ECOLOGY

Environment temperate hills and plains
Organization solitary, band (5-8), raiding party (6-11 and one leader of 5th-7th level), or clan (10-24, plus 100% noncombatants, one shaman of 5th-7th level, one leader of 7th-9th level, 2-4 ogres, and 5-8 hobgoblins)
Treasure standard

Take the worst traits of a male ogre and the worst traits of a female hobgoblin and mix them together, the result is an ogren: a barbaric and primitive race of individuals that see combat as a way of life and means of entertainment and survival. Combat skills and battle prowess are taught at a very young age among the ogren clans, and it is not unheard of for an entire clan to be led by one who, by any other race would be considered a child, for the mighty rule the weak and the strongest and most combative ogren usually rules a clan. Ogren leaders often have the Battle Shout feat detailed in the sidebar*.

Ogrens appear as 6-to-8-foot tall stocky humanoids with hairy hides of dark brown, yellowish-brown, or gray. Their eyes are generally gray or black, though some do have green or blue eyes (though blue eyes are extremely rare). Hair color ranges from brown or black to dark red or gray. Most ogren have long hair and rarely if ever sport facial hair. The typical ogren lives to 100 years of age.

Ogren Society

Being a primitive people, the ogren clans survive by hunting game and gathering wild fruits, berries, and herbs. Most hunting bands consist of 3-5 males and a tracker (usually an ogren ranger of 3rd level). Ogrens typically hunt large game such as moose, deer, buffalo, bison, elk, humans, and elves. Many a hunting foray has led a band of ogrens into a human or elven encampment or settlement. During these raids, targets are often taken alive and carried back to the ogren's lair where they are stored in cages for later consumption. Ogren often fatten up captive humans and elves before eating them (fattening them up provides the ogren clan with more meat). In times when food is scarce, some clans resort to cannibalism and hunt their own (though rarely if ever a member of the same clan; usually an ogren from a rival clan).

Ogren clans are found just about anywhere save the coldest of climates, though they tend to favor temperate climates. Food is hard to come by in such harsh extremes, so they prefer moderate to warm climates where a food supply is readily available. A typical ogren settlement consists of crude huts constructed of wood with thatched or wooden roofs. The huts are spread in a circle around a central meeting ground where they dance, engage in combat, cook their food, and hold yearly rituals.

Each clan typically holds three or more yearly rituals. Some ogren rituals include the Rites of Manhood, The Taking (marriage), and The Passing (death). During the rites of manhood, a young ogren must display his battle prowess against a member of his clan. These fights are never to the death, but the damage dealt is real. Many ogren proudly display the scars of such fights on their bodies. During The Taking, a male ogren selects a bride from another clan as a mate. The shaman from the male's clan oversees the ceremony and blesses such a union, usually through the ritual sacrifice of a captive human or elf (the blood of either is cast on the ground during this ritual). The last ritual, The Passing, is led by the shaman and consists of the shaman invoking the spirits of dead ancestors to watch over recently slain or deceased ogrens.