"The warchief Mhurren roused himself from his sleeping-furs and his women and pulled a short hauberk of heavy steel rings over his thick, well-muscled torso. He usually rose before most of his warriors, since he had a strong streak of human blood in him, and he found the daylight⁠ less bothersome than most of his tribe did. Among the Bloody Skulls, a Warrior was judged by his stren⁠gth, his fierceness, and his wits. Human⁠ ancestry was no blemish against a warrior—provided he was every bit as strong, enduring, and bloodthirsty as his full-blooded kin. Half-orcs⁠ who were weaker than their orc comrades didn’t last long among the Bloody Skulls or any other orc tribe for that matter. But it was often true that a bit of human blood gave a Warrior just the right mix of cunning, Ambition, and self-discipline to go far indeed, as Mhurren had. He was Master of a tribe that could muster two thousand spears, and the strongest chief in Thar." —Richard Baker, Swordmage

Whether united under the leadership of a mighty warlock⁠ or having fought to a standstill after years of conflict⁠, orc and human tribes sometimes form alliances, joining forces into a larger horde to the terror of civilized lands nearby. When these alliances are sealed by marriages, half-orcs are born. Some half-orcs⁠ rise to become proud chiefs of orc tribes, their human blood giving them an edge over their full-blooded orc rivals. Some venture into the world to prove their worth among humans and other more civilized races. Many of these become adventurers, achieving greatness for their mighty deeds and notoriety for their barbaric customs and savage fury.

Scarred and Strong

Half-orcs’ have varied skin tones, depending on their heritage. The steady Folkblood have skin in shades of green, the Fireblood take on hues of deep burnt orange and red, and the Ironblood have grayish skin ranging from a rare pale white to a deep blue-black. All half-orcs tend to have sloping foreheads, jutting jaws, prominent teeth or tusks, and towering builds, which make their orcish heritage plain for all to see. Half-orcs⁠ stand between 6 and 7 feet tall and usually weigh between 180 and 250 pounds.

The Mark of Gruumsh

The one-eyed god Gruumsh created the orcs, and even those orcs who turn away from his worship can’t fully escape his Influence. The same is true of half-orcs, though their human blood moderates the impact of their orcish heritage. Some half-orcs⁠ hear the whispers of Gruumsh in their dreams, calling them to unleash the rage that simmers within them. Others feel Gruumsh’s exultation when they join in melee combat—and either exult along with him or shiver with fear and loathing. Half-orcs⁠ are not evil by nature, but evil does lurk within them, whether they embrace it or rebel against it.

Beyond the rage of Gruumsh, half-orcs feel emotion powerfully. Rage doesn’t just quicken their pulse, it makes their bodies burn. An insult stings like acid, and sadness saps their Strength. But they laugh loudly and heartily, and simple bodily pleasures—feasting, drinking, wrestling, drumming, and wild dancing—fill their hearts with joy. They tend to be short-tempered and sometimes sullen, more inclined to action than contemplation and to fighting than arguing. The most accomplished half-orcs⁠ are those with enough self-control to get by in a civilized land.

Tribes and Slums

Half-orcs most often live among orcs. Of the other races, humans are most likely to accept half-orcs⁠, and half-orcs⁠ almost always live in human lands when not living among orc tribes. Whether proving themselves among rough barbarian⁠ tribes or scrabbling to survive in the slums of larger cities, half-orcs⁠ get by on their physical might, their endurance, and the sheer determination they inherit from their human ancestry.

Grudging Acceptance

Each half-orc finds a way to gain acceptance from those who hate orcs. Some are reserved, trying not to draw attention to themselves. A few demonstrate piety and good-heartedness as publicly as they can (whether or not such demonstrations are genuine). And some simply try to be so tough that others just avoid them.

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

Half-orc Traits

Your Half-orc character has the following racial Traits.

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 somewhat larger and bulkier than humans, and they range from 5 to well over 6 feet tall. Your size is Medium.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Darkvision. Thanks to your orc blood, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness⁠, only shades of gray.

