Orcs

The term orc is a complicated one, as a result of a complicated history. Once, there was a mighty nation to the north where orcs thrived, but after the #gnomeish-invasion-of-the-north--driven by a lust for the breakthroughs in #emberfrag technology the orcs had recently had--true orcs were all but eradicated. Though the brutal conflict was decidedly in the favor of the gnomes, it was costly, and so the gnomes rounded up any survivor they could and sold them as slaves to the elves. While there were uses for the orc slaves natural proclivities, the elves found it better to modify them to suit their purposes.

As such, most orcs found in modern society are not as history would depict the orcs. Orcs share similarities to elves given a distantly shared ancestry, though their ears are more drastically pointed with tufts of hair at the tips. Their noses are flatter, and their teeth sharper. Modern orcs stand stockier and taller than most, and their musculature is stouter than once they were. Though an orc's appearance varies somewhat drastically, they tend to look more bestial than most people are entirely comfortable with, but as a general rule they are accepted in polite society, assuming they are willing to adhere to conventional social norms.

## VARIENTS

### Breaker Orcs

While most modern orcs are known for their general engineering towards menial labor, there nevertheless were large portions of the enslaved population modified for combat purposes. Simply called "breakers", they differ very little from their brother and sister orcs, but their temperament and muscle mass are subtly different to aid them in combat scenarios. They also tend to have a more menacing visage with larger, more prominent tusks, thicker and sharper nails, and slightly more height than the average orc. They were used to great effect by the elves in establishing their nation and carving out the lands that make up the modern boundaries of elvish holdings.

### Rover Orcs

A special blend of Breakers, Rovers are slighter and shorter than their other southern orc cousins and much quicker. While they share the bestial and terrifying traits of all modern orcs, those traits are less pronounced and they are more capable of blending in and passing for... something not orc, though few would mistake them with any other race. They make great scouts, medics, and sharpshooters, and were a key part of the elvish military during the enslavement periods of history.

### Northern Orcs

A rare breed indeed, Northern Orcs--sometimes referred to as True Orcs--are descendants from the very few unaltered orcs from the north. Some hail from the scattered and hidden northern tribes, but most are descended from the unmodified slaves kept as playthings or servants. Perhaps for their rarity, Northern Orcs are often found quite beautiful, for while they are still distinctly orcish in structure, they lack the highly aggressive size and modifications of other orcs. Their ears and facial structure are identical, and their lower canines are more pronounced, but as far as tusks go they are quite small. A northern orc could pass for an elf with the absence of intense examination.

## TEMPLATES

### Base Orc

Bra: 3

Agi: 2

Int: 2

Cun: 2

Wil: 2

Pre: 1

Wound Threshold: 12 + Brawn

Strain Threshold: 8 + Willpower

Starting XP: 100

Starting Skills: Begin with 1 rank in cool, which cannot increase past 2 at creation

Hot Temper: While strain is above half, add 2 setback to social checks and add 1 damage to each melee attack made.

### Breaker Orc

Bra: 3

Agi: 2

Int: 2

Cun: 2

Wil: 2

Pre: 1

Wound Threshold: 12 + Brawn

Strain Threshold: 8 + Willpower

Starting XP: 100

Starting Skills: Begin with 1 rank in coercion, which cannot increase past 2 at creation

Battle Rage: May choose to add 1 setback to melee checks in order to add 2 damage to a hit of that attack.

### Rover Orc

Bra: 2

Agi: 3

Int: 2

Cun: 2

Wil: 2

Pre: 1

Wound Threshold: 12 + Brawn

Strain Threshold: 8 + Willpower

Starting XP: 100

Starting Skills: Begin with 1 rank in medicine, which cannot increase past 2 at creation

Tenacious: After a successful with with a combat check, add 1 boost die to all other combat checks against that same target until the end of the encounter.

### Northern Orc

Bra: 1

Agi: 2

Int: 2

Cun: 2

Wil: 2

Pre: 3

Wound Threshold: 9 + Brawn

Strain Threshold: 12 + Willpower

Starting XP: 100

Starting Skills: Begin with 1 rank in discipline, which cannot increase past 2 at creation

Forceful Personality: Once per session, spend a story point to double the strain inflicted or healed that turn.