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MrSeth
2006-09-15, 02:53 AM
RED ORCS

A race of warriors descended from a renegade orc tribe, the red orcs epitomize strength tempered by a wisdom uncommon in the savage races.

Red orcs stand about six and a half feet tall, and weigh about as much as a typical human of that height. Their skins are invariably smooth, mottled shades of red, with black or shock white hair that is pulled into complex braids for males, or cut a few inches above the shoulder for females. They have small tusks (in comparison to other Orcish races) and pale-colored eyes. Females are about the same size, but have no tusks.

The birth of the red orcs is well-known in many societies; there were four orcish tribes living in the sandy wastes of the Taash; the Grimjaw, Keeneye, Cudgel, and Boartusk. All four had allied to exterminate the only non-orcish presence in the waste, a temple dedicated to several warrior Gods. All at once, the warhorde burst into the sanctuary, to find a single figure kneeling before the temple. He continued to meditate as the first orc drew near and cocked his club back, ready to bash the worshipper's skull in - then suddenly lashed out with one finger, and without looking removed both of his assailant's eyes. Several others attempted to rush the man at once, and all met with worse fates. All the while, the man stayed still and silent. The orcs, genuinely intimidated at this point, called their chieftains. They demanded that the man speak, and explain his skill in combat. The man opened one eye, then mumbled that he was a chosen of Kord's - and that he did not appreciate having his prayer interrupted. What happened next is hopelessly garbled, but we know that the chieftain of the Boartusk tribe called his warriors to protect the man, impressed not only by his skill, but by his bravado. The other orc tribes attacked, and were summarily slain. The Boartusk tribe stayed for one year in the temple; when they left, they were changed - albeit subtly - and the temple dissolved into sand. That was two millenia ago; now, the red orcs are a race of their own.

Red orcs are a chaotic race - that much has not changed. However, they have realized that for centuries (if not millenia) that orcs have done things the hard way. By raiding, pillaging, and warring against pretty much everyone, they had only ensured that their own way of life would slowly get harder, and harder... now, the red orcs have disciplined their warrior instincts. They are largely found as supplements to town guards, mercenaries, or military instructors. Unlike hobgoblins, no more than 2 or 3 dozen are ever in the same area at once; Red orcs favor small tribes. When not employed, they live as nomads, looking for their next meal wherever they might find it.

Red orcs do not get along with their orc bretheren, or with any goblinoid race, considering them all to be "hopeless cases". The one exception is the few Lawful-Neutral hobgoblin tribes, whom the red orcs tolerate fairly well. They find dwarves to be too rigid in their practices (as a whole), although they both share a hatred of orcs. Elves, by comparison, are found to be utterly fascinating to red orcs, if a bit too flighty. Elves are usually repelled at the first sight of them, but once they find out that they have a new ally against Grummsh, things go at least a little smoother. Halflings and red orcs get along suspiciously well; red orcs aren't tied too tightly to material possessions, and both share a love of freedom and travel - even if halflings are far more peacable. Gnomes and red orcs also get along decently. Humans either hate them outright, judging them to be nothing more than common orc raiders or hobgoblins, or love them, using them as the best guards and warriors in the area.

RACIAL STATS
*+2 str, +2 wis, +2 con. Red orcs are tough, but their minds are keen.
*Medium size
*Base speed: 30 feet
*Orcish blood: Red orcs count as orcs... as a Half-orc.
*Low light vision
*+4 to Martial Lore and Knowledge (history) checks: Red orcs are learned in the ways of the warrior.
*+2 to Sense Motive checks: A Red Orc is nobody's fool.
*Automatic languages: Common and Orc (Red Orc Dialect). Bonus languages: Goblin, Draconic, Terran, Elven, Halfling, Gnomish.
*Favored class: Warblade
*LA+1

(NOTE: If you are not playing with the Book of Nine Swords, replace the +4 on Martial Lore checks with +4 to Knowledge (geography), and change the favored class to Fighter.)

Tormsskull
2006-09-15, 08:55 AM
Definitely needs a higher LA. For only +1 LA you get +8 to stats (with 4 going to strength!!!) and EWP Bastard Sword. I'd recomend +2 LA at the least.

zad101
2006-09-15, 12:47 PM
I can't remember the name but red orcs were a monster in a video game i played a couple months ago.

Pegasos989
2006-09-15, 02:18 PM
I agree that +8 to stats, EWP, etc. is just far too good. +2 LA certainly.

To put it at +0 you could remove wisdom bonus (you want them hard to cheat? You already gave them +2 sense motive!) and give INT minus. If you don't want to do it... Well, you need to up LA.

MrSeth
2006-09-15, 06:30 PM
Nerfed the STR bonus and dropped the EWP. For the record, I realize the +8 was a little too much, but I don't think that the EWP was overkill... the Draconic template (Draconomicon, pg. 149) adds +6 to a creature's stats, Lo-lite and Darkvision, claws, a +1 to AC, save bonuses and +2 to Intimidate and Spot for a +1 LA. All that stuff must add up to at least a feat and a half.