Orcs have vicious temperaments and chaotic natures and are feared throughout Arrasia, for their arrival usually heralds a time of chaos, bloodshed and war. All too often, however, orc raiding parties or armies fall into internal conflict and soon disperse back to where they came from. Orcs are proud creatures and spend much of their time fighting with other orc tribes to improve their tribe's renown and their own individual worth. Orcs love scars, which they wear with pride.

Although orc tribes usually fight when they meet, strong and charismatic leaders emerge periodically and unite the tribes, leading them to war against their enemies or the civilized nations. These can be extremely dangerous periods, as orcs are strong and fearless and can be devastating on the battlefield. On the rare occasions when their discipline holds, they can be almost unstoppable.

Orcs are happiest upon the open fields of war, facing the massed ranks of their opponents. For an orc, as the adrenalin courses through their blood and fills them with a fearless and almost uncontrollable bloodlust, there is no better feeling. And to die upon the field, in combat, with the blood of their enemy on their blade, is the honorable and most orc-like way to die. However, orcs have no regard for the rules of war, as the chaos that consumes them and the rage that fills them all too often sees their armies break into anarchy and madness, which more disciplined armies are quick to exploit.

An orc tribe is dominated by the strongest amongst them, who bullies and humiliates the other members of the tribe. His position as the head of the tribe is always a precarious one and any sign of weakness will almost certainly lead to a challenge from another member of the group. The tribes themselves are often filled with bickering, fighting and constant conflict. Orc tribes are almost constantly at war with either other orc tribes or any number of their enemies, without which a tribe would likely fall upon, and annihilate, itself.

Although Ragmannon created the orcs and sent them to Arrasia, triggering the War of Chaos, they are not beholding to him and many also follow Xagraxsus and Hith. When tribes of different religious beliefs meet, they fight, for the pride of the tribe is at stake. These battles are vicious and horrific affairs and a tribe can be quickly wiped out in this manner.

An orc's hair is usually black and rough to the touch. It has lupine ears and reddish eyes. Orcs prefer wearing vivid colors that many humans would consider unpleasant, such as blood red, mustard yellow, yellow-green, and deep purple. Their equipment is dirty and unkempt. An adult male orc is a little over 6 feet tall and weighs about 210 pounds. Females are slightly smaller.

The language an orc speaks varies slightly from tribe to tribe, but any Orc is understandable by someone else who speaks Orc. Some orcs know Goblin or Giant as well.

Most orcs encountered away from their homes are warriors.

ORCS AS CHARACTERS

Orc Traits (Ex): Orcs possess the following racial traits.

• +4 Strength, -2 Intelligence, -2 Wisdom, -2 Charisma.
• An orc's base land speed is 30 feet.
• Darkvision out to 60 feet.
• Light Sensitivity: Orcs are dazzled in bright sunlight or within the radius of a daylight spell.
• Automatic Languages: Orc, one Human tongue. Bonus Languages: Dwarven, Giant, Gnoll, Goblin, Xamian.
• Favored Class: Barbarian.

HALF-ORCS

These orc-human crossbreeds can be found in either orc or human society (where their status varies according to local sentiments), or in communities of their own. Half-orcs usually inherit a good blend of the physical characteristics of their parents. They are as tall as humans and a little heavier, thanks to their muscle. They have greenish pigmentation, sloping foreheads, jutting jaws, prominent teeth, and coarse body hair. Half-orcs who have lived among or near orcs have scars, in keeping with orcish tradition.

Half-Orc Traits (Ex): Half-orcs possess the following racial traits.

• +2 Strength, -2 Intelligence, -2 Charisma.
• Medium size.
• A half-orc's base land speed is 30 feet.
• Darkvision: Half-orcs can see in the dark up to 60 feet.
• Orc Blood: For all effects related to race, a half-orc is considered an orc.
• Automatic Languages: Orc, one Human tongue. Bonus Languages: Draconic, Giant, Gnoll, Goblin, Abyssal.
• Favored Class: Barbarian.

SUBRACES

The information above is for the most common variety of orc. There is one other major orc subrace, which differs from normal orcs as follows.

Desert Orcs

Desert Orcs are new amongst the races of Arrasia, having emerged in Nizhst, Jerad, The Gold Coast and even as far east as The Kera Desert. Servants of Hith, they have taken his war with Karnish into the sun soaked south, as well as rounding up large numbers of the natives there as slaves, from where they are transported to Hith's labor camps, where the tools of war are fashioned and where life is short and harsh.

Strong and swift, desert orcs travel by night and are capable of traveling great distances, often appearing out of nowhere and falling upon their enemies with surprise, before vanishing back from where they came. Although they still abhor the sunlight, which they hide from during the hours of daylight, the desert orcs seem impervious to the heat and are capable of shrugging off its effects, when other would be collapsing from exhaustion.

Desert orcs possess the following racial traits in addition to the usual orcs traits, unless otherwise stated.

• Heat Endurance: Desert orcs gain a +4 racial bonus on Fortitude saves made to resist the effects of hot weather.
• Low-Light Vision: A desert orc can see twice as far as a human in starlight, moonlight, torchlight, and similar conditions of poor illumination. They retain the ability to distinguish color and detail under these conditions.
• No darkvision.
• Endurance: Desert orcs gain Endurance as a racial bonus feat.