Rolgulka is home to many Unseelie races: bugbears, goblins, half-orcs, hobgoblins, ogres and ogre magi. (The goblinoids are covered in the firbolg section.) Most of these are unsuited to play as their (somewhat deservedly) reputation would make social interaction nearly impossible both in Faerie and Iconium. Furthermore, ogres and ogre magi are so powerful they cannot be inserted into a beginning campaign, and even mixed with more powerful characters, their great size would prove difficult in most human-scale cities. Even simple tasks might prove impossible.

Half-Orcs have the greatest acceptance in Faerie and Iconium, but even then they suffer prejudice. Orcs, likewise suffer prejudice, but often own slave gangs in Iconium where they rent their slaves' labor to rich Iconians.

Cultral Analogues: Rolgulka draws heavily on the dark side of Slavic Myth. (Slavic myth is no more "dark" than any other mythic cycle. Rolguka is not meant to trivialize or characterize the wonderful and rich traditions of the Slavic people.)

Half-Orcs

Half-Orcs, for their physical prowess, still get the brown end of the stick in Palaestra. They are nominally more accepted in Faerie than in Iconium — where they are liable to end up as slaves or gladiators. Only the most enlightened and compassionate human families truly accept “mongrel” children in Iconium. Rare indeed.

In Faerie, the Cimbri are most likely to take in half-orcs. There, half-orc strength is highly valued. Strangely the Dwarves also are known to take in “stray” half-orcs. Again their fighting prowess is always valued among the dwarves.

All half-orcs gain two new racial abilities in Palaestra:

Uncanny Stamina: Half-Orcs can literally work circles around most other races. This new ability works exactly like the Endurance Feat. (Half-Orcs may still take the Endurance Feat, which will stack with this feat.)

Unseelie Visage: Even the rare attractive half-orcs can cast a menacing look that makes their foes grow weak in the knees. This ability gives a half-orc +2 to Intimidate checks.

Naming Conventions: Half-Orcs that are members of either Faerie society or human use the naming conventions of those societies. Rolgulkan half-orc use orcish names.

Automatic Languages: Common, Rolgulkan (or their native culture)

Bonus Languages: Goblin, Giantish, Cimbri, Gaelic, Light Alfar, Formorian.

Orcs

Orcs, like their half-human brothers often find work as enforcers, thugs and warriors outside of Rolgulka (which is pretty much what they do in Rolgulka). Unlike half-orcs, they never pass as human and their looks raises eyes, and the occasional scream wherever they go. Most orcs aren't bothered by the fact that they arouse fear, but all are inconvenienced by the fact that most humans and many fae automatically regard them as morally bankrupt idiots.

Orcs do not get the benefit of the doubt. In Faerie, few would wonder why an orc's head is on a pike and in Iconium many slavemasters end up as slaves -- or worse. Life in Rolgulka is no picnic, but you are casting the dice if leave. Only the smarter and wiser orcs survive. Wise orcs know that Seelie friends will save them in Faerie where the word of a noble fae carries great weight. Cash and brains, not whips and chains will serve you in Iconium -- learning the laws and paying taxes (and the occasional bribe) will greatly extend an orc's life expectancy in Iconium. Only the uncommon orc will make it.

Traits

Orcs gain the same new racial abilities in Palaestra as half-orcs (see above). Other information about Orcs can be found in the Monster Manual, page 146.

Naming Conventions: Orcs favor Slavic sounding names. The lists follow, below.

Automatic Languages: Common, Rolgulkan.

Bonus Languages: Goblin, Giantish, Cimbri, Gaelic, Light Alfar, Formorian.

Combined Racial Modifiers Table

Roll (#) — Roll on the appropriate column on table 2-5, page 23 DMG for the stat.

