Sundren is a City-state, anything outside it is reliant upon any local militia and whatever good willed defender willing to take up arms will provide.
Orcs aren't lawfully accepted as citizens, and if anyone wants to act on their desire to hunt down and kill a gray orc, have at it... that's what the freedom is about.
Generally 'free-market' organizations like the Exigo Syndicate are less inclined to give a shit as long as someone doesn't make a stink and has good coin like everyone else... but even they have their limits. An orc raiding party on an Exigo operation is likely to run into a group of seasoned veterans well-equipped and armed to the teeth.
The very existence of flame-throwers proves that some time, somewhere, someone said to themselves, You know, I want to set those people over there on fire, but I'm just not close enough to get the job done.
Sundren is a City-state, anything outside it is reliant upon any local militia and whatever good willed defender willing to take up arms will provide.
Orcs aren't lawfully accepted as citizens, and if anyone wants to act on their desire to hunt down and kill a gray orc, have at it... that's what the freedom is about.
Generally 'free-market' organizations like the Exigo Syndicate are less inclined to give a shit as long as someone doesn't make a stink and has good coin like everyone else... but even they have their limits. An orc raiding party on an Exigo operation is likely to run into a group of seasoned veterans well-equipped and armed to the teeth.
^ That!
Im done with arguing what the rest of faerun does; has no-one read the Icewind Dale novels? Are we not a stonesthrow from there? are Orcs not ugly as sin? I rest my case..
*edit* I recon there should be a gnome city just for the giggles
Originally posted by roguethree
If I had my way, clerics would have spell failure and a d6 hit die. And Favored Souls wouldn't exist.
*edit* I recon there should be a gnome city just for the giggles
NO! I cant manage having my main Blackwood guy, my Chultan sacred fist, my new Orc, AND a gnome pyrotechnician!!!
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Just a note, orcs are only accepted in Thesk because they slowly grew civilised after they after fighting in the army. In addition, these orcs fought for Thesk, whereas pretty much EVERYWHERE else, civilisation fights against orcs. It is very rare for orcs in other areas to 'grow' civilised. Even in Thesk, it took a while for orcs to accept them.
Rafi Sayf: 'Vhat!? You vant a piece of Rafi!? Very vell!'
First let me start by saying this -- yes, orcs are monsters, and should be treated as such; however the key issue for PC orcs in Sundren is that Gray Orcs do not look like what people (in the North especially) think of as an orc. The orcs that most everyone across Faerûn are in conflict with are Mountain Orcs; gray orcs look like half-orcs albeit with unusually hairy shoulders and backs. Your typical adventurer, heck, even your typical orc-hunter most likely wouldn't have any idea that a gray orc is a pure-blood orc; moreover, they'd probally just assume it's a rather hirsute half-orc with grey skin.
The average male Half-Orc is 5'10" tall and weighs 222lbs. The average male Gray Orc is 5'10" and weighs 222lbs. Both half-orcs and gray orcs have mildly porcine features with tusks, lupine ears, and coarse hair. The average Mountain Orc is 6'6" and weighs 210lbs. Said mountain orc has coarse hair, lupine ears, a heavy brow, jutting jaw, pronounced tusks, and heavily porcine features. Half-orcs are Half Mountain Orc based on the features described in the books, so they sometimes have more beastial features than even a gray orc could hope to sport!
The massive and vicious greenish-grey skinned, heavy-browed, pig-snouted, long-tusked, monster that the people of Faerûn picture is a Mountain Orc. The largest of Mountain Orc specimens tip the scales at 390lbs of lean-mean muscle, and have a height of around 7'4".
Gray orcs do not look like mountain orcs; outside of the hairiness they have the appearance of a half-orc. Due to this only the extremely knowledgeable would know what a gray orc actually is. The potential humor and other avenues for roleplay are fairly obvious, mistaken identity(such as claiming a Chultan is a half-drow) is always a good running gag..
That's my $0.02. The information above is paraphrased from Races of Faerûn, with some influence admitedly bleeding in from having worked my way from 1st ed. to the current editions and having my view of orcs colored by such.
however the key issue for PC orcs in Sundren is that Gray Orcs do not look like what people (in the North especially) think of as an orc.
Not sure how often it comes up. When I've been in a party and have come across a PC orc, they always attack, roar at us and charge, etc. I haven't had one try to reason with me, claim to be a half-orc, etc. They always act like beasts.
With a character who is interested in knowing why a new race of orcs is infiltrating the forest, I'd like a chance to communicate some. But so far, we just get attacks.
edit: by the way, I'm not complaining about the way the orcs are being roleplayed. That wasn't my point.
Last edited by Nil; 05-30-2010, 04:29 PM.
Reason: added something
First let me start by saying this -- yes, orcs are monsters, and should be treated as such; however the key issue for PC orcs in Sundren is that Gray Orcs do not look like what people (in the North especially) think of as an orc.
Very handy knowledge, thank you! I wasn't aware that the two races were so different, physically.
I don't think that it's the PC orcs' issue, though. Gray orcs are still orcs, and I don't see a drastic change in RP (from me at least) when dealing with other, non-GO players. My orcs largely stay in the wilderness, and generally try to avoid the civilized folk unless they feel they can overpower them or are otherwise confident they can escape. They primarily only kill, enslave, or flee from other players.
Not sure how often it comes up. When I've been in a party and have come across a PC orc, they always attack, roar at us and charge, etc. I haven't had one try to reason with me, claim to be a half-orc, etc. They always act like beasts.
With a character who is interested in knowing why a new race of orcs is infiltrating the forest, I'd like a chance to communicate some. But so far, we just get attacks.
edit: by the way, I'm not complaining about the way the orcs are being roleplayed. That wasn't my point.
No offense taken, Nil. Ur'Grak was recently approached by a druid who offered him tribute for the right to speak to him. Vrugdush, my archetype leader of orcs, is substantially more intelligent, and can probably be approached, as long as he deems you a non-threat.
...the key issue for PC orcs in Sundren is that Gray Orcs do not look like what people (in the North especially) think of as an orc... Gray orcs do not look like mountain orcs...
Whether it looks like the most common variety of orc doesn't really matter to me. My rule of thumb: "If it's uglier than a dwarf, kill it."
Aggribayl Blakfyre - The man known as Bayl, aka Little Red Riding Hood, aka The Shield, aka Mr. Leaving, aka Kyle Rendell
Cryok, Son of Frigiss - aka Fross-Choppa
The Kegfists - Dwarven brothers likely to die under eachothers' axes
Jarvis P. Bloggins III - Gnome with a Long Title
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