Half-Orc

## Overview

Half-orcs are the offspring of orcs and another race, though never an elf. Combining traits of both parents, half-orcs usually have a unique combination of physical features that are more bestial and larger or denser than their non-orc parent. Half-orcs have an intricate relationship with the passion they feel - and the passion that is expected of them. The orcish drive to struggle and survive against all odds manifests within half-orcs as a complete inability to remain silent, which means that they tend to loudly and intimidatingly object to every implication that they're as brutish or violent as their orcish parent - or to anything else that strikes them as incorrect. While not necessarily violent in and of itself, this refusal to let an assumption or insult slide to maintain the peace ends up only confirming the views of others of half-orcs as savage and uncivilized, which may become internalized and lead to an escalation of such outspoken behavior.

## Mechanics

### Standard Racial Traits

* **Ability Score Modifiers**: Half-orc characters gain a +2 bonus to one ability score of their choice at creation to represent their varied nature.
* **Type**: Half-orcs are Humanoid creatures with both the human and orc subtypes.
* **Size**: Half-orcs are Medium creatures and thus have no bonuses or penalties due to their size.
* **Base Speed**: Half-orcs have a base speed of 30 feet.
* **Languages**: Half-orcs begin play speaking Orc. Half-orcs with high Intelligence scores can choose from the following: Abyssal, Draconic, Giant, Gnoll, and Goblin.

### Feat and Skill Racial Traits

* **Intimidating**: Half-orcs receive a +2 racial bonus on Intimidate checks due to their fearsome nature.

### Offense Racial Traits

* **Orc Ferocity**: Once per day, when a half-orc is brought below 0 hit points but not killed, he can fight on for 1 more round as if disabled. At the end of his next turn, unless brought to above 0 hit points, he immediately falls unconscious and begins dying.
* **Weapon Familiarity**: Half-orcs are proficient with greataxes and falchions and treat any weapon with the word “orc” in its name as a martial weapon.

### Senses Racial Traits

* **Darkvision**: Half-orcs can see in the dark up to 60 feet.

### Other Racial Traits

* **Orc Blood**: Half-orcs count as orcs and one other race for any effect related to race.

## Society

Half-orcs rarely gather in enough number to form their own societies, and when they do, it's for a specific purpose rather than simply settling down. The majority of half-orcs attempt to integrate into multiracial settlements, with varied success. Often, it only takes one altercation or disagreement before the half-orc is considered like 'the rest of them' and quietly blacklisted from high society or positions of power, and all it takes for an altercation or disagreement to occur is something occuring that a half-orc dislikes. Though stereotyped as violent, lacking the ability to stay silent about a disagreement or avoid stirring up trouble means that half-orcs who are pushed towards military occupations don't last very long unless in a leadership position or in a group with a lax hierarchy. Instead, half-orcs tend to find that the most successful options available to them (aside from self-sufficiency and wandering alone) involves discerning and recounting the flaws of others - as revolutionaries and activitists, tutors and teachers, or analysts and strategists.

## Religion

Half-orcs come to religion easily but leave it even easier, as they are unwilling to offer any sort of dedication to gods who they percieve as letting them down or opposing their good fortunes. Out of all the gods, the fewest half-orcs care for Ketar Mozog, who seems do offer nothing but excuses and half-truths, while the most care for Masik, whose mission to find success in accidents mirrors much of a half-orc's interactions with others. Many follow Pahala Kadam and Agathon's Apparition for a time, especially if they've given up on living a life outside of their racial stereotype, while some go in the complete opposite direction and worship Fa'qamuu Twice-Heavenbound in peaceful isolation or Jolein Composed of Desire as they seek truth. Half-orc worshipers of Vicenta Salcedo usually manage to find a happy middle ground, where they can express themselves and see the flaws in others as positive things that are opportunities for growth. Though Zhihao Jin and Nothing Left of Quibatus can occasionally offer much to half-orcs, they don't tend to accept easily due to their past negative treatment by orcs and elves.

## Relations

Half-orcs find every standard and stereotype to be contradictory at best and utterly depersonalizing at worst, adding another layer of alienation to their interpersonal relationships.

They are treated similarly to either orcs or the race of their other parent, whichever is worse in any individual's view.

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