Desert Orc

# Desert Orcs

*"They came in fast, on their camels. They killed everyone, took everything. I can't believe how fast it was."- Ahbad Fastul, caravan guard, reporting to his master why he's lost a full shipment.*

*"No one knows the location of more oasis' than the desert orcs. If you can get one to show you their maps it may save your life."-Borthomar, mallatox gladiator, giving a visitor to Za'icora solid survival advice.*

*"Crossed blades with a desert orc once. Killed 'im but it was a close thing. Gruumsh was with me that day."-Kraadash, half-orc adventurer, explaining how he lost an eye.*

## Physical Description:

Desert orcs appear similar to gray or hill orcs in many respects. They tend to be shorter, with most being just under six feet on average. They weigh a respectable two and a half hundred pounds. Their green-gray skin is darker than other orcs, moving closer to steel or pine, some even have orange-tinted flesh. Most keep their dark hair cut short but long solitary braids are common. Male desert orcs also tend to wear elaborate beards. Their eyes are often squinted due to their intense dislike of the sun but those who get a good look claim they are red or yellow Their style of dress is notably different from the other orcish races. Desert orcs wear light, and lightly colored, full-body robes along with headscarves, face masks, googles or eye-slats, scarves, or simple face coverings made from bandages and bandoleers. Some wear sandals but most wear boots. Gems and jewelry are common among them, as it is a simple way to carry wealth without overloading the capacity of the nomadic people and their pack animals.

## History:

The deserts of Za'icora are a harsh place. Humans have dwelt there since the days of Latrell, living beneath the Sorcerer-Pharohs and djinn lords. They roam the desert from oasis to ruin, seeking adventure and supplies. But the desert doesn't belong to humans alone. Desert orcs are the descendants of those orcs who migrated to Za'icora after Latrell's victor and who, over time, adapted to their new environment. Many served the Sorcerer-Pharaohs of Za'icora during their tyrannical reign as foot soldiers but just as many went into business as independent bandits or mercenaries. Due to their isolation few desert orcs were involved in any major orc wars or invasions. In fact most have little tolerance for non-desert orcs whom they consider weak. After the fall of the Sorcerer-Pharaohs many of their orc minions scattered into the desert, forming new tribes or integrating into others. A few went as far as Umgar which is why a few desert orcs can be found living in that land today. They continue to be found mostly in Za'icora where some serve as bodyguards, soldiers or hirelings for sultans and sheiks. Many remain desert bandits, plundering caravans as they always have as more a force of nature than an army.

## Geography:

Desert orcs are almost exclusively located in Za'icora where they wander as nomadic bandits. A small enclave of them can be found in Umgar. Individual desert orc families or mercenaries do exist in other nations but never in large numbers.

## Personality:

The highest priority for a desert orc is survival to its extreme end. They are consummate survivalists and proud of it, carving themselves out small kingdoms in a quite hostile environment. A desert orc will do anything he can to stay alive, hunting, scavenging, looting, killing and raiding. He has no tolerance for weakness in any form, the sick, deformed, elderly or injured are abandoned in the desert without pity or supplies. (This can occasionally end in disaster as legends tell of desert orcs who managed to survive these conditions and return to wreak vengeance on their former tribes.) A desert orc that cannot ride or march is useless. Life is in the saddle. Many aren't opposed to cannibalism as a rule if they get desperate and all are willing to take the water from those they kill to drink later. They prefer to travel during the night as the sunlight sensitivity all orcs suffer from still affects them. Goggles and eye-slats can only reduce the glare so much, so during the hottest periods of the day most shelter in an oasis, ruin or cave complex, emerging only at night to pillage traveling caravans. Some accept payment to protect caravans, merchants or other locals and, while this practice is shunned by most desert orcs, those guards tend to be tough, brave and loyal. A desert orc caravan guard has to prove himself as someone worth hiring so he can afford food, leisure and survival. Therefore they fight bitterly to defend what they've been paid for so that they will be hired again, continuing the cycle. Fine silks, clothing, robes, wines, food, music, dance and pleasures of the flesh are things that desert orcs do, in fact, desire; they simply never prioritize those things over actual survival necessities. A desert orc mercenary will put his feet in fine slippers under a silk tent while sipping iced wine from a chalice while watching a belly-dance sway and be thrilled with the experience, perhaps even call it heavenly, but he'd pass that up in an instant for a loaf of bread he could fit in his pack and potentially prolong his life by one more day.

