Orog
Medium-size Humanoid
Orog are humanoids, closely related to orcs, and more distantly to goblins and hobgoblins, but have not suffered from the dilution of their bloodlines by mixing with goblinoids and giants-kin.
Personality: Orog are fierce, proud warriors and deadly enemies, though not as brutish or belligerent as their cousins. Orog nurture a great enmity for all things fey, elves and their kindred in particular. They husband their strength closely, waiting for the day when Gruumsh should see fit to recognize them once again as the champions of their people and grant them dominion over the lesser races.
Physical Description: Orog features show a distinct relationship to their orcish brethren, but are more refines, and their black eyes gleam with a dark intelligence. Orog males tend to be between 6 and 6 ½ feet, with females only an inch or two shorter. While not as burly as orcs, orog are well-muscled. Orog tend to be dark-skinned, ranging from coal-black to dark grey to brown to reddish-brown, depending on their tribal affiliations. Eye color is black. Orog have dark hair, usually black, dark brown, or a greenish black. Their hairline is somewhat receded, and often forms a widow's peak. The orog nose is broad and consists primarily of two nostrils, which some have interpreted to be pig-like. Orog are liable to take offense at this description.
Relations: Although their numbers are miniscule today, the Orog were once a great threat to a variety of races, and some of these races have not forgotten the past. Orog dominate any group of orcs they regularly deal with. Most orcs view orog with a mixture of dread and awe. Orog view half-orcs much as orcs or humans. Orog hold great disdain for goblins, but will dominate or enslave kobolds, or goblins. Hobgoblins, being stronger, more intelligent, and far better organized, are considered a threat, one to be dealt with harshly when necessary. Humans are considered clever and dangerous, and far too numerous for the comfort of orog. Half-orog are not uncommon among orog slaves, but orog mothers are expected offer up such half-breeds on the altars of gruumsh.
Orog Lands: While the race continues, orog civilization has been in decline for centuries. Where once they raised marvelous cities and Temples to the dark god Gruumsh, they now rule over tribes of orcs. Once respected and feared for their prowess and feats, the orog are largely forgotten by humans. Occasionally relics of their former dominion are uncovered in the wilderness and wastes, but the Orog themselves are rarely encountered, except during rare pilgrimages to forgotten shrines they still tend.
Religion: The chief deity of both orog and orcs is Gruumsh. The hand of Gruumsh is harsh, but orog accept this as a fact of their existence.
Language: Orog speak the mother tongue of orcish, n'uur'rascht. N'uur'rascht has two forms, a glyphic script which is primarily used only by priests, wizards, and the nobility, and a written form which uses it's own alphabet, common among other members of the orog classes. Orog disdain the degenerate language used by orcs, but can speak it perfectly when the need arises. Orog with an Intelligence of 10 or better speak Common and Goblin as well.
Adventurers: Orog adventures are exceedingly rare. Mostly wandering orog are discovered and executed by rival races, such as humans or elves.
Orog almost exclusively progress as members of a Character Class (the sample orog represents a typical orog warrior). Most orog are fighters or clerics, but some are warriors or wizards, or more rarely rogues or sorcerers.