Orcs are aggressive humanoids that raid, pillage, and battle other creatures. They have a hatred of elves and dwarves that began generations ago, and often kill such creatures on sight.
Warfare infuses every aspect of orc society. When they are not out raiding and attacking their enemies (often other orc tribes), orcs train in fighting, build and repair weapons and siege engines, and generally chomp at the bit for the next battle.
Orc tribes often make their lairs in natural caverns, since caves are easily defended and require little construction to fortify. It is just as common to find a tribe of orcs dwelling in a ruined fortress or underground complex captured by invading orcs. Orc tribes who have not found a suitable network of caverns or captured a dungeon or castle to live in build small nomadic villages instead. Orc villages consist of tents and other temporary structures arrayed in a circular pattern, guarded by a moat or palisade. These villages are built atop hills or against cliffsides, lakes, or rivers, utilizing natural obstacles to increase the defensibility of the village.
Orcs have a savage, patriarchal society. It is virtually unknown to find a female orc in a position of secular power in an orc community. Orc males typically take a handful of wives, who are usually treated as little more than trophies and slaves. Orc sons are expected to train in combat as soon as they can hold weapons, and infighting among sibilings is encouraged. An orc father has no interest in rearing a child who cannot hold his own against his brothers, and a sickly or undersized orc never lives long.
Female orcs have little to look forward to. Rarely, a particularly tough orc woman can muscle her way into the orc armies and serve alongside her brothers as an equal, but for the most part, female orcs are regulated to the roles of servant and mother. Female orcs are as physically strong and capable as male orcs, but orc society is narrow-minded and brutal. The one real area in which a female orc can hope to excel is magic, particularly divine magic. Female orc adepts, clerics, and druids use their magical skills to strike fear and trepidation into the males of their community and are, for the most part, left alone to do what they want.
Slavery is common in orc communities. Usually, slaves in an orc lair consist of subjugated kobolds or goblins, although it isn't uncommon to see orcs of opposing tribes or subraces kept as slaves. Humans, gnomes, dwarves, and halflings are often kept as slaves too, although they are treated poorly and generally don't live long under such harsh conditions. Elf slaves are rare, since most orcs would prefer simply to kill and eat any elves they come across.
There are a number of orcish subraces: mountain orcs, gray orcs, half-orcs, and orogs.
Mountain orcs, the most common race of orcs, are fantastically strong but violent and poor at planning, with +4 Strength and -2 to Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma. Gray orcs are not as strong as mountain orcs, but more wise and thoughtful. Half-orcs lack the strength of their mountain kin and the wisdom of their nomadic cousins, but are more welcome in civilized societies and are not penalized by daylight. Orogs are the orcs of the Underdark, even stronger than mountain orcs, and more independent and self-assured - they make natural leaders.
Subraces
When selecting the orc race, it is required to select one of the following subraces:
- Mountain Orc
- Gray Orc
- Half-Orc - Available as a separate race.