Half-orc

Half-orcs are a diverse race of humanoids, having either one orc parent, or two half-orc parents.

Varieties and appearance
Half-orcs are most commonly born of human and orc heritage, or from two half-orcs of such ancestry. Half-orcs typically have protruding tusks and well developed muscles, though often not to the extent of full-blooded orcs. They tend to be taller than humans, being up to 6 ½ feet tall, and weighing between 180 and 250 pounds. A half-orc's skin tone can match either that of their parents, or can even be a two-toned mix between the two.

Besides humans, half-orcs can have other non-orcish parents. The children of elves and orcs are called uniya in Jrusar, and people with both drow and orcish heritage are not uncommon in the Kryn Dynasty. On occasion, an orc will crossbreed with an ogre; one such half-ogre was encountered as part of a mostly orcish raiding party in the Vesper Timberland.

History
Orcs lived in Exandria during the Age of Arcanum prior to the Calamity. However, it came to believed in the Post-Divergence that orcs were accidentally created in a battle at the Throne of the Archeart from the elves who were seared and changed by Gruumsh's blood during his battle with Corellon and that the half-orcs were first born in Wildemount in the war's final days or after the Calamity. These untrue stories were spread by Gruumsh, who wanted credit for the creation of orcs, through his followers. His battle with Corellon did create "vengeful, orc-like beings" but not orcs as a people.

The persistence of this myth led to a pervasive belief that orcs are driven to violence and anger by Gruumsh's blood. The orcish call his answer hgar'Gruum, the curse of ruin. The curse of ruin does not exist, and orcs are only drawn to violence and anger for the same natural reasons as other mortal creatures.

Issylra
The half-orc fighter Kern trains and competes in the Braving Grounds District of Vasselheim, and a half-orc and half-ogre individual was in the party of orcs that ambushed several members of Vox Machina in the Vesper Timberland.

Tal'Dorei
Half-orcs face a great deal of prejudice in Tal'Dorei, often being thought of as ugly brutes by humans, and weak runts by orcs. Some half-orcs reject human society, having seen its ugly side, preferring to live among the barbarian clans of the Dividing Plains, such as the Rivermaw Tribe. Others live among the tribes of their orcish parents, such as the brutal Ravagers.

Wildemount
Half-orcs in the Dwendalian Empire are renowned for being mighty soldiers, thanks the Odakar orc clan being incorporated into the Empire, forming the city of Bladegarden.

Within the Kryn Dynasty, many half-orcs have drow heritage. In the nomadic bands of Xhorhas, it is strictly taboo for orcs to interbreed with goblinoids, because goblinoids do tend to inherit the Curse of Strife and those of orcish blood are falsely believed to inherit a similar "curse of ruin", and the elders fear the madness that would befall an individual with both curses.

While half-orcs are uncommon in the Menagerie Coast, they are most often found within Othe, having come to seek peace through the spiritualism present in the city.

Marquet
Multiple half-orc people live in Jrusar. Those who also have elven ancestry are known as "uniya".

Powers and abilities
Half-orcs are most often known for their might. They have been known to be capable of coming back from the brink of death, their orcish blood allowing them to survive what would otherwise be fatal blows.

PCs

 * Garthok: A member of the Clasp, and one-time ally of Vox Machina.

NPCs

 * Kern: A renowned pit fighter of The Crucible in Vasselheim.
 * Dr. Dranzel: Leader of Dr. Dranzel's Spectacular Traveling Troupe and spy for the Golden Grin.

Critical Role: Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting

 * Warren: The Clasp's assassin master, the Spireling of Blades, located in Emon.
 * Lorkathar: Fire Ashari firetamer leading the Flamereach Outpost, which watches over the Scar of the Cinder King on the outskirts of Emon.
 * Jorlund Vohr: Professor of archaeology and spirit-speaker who led the only expedition to ever return from the Ruins of Vos'sykriss (Visa Isle), only to have his notes and stone tablets (along with his apartment) immediately destroyed by Umbrasyl in the attack on Emon. Nine years earlier, he discovered a cache of Ioun Stones in the Frostweald (related to the Cavern of Axiom), but his research and findings were stolen a week after he brought them to the Alabaster Lyceum.

PCs

 * Fjord: A warlock, formerly of Uk'otoa, and now paladin of The Wildmother, member of the Mighty Nein.

NPCs

 * Tuss Waccoh: Eccentric professor at the Marble Tomes Conservatory in Rosohna.
 * Dwelma: half-orc druid woman and member of the Iron Shepherds.