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Half-orcs, or jhorgun'taal ("Children of two bloods") among the clans of the Shadow Marches,[1][2] are a race of humanoids found in Khorvaire who travel between the worlds of humans and orcs. They originated shortly after humans from Sarlona mingled with the orcs of western and northwestern Khorvaire, and have since established themselves in the continent thanks in large part to House Tharashk and its prominent role in the dragonshard trade.[9]
Description[]
The half-orcs were originally the progeny of human and orc procreation, though half-orcs can mate with either species and create half-orc children.[1] While a true-breeding race, the jhorgun'taal are as likely to couple with humans or orcs as they are with other half-orcs.[2][9]
Half-orcs may look almost human, if not for their size and strength.[8] Half-orcs are, on average, somewhere from 5 feet and 9 inches to 6 feet and 4 inches (1.8 to 1.9 meters) in height and usually weigh around 155 to 225 pounds (70.3 to 102 kilograms).[10] making them a little taller and stronger than humans. Most half-orcs have grayish skin, jutting jaws, prominent teeth, a sloping forehead,[6] and coarse body hair, which causes them to stand out from their human brethren, though their canines are noticeably smaller than a full-blooded orc’s tusks.[10]
Half-orc hair is most often black, though it grays very quickly with age. In general, half-orcs do not live as long as humans, maturing by their sixteenth year and often dying before their sixtieth.[11]
Personality[]
Half-orcs possess the spirituality of the orcs and the wisdom of humanity.[2]
Half-orcs seek out secluded regions and isolated communities where they can be judged based on merit rather than their bloodline.[9]
There are social prejudices facing half-orcs which, along with their low-population numbers, keeps them from spreading across Khorvaire to the same extent that the half-elves do. Many races still regard half-orcs and orcs as the same, treating them as more beast than person.[9]
Society[]
Though many in the Five Nations find by the coupling of humans and orcs to be distasteful, the half-orcs are celebrated in the Shadow Marches. As a result, Marcher half-orcs view themselves as the bridge that unites the humans and orcs as a common people.[2]
Half-orcs frequently occupy the fringes of society. Although orcs are recognized as a civilized race under the Galifar Code of Justice, they are none-the-less looked down upon by others, while the human ancestry in them craves social structure and comforts. Half-orcs are fairly rare in Eberron, though the half-orcs of House Tharashk in the Shadow Marches have earned prestige for their prominent role in the house.[1][2][9]
Half-orcs are celebrated among the clans of the Marches. The Marchers acknowledge half-orcs as evidence of the common bond of kinship between orc and human. Indeed, half-orcs are more likely to hold positions of prestige than humans or orcs. Clan ambassadors, sheriffs of frontier towns, and great druids and priests are frequently half-orcs.[2]
Half-orcs can more easily navigate Droaam than humans, and House Tharashk uses half-orcs as their preferred liaisons with residents of the monstrous nation to procure mercenary services.[12]
Religion[]
Half-orcs follow the dominant religion in their region.[9]
Half-orcs from the Shadow Marches may follow the Gatekeeper tradition or one of the Cults of the Dragon Below.[9] The Gatekeepers celebrate hybrids as evidence of nature's strength, while cultists of Khyber view change as the path to power.[2]
Lands[]
Half-orcs primarily dwell in western Khorvaire. Most half-orcs are found in tribes in the Shadow Marches, or otherwise are descended from those peoples. Half-orcs exist in a lesser extent in the Eldeen Reaches, Droaam, and even in the Demon Wastes.[8][9] Others have found a place in the other nations within the larger towns and cities.[8]
Almost all modern half-orcs of Khorvaire trace their lineage back to the Shadow Marches.[13]
Many hobgoblin leaders in Darguun have a strong prejudice against orcs and half-orcs, which House Tharashk hopes to change through their outpost in Rhukaan Draal.[14] Some half-orcs in Darguun are descendants of the result of efforts to produce more efficient soldiers by hobgoblins.[9]
Wherever they reside, half-orcs are always outnumbered by orcs and humans.[9]
Dragonmarks[]
House Tharashk[]
- See also: House Tharashk
Half-orcs make up a large part of the house, which consists of humans, half-orcs, and full-blooded orcs.[9]
History[]
1,500 years ago, many humans fled Sarlona and the disasters of the Sundering and the rise of the Inspired. Some refugees arrived on the western shores of Khorvaire in the Shadow Marches and were met with hostility by the orcs who resided there. Some orc tribes welcomed the human strangers, and this union of cultures produced the modern clans of the Shadow Marches as well as the half-orcs, who identified themselves as the "jhorgun'taal" (children of two bloods).[1]
1,000 years ago, the Mark of Finding first appeared among half-orcs and humans among three clans—Aashta, Velderan, and Torrn. The hunters of these clans established themselves as legends among the Marcher people over the following 500 years, until they were discovered by an expedition of Zil gnomes exploring the land for dragonshard deposites in 498 YK.[1]
With the help of emissaries from House Sivis, the three great clans and their lesser families united as House Tharashk, forming their ruling Triumvirate and choosing the fierce magical beast the dragonne as their symbol. "Tharashk" means "united" in both the Orc and Goblin language.[1]
Notable Half-orcs[]
- See also: Category:Half-orcs
- Ikar the Black
- Kalaash'arrna
- Khundar'aashta
- Khundran d'Torrn
- Maagrim Torrn d'Tharashk
- M'yev
- Thurran Velderan d'Tharashk
- Urlev Torrn
- Viper
Rumors & Legends[]
There is a little-known legend that the first coupling between humans and orcs was arranged by the Gatekeeper druids as a means to test if the offspring would be hardier than their parents and worthy to carry on their druidic traditions.[9]
Appendix[]
See Also[]
Notes[]
Appearances[]
Gallery[]
External links[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Keith Baker, Ari Marmell, Michelle Lyons and C.A. Suleiman (2006). Dragonmarked. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 76. ISBN 0-7869-3933-8.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 James Wyatt, Keith Baker, Luke Johnson, Steven Brown (2006). Player's Guide to Eberron. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 119. ISBN 0-7869-3912-5.