Male Names

Anatol, Andrei, Andrej, Andrik, Anton, Arron, Bela, Bell, Boguslaw, Bohuslav, Boleslaus, Bolodenka, Boris, Borysko, Bronislaw, Burian, Casimir, Cestmir, Cezar, Conrad, Damlek, Dimas, Dimetrius, Dimitri, Dimitrios, Dimka, Dusan, Florian, Ivan, Ivanhoe, Ivano, Jan, Karel, Karol, Kasimer, Kasimir, Kazatimiru, Kersten, Laci, Lacko, Ladislas, Laszlo, Lazlo, Lew, Marika, Mikhail, Miko, Milos, Nicholai, Nickolas, Nicolai, Niklos, Nikolai, Nikolas, Ony, Oral, Orel, Orell, Oriel, Orrel, Pavel, Pjotr, Pyotr, Rorik, Rorric, Rostislav, Rurik, Sagan, Sandor, Slava, Slavik, Slavochka, Stanislas, Stanislaus, Stanislav, Stannes, Stas, Stasio, Stefan, Tibor, Vaclar, Vasek, Vassily, Vimka, Vladik, Vladimer, Vladimir, Vladimiru, Vladislav, Vladimiru, Vladislava, Vladya, Volodya, Vova, Vyacheslav, Wenceslava, Zakarij, Zarek, Ziv, Ziven and Zivon

Female Names

Anezka, Beta, Brita, Chesna, Chessa, Chessie, Chiudka, Danica, Danifa, Danika, Dannica, Dannika, Deretka, Dedenia, Dita, Eliska, Fania, Fanya, Fedosia, Feodora, Gavrila, Gavrilla, Gostiata, Hana, Hedy, Ikla, Ilka, Irana, Jan, Kasia, Kasmira, Katarina, Kazatimiru, Kosenila, Lala, Ljudumilu, Ludinka, Ludmilla, Lukinka, Magda, Marika, Marjeta, Marta, Marya, Miesha, Milka, Mira, Miri, Miriana, Mischa, Misha, Nadege, Nadezhda, Nada, Nadege, Nadezhda, Nadia, Nadine, Nads, Nadya, Nadyenka, Nadyuiska, Natasha, Neda, Negoshka , Peredeslava , Radilu, Radinka, Radmilla, Sonja, Suzan, Tanis, Terez, Terezia, Valdislava, Valeska, Varina, Varvara, Velika, Zora, Zorah, Zorana

Gods of Rolgulka

Only a few in Rolgulka know all of the gods -- mystery is a large part of this pantheon. Consider this an incomplete listing. Most of the deities have many forms, both male and female, many are portrayed as having 3, 4 or 5 faces.

Baba Yaga — The crone goddess is both wise and decietful. She is supposedly the mother of many of the other godlings, and some fell beasts. She advises Perkul, but sometimes aids s Zuar as well — as to her true aims, who knows?

Hanged God — The Hanged God is strange, even for Rolgulka. He (or she) is the god of death as a natural process, but also of outwitting death, at least for a time. Due to the often dangerous life of many Rolgulkans, the Hanged God receives a fair amount of worship from those who wish to cheat death, or welcome its release. Nyag and its worshippers are sworn foes of The Hanged God.

Mokosz — Moskosz is worshipped by farmers, she is the patron of fertile fields and flowing streams, and wells. Her two-faced shrines dot the countryside.

Nyag — Nyag is the goddess of unlife, the mother of necromancy some say. Nyag's cult grows strong. Many hobgoblins have stopped worshipping their racial gods in preference to the power that Nyag offers. Those that oppose Nyag are raw materials for herarmy.

Perkul — Perkul is one of the most widespread cults in Rolgulka. Those places struck by lightning are holy to Perkul's followers. He represents authority, might and benevolent leadership (at least to the faithful). But should his patience be tried, well, he is not known as "He Who Hits" for nothing.

Piorwit — Piorwit is the son of Perkul and a mighty warrior. He is Perkul's champion and carries out his edicts without question. He is the perfect soldier.

Svantovit — Santovit shrines are usually four-faced heads — some are hollowed out to act as birdhouses. Svantovit is the god of the wide world. As such, his shrines dot many crossroads and many travelers pray to him.

Trianus — Trianus' cult is small, but growing in both Rolgulka, and in the Themes. Trianus is called the "God of the Unlocked Gate." Rumors are that this god was imprisoned long ago and was recently freed.

Trizglow — Trizglow is a tripartite deity who dwells is heaven, earth, and hell at the same time. No secret can be kept from him.

Wolos — Wolos is the god of herdsman. Traditionally given (almost) free rights of movement in Rolgulka, these nomadic tribes are fiercely independent as is their god.

Zuar — Zuar is the enemy of many of the other gods, notably Nyag and Perkul. His worshippers are few and far between, but have a persistent presence in Rolgulka. Zuar and the Hanged God have fought along side one another in many tales.

OGC matierial is marked with this text.