The sorek are rare in most lands, but where they are
SOREK
“You might as well pay up now,” said Lord
Velentian. “My champion is undefeated. Harrul
can beat most men with his reach alone.”
“Being a half-giant will do that,” Squire Maltz
agreed, “But still, I like my chances.”
Velentian shrugged. “Suit yourself. But you
can search the whole world and never find a
champion who compares to Harrul.”
Maltz grinned. “That is where you’re wrong,
milord. One merely has to search in the right
place.” At those words the champions entered
from opposite sides of the arena. Harrul towered
over everyone else in the building… except for
his opponent, who looked as if someone had
taught a rhinoceros to walk on two legs.
Lord Velentian exclaimed, “What the devil?”
“I have conversed much with Gorm, milord,”
said Maltz, “And I assure you that his people do
not care for devils.”
known they are rightly feared. Their might on the
battlefield is matched only by their love of peace –
but they will fight to the death to defend that peace.
Hide and Horn
Sorek are among the largest of the non-giant races.
A sorek has a stout humanoid body topped with the
head of a rhinoceros, and the feet look like a rhino's
hooves. There may be one or two horns. The skin
color is always gray, but this ranges from a pale ash
to deep charcoal. Sorek have small black eyes. Their
facial structure doesn't allow for much expression;
ear movements serve that purpose instead.
The sorek diet consists of grains, nuts, fruits, and
vegetables. They can eat meat, but it doesn't really
meet their nutritional needs and they don't enjoy it.
Large and Prone to Charge
In centuries past when Bael Turath conquered much
of the world the sorek were among those to bear the
yoke of slavery under the tieflings and their infernal
overlords. When Arkhosia rebelled the sorek sided
with the dragonborn in a bid to win freedom. The
war raged for decades and left both kingdoms in
ruins, but Arkhosia eventually triumphed. The sorek
herds, once hundreds of thousands strong, were
reduced to tens of thousands. The rigors of slavery
left an indelible mark on the souls of the sorek. They
are determined to never again be anyone's slaves.
Because of their past the sorek hate war, but that
past has taught them that peace must be paid for in
blood. All sorek learn fighting skills as part of their
early education. They feel that anything important
enough to fight about is important enough that they
can't afford to lose, but sorek don't revere might in
battle the way humans do. Fighting is merely the
last tool used to keep the peace. They prefer
negotiation over use of arms and will sometimes
employ less than honorable means – such as bribery
and blackmail – to dissuade enemies from fighting.
After friendly persuasion their favorite tactic for
avoiding violence is intimidation. Fear can take away
an attacker's will to fight, so the sorek have become
adept at evoking fear, but they frown on intimidation
as a means of establishing social dominance.
No Devil’s Advocate
From the history given above one might think that
sorek have no love of tieflings... and one would be right.
The sorek love of peace means that most of them are
willing to judge individual tieflings on their own merits,
but that’s as much benefit of the doubt as they are
willing to give. A tiefling who has the misfortune to
wander into a sorek community can expect a neutral
reception at best.
Mother Knows Best
Sorek families consist of a mother and her children;
lineage and inheritance are traced through mothers.
Fathers are only peripherally involved, and there is
no institution of marriage. It is not uncommon for a
sorek to have no idea who his father is, nor does this
bother him the way it would most humans.
The basic social unit is the herd, which consists of
three or more families plus one bull for every 10-30
cows. Most herds are nomadic, though a few have
settled in human and dragonborn cities. The entire
herd contributes to the raising of each child. The
cows handle general education and the teaching of
trades while bulls teach fighting and survival skills.
Hearts
Hearts for the Herd
Few sorek ever leave their herds. Those who do are
either seekers after knowledge or glory or outcasts
who have been exiled for their crimes. Sorek traders
are almost always nomads whose families – or even
entire herds – travel with them.
