[Pathfinder] beastisrfrt

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paizo.com #2112918, David McBride <darklycario@gmail.com>, Jun 23, 2012
Core Races 1
strengthen the tribe. Apprenticeship to a shaman is a brutal
and often short-lived distinction, however, and those halforcs
who survive it either become inf luential in the tribe or
are eventually driven to leave.
Half-orcs have a much more mixed experience in
human society, where many cultures view them as little
more than monsters. They often are unable even to get
normal work, and are pressed into service in the military
or sold into slavery. In these cultures, half-orcs often lead
furtive lives, hiding their nature whenever possible. The
dark underworld of society is often the most welcoming
place, and many half-orcs wind up serving as enforcers
for thieves guilds or other types of organized crime.
Less commonly, human cities may allow half-orcs a
more normal existence, even enabling them to develop
small communities of their own. These communities
are usually centered around the arena districts, the
military, or mercenary organizations where their brute
strength is valued and their appearance is more likely to
be overlooked. Even surrounded by their own kind, halforc
life isn’t easy. Bullying and physical confrontation
comes easy to a people who have been raised with few
other examples of behavior. It is, however, one of the best
places for young half-orcs to grow up without prejudice,
and these small enclaves are one of the few places where
half-orc marriages and children are truly accepted and
sometimes cherished.
Even more rarely, certain human cultures come to
embrace half-orcs for their strength. There are stories of
places where people see half-orc children as a blessing and
seek out half-orc or orc lovers. In these cultures, half-orcs
lead lives not much different from full-blooded humans.
Relations: Elves and dwarves tend to be the least
accepting of half-orcs, seeing in them too great a
resemblance to their racial enemies, and other races
aren’t much more understanding.
A lifetime of persecution leaves the average half-orc
wary and quick to anger, yet people who break through
his savage exterior might find a well-hidden core of
empathy. Human societies with few orc problems tend
to be the most accommodating, and half-orcs dwelling
there can often find work as mercenaries and enforcers.
Even in places where there is a general tolerance for halforcs,
however, many humans mistreat them when they
can get away with it.
Half-orcs are envious of the measure of acceptance halfelves
have within human and elven society and resent their
physical beauty, which contrasts starkly to the half-orcs’
brutish appearance. While half-orcs avoid antagonizing
their half-breed cousins directly, they won’t hesitate to
undermine them if the opportunity presents itself.
Of all the other races, half-orcs are most sympathetic
with half lings, who often have an equally rough lot in
life. Half-orcs respect the half ling’s ability to blend in
and disappear and admire their perpetually cheerful
outlook on life in spite of hardships. Half lings fail to
appreciate this fact because they usually are too busy
avoiding the large, intimidating half-orcs.
Alignment and Religion: Forced to live either among
brutish orcs or as lonely outcasts in civilized lands, most
half-orcs are bitter, violent, and reclusive. Evil comes
easily to them, but they are not evil by nature—rather,
most half-orcs are chaotic neutral, having been taught by
long experience that there’s no point doing anything but
that which directly benefits themselves. Half-orcs worship
the human or orc gods venerated in the area where they
were raised. Those who live alongside humans most often
worship human gods of war, freedom, or destruction. Halforcs
raised in orc tribes find themselves most drawn to the
gods of blood, fire, and iron—depending more on what
god the tribe worships rather than the half-orcs’ personal
preference. Many half-orcs are contrary about religion,
either ignoring it entirely, or getting deeply involved in it
and trying to find meaning in a life filled with hate and
misunderstanding; even a half-orc divine spellcaster may
wrestle with doubt and anger about religion and faith.
Adventurers: Staunchly independent, many half-orcs
take to lives of adventure out of necessity, seeking to
escape their painful pasts or improve their lot through
force of arms. Others, more optimistic or desperate for
acceptance, take up the mantle of crusaders in order to
prove their worth to the world.
Half-orcs raised in orc societies often take up the
brutish ways of those around them, becoming fighters,
barbarians, or rangers. Half-orcs who survive their
shaman training may eventually succeed their masters as
tribal shamans, or f lee the tribe and practice their magic
as outcasts or explorers.
Half-orcs are just as likely to have children that possess
an innate talent for sorcery as any other race, with the
abyssal, destined, and elemental fire bloodlines being the
most common types of sorcerers. Half-orcs are fascinated
by alchemy, and its destructive capabilities make its
usefulness obvious in any orc tribe. Half-orc alchemists
treat themselves as living experiments, even to the point
of trying to separate their orc and human halves through
alchemy. Other alchemists use their powers to enhance
their physical abilities and thus increase their status
within orc communities.
In human societies, half-orcs have a few more options.
Many find it easy to take advantage of the brute strength and
work as mercenaries or caravan guards. Crime is another easy
route for half-orcs, as there are plenty of criminals looking
for a strong arm. Half-orc clerics in human communities
are fairly rare; the more religious half-orcs more often turn
to (or get pushed to) the martial aspects of religious service
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paizo.com #2112918, David McBride <darklycario@gmail.com>, Jun 23, 2012