Orc

Like humans were created from goblinoids and gwerin, the orcs were created (at about the same time even) by the ihmisi from goblinoid, ihmisi, and animal souls. Second largest of the kindred (after the jazuu), they are an imposing people. Their early history was stained with the blood and curses of the War of Blood, when an orc leader turned to demonic power to fight back against oppression and assault and instead built an empire of skulls and ruin. After the gods were created to cast him down to the Abyss, the people who shared his face (justly or not) were considered evil and outcast to the fringes of civilization throughout the Third Age. With the Cataclysm and the great leveling of the old ways, they have re-entered society as equals. The legacy of that demon-tainted orc still echoes in the blood of Noefran orcs, although the compulsion that once drove them to mad bloodlust is gone.

The most common orcish ethnic group in Noefra, the orcs of the Fiach Woods, use tattoos to indicate standing in their clan-based society and personal history. Exiles have their tattoos magically (and painfully) wiped, leaving smooth scar tissue. Calling a tattooed orc “smooth skin” is a deadly insult.

It should be noted that orcs are not barbarians or savage raiders. At least not any more than any other lineage is. Orcs are valued members of society throughout the settled lands of Noefra.

Physically, orcs have slightly grey-green-colored, rough skin. They stand much taller than most humans and much heavier, with dark hair and eyes. Some show signs of elongated lower canines, almost to the level of tusks. Their eyes tend to be somewhat sunken into their faces.

Lineage Traits

  • Ability Score Increase. +1 Strength

  • Age. Adult at 12, lives until 70-ish, although 80 is not uncommon.

  • Size. Medium. 5′6″ - 7′, 150-350 lbs

  • Speed. 35 feet.

  • Status. Core

  • Languages. You are proficient in Common and Ard-teang (Orcish).

  • Fury’s Legacy (+). Once per long rest, you can rage as if you were a level 1 barbarian, except that you can concentrate on spells (but not cast them) while raging in this way. If you have the Rage class feature, you instead can use that feature an additional time per long rest and can concentrate on spells while raging.

  • Relentless Advance. Your speed increases by 5 feet (included in the speed entry).

Industrialized

Many orcs live in Wyrmhold, including in the Byarmarsh area which houses most of the factories, foundries, and other heavy industry of the nation. They are an integral part of this economic engine and have adapted well to this physically demanding but also intellectually demanding life.

  • Ability Score Increase. +2 Intelligence OR +2 Dexterity
  • Additional Proficiencies. You are proficient in your choice of Arcana or Investigation. You can speak and understand Ngyon Toi (Goblin).
  • Mechanical Knack. When you make a check to interact with a mechanism, you do so at advantage. This includes picking mechanical locks and disabling mechanical traps.
  • Refined Fury. You can cast spells as well as concentrate on them while using your Fury’s Legacy trait or the Rage class feature.

Sylvan

The sylvan wood orcs are those who live the traditional, tribal lives in the Fiach Woods and Kotimaa. Their small, matrilineal (and fairly matriarchal) tribes generally wander between hunting and gathering locations throughout the year, overwintering in a fixed location. They are the most “savage” of the orcs (despite being no more savage than the Kotimaan ihmisi, for example).

  • Ability Score Increase. +1 Strength, +1 Constitution
  • Additional Proficiencies. You are proficient in Survival, your choice of leatherworkers or woodworker’s tools, and light armor.
  • Brutal Critical. When you critically hit with an attack, instead of rolling the damage dice twice, roll the damage dice for the attack once and add the result to the maximum roll of the dice (max + roll). Features that increase the number of critical dice are not maximized.