Half-Orc Canned Biography... Orcish Caravan Guard?
Melicamp
Member Posts: 243
Here's the current EE Half-Orc Canned Character Bio (not including the-class related piece)
You know little of how you came to be a ward of Gorion's, but over the years you have gleaned something of your mother's tale from his vague allusions and from the words he sometimes uttered in tear-filled sleep. She was an orcish caravan guard, part of a larger mercenary company that operated out of Waterdeep. Through the course of his adventuring career, Gorion grew to become her close friend. As you have no memory of her, nor any keepsakes to remind you of her existence, you have come to believe that she died while giving birth to you. Perhaps it was the pain of such a parting that led Gorion to cloister himself within the narrow halls of Candlekeep and raise you as his own. Of your father, you have learned nothing.
Anyone else feel this is a bit far-fetched? No offense or disrespect intended to any of the creators, but... a caravan guard as a full-blooded Orc, out of the highly lawful city of Waterdeep no less? Not sure that anyone in their right mind would hire an Orc caravan guard (Half-Orcs have enough racial enmity as it is). It sounds like it is being stretched to make your mother an orc, since you are half orc and half your father's origin (no spoiler). But couldn't your mother be a Half-Orc herself? Might make for a better backstory. If your mother is a Half-Orc, I'm thinking you'd be one as well mechanically anyway...
You know little of how you came to be a ward of Gorion's, but over the years you have gleaned something of your mother's tale from his vague allusions and from the words he sometimes uttered in tear-filled sleep. She was an orcish caravan guard, part of a larger mercenary company that operated out of Waterdeep. Through the course of his adventuring career, Gorion grew to become her close friend. As you have no memory of her, nor any keepsakes to remind you of her existence, you have come to believe that she died while giving birth to you. Perhaps it was the pain of such a parting that led Gorion to cloister himself within the narrow halls of Candlekeep and raise you as his own. Of your father, you have learned nothing.
Anyone else feel this is a bit far-fetched? No offense or disrespect intended to any of the creators, but... a caravan guard as a full-blooded Orc, out of the highly lawful city of Waterdeep no less? Not sure that anyone in their right mind would hire an Orc caravan guard (Half-Orcs have enough racial enmity as it is). It sounds like it is being stretched to make your mother an orc, since you are half orc and half your father's origin (no spoiler). But couldn't your mother be a Half-Orc herself? Might make for a better backstory. If your mother is a Half-Orc, I'm thinking you'd be one as well mechanically anyway...
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Or it could be that he presented himself as a full-b;ooded orc or elf and the offspring comes out being a half orc or elf with more orcish or elven blood than normal half-X.
As orcs seem to half a little more leeway when it comes to the Swordcoast, acceptance wise, I suppose it is not unheard of for orcs to get work but still. Either story could work as we are talking about a God as the father.
On another point, Gorion sure as heck does not seem to discriminate with his lovers, if we take his explanation at face value in his letters to CHARNAME.
There is some interesting genetic work going on here.
While it is said she was an orcish caravan guard who worked in Waterdeep, the background does not specific anything else. She may for example have been an Gray Orc instead of an typical, Mountain Orc. They are a much more civilized lot than their brutish cousins after all.
It does also not mention her birth place. While the North is in bad blood with the Orc Hordes, there are also places in Faerûn where full-blooded Orcs peacefully coexist and mingle with other races. One such a place is the city Phsant in Thesk where thousands of Gray Orcs and Half-Orcs citizens alike live an honest and civilized life.
Or, she might have been an Half-Orc herself. As the child of an Half-Orc is, in most cases, also an Half-Orc. Barring the appearance of an third racial lineage, which would make the child an Mongrelfolk.
It's a made up story for Charname rather than telling him/her their mother was a batshit crazy Bhaal worshipper who was trying to kill you.
That was one possibility I thought of as well, that she was called "an orcish caravan guard" without bothering to delineate her as half or full. Just based on the little info that is given, and that all other races are, I assume, listed with a full blooded mother, it does bring up the question.
Hmm... an interesting thought process.