Fallen orcs largely resemble traditional orcs in appearance, although they are generally taller and slighter - though no less muscular.  Their most notable physical feature, besides their complete lack of any kind of hair, are the bony, yellowed spines that protrude from their shoulders, elbows, head, knees, and other extremities.

Fallen orcs are also notable for their fertility - they reproduce faster than any other known humanoid race. A small population can grow to a sprawling mass in an incredibly short amount of time. This is in fact the only reason the fallen orcs survive as a species, since the life of the average fallen orc is short, violent, and prone to sudden ends.

Most fallen orcs are barbarians; however, their leaders are almost without exception powerful clerics. Fallen orcs are naturally talented divine casters and as a race worship a heathen goddess of fire named Bhall. According to their beliefs, Bhall was once a good and noble goddess, and they were once humans. However, Bhall was corrupted by dark forces and fell to evil - literally falling from heaven and crashing through the mortal world. This cataclysmic event, centered on Bhall's most sacred city, corrupted and twisted her worshippers, turning them into the savage fallen orcs.

Scholars believe that the entity the fallen orc priests draw their power from does exist - evidence pf a powerful demon queen named Bhall has been uncovered. Whether or not she was once a goddess - and what forces caused her fall if she was - is unclear.

Fallen Orc Racial Traits

+2 Strength, +2 Wisdom, -2 Charisma: Fallen orcs are strong, and possess an innate understanding of the ways of the world - especially in battle.  However, they are crude and physically unattractive - often even to other fallen orcs.

Medium Size

Normal Speed

Darkvision: Fallen orcs can see in the dark up to 60 feet.

Tainted Soul: All fallen orcs bear an abyssal taint upon their souls as a result of their unholy genesis as a species. Regardless of actual alignment, a fallen orc's alignment is treated as evil for the purposes of spells and effects that detect or affect evil aligned creatures. For example, a neutral good fallen orc cleric could not become an assassin or cast spells with the [Evil] descriptor, but would detect as evil for the purposes of a Detect Evil spell and would be a valid target for a paladin's Smite Evil ability.

Body Spines: Fallen orcs can use the spikes that cover their bodies as a sort of natural weapon. When unarmored or wearing armor specially fitted to accomodate their spines (increases the cost of the armor by 10%) they are treated as if wearing spiked armor. Armor not specifically fitted to accomodate a fallen orc's spines is always treated as having been donned hastily. A fallen orc's body spines are treated as both a manufactured weapon and a natural weapon for the purpose of spells and effects that enhance or improve either manufactured weapons or natural weapons. These body spines can be sundered; they have hardness 5 and hit points equal to 5 + twice the fallen orc's hit dice. If damaged, they heal at a rate of 1hp per day. If destroyed, however, they take a full month to regrow.

Abyssal Charisma: Demons and other such creatures can sense the taint on a fallen orc's soul and react positively to it. Fallen orcs receive a +2 bonus on Charisma checks to influence Evil outsiders, and a +2 bonus on Charisma checks to influence Demons; these bonuses stack.

Weapon Familiarity: Fallen orcs are proficient with their body spines (but not other forms of armor spikes), greataxes, and greatclubs. They treat any weapon with "orc" in its name as a martial weapon.

Languages: Fallen orcs begin play speaking Common and Orc. Fallen orcs with high intelligence scores can choose from the following: Abyssal, Infernal, Ignan, Giant, and Goblin.

Author's Note: This orc varient is based on the orcs from the superlative Civilization IV mod, Fall from Heaven II.  All credit for the original ideas/inspiration goes to Kael and his crew.  Anyone interested in learning more about the lore of fallen orcs - or in playing a truly excellent fantasy TBS game - is highly encouraged to check it out.

Additional Ratings
Balance:	1 2 3 4 5 ( 8 Votes )
Utility:	1 2 3 4 5 ( 8 Votes )
Clarity:	1 2 3 4 5 ( 8 Votes )