Relentless⁠ Endurance. When you are reduced to 0 Hit Points but not killed outright, you can drop to 1 hit point instead. You can’t use this feature again until you finish a long rest.

Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Orc. Orc⁠ is a harsh, grating language with hard consonants. It has no script of its own but is written in the dwarvish script.

Subrace. A few subraces of half-orc exist below. Choose one of them for your character.

The Fireblood half-orcs are fierce and blazing spirits, with fiery skin and volatile tempers that mark their intense heritage. Known for their quick tempers and passion that burns hotter than the forge, Firebloods thrive on the chaos of battle and the thrill of confrontation. Their unyielding fiery energy can ignite conflicts or rally allies, and they are fueled by a relentless desire to prove themselves in the heat of combat. Fireblood orcs are daring, hot-headed, and fiercely determined. Expect a wild, unpredictable fury whenever they step into the fray.

Fireblood half-orcs have skin tones ranging from burnt-orange to red, with hair in hues of deep crimson, black, or gray. Their eyes tend to be black, gold, amber, or red, and they often favor scarification tattoos that are cut directly into the skin. These are seen as intimidating and displays of raw pain and resilience.

Alignment. Firebloods tend toward chaotic alignments due to their passionate and unpredictable natures.

Menacing Warmth. You gain proficiency in the Intimidation skill.

Blazing Charge. When you move at least 20 feet straight toward a creature and hit it with a melee attack on the same turn, the attack deals an additional 1d6 fire damage. You may use this feature a number of times equal to your Proficiency bonus per long rest.

The most common half-orcs are known as Folkblood. Stalwart warriors of the wilds whose resilience and might are the stuff of legend, Folkblood have a heritage rooted in honor and tradition, and merge brute strength with a surprising depth of camaraderie. They thrive in the heat of battle as naturally as they celebrate around a roaring campfire under the stars. Known for their unyielding spirit and sense of community, Folkblood half-orcs live by the creed that bonds forged in challenge and conflict are the strongest of all. Whether you seek a loyal ally or a formidable adversary, you’ll find no better than the steadfast Folkblood.

Folkblood half-orcs have skin tones in nearly every green, with hair in hues of dark gray or black, shades of brown, or deep gray-blues. Their eyes tend to be green or brown, though rarely shades of blue or gray from other parentage, and they often favor large bold tattoos. These tattoos often hold personal meaning or are gained as symbols of battle or achievement, or are even used to denote family lineages.

Alignment. Folkbloods tend toward neutral or even good alignments, with their tendency to be the most level-headed of their kin, though half-orc's still feel emotions in a raw and powerful way.

Savage Attacks. When you score a critical hit with a melee weapon Attack, you can roll one of the weapon’s damage dice one additional time and add it to the extra damage of the critical hit.

Athletically Inclined. You gain proficiency in the Athletics skill.

The Ironblood half-orcs are more cunning and patient compared to their kin, favoring the toil of craft and magic, especially divine magic, often making scrolls for the protection of themselves and their tribe. They are less likely to be found in the front of the fray, and would rather connive a battle success from the war table using strategy and planning.

Ironblood half-orcs have skin tones ranging from a rare pale white, nearly any shade of gray, to a deep blue-black or red-black color. Their eyes are most often gray or black, but can be a blue, pink, or purple tint on more rare occasions, especially those that are magically inclined. They favor more intricate tattoos of runic symbols or interlocking lines with beaded jewelry and trinkets wound into their hair and worn on leather cords.

Alignment. Ironblood can vary more on alignment depending on their environment, be it neutral or chaotic or even lawful.

Scrollcraft. You gain proficiency in the Arcana skill.

Magic Inclination. You know the Sacred Flame cantrip. Starting at 3rd level, you can cast the Blood Rush spell with this trait. Starting at 5th level, you can also cast the Sense Lifeblood spell with this trait. Once you cast Blood Rush or Sense Lifeblood with this trait, you can't cast that spell with it again until you finish a long rest. You can also cast either of those spells using any spell slots you have of the appropriate level. Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for these spells.