Orcish Trailblazers
Medium Monstrosity, Chaotic Neutral
Armor Class: 13 (Piecemeal Armor – natural armor)
Hit Points: 27 (5d8)
Speed: 30 feet (walking), 20 feet (climbing)
Challenge Rating: 1 (200 XP per Orcish Trailblazer)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 14 | 14 | 8 | 10 | 12 |
Saving Throws: Strength + 5, Constitution + 4
Skills: Stealth +4, Intimidation +3, Survival +2
Damage Vulnerabilities: None
Damage Resistances: Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks
Damage Immunities: None
Condition Immunities: None
Senses: Darkvision 60 ft., Passive Perception 10
Languages: Common, Orc
Spellcasting
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Actions & Abilities
Multiattack: The Orcish Trailblazers makes two attacks: one with its Rusted Axe and one with a Venom-Flecked Arrow.
Rusted Axe: *Melee Weapon Attack:* +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. *Hit:* 1d12 + 3 slashing damage. If the target is a creature of Medium size or smaller, they must succeed on a DC 13 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.
Venom-Flecked Arrow: *Ranged Weapon Attack:* +4 to hit, range 60 ft., one target. *Hit:* 1d10 + 2 piercing damage and the target must make a DC 12 Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, the target takes an additional 2d6 poison damage at the start of its next turn and is poisoned until the end of its next turn.
Vicious Insults (Recharge 5-6): The orcs unleash a chorus of taunts and jeers. Each creature within 15 feet must succeed on a DC 12 Wisdom saving throw or have disadvantage on its next attack roll as they are momentarily distracted by the mocking shouts. A creature that succeeds on the saving throw is immune to this effect for 24 hours.
Pack Tactics: The Orcish Trailblazers gain advantage on attack rolls against a creature if at least one of their allies is within 5 feet of the creature. This encourages team-based combat and flanking tactics.
Scavenger’s Resolute (Recharge 4-6): Once per combat, when there are more than two Orcish Trailblazers functioning, they can double their hit points temporarily for one round, gaining the benefits of the extra hit points for their next round of actions. This reflects their brutal tenacity in fight or flight scenarios. Once this ability is used, it cannot be used again until the encounter is resolved.
Tactical Withdrawal: When reduced to half their total hit points, the chieftain can call for a tactical retreat. If they do so, all remaining Orcish Trailblazers can move up to half their speed without provoking opportunity attacks as they scamper away, preserving their numbers for their next raid. Before fleeing, each remaining Trailblazer can make one melee attack against the players, with advantage if they are still using Pack Tactics.
Brutal Strike (Legendary Action): The Chieftain makes one Rusted Axe attack against a creature within reach.
Rally the Pack (Legendary Action): The Chieftain can inspire the remaining Orcish Trailblazers. All non-downed allies within 30 feet can use their reaction to make a melee attack against a target within reach, gaining advantage if they are within 5 feet.
Scornful Rant (Recharge 5-6, Legendary Action): The Chieftain releases a fearsome shout laced with challenges. One creature within 30 feet must succeed on a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw or take 1d6 psychic damage and have disadvantage on its next saving throw against being frightened until the end of its next turn.
Appearance
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Size and Shape: The Orcish Trailblazers are muscular and stocky, standing between 5 to 7 feet tall. Their powerful bodies are built for combat, with broad shoulders and strong limbs. Each orc carries themselves with a rugged demeanor, often hunched slightly forward, ready to spring into action.
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Coloration: Their skin varies in shades of green—from deep, earthy greens to lighter olive tones—often mottled with scars and imperfections that tell tales of their tumultuous past. Some trailblazers sport remnants of green war paint smeared across their faces and exposed skin, signifying their heritage and allegiance to their clan.
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Texture and Surface Features: The skin of the Orcish Trailblazers is rough and weather-beaten, marked with a tapestry of scars, calluses, and the occasional tribal tattoo. The texture is akin to leather, toughened from years of survival in the wild. Rusted chainmail and scavenged armor pieces cling to their bodies, providing a haphazard layer of protection.
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Facial Features: Their faces are brutish and intimidating, characterized by prominent brows and flat noses. Jagged, yellowed teeth are visible when they snarl or shout taunts, with two sharp tusks jutting prominently from their lower jaws. Their eyes gleam with a fierce intensity, often appearing red or yellow, showcasing both their ferocity and cunning nature.
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Limbs and Appendages: The Orcish Trailblazers boast muscular arms, each ending in large, calloused hands that wield crude weapons with ease. Their fingers are slightly clawed, allowing for both gripping and tearing. Their legs are thick and powerful, built for both speed and resilience, enabling them to rush into combat or maneuver through rough terrain with surprising agility.
