Unapproachable East.pdf - The Forgotten Realms

Alignment: Volodnis are not actively malicious, but they
are not benevolent, either. They believe in the individual’s call
to act as he or she sees fit rather than laws and rules to guide
behavior and so favor a chaotic disposition.
Religion: As one might expect, the pine folk have a strong
druidic tradition. Druid circles govern their society, and all
volodnis venerate nature gods. Among the forest deities they
hold a deep reverence for Silvanus the Oak Father.
Language: Volodnis speak Common and Sylvan as well as
the human language of the surrounding region—usually
Damaran or Rashemi in the East. They often learn Draconic,
Elven, Giant, Gnoll, Gnome, Goblin, or Treant to communicate
with creatures of the woodlands.
Names: The pine folk go by simple human names, usually
followed by a description of a favorite forest locale, such as
Andror of the Deepspring, Harl of the Old Grove, or Mara
of the Windridge. Male: Andror, Huvast, Isilvor, Leped,
Normol, Strevast, Yevgen. Female: Atryanna, Hela, Kari,
Lara, Naskyara, Slaela, Zashi.
Races of Faerûn describes the gray orcs, the orcs of the eastern
lands. Descended from the hordes that invaded Faerûn in
the Orcgate Wars, the gray orcs are a distinct subrace of
orckind with their own unique abilities and traits. Mountain
orcs (common orcs) can be found in Thesk and the northern
borderlands of the Unapproachable East, but many of the
orcs of the Sunrise Mountains and the Endless Wastes are
gray orcs. The orcs of Thay include large numbers of both
subraces; while the gray orcs invaded the Thayan Plateau in
great numbers long ago, for centuries now the Red Wizards
have imported mountain orc mercenaries and slaves.
Gray orcs look less bestial than their more savage northern
kin but are still obviously nonhuman. They are somewhat
hairy, with long manes of bristly hair on their heads,
shoulders, and backs. Their faces are less porcine than the
mountain orcs, with the exception of their tusks. They have
yellow, orange, or red eyes, lupine ears, and black or gray
hair. Gray orcs are more apt to wear “civilized” clothing
than mountain orcs and prefer varying shades of brown,
black, blue, and other dark colors. Skin tones are usually
gray with mottled patches of lighter or darker gray on the
chest and flanks.
Unlike common orcs, gray orcs are nomads. They dwell in
remote, desolate regions and eke out a meager existence as
they can, traveling along traditional migratory routes
between established campsites and favorite caves as the seasons
change. When resources in an area run low, a tribe
moves on to greener fields.
A typical gray orc tribe consists of thirty to fifty members,
led by the strongest orc in the tribe. The true power behind a
tribe of gray orcs, though, is the tribe’s high priest, who is
RACES OF THE EAST
Orcs of the East
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Adventurers: Volodnis who leave their home forest to
wander the world are unusual, but not as rare as one might
think. The pine folk have a great desire to explore and see the
wonders of Faerûn’s surviving forests. Volodni druids and
rangers go out into the world to protect woodlands and to spy
out the civilized lands near their homes.
Regions: Most volodnis choose the volodni region, which reflects
a pine folk character native to one of the large forests
of the Great Dale. (See Chapter 3: Regions and Feats.) A small
number of volodni characters choose human character regions
such as Rashemen, the Great Dale, or Thesk.
Volodni Racial Traits
Volodnis have the following abilities and characteristics.
• +2 Constitution, +2 Wisdom, –2 Intelligence, –2 Charisma:
Volodnis are hardy and intuitive, but are not exceptionally
bright or personable.
• Medium-size.
typically an adept or cleric (often female) who has held the
position for many years. The gray orcs are zealots, and the
word of their tribal clerics is law.
Gray orcs all possess the following racial traits.
• +2 Strength, –2 Intelligence, +2 Wisdom, –2 Charisma:
Gray orcs are not as strong as mountain orcs, but they tend
to be much more independent and strong-willed.
• Medium-size.
• Gray orc land speed is 40 feet. Their gait is long and loping
and they can cover great distances quickly.
• Proficient with the greataxe and longbow; gray orcs train
with weapons from childhood.
• Light Sensitivity (Ex): Gray orcs take a –1 penalty on attack
rolls in bright sunlight or within the radius of a daylight spell.
• Scent (Ex): Gray orcs have the scent ability, as detailed in
the DUNGEON MASTER’s Guide.
• Orc Blood: For all special abilities and effects, a gray orc is
considered an orc. Gray orcs, for example, can use or create
orc weapons and magic items with racially specific orc
powers as if they were orcs.
• Automatic Languages: Common, Orc. Bonus Languages:
Draconic, Giant, Goblin.
• Favored Class: Cleric. Gray orcs are comfortable with the
savage life of the barbarian, but they tend to be more calm
and devout than northern orcs, focusing their rage and
hatred inward. This allows them to excel as clerics of the
warlike orc deities.
• Level Adjustment: +1. A gray orc has an effective character
level (ECL) of 1 plus class levels, so a 1st-level gray orc
cleric would have an ECL of 2.