The Sacred Order

Philosophy of the People

The Sacred Order is the divine truth given to us by Groghak, the Scavenger God. It is not merely a belief but the foundation of all life, the thread that binds the cycle of strength and survival to the will of the gods. The Sacred Order tells us that the world thrives when the strong take from the weak, pruning the excess that would choke the balance of life and death.

In the beginning, the gods of excess disgorged the material realm, filling it with endless hunger and unchecked growth. The world teetered on the brink, consumed by rot and decay. Groghak, in love and fury, consumed the corruption and left the world free to grow and thrive. From that act of sacrifice, Groghak revealed the truth: strength must guide the cycle, and excess must be pruned to ensure balance.

The Sacred Order teaches us that strength is a sacred responsibility, not a privilege to be squandered. The strong must take what they need from the weak, for this is the law of nature, the way of survival. Yet strength without discipline leads to greed, and greed is the sin of excess. To hoard wealth, to steal from the future, to take more than one’s fill—these acts deny the cycle and weaken the world. They are violations of the Scavenger’s will, crimes against all life.

The Role of the Gnollfolk

We, the Gnollfolk, are the chosen of Groghak to uphold the Sacred Order. Through the strength of our claws, the cunning of our minds, and the unity of our packs, we prune the excess from the world. We take from the weak, not out of cruelty but necessity, for it is only through this act that balance is maintained. The dead we collect are not waste; they are gifts to Groghak, offerings that ensure the cycle remains unbroken.

Our role is not limited to taking. We ensure that the world does not grow stagnant. We do not hoard; we do not steal from the future. We give back to the earth and the gods, ensuring that the cycle of life and death continues. Through the Sacred Collection, through our hunts and our battles, we embody Groghak’s will.

The Place of Non-People

The Sacred Order recognizes that not all beings are good people. The demi-people, such as orcs and hobgoblins, understand the cycle and do their part in pruning excess. But the true non-people—humans, elves, and dwarfs—worship greed and the gods of excess. They take not only from the weak but from the future, hoarding what should sustain the world. These children of excess are a threat to the Sacred Order, and their actions must be corrected.

Through enslavement, the true non-people are prevented from hoarding. Their labour is redirected to serve the needs of the present, ensuring they contribute to the cycle instead of disrupting it. This is not cruelty; it is justice. By serving the good people, the non-people are brought into harmony with the Sacred Order, however unwillingly.

The Eternal Hunt

At the heart of the Sacred Order lies the Eternal Hunt. Life is a constant competition, a test of strength and will. The hunt is not merely for survival but for balance. Through it, the weak are culled, and the strong are proven. Every life taken, every offering made, feeds the cycle and honours Groghak.

The Eternal Hunt reminds us that strength is not a static thing. To remain strong, one must always test oneself, always strive, always take from the weak. But strength must be tempered by wisdom, for the Sacred Order demands balance. To take too much is to invite ruin; to give without purpose is to invite weakness.

A World in Balance

The Sacred Order is the law of the world. It is the truth that binds us all, the path set forth by Groghak. Through it, the good people thrive, the weak are pruned, and the balance is preserved. Those who follow the Sacred Order, whether willingly or not, serve the cycle and find their place within it. Those who defy it, who hoard and steal from the future, will face the wrath of the Scavenger God and the good people who uphold their divine charge.

Let the strong take, let the weak serve, and let the balance endure. This is the way of the Sacred Order, the eternal truth of Groghak, and the purpose of the Gnollfolk in a world ever poised between growth and decay.