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Special Features: Each orc bears a personal totem—a trinket symbolizing a past victory or defining moment—hanging from a chain around their neck or clipped to their belt. Additionally, many carry makeshift bows that are adorned with small bones or feathers, while their weapons exhibit personal marks of their previous conquests.
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Posture and Movement: Typically adopting a slightly hunched posture, the Orcish Trailblazers appear ready to spring into action on a moment’s notice. Their movements are quick and purposeful, marked by a loping gait when travelling, but transforming into a powerful sprint when engaging in combat. Even while moving stealthily through the underbrush, they rustle the surroundings, creating a foreboding presence.
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Additional Notable Traits: The orcs wear piecemeal armor made from scavenged materials—rusty chainmail, tattered leather, and bits of fur from their conquests. Tribal markings are painted across their bodies and arms, each telling a story of the one’s place within the clan hierarchy. The air around them may be filled with their raucous laughter or savage roars, contributing to an unshakeable atmosphere of chaos and anarchy wherever they roam.
Tactical Information
Tactical Information for Orcish Trailblazers
Behavioral Traits in Combat:
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Ambush Predators:
- The Orcish Trailblazers will set up ambush points along well-traveled paths, using the environment—thickets, fallen trees, or boulders—as cover. They will lie in wait until they have the element of surprise, launching their initial attack with ranged weapons and utilizing their surroundings for advantage.
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Resourceful Tacticians:
- These orcs will utilize traps and environmental hazards. If the players encounter a camp, they may find caltrops scattered on the ground, or crude snares set up around the perimeter to trip unwary adventurers. When planning their ambushes, they’ll use terrain features to funnel foes into disadvantageous positions.
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Merchant of Chaos:
- In the heat of battle, the Orcish Trailblazers will happily trade blows but also pursue opportunities to cause disarray. They will frequently shout out taunts (Vicious Insults) to distract and demoralize opponents, leveraging their Pack Tactics to ensure their allies pounce on weakened foes.
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Hit and Run Maneuvers:
- If fewer than half of their group remains standing, they will retreat into the terrain, using their knowledge of the local area to disappear before counterattacks can be mounted. This strategy involves striking quickly and fleeing before the party can retaliate effectively.
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Leadership and Honor:
- The chieftain or leadership orc plays a crucial role, often barking commands to reorient their fighters. If a friendly orc is downed, they switch tactics and focus on defense until they can avenge fallen comrades (Retreating with Honor). The chieftain may also choose to mark a player as a target for future ambushes, fostering a recurring nemesis dynamic throughout the adventure.
Narrative Interactions:
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Initial Encounter:
- When the players first encounter the Orcish Trailblazers, they will initially be hidden, creating a narrative building tension as they hear whispers, rustling leaves, and the clink of chainmail from nearby. The players may sense something amiss and have the option for stealth checks to avoid detection.
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Negotiation or Intimidation:
- In a more unique approach, the players may choose to negotiate or intimidate the Orcish Trailblazers rather than fighting. The orcs, valuing strength and honor, might respond positively to displays of power. Clever players could barter resources or threaten them with regarding other ‘greater’ threats. Success on social skill checks can sway Orcish opinions, potentially avoiding combat or creating temporary alliances.
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Combat Dialogue:
- During combat, the Orcish Trailblazers will be loud, exchanging growls and jeers in their rough tongue, powering up their fellow fighters. “Your bones will make fine trophies!” or “Show them the might of the Ru’karn!” could be typical taunts, leveraging their Vicious Insults ability.
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Dying Words:
- When their numbers dwindle, defeated orcs may shout curses or warnings, alluding to greater threats or making threats of revenge against the players for denigrating their clan’s honor. This adds an ominous foreboding and gives players hooks to follow in retaliation or cannot escape their past encounters.
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Post-Combat Lore:
- After defeating the Orcish Trailblazers, players may discover maps leading to other orc encampments, notes written in crude orcish detailing their plundering activities, or trophies that hint at greater treasures or dangers awaiting them should they meddle deeper into the territory of the Ru’karn clan.
Combat Example:
- When the players enter an ambush site, the Orcish Trailblazers will:
- Roll for Stealth, and if successful, strike first, launching arrows from the trees.
- Use Pack Tactics to swarm the party, focusing on the weakest character.
- Utilize Vicious Insults loudly to undermine the morale of players, discouraging their best efforts.
- If heavily injured, they retreat into the foliage, leveraging the landscape and shouting threats of vengeance.
The Orcish Trailblazers bring a blend of cunning, chaotic interaction, and a brutal nature, leaving memorable encounters for the players while fitting into the narrative of raiding marauders of the Sword Coast.
