Orog (3.5e Race)

This material is published under the OGL 1.0a.

Orog

Intro

In many places half-ogres are nearly as common as half-orcs. Many have the same type of origins as half-orcs, while others are the result of breeding programs to produce a race of strong, pliable servants and mercenaries. Such programs are most common in recently colonized lands with large ogre populations threatening the borders, and are often kept secret. Some evil civilizations actively train and trade half-ogre slaves, fielding entire armies of the crossbreeds.

A number of creatures taken for ogres are actually orc/ogre half-breeds, which are even more common than human/ogres. Orc/ogres raised in orc tribes or ogre clans face none of the difficulties of half-breeds raised by humans, for they are close enough in appearance and attitude to be fully accepted by those groups. Indeed, orc/ogre crossbreeds often rise to positions of leadership, for they are far stronger than common orcs and a good deal smarter and stronger of personality than ogres.

Background

Half-ogres raised by primitive clans, be they ogres, orcs, or humans, often become heroes of the tribe with their great strength or natural cunning. Those raised by human or other cities are not nearly so well considered. They may be treated as slaves, or at best as savages who are too dumb to be allowed to make their own choices and too violent to be left on their own. These claims have some merit, and certainly there are half-ogres who are a threat to their fellow citizens, but in many cases these attitudes are just an excuse to take advantage of the breed. Many half-ogres are just as able to control themselves as more-violent humans, and can do quite well if given the opportunity.

Nearly all half-ogres are trained to be laborers or warriors, and the rest usually pick up the skills on their own. Because they reach their full growth by the age of thirteen, most enjoy little or no childhood; they are apprenticed as early as six years old and put to work by age nine. Many human/ogre breeds keep in touch with their childhood friends, continuing to sneak them sweets and give them piggyback rides even after a 12-hour day of guard duty or hauling rocks. When those humans reach adulthood at eighteen to twenty years of age, their half-ogre comrade has already led a hard life.

Personality

Half-ogres have simple needs and desires. They enjoy fighting (including friendly roughhousing), good food and drink, and - much to their detractors' surprise - good music. A half-ogre who is well fed and comfortable becomes remarkably sociable, willing to trade jests (or even be the butt of several), demonstrate his great strength, and work hard, leaving any hard thinking or planning to others. If he sees a comrade as being responsible for providing such comfort, the half-breed is likely to feel quite friendly toward that person.

When hungry, wounded, angry, or afraid, a half-ogre becomes very different. The breed's great capacity for rage moves much closer to the surface in these circumstances, making the creature hot-headed, short-sighted, touchy about his size and intelligence, and occasionally bloodthirsty. These traits also become obvious when a half-ogre's friends are in danger or insulted, even if he himself is not the target of such threats. A half-ogre's friends learn not to let him hear their enemies scoff at them, especially in civilized surroundings, as it tends to provoke violence.

Ogre/orc crossbreeds are generally neutral evil in alignment, coming closest to the stereotypes about the breed. They see strength as the only justification for their actions and are unconcerned about the fate of weaker races. Human/ogre breeds might be of any alignment, with slightly more than half being neutral or chaotic good. These half-breeds are acutely aware of life's unfairness and seek to use their power to protect those they care about, though this is often a specific group rather than an entire segment of society.

Physical Description

Half-ogres are very similar in appearance to half-orcs, standing between 7 and 8 feet tall with heavy, thick builds. Their broad shoulders anchor a pair of long, powerful arms that reach well past the waist (though not as far as the knee). Half-ogres are covered in tough skin and have thick, stringy hair that often runs halfway down the back and across the shoulders.

Half-ogres with human blood tend to have large, rounded ears, pronounced canines, and thick noses, but otherwise look like big humans. Their coloration is generally dark tan, red, or brown. Though too big to pass for human, many successfully masquerade as tall half-orcs.

Those with orc blood are harsher in appearance, with a full set of sharp teeth that protrude past the lips, a pronounced brow ridge, and long, raggedly pointed ears. Such half-ogres are generally black or green in color, but pink-eyed albinos occur. They can easily pass for fullblooded ogres (even in ogre communities), or rarely as very large, tough orcs.

Relations

Most half-ogres don't care for elves, bards, sorcerers, or wizards, and all for the same reason. Such people either talk down to half-ogres, who don't like to be thought of as stupid, or don't explain themselves at all, which makes the half-ogres feel stupid. An ally can earn a half-ogre's friendship by keeping comments simple without ever suggesting it's for the half-breed's benefit, but few bother to walk this narrow path.

Adventurers

Half-ogres are almost always combat specialists of some kind and team up well with fighters, rangers, and especially barbarians. Those of good alignment also enjoy working with paladins and good-aligned clerics, since they prefer to follow respected leaders rather than make decisions for themselves. Half-ogres appreciate the sturdiness of dwarves, the nimble antics of gnomes and halflings, and the strength of half-orcs. In fact, many half-ogres seek out the company of dwarves, even when the dwarves actively dislike them.

Alignment

Ogre/orc crossbreeds are generally neutral evil in alignment. Human/ogre breeds might be of any alignment, with slightly more than half being neutral or chaotic good.

Lands

Temperate Hills

Religion

Appropriate to alignment

Language

Automatic Languages: Common, Giant. Bonus Languages: Dwarven, Orc, Goblin, Terran.

Racial Traits

• +6 STR, -2 DEX, -2 WIS, -2 CHA (Like fullblood ogres, half-ogres are large and strong, but slow-witted and mean)
• Medium-size
• Orog base speed is 30 feet
• +2 natural armor bonus to AC
• Darkvision: Orog can see in the dark up to 60 feet
• Favored Class: Fighter
• Level Adjustment: +2

Vital Statistics

Table: Random Starting Ages

Adulthood	Simple	Moderate	Complex
13 years	+1d4	+2d4	+3d4

Table: Aging Effects

Middle Age1	Old2	Venerable3	Maximum Age
25 years	50 years	75 years	+3d10 years
At middle age, −1 to Str, Dex, and Con; +1 to Int, Wis, and Cha. At old age, −2 to Str, Dex, and Con; +1 to Int, Wis, and Cha. At venerable age, −3 to Str, Dex, and Con; +1 to Int, Wis, and Cha.

Table: Random Height and Weight

Gender	Base Height	Height Modifier	Base Weight	Weight Modifier
Male	6' 10"	+2d10	275 lb.	× (2d4) lb.
Female	6' 4"	+2d10	235 lb.	× (2d4) lb.

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