Orc – Bard

An orc bard may know ancestral chronicles, the rhythm of shared work, and stories the neighbors have never heard. The character combines considerable strength with a class focused on support and negotiation. The task may be to deliver an important message, preserve the group's memories, or find common ground with an unfamiliar settlement. Not every dispute needs to be settled with a loud shout; a calm storyteller can be an equally convincing character.

Within the party, the bard helps with negotiations, learning local stories, and supporting allies. The character may mediate between people who misunderstand each other or recall an important connection at just the right time. Inspiration raises the bonus of a revealed virtual roll by one step, up to that category's maximum; it is not an unrestricted increase to every result. Storytelling, music, and listening also give the bard a meaningful role in scenes that do not lead to combat.

The racial ability Battle Fury grants +1 to the result of every melee attack while the character is below half of maximum HP. The class adds Inspiration: once in a given battle or significant scene, after a virtual roll is revealed, raise your own or an ally's roll bonus by one step, up to that category's maximum. It does not require a main action and cannot be used on an enemy. Choose starting equipment according to the requirements this particular hero meets. The listed values form the basis of a level-one character; personality, name, relationships, and the reason for adventuring are decided during character creation.