Gnog (5e Race)

Gnog

“

Like orcs weren't hard enough to kill already?!

”

Physical Description

By Fabio Gorla

Gnogs are a stone skinned race of creatures that resemble something like hobgoblins and orcs. Their entire body palette is grey and stone colored, and it is hard as a rock to match. But underneath, they have actual skin and soft flesh, being a living creature. The thin later of stone on their skin acts as natural armor. As they grow older, it grows thicker. Elder gnogs can shape this stone much like how an artisan chisels marble, and they can form ornate armor with their techniques. Gnogs thus develop very strong musculature to accomodate for this growing armor. They typically have sharp teeth and slight tusks like an orc, as well as yellow and red eyes. If standing still, they can almost pass for a statue on a glance.

History

The gnog are believed to have been a race offshoot from either some goblinoid or orc origin. It is said they were cursed to forever grow cumbersome stone skin on their bodies which would one day render them immobile statues. They have since learned to cope with this, tending to their stone skin daily. It is agony for it to be ripped off, as it is like a layer of their own flesh. Another theory of their origins is simply that they are extraplanar like the orcs, perhaps even of the same ambiguous origin. But their appearance is not as old, as they only have been on the terra for around five millennia or so in comparison. Despite this, they are no less unwelcome by elves and dwarves, and they have frequently sided with orcs in the past due to their similarities in language and customs.

Society

Similar to the orc warbands, gnogs live very isolated from other races usually. They prefer high areas like mountains, and usually the kind that is snowy and cold. Their stone-like exterior is better suited to camouflage here. In their warbands, they make frequent trips up and down their home mountains to pillage and steal from settlements they deem either too close to their turf, or just ripe for the picking. The gnog largely worship gods similar to that of orcs, but under different guises, with altered lore, and other aspects. Their primary deity, Gnuug, is said to be embodied within their prime chieftain leader, who blesses their hunts of blood.

Despite this belligerent society, gnog are rather impassive as individuals, like stone. They don't really have much joy or morals in what they do, and just do it, with a mind like an automaton. This cold exterior makes them ideal assassins in addition to rampaging berserkers on the battlefield. Gnog have the temperance and patience to wait for opportune moments to strike, and may feign a statuesque appearance for days to achieve their goals. While they appear cold, their hidden inner drive is something to admire.

Gnog Names

Most of gnog language is a corruption of Orc, but some of it has Goblin origin.

Male: Glurog, Grukx, Tarong, Vug

Female: Narzz, Shagxai, Boisak, Lushat

Gnog Traits

Stone skinned orc people
Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 2, and your Strength score increases by 1.
Age. Gnogs mature at around 20, while they live up to 500 years.
Alignment. Gnogs are rather neutral and self-serving, but lawful to their chief above all else.
Size. A gnog's height can easily range between 6 and 7 feet tall. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Darkvision. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.
Stone Skin. Due to your stone skin, you are ill-suited to wearing normal armor. Your top layer of petrified dermis provides ample protection instead. It gives you a base AC of 17 (your Dexterity modifier doesn't affect this number). You gain no benefit from wearing armor, but if you are using a shield, you can apply the shield's bonus as normal.
Acclimated Lungs. You're acclimated to high altitude, including elevations above 20,000 feet
Burden Built. Your body has been tempered as a result of lugging around rocks on you your whole life. You are proficient in the Athletics skill.
Stone Appearance. While you are motionless, you have advantage on Charisma (Deception) checks to appear as a lifeless statue.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Orc.

Random Height and Weight

Base Height	Height Modifier*	Base Weight	Weight Modifier**
6′ 0''	+1d12	200 lb.	× (1d8) lb.
*Height = base height + height modifier **Weight = base weight + (height modifier × weight modifier)

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