The Half-Orcs
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145
In the wild frontiers, tribes of human and orc barbarians live in uneasy balance, fighting in times of war and trading in times of peace. The half-orcs who are born in the frontier may live with either human or orc parents, but they are nevertheless exposed to both cultures. Some, for whatever reason, leave their homeland and travel to civilized lands, bringing with them the tenacity, courage, and combat prowess that they developed in the wilds.
Personality:
Half-orcs are short-tempered and sullen. They would rather act than ponder and would rather fight than argue. Those who are sucessful, however, are those with enough self-control to live in a civilized land, not the crazy ones.
Half-orcs love simple pleasures such as feasting, drinking, boasting, singing, wrestling, drumming, and wild dancing. Refinded enjoyment such as poetry, courtly dancing, and philosophy are lost on them. At the right sort of party, a half-orc is an asset At the duchess's grand ball, he's a liability.
Physical Description:
Half-orcs are as tall as humans and a little heavier, thanks to their muscle. A half-orc's grayish pigmentation, sloping forehead, jutting jaw, prominent teeth, and coarse body hair make his lineage plain for all to see.
Orcs like scars. They regard battle scars as tokens of pride and ornamental scars as things of beauty. Any half-orc who has lived among or near orcs has scars, whether they are marks of shame indicating servitude and identifying the half-orc's former owner, or marks of pride recounting conquests and high status. Such a half-orc living among humans either displays or hides his scars, depending on his attitude toward them.
Half-orcs mature a little faster than humans and age noticeabley faster. Few half-orcs live longer than 75 years.
Relations:
Because orcs are the sworn enemies of dwarves and elves, half-orcs can have a rough time with members of these races. For that matter, orcs aren't exactly on good terms with humans, halflings, or gnomes, either. Each half-orc finds a way to gain acceptance from those who hate or fear his orc cousins. Some are reserved, trying not to draw attention to themselves. Others demonstrate piety and good-heartedness as publicly as they can (whether or not such demonstrations are genuine). Other simply try to be so tough that others have no choice but to accept them.
Language:
Orc, which has no alphabet of its own, uses Dwarven script on the rare occasions that someone writes something in Orc. Orc writing turns up most frequently in graffiti.
Adventurers:
Half-orcs living among humans are drawn almost invariably toward violent careers in which they can put their strength to good use. Frequently shunned from polite company half-orcs often find acceptance and friendship among adventurers, many of who are fellow wanderers and outsiders.
