Half-Orc
Half-Orc Upbringing
A half-orc raised among humans can speak, read, and write Common and a bonus language, often Orc. A half-orc raised among orcs can speak Common and Orc, and may or may not be able to read and write either language. Orc is a harsh, grating language with hard consonants. It has no script of its own but is written in the Dethek script.
The term “half-orc” refers to an individual with one parent who is human and the other orc, or two half-orc parents, or one parent who is quarter-orc and the other three-quarters (or more) human, etc. Due to the dominance of orc features, someone who is only one-quarter human or less with the larger portion being orc is seen as a full orc, while someone who is only one-quarter orc may be perceived as being half-orc.
Half-orcs exhibit a blend of orcish and human characteristics, and their appearance varies widely. Grayish skin tones and prominent teeth are the most common shared elements among these folk. Half-orcs stand between 5 and 7 feet tall and usually weigh between 180 and 250 pounds.
Orcs regard battle scars as tokens of pride and ornamental scars as things of beauty. Other scars, though, mark an orc or half-orc as a former prisoner or a disgraced exile. Any half-orc who has lived among or near orcs has scars, whether they are marks of humiliation or of pride, recounting their past exploits and injuries.
Half-Orcs of the Sword Coast
Most half-orcs who are raised in orc communities never leave them, as they are generally accepted among their shorter-lived kin and often make excellent advisors and tacticians to powerful chiefs and warlords; some even fight their way into leadership roles themselves. They are relatively uncommon in human areas, with most of their number living in large cities where they stand out less.
Half-orc communities do exist: Palischuk in distant Vaasa is a thriving city in a harsh land whose population is primarily composed of half-orcs, half-orc communities were once relatively common in Luruar before the War of the Silver Marches, and there’s a sizable population of half-orcs in Baldur’s Gate.
Half-Orc Names
Half-orcs usually have names appropriate to the culture in which they were raised. A half-orc who wants to fit in among humans might trade an orc name for a human name. Some half-orcs with human names decide to adopt a guttural orc name because they think it makes them more intimidating.
Male Orc Names: Dench, Feng, Gell, Henk, Holg, Imsh, Keth, Krusk, Mhurren, Ront, Shump, Thokk
Female Orc Names: Baggi, Emen, Engong, Kansif, Myev, Neega, Ovak, Ownka, Shautha, Sutha, Vola, Volen, Yevelda
Clan Names: Bonebreaker, Long Tusk, Many Arrows, Red Eye, Sharp Axe, Treesmasher
Half-Orc Traits
A half-orc has certain traits deriving from their orc ancestry.
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.
Size
Half-orcs are often bulkier than humans, and they range from 5 to well over 6 feet tall. Their size is Medium.
Speed
An orc’s base walking speed is 30 feet.
Darkvision
Thanks to their orc blood, a half-orcs have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. They can see in dim light within 60 feet as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. They can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.
Menacing
Half-orcs gain proficiency in the Intimidation skill.
Relentless Endurance
When a half-orc is reduced to 0 hit points but not killed outright, they can drop to 1 hit point instead. A half-orc can’t use this feature again until after finishing a long rest.
Savage Attacks
When a half-orc scores a critical hit with a melee weapon attack, they can roll one of the weapon’s damage dice one additional time and add it to the extra damage of the critical hit.