this plane and change it for the better... or with an icy, cold contempt for a world that could allow such abomination in the first place.

Society

Seen as abominations from both races, Golrics are often abused by their societies or cast out and left to die. Pariahs even within their own cultures, most are forced into lives of servitude, oppression, or solitude. Thus, they tend to be highly distrusting of others, only ever sure of their own motivations and intentions, and each has their own way of maintaining their guard: many through silent brooding, but many through boisterous humor — however, just like most other outcasts, the half-breeds do typically long for some semblance of acceptance in the world around them... they simply try not to show it.

Relations

These half-breeds generally don't have strong feelings about any races or groups in particular, but they almost always harbor deep-seeded hatred for goliaths and orcs. They can improve relations with other races in multiple different ways. Different Golrics prefer the company of dwarves as drinking companions, some prefer the various cultures of humans, some prefer to be alone or in a small goliath/orc tribe, but they usually aren't on good relations with most races.

Golric Names

As most Golrics are pariahs cast out from their own societies, very few are ever found to have conventional names from either race. Occasionally, the ones kept in servitude will be given names reflecting the culture they are serving, but the rest are forced to eventually choose a name for themselves...or receive one from those they encounter in the wilderness. These can range from names they remembered from their youth (Rook, Grog, Kraven, Feng, Bron, Torg, Omec), to wild creatures they encounter (Wolf, Bear, Hawk, Phoenix, Behemoth, Spider, Bull), to descriptions of themselves or their own actions or features (Hammer, Rip, Strongjaw, Crush, Hunter, Mountain, Stonefist).

GRUDGING ACCEPTANCE

feared by most they have a hard time accepting people.

Golric Traits

Your Golric character has certain traits deriving from your orc 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 Constitution score increases by 1.

Age

Half-orcs mature a little faster than humans, reaching adulthood around age 14. They age noticeably faster and rarely live longer than 75 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

Half-orcs are somewhat larger and bulkier than humans, 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.

Endless 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. You can focus yourself to occasionally shrug off injury. When you take damage, you can use your reaction to roll a d12. Add your Constitution modifier to the number rolled, and reduce the damage by that total. After you use this trait, you can’t use it again until you finish a short or 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 Orc. Orc is a harsh, grating language with hard consonants. It has no script of its own but is written in the Dwarvish script.