Gruumsh (GROOM-sh)
Gruumsh is the creator god of the orc race and leader of The Gruumians. He is the god of chaos, strength, survival and mysticism. He is a god of dreams and prophecy, as well as the god of knowledge and skill. He is named He Who Never Sleeps for he is said to never tire, and symbolized with an ever-open eye to represent the orc belief that he watches over them all and judges the worth of each and every one of their kind. Gruumsh created the orcs and guided their destiny with the aid of his divine subordinates, ruling over orcish mortals and gods alike as their unquestioned patriarch..
Description
A figure of tempered fury and cool curiosity, Gruumsh rules his pantheon with a calm but stern hand. He is normally depicted as a hulking, 10 ft tall orc covered in battle scars and clad in a black, gleaming suit of plate mail armor. His tough, gray hide is corded with muscle. In some incarnations he had only a right eye and an empty left eye socket, while in others he simply had one large, cycloptic eye that stared unwinking in the center of his forehead. He is also often depicted with four arms, though it is unclear if this is meant to represent his physical prowess, or his actual form.Powers
Incredibly powerful even by divine standards, Gruumsh is a god of immense physical strength and impossible vitality. Despite his divine nature, Gruumsh is still an orc and has the typical orcish aversion, however minor, to bright light, and supposedly grew more powerful during the night. It was believed that at one point he had minor powers of prescience, allowing him to receive visions of the future.Relationships
Gruumsh's mate is Luthic the Cave Mother, the orc goddess of healing and home. While Gruumsh is the external force that pushes the orcs to excel, Luthic is the internal influence that keeps them working together. The son of Gruumsh and Luthic is Bahgtru, the orc god of might and loyalty. Gruumsh's lieutenant and right hand is Ilneval, orc god of war and strategy.Tenets of Faith
Gruumsh teaches his followers that the pursuit of ultimate knowladge is more valuable than anything else an orc can acheive. Most Orcs have found such ultimate knowledge to be magic, and as such developed dedicated druidic circles to studying what remains of Tandreal's arcana. Gruumsh is the god of strength and leadership, but also the god of prophecy and divination. He is believed to send prophetic dreams to the most devout of followers.
As orcs that are not clerics or adepts are forbidden to speak his name, Gruumsh is also known as "One-Eye," "The One-Eyed God," "He-Who-Never-Sleeps," and "He-Who-Watches." The most devout followers of He Who Never Sleeps are a cabal known as the Fury of the Eye, a rigorous and dedicated orcish religious movement. The monks of this cult dedicate mind and body to Gruumsh, honing their combat skills and partaking in a powerful hallucinogenic fungus to induce prophetic dreams.
Outside orcish settlements, half-orcs and other humanoids act as the eyes and ears of the Fury of the eye cult, as they tend to be more accepted by other races. Given time, they may grow to treat mixed-race groups such as adventuring bands with the same devotion they would show the cult.
Holidays
Gruumsh's holy day is the new moon, and a sacrifice in his name is expected of all orcs that believe in him. Most Orcish settlements have a community pyre for htis exact purpose, and most dwellers in these communites -- regardless of the strength of their devotion -- will offer up sacrifices of crop and livestock to appease the One-Eyed.
Divine Classification
Orcish Deity
Honorary & Occupational Titles
One-Eye, He Who Never Sleeps, the One-Eyed God, He Who Watches
Children
Aligned Organization
Devine Symbol An empty eye socket, or a single unwinking eye.
Favored Animal Giant Rat
Favored Weapon The Spear.
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