BehindTheTables: ORKISH CLANS by Orkish Blade ([email protected]) Originally posted at www.reddit.

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ORKISH CLANS
Use these tables for inspiration or roll them up randomly. Some of the tables could be rolled more.

d12 The orcs are... d6 The orcs fear... d12 Most of the orcs are wielding...
1. Nomadic hunters, following game. 1. Men armored in steel. 1. Spears and large hunting knives.
2. Raiders displaced from their native lands. 2. Spellcasters. 2. Spears and javelins.
3. In exile from their native lands. 3. Members of a particular race (d4): 1. elves; 3. Exotic, curved blades and several bolas.
4. In the service of a sovereign warlord. 2. dwarves; 3. goblinoids; 4. reptilians. 4. Huge, curved blades.
5. A loose confederacy of tribes and families 4. The gods. 5. Exotic, curved blades and blowguns.
related by blood. 5. Aberrant evils. 6. Pikes and shortswords.
6. Degenerate survivors from a broken army. 6. Dragons. 7. Pikes and short bows.
7. Disorganizes; a clan of competing warriors. 8. Battleaxes and throwing axes.
d10 The orcs are notorious for...
8. A tight-knit war band. 9. Battleaxes and longbows.
1. Never leaving survivors.
9. Bent on sowing chaos and mayhem. 10. Longswords and longbows.
2. Feeding prisoners to wild beasts.
10. Raiders after supplies and slaves. 11. Jagged greatswords and shortbows.
3. Tattooing or branding prisoners.
11. Marching to war under the leadership of a 12. Greataxes and javelins.
4. Scalping enemies.
great chief.
5. Flaying enemies.
12. On an errand for an evil wizard or other
powerful being.
6. Raiding and burning villages. INDIVIDUAL ORCS
7. Plundering merchant caravans.
d10 The orcs value... 8. Eating prisoners raw. d8 Appearance: The orc has...
1. Bravery. 9. Claiming prisoners as slaves. 1. Pale green skin.
2. Strength. 10. Taking prisoners as wives or concubines,. 2. Yellowish green skin.
3. Virility. 3. Dirty brown skin.
d12 The orcs are known for... 4. Reddish brown skin.
4. Honoring the gods.
1. Screaming and shouting during battle. 5. Grey skin.
5. Battle-scars.
2. Convening with ghosts and spirits. 6. A tall frame.
6. Survival.
3. Ritual animal sacrifice under a new moon. 7. A thick-set frame.
7. Kill counts.
4. Ritual humanoid sacrifice far belowground. 8. Bug eyes.
8. Scalps.
5. Ritualistic blood-letting.
9. Steel. d6 Tattoo: The orc has...
6. Ritualistic sexual acts under the full moon.
10. Meat. 1. A bone tattoo.
7. Eating unusually-prepared meats.
d4 The orcs’ iconography features... 8. Prolific amounts of drinking. 2. A dragon tattoo.
1. Symbols of death and destruction (d8): 1. 9. Never cutting their hair. 3. A skull tattoo.
bats; 2. bones; 3. crows; 4. flames; 5. 10. Shaving their heads and bodies. 4. A spear tattoo.
ghosts; 6. scorpions; 7. skulls; 8. vultures. 11. Wearing long top-knots or braids. 5. A spiderweb tattoo.
2. Symbols of the heavens (d4): 1. clouds; 2. 12. Bathing and perfuming their bodies. 6. A tattoo of thorns.
lightning; 3. moon; 4. stars. d8 Skill: Even among orcs, the orc is
d6 The orcs’ goals include (chief and other
3. Symbols of strength and weaponry (d6): 1. particularly good at...
warriors could have different goals)...
arrows; 2. axes; 3. fists; 4. spears; 5. 1. Tracking creatures by scent.
1. Upheaval of the region’s politics.
stones; 6. swords. 2. Identifying and following the tracks.
2. Disruption of the region’s trade.
4. A great beast (d6): 1. bears; 2. boars; 3. 3. Running down prey.
3. Revenge against another civilization.
eagles; 4. lions; 5. snakes; 6. wolves. 4. Decapitating foes.
4. Revenge against a rival orkish clan.
d10 The orcs’ chief is... 5. Spreading chaos and destruction. 5. Impaling foes.
1. A well-respected chief. 6. Possession of a powerful artifact. 6. Roping captives.
2. A charismatic warlord. 7. Breaking slaves.
d8 The orcs typically fight with... 8. Handling savage beasts.
3. A mysterious shaman.
1. Hit-and-run tactics.
4. A descendent of an honored hero. d8 Armor: The orc is armored in...
2. Ambush tactics.
5. A ruthless killer. 1. Nothing.
3. Unpredictable maneuvers.
6. A brutish thug. 2. Tattered leather.
4. Lots of screaming and shouting.
7. An impatient young warrior. 3. Blood-stained leather.
5. Kicking and stomping.
8. A wise old chief. 4. Boiled leather.
6. Lots of head-butting.
9. A celebrated war hero. 5. The hides of scaly beasts.
7. Lots of biting and scratching.
10. A prolific lover. 6. The hides of furry beasts.
8. Frequent breaks for (d4): 1. eating;
d12 The orcs’ favorite meat comes from... 2. looting; 3. forming ranks; 4. arguments. 7. The hides of exotic beasts.
1. Dwarves and halflings. 8. A helm and breastplate taken from a fallen
d10 As slaves, the orcs keep... enemy.
2. Beggars and thieves.
1. Dwarves.
3. Merchants and caravan guards. d8 Weapon: The orc is wielding...
2. Gnomes.
4. Noblemen. 1. A spear.
3. Goblins.
5. Noblewomen. 2. A scimitar.
4. Halflings.
6. Priests and priestesses. 3. A falchion.
5. Humans.
7. Slaves. 4. A pike.
6. Kobolds.
8. Circusfolk and minstrels. 5. A battleaxe.
7. Undead servitors.
9. Foreign travelers. 6. A greatsword.
8. Nothing; the orcs eat all captives they take.
10. Peasant women. 7. A greataxe.
9. Nothing; the orcs leave no survivors.
11. Young children. 8. A longbow.
10. Nothing; the orcs value freedom for all.
12. Elves and pixies.
d6 As guardians or pets, the orcs keep... d6 Motivation: The orc is looking for...
d6 The orcs’ current attitude is... 1. A good meal, fresh if possible.
1. Boars.
1. Carefree and festive. 2. A hearty meal, spoiled is not a problem.
2. Dire rats.
2. Rowdy and festive. 3. A throat to cut or a head to bash.
3. Giant lizards.
3. Rowdy and eager to fight. 4. A chance to prove itself in combat.
4. Ogres.
4. Frightened and suspicious. 5. A place to rest and to sharpen weapons.
5. Wargs.
5. Hostile and suspicious. 6. A strong drink.
6. Wolves.
6. Hostile and eager to fight.