## Society:

Desert orc society is brutal and short. A chief rules by cunning and strength and, when he's deposed by a younger stronger orc, no one mourns him. Desert orcs are nomads, roaming the desert on their camels or dune drakes, waiting for a caravan or village to plunder. They cultivate almost nothing and craft even less. Aside from camels, dune drakes and sturdy za'icoran horses, every animal is killed, cooked and eaten immediately to further prolong the tribe's survival, with the chief taking the choicest cuts. Often disputes over meat have led to new chiefs as an old one oversteps his limits and is struck down by an enraged rival. Desert orcs usually leave the very young behind in whatever lair the tribe has claimed for itself, along with midwives, shamans, slaves and a few guards but most children are expected to contribute from an early age. Crimes are dealt with death or exile. Any form of weakness results in immediate exile. A desert orc tribe has no food to spare on the weak, the old or the dying. Those desert orcs who do live in the cities tend to form small companies with fellow orcs, finding the communal feeling more reminiscent of their past nomadic life. Camels are borderline sacred to the desert orcs, who see them as Gruumsh's gift to their tribes. They'll eat them after they die but woe to any desert orc that slays a camel before its time; he might find himself eaten alongside the camel. Shamans do hold some sway among the tribe, particularly those who can conjure water, but compared to hill or gray orcs it is a far less prestigious position. A desert orc thanks himself for his life and success. He owes Gruumsh nothing, and Gruumsh likes it that way. Many desert orcs tend towards psionics in an attempt to generate power that requires little resources beyond their own impressive will.

## Religion:

Desert orcs are borderline agnostic. They tend not to rely overmuch on gods or prayers. Gruumsh is still honored as their patron god and creator but he's viewed more as an example to aspire towards than a being who answers prayers. Some worship Burtix and revel in the slaughter they cause. Some, notably psionic orcs, pray to Nesin in hopes of improving their knowledge and powers.

## Alignment:

Most desert orcs are chaotic and many are evil or neutral. Survival takes precedent. Some who dwell in the cities or among caravans are true neutral or neutral good but they are less common than the chaotic raiders of the deep desert.

## Relations:

Desert orcs have no friendship or alliances with anyone save their camels. Those nomadic tribes hate the world and anyone who isn't in the immediate tribe as the very existence of others takes away supplies that could be used to help the tribe survive. Desert orcs who live among caravans and cities tend to be less inherently hostile and can count some Za'icorans, genasi, mallatox and half-giants among their friends. These city-dwellers tend more towards consummate professionalism than friendship.

## Language:

Desert orcs speak orc and common. Many also learn the trade tongue za'icoran.

## Names:

Desert orc names are similar to orc names, or za'icoran ones so use either list.

## Adventurers:

Adventuring desert orcs are usually exiles or lone survivors. They're a tough, cunning people with excellent survival skills who aren't afraid of getting their hands dirty. An adventuring party that offers an exiled desert orc a share of the loot in exchange for his help is likely getting a very good bargain out it. Desert orcs are so rarely treated with kindness that they can be surprisingly loyal to a party that extends some.

## Traits:

Desert orc traits are described below

+2 Strength, +2 Constitution –2 Intelligence, –2 Charisma.

Humanoid (Orc). Medium: As Medium creatures, desert orcs have no special bonuses or penalties due to their size.

A desert orc’s base land speed is 30 feet.

Low-Light Vision: A desert orc can see twice as far as a human in starlight, moonlight, torchlight, and similar conditions of poor illumination. He retains the ability to distinguish color and detail under these conditions.

Light Sensitivity: Desert orcs are dazzled in bright sunlight or within the radius of a daylight spell.

Heat Endurance: Desert orcs gain a +4 racial bonus on Fortitude saves made to resist the effects of hot weather.

Weapon Proficiency: All desert orcs are automatically proficient with the scimitar and shortbow

Endurance: Desert orcs gain Endurance as a racial bonus feat.

Automatic Languages: Common, Za'icoran and Orc.

Bonus Languages: Dwarven, Giant, Gnoll, Goblin, Undercommon.

Favored Class: Barbarian, Ranger, Psion