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JOR Jor Orc Picture
Created by: Michael J. Szarmach
FREQUENCY: Rare
NO. APPEARING: 1-20 (20-200 in lair)
ARMOR CLASS: 5 or 6
MOVE: 12"
HIT DICE: 2 + 3
% IN LAIR: 35%
TREASURE TYPE: K, M on individuals; O, U in lair
NO. OF ATTACKS: 1 weapon
DAMAGE/ATTACK: By weapon type
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Back-stabbing, poison, surprise on 1-3
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Hiding, surprised on 1 in 8
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
INTELLIGENCE: Average (low)
ALIGNMENT: Chaotic evil
SIZE: M (6' tall)
PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil

Jors, also known as swamp orcs, are the most powerful and cunning breed of orcs. They have developed limited assassin abilities which they use to the utmost advantage. When surprising any victim, jors have a 35% chance to kill by backstabbing. In addition, jors make a special sleeping poison from swamp plants and waters. They use this poison to coat their weapons (saving throw vs. poison at +2 or sleep for 2-12 rounds; one use only).

Jors are extremely hard to find in the swamp and are surprised only on a 1 in 8 as a result. In addition, they have a 50% chance to hide in natural terrain. Jors surprise on a 1-3 in 6, and are typically armed as follows:

Weapons
Scimitar and crossbow 30%
Scimitar and shield 30%
Bastard sword and axe 10%
Bastard sword and spear 20%
Battle axe and flail 10%

Jors wear a form of scale mail armor (AC 6). Shield use betters this to AC 5. Jors, like their orcish cousins, hate sunlight and are therefore found outside their lairs only after sunset. For every group in excess of 15 jors, there is a leader and two assistants. Each leader and assistant has 18 hp, and because they are the strongest and most cunning creatures of their group, also have a 50% chance to kill when back-stabbing. If 30 or more jors are encountered, the group includes a subchief (AC 3, 3 +4 HD) and 1-4 bodyguards (AC 4, 3 + 1 HD). This large group also contains a master jor (AC 3,4 + 2 HD) who has a 75% chance to kill when backstabbing. A master jor also has a 90% chance to hide in natural terrain and surprises on 1-5 in 6. Jors general travel through swamps in small hunting parties composed of young males.

Jor lairs contain females equal to the number of males. All females fight as well as the males but have a less-effective backstabbing ability (15% chance to kill when employing this tactic). Jor lairs also contain jor young (AC 8, 1 HD, noncombatants) equal to 150% of the males. In addition, each lair contains the following: a chief (AC 2, 4 + 5 HD), two subchiefs, 4-16 bodyguards, 12-15 leaders, and 1-6 master jors. Jor chiefs always have the abilities of master jors.

The jors and lizard men are great rivals in the swamp, and they often attack each other on sight. Jors look much the same as orcs, except that their skin tends to be greenish blue in color. It is rumored that all jors belong to an assassin#146;s guild whose goal is to destroy mankind bit by bit.

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