- ↑ Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford (2014). Player's Handbook (5th edition). (Wizards of the Coast), p. 41. ISBN 978-0-7869-6560-1.
- ↑ Rob Heinsoo, Andy Collins, and James Wyatt (2008). Player's Handbook. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 14. ISBN 0-7869-4867-1.
- ↑ David Noonan, Ari Marmell, and Robert J. Schwalb (2009). Eberron Player's Guide. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 13. ISBN 0-7869-5100-1.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams (July 2003). Player's Handbook v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 18–19. ISBN 0-7869-2886-7.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Skip Williams, Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook (July 2003). Monster Manual v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 204. ISBN 0-7869-2893-X.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Keith Baker, Bill Slavicsek, & James Wyatt (2004). Eberron Campaign Setting. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 16. ISBN 0-7869-3274-0.
- ↑ 9.00 9.01 9.02 9.03 9.04 9.05 9.06 9.07 9.08 9.09 9.10 9.11 David Noonan, Ari Marmell, and Robert J. Schwalb (2009). Eberron Player's Guide. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 39. ISBN 0-7869-5100-1.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Rob Heinsoo, Mike Mearls, and Robert J. Schwalb (2009). Player's Handbook 2. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 14–15. ISBN 0-7869-5016-1.
- ↑ Rob Heinsoo, Mike Mearls, and Robert J. Schwalb (2009). Player's Handbook 2. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 15. ISBN 0-7869-5016-1.
- ↑ Keith Baker, Bill Slavicsek, & James Wyatt (2004). Eberron Campaign Setting. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 166. ISBN 0-7869-3274-0.
- ↑ Keith Baker, Bill Slavicsek, & James Wyatt (2004). Eberron Campaign Setting. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 198. ISBN 0-7869-3274-0.
- ↑ Keith Baker, Bill Slavicsek, & James Wyatt (2004). Eberron Campaign Setting. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 154. ISBN 0-7869-3274-0.
Appendix[]
External links[]
- Half-orc article at the Forgotten Realms Wiki, a wiki for the Forgotten Realms campaign setting.
References[]
Sources[]
- Keith Baker, Bill Slavicsek, & James Wyatt (2004). Eberron Campaign Setting. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 16, 154, 198. ISBN 0-7869-3274-0.
- Keith Baker, Ari Marmell, Michelle Lyons and C.A. Suleiman (2006). Dragonmarked. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 76. ISBN 0-7869-3933-8.
- James Wyatt, Keith Baker, Luke Johnson, Steven Brown (2006). Player's Guide to Eberron. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 119. ISBN 0-7869-3912-5.
Connections[]
| Races |
|---|
| Player's Handbook Races: Aasimar | Dragonborn | Drow | Dwarf | Elf | Goliath | Gnome | Half-Elf | Half-Orc | Halfling | Human | Orc | Tiefling |
| Eberron Races: Bugbear | Changeling | Goblin | Hobgoblin | Kalashtar | Shifter | Warforged |
| Other Races: Armand | Asherati | Bhuka | Doppelganger | Dragon | Gnoll | Kobold | Lizardfolk | Medusa | Sahuagin | Shulassakar | Thri-kreen | Yuan-Ti |
| Outsiders: Angel | Archon | Daelkyr | Demon | Devil | Elemental | Genie | Githyanki | Githzerai | Inevitable | Mephit | Quori | Slaad |