Orc

> "*I once found myself fleeing for my life on the prairie, frontier bandits seeking to wet their blades with my blood. Unable to run any further, I had collapsed under the baking sun, the sound of the outlaws' approach drumming in my ears. Then I heard the sound of metal stirrups, and the resounding staccato of a wand being fired. After I recovered, I looked up asking my savior, "Why?". Looking down upon me was the tusked blushing face of an Orc, a ridiculous wide brimmed hat on his head. He told me, "Why, my pa would be turnin' in his grave if he knew his son gone left a soul in need t'have their throat cut by bandits. T'was just the right thing to do I reckon." Never in my wide travels of Celadir have I ever found a sanctuary more hospitable and accepting than the homesteads of the Orcs.*"
> ― Extract from "Sails and Shores", Famed Travelogue of Joan the Kor-Naman
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 Orcs are a stoic enduring people known for producing hardy frontiersmen. They have weathered many hardships, and face prejudice among the other civilized races due to histories of raiding and conflict driven by the old Orcish pantheon. Free from the shackles of a culture of war and combat, orcs have turned their energies to carving out a new life for themselves where others will leave them be.

## History of Orcs

In ancient times orcs were known as mindless drones, brutal and heartless warriors of the prairies. Their old pantheon, former servants of the Malus, demanded blood and war which most of the tribes gladly obeyed by carrying out raids on their neighbors. The raids against the other races gave the orcs a bad reputation.

Among the orcs there were a few tribes that disobeyed the old gods, instead of worshiping the old pantheon they worshiped the spirits of their ancestors and a minor god named Krom. These defiant tribes remained long after the others had killed each other in feuds.

Krom saw the followers of the old pantheon kill themselves out while the others remained and sought to make sure such a thing never happened again. He manifested himself as a man named Raxaan. Raxaan was born to a simple family of farmers in the Westerlands. As he grew older Raxaan realized his true nature began teaching Arstyvrozhka, Way of Honor. Raxaan's teaching were brought to the attention of the last old orcs, they were disturbed by these teaching and sought Raxaan out to kill him.

Raxaan was killed by the last of the old orcs by crucifixion, though they killed his body they could not kill his message. Orcs rarely build towns instead choosing to live off the land, but you'll be hard pressed to find an orc homestead or town without a church or shrine to Raxaan.

## In Honor, Worth

Ancient orc tribes valued honor and strength above all else, seeking to war against others to test and prove themselves with these qualities. With the departing of raiding culture among Orcs, this has manifested itself in a different manner. Orcs are famed for their hospitality and courtesy, treating their manners are a new source of honor. Among the frontiersmen, this has created a society of pioneers that value the honor of their character, family, neighbors and community. In other places such as the Crownlands this has manifested itself as a strict code of ethics and morals, Arstyvrozhka or Way of Honor, where Orcs swear themselves in fealty to famed families and houses to serve as warriors, custodians, and household guards of a Great Name.

## Traits

### 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.

### Plain Spoken

Orcs aren't known for their subtlety, you are trained in the persuasion skill, however you take disadvantage on deception.