Sorek Names
Sorek have short, simple names. Male names are 1-2
syllables long and end in "d," "g," "k," "l," "m," "r," "t"
or "v." A female name is a male name plus the suffix
"a," "é," "i," or "u." A full introduction includes the
herd name and the matronymic phrase "[mother's
name]'s child." Herds are typically named after some
prominent feature of their territory, but urban herds
may take the name of the city instead.
Female Names: Asora, Bolegi, Deruté, Esalu,
Ghama, Huruvi, Jandé, Koroni, Lelu, Maga,
Nomaté, Osatu, Parna, Roredu, Sirki, Tukali,
Ubé, Vortu, Wetelé, Yiga
Male Names: Aruk, Burond, Dorov, Erut, Gorm,
Hobeg, Jort, Krav, Lunt, Morok, Nalor, Omat,
Prok, Raneg, Serem, Tol, Ull, Vun, Wur, Yanob
Herd Names: Broadlake, Delthuntle, Firegrass,
Goldfield, Nesmé, Peacedale, Stallionrun,
Tigerfield, Waterdeep, Whitehill
Full Names: Parna Nesmé, Vortu's child; Aruk
Goldfield, Sirki's child
Sorek Traits
Your sorek character has several natural abilities in
common with other sorek.
Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score
increases by 2.
Age. Sorek reach physical maturity around the
age of 13. They live for about 75 years and don't
start showing signs of age until their late 50's.
Alignment. The love of liberty gives sorek a strong
tendency toward the freedom-oriented aspects of
chaos. They don’t lean toward good or neutrality so
much as they lean away from evil.
Size. Sorek average between 7 and 8 feet tall and
weigh 300-500 pounds. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Hefty. You are considered a Large creature for the
purpose of grappling and carrying capacity, and your
speed is not reduced by wearing armor.
Hulking Presence. You have advantage on
Charisma (Intimidation) checks.
Thick Skin. You have resistance to bludgeoning
and slashing damage.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write
Common and Giant.
Subrace. The only real division between sorek is
the shape and number of their horns. Choose one of
these subraces.
One-Horn OPTIONAL FEAT
You only have one horn, but it’s a good one. One
long, sharp glorious horn. It stands tall and proud, Ivory Defender
as do you. One-horns are the most majestic – or the
Prerequisite: Sorek, 5th level, Wisdom 15+
most terrifying – members of their race. Most sorek
Sorek loremasters have long known of ancient
diplomats, leaders, and paladins are of this subrace.
glyphs of power. Sorek paint these glyphs on their
Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma score
homes for protection from evil, but the symbols saw
increases by 1.
a different use during the war against Bael Turath.
Charge. You have a single long, pointed horn. You
The sorek learned that carving the glyphs into their
are proficient with unarmed attacks with your horn,
horns granted them a measure of eldritch power.
which do 1d4 + Strength modifier (minimum 1)
The scrimshaw process requires exquisite
piercing damage.
precision; the seeker must sit still for hours while
Indomitable. You add your Charisma bonus
the glyphs are carved. Only the most disciplined
(minimum 1) to saving throws against becoming
warriors can hope to become Ivory Defenders.
charmed, dominated, or frightened.
You gain the following benefits:
• As a bonus action you may cast elemental weapon
Two-Horn on your horn without a somatic component. When
The majority of sorek, with their two shorter conical cast this way the duration is 15 minutes, unless
horns, are less impressive than their kin. They make you end it earlier, with no need for concentration.
up for it with their terrible momentum. You can’t use this ability again until you finish a
Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score long rest.
increases by 1. • While the effect above is active you have advantage
Charge. You have a pair of blunt conical horns, a on attack rolls against infernals – demons, devils,
large one in front and a smaller one behind. You are tieflings, etc.
proficient with unarmed attacks with your horns,
which do 1d4 + Strength modifier (minimum 1)
bludgeoning damage.
Unstoppable. You ignore difficult terrain when
you charge.