Sharakim

The Sharakim are a race from Dungeons & Dragons 3rd edition who... well, let's be honest: they're an attempt to make orc PCs viable without actually going to the effort of giving orcs deeper character than "evil bags of meat" or otherwise portraying orcs in a sympathetic light.

Introduced in "Races of Destiny", sharakim are the descendants of human villagers who were cursed when a hunter named Sharak inadvertently killed a sacred stag and fed its flesh to his people; "sharakim" apparently means "the tainted" or "those with taint". As a result of this curse, the sharakim transformed into a race very similar to orcs in terms of looks: large, powerfully built brutish figures with light-gray to coal black skin, short snub-noses with wide nostrils, enlarged and pointed ears, and distinctly orc-like tusks and talon-esque nails. They also sport small, curved horns on their temples, which actually makes them look a lot like small oni - sharakim stand between 5ft and 6ft tall and weigh from 140 to 275 pounds. They have coarse, deep blue-black hair (which sometimes bears silver or white streaks), and eyes that are jet-black or slate-gray, save for the rare cases of dark blue and dark green.

Culturally, sharakim are defined by their hatred of their orc-like looks and their passionate drive to prove that they are not orcs. They dress as well as circumstances allow, avidly strive to make friends and prove their ability to be decent, law-abiding people, bathe frequently and are fastidious about their clothing & manners. Their nails are kept trimmed, whilst their horns and tusks are are polished and decorated; sometimes carved, sometimes capped with precious metal, and sometimes even featuring imbedded gems. They are so eager to please others that many races, particularly humans, liken them to a culture of puppies who look like monsters. Their hospitality is excellent, and they are extremely gregarious, going out of their way to ingratiate themselves to other races.

Needless to say, they suffer a huge sense of an inferiority complex; many become adventurers, hoping to prove their worth and show that they are smart, noble, honorable and skilled people. Renown is the goal of the typical sharakim adventurer.

Does it work? Well... to an extent. Gnomes love them, easily looking past the brutish exterior and admiring the driven, educated being beneath. The two races frequently live together, and the sharakim's physical prowess certainly doesn't hurt when it comes to making them good neighbors. Halflings try to be open-minded, but the orc-like appearance of the sharakim unnerves them. Similarly, the typical dwarf or elf will have nothing to do with them, proclaiming them to be little more than orcs in fancy clothes. Human reaction is more torn.

After this one appearance, sharakim faded into obscurity - perhaps because they were really such a cheap attempt at making an alternative source for orc PCs. The name did reappear in Dragon Magazine #386, where an article devoted to half-orc gish traditions mentioned them as a race of orcs that tried to overcome their more savage instincts and natures. The fate of the race was left unknown, but the name was adopted by an order of half-orc swordmages, with their own dedicated Paragon Path: the Sharakim Blademaster.

In 3.5, sharakim had the following racial stats:

+2 Strength, +2 Intelligence, -2 Dexterity, -2 Charisma

Humanoid (Human)

Medium

Base speed 30 feet

Darkvision 60 feet

+1 natural armor bonus.

Shadow Affinity (Ex): +2 racial bonus to Hide, Move Silently, Search and Spot checks when in shadow or darkness.

Light Sensitivity (Ex): -1 penalty to attack rolls in bright sunlight or within a Daylight spell.

Orc Fighters: +1 racial bonus on attack rolls against orcs and half-orcs.

Favored Class: Wizard

Level Adjustment: +1