Page 41 - Player's Handbook

Whether united under the leadership of a mighty
warloek OI' having fought to a standstill after years
of eonfliet, ore and human tribes sometimes form
allianees, joining forces into a larger horde lo lhe terror
of eivilized lands nearby. When lhese allianees are
sealed by marriages, half-ores are bom. Some half-ores
rise lo beeome proud ehiefs of ore lribes, lheir human
blood giving them an edge over lheir full-blooded ore
rivaIs. Some venture inlo lhe world lo prove lheir worlh
among humans and other more civilized raees. Many of
lhese beeome advenlurers, aehieving grealness for lheir
mighly deeds and nOloriely for their barbarie eustoms
and savage fury.

SCARRED AND STRONG
THE WARCHIEF MHURREN ROUSED HIMSELF FROM HIS
Half-ores' grayish pigmenlation, sloping foreheads,
sleeping-furs and his women and pulled a short hauberk juttingjaws, prominenl leelh, and lowering builds make
of heauy steel rings ouer his thick. well-muscled torso. He their orcish herilage plain for ali lo see. Half-ores sland
usual{y rose before most of his warriors. since he had a belween 6 and 7 feel lall and usually weigh belween
180 and 250 pounds.
strong streak of human blood in him. and hefound the Ores regard battle sears as lokens of pride and
daylight less bothersome than most of his tribe did. Among ornamenlal sears as lhings of beauly. OlheI' sears,
the Bloody Skulls. a warrior wasjudged by his strength. his though, mark an ore 01' half-ore as a formeI' slave 01'
a disgraeed exile. Any half-ore who has lived among
jlerceness. and his wits. Human ancestry was no blemish
01' near ores has sears, whelher lhey are marks of
against a warrior-prauided he was euery bit as strang. humilialion 01' of pride, reeounling their pasl exploils
enduring. and bloodthirsty as hisfull-blooded kin. Half- and injuries. Sueh a half-ore living among humans might
orcs who were weaker than their orc comrades didn't last display lhese sears proudly 01' hide them in shame.
long among the Bloody Skulls OI' any other orc tribefor
THE MARK OF GRUUMSH
that matter. Rut it was often true that a bit of human blood
The one-eyed god Gruumsh erealed lhe ores, and even
gave a warrior just the right mix of cunning. ambition, and those ores who turn away from his worship ean'l fully
self-discipline to gofar indeed. as Mhurren had. He was escape his influenee. The same is lrue of haIf-ores.
master of a tribe that could muster two thousand spears. lhough lheir human blood moderales lhe impaet of lheir
orcish heritage. Some half-ores hear the whispers of
and the strangest chiefin TlJar.
Gruumsh in lheir dreams, ealling lhem lo unleash lhe
-Richard Baker. Swordmage rage tha! simmers wilhin lhem. Others feel Gruumsh's

PART I I RACES
4-0