Orcs have long been portrayed as scattered raiders or tribal savages... violent by instinct, defeated by design.
The Orc Grimoire offers a different truth.
This supplement redefines orcs as deliberate, structured forces of transformation. From the infernal bloodline of the Children of Tar’Grinaad to the frost-bound death engines of the Ironbone Dominion, orckind is presented as a system of survival... not through tradition, but through escalation. Supplemented by eight Extended Orc subtypes evolved across harsh terrains, this Grimoire provides an arsenal of fully original stat blocks, faction doctrines, dynamic encounter tools, and narrative integration mechanics.
The Orc Grimoire is a dark factional expansion for 5th Edition Dungeons & Dragons, featuring 173 original orc NPCs, 40 magic items, and deep support for both sandbox and campaign-driven implementation. These are not background threats. These are enduring forces of ritual, discipline, and consequence.
WHAT THE ORC GRIMOIRE INCLUDES
Introduction to the Orc Grimoire. Redefining orcs as structured, adaptive powers with internal logic and lasting presence.
A History of Orcs. From ancestral rites and crusader exterminations to pact-formed dynasties and undead reformations.
Incorporating Orcs Into Your Campaigns. Tools to position orcs as ideological threats, occupying powers, or full campaign antagonists.
Children of Tar’Grinaad. A rigid caste society bound by infernal contract. Bloodline determines rank. Flame enforces order.
Ironbone Dominion. Undead war doctrine perfected. Orcs who have discarded life to complete the campaigns the living abandoned.
Each faction includes:
Orcs adapted to unforgiving terrain and sustained conflict, each built as a complete subfaction for standalone use or modular integration:
Over 100 NPCs from CR 1 to CR 7, including scouts, dueling specialists, terrain-bound tacticians, survivalists, and regional commanders.
173 fully original stat blocks, built from the ground up.
Each stat block in the Orc Grimoire includes a narrative description and detailed combat tactics, providing both roleplaying context and battlefield function. Whether used as a standalone encounter, part of a persistent warband, or integrated into a larger faction campaign, every NPC is designed for immediate, flexible use at the table.
40 new magic items rooted in faction identity:
The Orc Grimoire features 40 original magic items themed around its core factions. The Children of Tar’Grinaad wield emberforged weapons and pact-bound relics steeped in infernal lineage, while the Ironbone Dominion employs frost-saturated command tools and necrotic field devices to enforce silence and control. Items are organized by rarity, from Common to Legendary, and span major categories, including Weapons, Wondrous Items, Rings, Scrolls, and Potions.
The Orc Grimoire includes a collection of quick, faction-driven adventure ideas that showcase the unique rituals, tactics, and disruptions of each orc group. These hooks are designed to inspire one-shots, side quests, or full campaign arcs, offering immediate entry points into the world of the Grimoire. Each includes integration notes and scaling suggestions to help DMs adapt them to any tier of play.
Faction infrastructure, environmental control, and conversion mechanics:
Occupation Frameworks. Detailed progression of orc-controlled territory over days, weeks, and months.
Conversion Systems. Track ember corruption, Husk Rite initiation, or regional adaptation across player and NPC populations.
Dynamic Warzones. Faction-specific terrain effects, fortification behaviors, and battlefield conditions.
Command Chain Disruption. Mechanics for targeting orc hierarchies mid-combat or during long-term resistance campaigns.
Reaction Tables. Faction responses to PC actions, from bloodline purges to deployment of execution units.
Cultural Encounters. Ritual inspections, undead revelations, terrain trials, and other non-combat faction touchpoints.
Factional Hazards. Environmental effects ranging from blood crucibles and silence zones to natural threats shaped by orc presence.
For too long, orcs have been treated as a footnote... session one enemies with recycled stat blocks and little reason to persist beyond the first swing. The Orc Grimoire redefines them as enduring, adaptable forces with structure, purpose, and consequences.
These aren’t random raiders or tribal obstacles. They are factions, doctrines, and campaign engines built to evolve with your story.
Whether as the opening threat or the campaign’s final reckoning, these orcs are designed to shape worlds, not just survive in them.
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