Soul Merger

Monsterpedia

Orc

Monster Level - I

Soul Type - Composite

Intelligence - Human Level

Strength - Human level

Magic - Slightly below human level

Rarity - Common

Unlike the smaller goblins, orcs have strength comparable to a well trained human and a great deal of intelligence. Their composite souls are attuned to violence, so they rarely make long term plans, but ambushes are very common. People traveling in orc held areas should be wary of traps. Orcs specialize into combat roles, with frontliners, archers, and skirmishers. Shamans and mystics are less common but still frequently encountered. They also frequently have 'champions,' even without a horde forming.

Orcs also frequently engage in horrible acts above and beyond standard violence. Torture is common even of other monsters, and the creatures will leave disgusting trophies and markers around their territory. Orcs often can speak, and will use their language skills to taunt, terrify, and insult their opponents.

Because of this orcs have high bounties on them. Killing them is considered a public service, and dungeons that form orcs are often raided. While more dangerous than hunting jackalopes, it's still easy enough duty for some delvers to make it their primary occupation.

Orcs might have human level intellect but they're still monsters, with hardwired instincts. They can't resist trying to take advantage of a perceived weakness. Use that to draw them into your traps.

Merge

Common Name : None/Greenskin (The latter term falls in and out of favor)

Benefits : Muscles, fatigue resistance

Weaknesses : High Blood Pressure

A very common merge, while orcs are very similar to humans they do give a number of noticeable benefits. Most obvious is an increase in muscle mass. Orc merges gain muscle naturally, and can improve their musculature faster than most. Most humans would need alchemical drugs and a hefty training regimine to get the body an orc can get just by moderate exercise. Orc merges also gain the ability to push their bodies harder. While humans can go great distances with moderate strain, orc merges can use their full strength much longer than a human can. And a merge can recover faster from their exertion than an average human.

There is one very big downside that comes with these abilities however. Orc merges have much higher blood pressure than an unmerged human. This means serious injuries will cause an orc merge to bleed out in half the time a human would. A common joke among orc merge delvers is 'don't get hit'. But most carry emergency kits or partner with fast healers to avoid that danger.

Other than the muscle increase, orc merges occasionally get a green tint or darker skin. But it's rather variable.

Orc merges can handle their natural higher blood pressure, but they suffer from the same medical conditions as humans. Make sure to work with doctors and clerics who know about your merges' physiology so they can tell you if somethings outside the norm.