Pit Orc

Family: Orc

Medium humanoid, lawful evil

Armor Class 17 (Splint Mail)
Hit Points 34 (4d8+16)
Speed 30 ft.

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
18 (+4) 12 (+1) 18 (+4) 9 (-1) 12 (+1) 10 (+0)

Skills Intimidation +2
Damage Resistances poisoned
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 10
Languages Common, hlobane, Orc
Challenge 2 (450 XP)

SPECIAL TRAITS

  • Martial Advantage. The hlobane reigns in his normal aggression due to his training, instead focusing on using tactics to his advantage. Once per turn, the hlobane can deal an extra 10 (3d6) damage to a creature it hits with a weapon attack if that creature is within 5 feet of another hlobane that isn’t incapacitated.
  • Poison Resistance. The hlobane gains a +2 to all saves against poison.

ACTIONS

  • Halberd. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (1d10+4) slashing damage.
  • Heavy Crossbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, range 100/400 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d10+1) piercing damage.

ABOUT

The hlobane are orcs, though of a particular breed. In general, they are tall for their kind, with large chests, long muscular arms, and legs as thick timber. They are very muscular, priding themselves in their fitness. Only the very old or very wealthy hlobane tend to the heavy side. and these are grossly fat, living off of a lifetime of spoils. A hlobane’s skin is always a deep green, mottled almost black in the joints of their legs and arms. They have broad faces with a wicked underbite. They often shape the fangs that rise from the lower jaw and cap them with steel or bronze. Their eyes are deep yellow with narrow pupils and filled with an intelligence that their lesser kin do not possess.

Disciplined Warriors. The hlobane (pronounced Hu-Lo-Bane) Nation is a vast and powerful tribe of orcs. Mercenary captains prize them, for they are highly militarized and famous for their iron discipline and unwavering courage in the face of battle. It is rare to hear of a hlobane who retreats or flees from a battlefield. The hlobane generally keep to themselves, speaking to few, and those who do, serve the interests of their paymaster or Lord. They are fiercely loyal to each other and if one is in trouble, it is more than likely that the others will rush to his aid. Some do venture from the Nation in order to gain glory in arms.

Clan Structured. Each family group belongs to a larger clan. The clan consists of several related family groups, usually ones related through the female, but not always. The size and numbers of the clans shifts constantly, depending on circumstances. Clans frequently break up due to deaths or when one group decides to break free from the bonds of one Clan to join another. The Clans make up the hlobane Nation and they serve a Council of Elders chosen, not from each Clan, but from those elder warriors who have gained the most fame in battle. Each Clan supplies soldiers for the Nation in times of war, which is almost always. Sanjaks lead the troops; this title the tribe adopted some time ago. The Council chooses the Sanjak for their skills on the battlefield.

Strict Order. The most accomplished warriors lead hlobane troops in battle. For every 10 encountered, at least one Pit Orc is present. For every two or more Pit Orcs, there is one Overseer. For every 4 Overseers there is one Overlord. Over this troop is the Sanjak, usually the general in charge of the hlobane army. The hlobane fight as they live, with discipline and order. They fight as a unit when they can; they are able tacticians if not strategists. Even younger hlobane are able to take in and take advantage of the terrain and fighting conditions in which they are going to fight. Though they do not retreat, they also do not, by their own volition, knowingly throw themselves into a position of certain destruction. If ordered into such a position by a leader they respect, they will obey without question. They favor heavy armor, shields, helms, and large cleaving weapons such as the glaive, halberd, and the like. For close quarters, they use short swords and axes. They are more partial to crossbows than bows.

Raised for War. By the time a hlobane reaches the age of six, males join older males outside their family unit. They serve an apprenticeship for several years. The older males wean the younger from their mothers and teach them the arts of war. The younger orcs serve the older in all manner of capacity, from cleaning their armor to fetching food. When they reach the age of 13, the tribe considers them warriors and allowed to enter any of the Warrior Societies that thrive in the hlobane communities. The Societies serve as the backbone to the hlobane military strength. They prize discipline, sacrifice, battle skills above all else. The hlobane speak their own tongue, which is much concerned with military terms and military organization.

Magic Averse. The hlobane shun magic for the most part. Their society has few shamans. Orcs shamans have some spellcasting capability from both the warlock and cleric classes. They call upon their dark gods only to play witness to their bravery or their deeds.

Elitist. Hlobane don’t get along with many races. They tolerate any and all who they feel can serve their greater purpose. They detest other orcs as weak, unworthy creatures. They have a grudging respect for dwarves and halflings (this last may only apply to the battle-hardened halflings of Airhde). They have had little contact with elves and as such do not possess the normal orc hatred of those creatures.

Section 15: Copyright Notice

5th Edition Monsters & Treasure of Airhde, 1st Printing, Copyright 2021, Troll Lord Games; Author Stephen Chenault & Jason Vey

This is not the complete license attribution - see the full license for this page