Genalurg (Gen-a-lurg)

Early Years

Genelug, son of Gara, the Goddess of Fertility, and Grumush, the God of War, was born in the waning days of the Wars of Unification. The orcish people, witnessing the arrival of this divine child, saw his birth as a sign of unity and strength, a symbol of the powerful future that lay ahead for their kind. As a newborn god, he stood tall beside his parents, Gara and Grumush, learning from them and growing in power, but his true purpose had not yet revealed itself. Without a defined divine domain, he lacked the ability to bless his followers, making it difficult for him to gain the widespread worship that other gods, like his parents, enjoyed. While the orcish people were eager for divine guidance, they did not yet see Genelug as a god worthy of their devotion, for he had not yet taken on his rightful role.   Though Genelug was born into a time of conflict and conquest, the early years of his existence were marked by confusion about his divine purpose. While Gara nurtured the growth of the orcish people and Grumush led them in war, Genelug was a god without a defined role, his potential untapped. Without a purpose to guide the orcish people toward greatness, Genelug’s influence remained minimal, his presence almost unnoticed. It was in these formative years that he struggled to understand his place within the divine hierarchy, as the orcs did not yet know what he could offer them.   However, this uncertainty did not last forever. Over time, as the empire expanded and its needs became clearer, the orcs found themselves crying out for domination, for an overarching force to enforce order and control. And so, as their cries echoed throughout the empire, Genelug’s divine purpose finally revealed itself. His power, once dormant, was now harnessed to answer the deep, primal needs of the orcish people. His fate as a god of domination and slavery had been sealed, though the journey to embrace this dark path would change him forever.  

During the Empire

Once Genelug found his purpose, his transformation was swift and brutal. The orcs had begun to conquer and enslave new lands, and as their empire expanded, they sought a god who embodied absolute control. Here, Genelug’s dominion over domination and slavery took root. He became the god who wielded cruelty and power, instilling fear in the hearts of the conquered. His skin, once smooth, became marred with scars—symbolic of the wrath he poured out on those who defied him. His gaze hardened, and his once youthful features became cold and detached as he embraced the darker aspects of his divine nature. He argued with his father, Grumush, over the future of the empire, but their views increasingly diverged, as Genelug saw no place for compassion in the expansion of the orcish empire.   During this time, his influence grew, and so did his worship. Temples dedicated to Genelug were constructed across the empire, often built by the very slaves whose suffering fueled his power. These imposing temples, constructed with the labor of the oppressed, stood as towering symbols of his supremacy. He reveled in his image as a god of dominance, his power rivaling that of the other gods. Unlike his parents, who were revered by emperors and empresses alike, Genelug's influence was not as directly tied to the imperial throne. The ruling classes rarely proclaimed him their chosen god—except for one deranged empress, whose insane devotion to him only isolated her from the rest of the empire's leadership. Regardless of this, his power remained undeniable, and many orcish warriors and enslavers became his most loyal followers.   As the empire grew, so did the unrest among its enslaved populations. Generations of orcs had been raised under the belief that domination was their birthright, and the slaves, as objects of their power, were often reminded of their place. Yet, beneath the surface, resentment festered. Genelug’s chosen enforcers—his agents of domination—kept a watchful eye on the slaves, quelling any attempts at rebellion before they could take root. He instructed his followers, his "overseers," to suppress any whispers of revolt, ensuring that the power dynamics within the empire remained unchanged.  

During the Fall and Death

As the empire began to rot from within, the 5th Slave Revolt erupted, and it was a force unlike any other. More organized, more powerful, and with a deeper resolve than previous revolts, this uprising disturbed even the mighty Genelug. Despite his best efforts, he was unable to quell the rebellion in its early stages. His enforcers—those once so loyal to him—could not stem the tide of rebellion that had spread throughout the empire. His frustration turned to anger as he saw his influence slip away. The empire was crumbling, and his reign of domination was under threat. In his desperation, he turned to his father, Grumush, hoping that the god of war would see the need for a show of strength. But when they spoke, it became clear that Grumush was no longer the ally he once was. The gods’ differing views led to a violent confrontation between father and son, with Genelug striking Grumush and taking out his left eye in the heat of the battle.   Fueled by anger and pride, Genelug broke the divine code and decided to manifest physically in the mortal world to put an end to the rebellion. He believed that slaying the leader of the revolt would break the slaves’ resolve and restore order to the empire. The god hunted the dwarf champion, Norin Firebeard, whose leadership had unified the slaves in rebellion. The two engaged in a brutal battle, each one determined to emerge victorious. Hours passed, and just as it seemed that Genelug would triumph, Norin struck. In an act of desperation, the dwarf’s enchanted axe cleaved into the god’s neck, bringing about his death. The orc god’s spirit shattered as his body fell, and with it, the empire’s last hope for dominance was extinguished. The capital fell that day, and the orcish empire crumbled beneath the weight of its own corruption.  

The Aftermath

The death of Genelug marked the end of an era for the orcish people. No longer could they call upon their god for blessings or divine aid. His power was gone, and his once-loyal followers were left with nothing but the wreckage of a once-mighty empire. His temples fell into disrepair, and his name was erased from the collective memory of the orcs. However, in the far reaches of the desert, hidden from the rest of the world, a few devoted followers still cling to the belief that their god lives on. They whisper of the god’s soul being trapped within Norin Firebeard’s enchanted axe, a fragment of divine power locked in an object forged by the hand of his enemy. Whether there is any truth to this is unknown, but it has become a source of solace for those few remaining orcs who still worship him.   For the majority of orcs, however, Genelug’s name is no longer spoken except as a curse. It is a reminder of the darkness that once consumed their empire, a symbol of the cruelty and domination that led to its ultimate downfall. The orcish people, ever resilient, have moved forward, but the legacy of Genelug, though forgotten by most, remains a warning—of the dangers of unchecked power and the devastation it can bring. His divine reign was one of domination, but in the end, it was his very downfall. His death remains a defining moment in orcish history, marking the end of an age of conquest and the beginning of an uncertain future.