Heredity

Humanoids with a mixture of orc and human blood, half-orcs were originally created through acts of dominance betweens conflicting bands of orcs and humans, but since the race's inception, more and more are actually born from two half-orc parents. While the offspring of a half-orc and human may have a few orcish characteristics, it will be predominantly human in both form and qualities; the reverse holds similarly true for a half-orc and orc.

Commonalities

Half-orcs possess a portion of an orc's strength and a human's sophistication, making them stronger than humans and more intelligent than orcs. However, they are still weaker than an orc and less intelligent than a human, creating a hybrid that struggles in either society. Half-orcs tend to share the brutish and impulsive natures of their orc heritage, though they can have as widely varying personalities as their human kin. Most are happy with a good fight, a large meal, and a companion in bed, though there are many half-orcs with much deeper motivations. Because of this, there have only been a handful of half-orc wizards or clerics throughout recorded history; most prefer to put their strength into weapons and heavy armor. While it's not common, it's not unheard of for some half-orcs to have the discipline to pursue the path of a monk, the musical talent to become a minstrel, or the cunning to become a spy or thief.

In Society

The role of half-orcs in society is a complicated and varied one. Their strong and relatively docile nature makes them much better slaves than orcs, and there are a few breeding programs that specialize in particularly strong and manageable half-orc slaves. Many free half-orcs find work doing heavy lifting or serving as a mercenary, and it's not uncommon for bands of thugs to enlist several half-orcs in their ranks. Some wealthier people hire half-orcs as personal body guards, and a few of the more intelligent half-orcs have been able to hold clerical positions. However, most of the other races view half-orcs as only half-citizens, and they tend to be ignored unless something dangerous or menial needs done. This has caused many half-orcs to cluster together into their own communities in the larger cities, and a group of half-orcs have founded their own town, Kogoh Hazzobnot, where they can live without fearing ostracism from the other races.

Player Expectations

Players choosing the half-orc race shouldn't be surprised to find others treating their characters like imbeciles. Half-orcs are typically used for physical labor and dangerous jobs, so what they say or think often doesn't matter too much to others. They're also generally expected to be simple people who just want money, alcohol, and sex for payment, and as half-orcs aren't known for their negotiating skills, most will try to get more from a half-orc for less payment. However, half-orc tempers are legendary; if a person suspects a half-orc is getting upset, they'll generally be more than willing to appease the mixed-blood's anger.