Orc Pantheon

The Orc Pantheon refers to the collection of deities most commonly worshipped by the orcs, particularly those that still dwell within the orcish homeland of Gryttrheim in Crestfall.   Orcish culture is steeped heavily in the veneration of one's ancestors, something which is frequently represented in the topics and themes of orcish mythology. Most stories pertaining to the orcish deities are preserved via oral tradition; retaining and retelling these stories is the responsibility of the skalds, orcs born too weak or infirm to serve as warriors. While it may seem unfair to pigeonhole these orcs into religious service, skalds are often the most revered and respected members of an orcish community, with a level of authority that is only outranked by a community's chieftain.  

Orcish Gods

  The gods of the orcish pantheon are as follows:  

Gruumsh One-Eye

Alignment	Neutral
Symbol	An eye with two pupils
Divine Domains	Knowledge, Tempest, War
Sacred Oaths	Conquest, Vengeance

  Gruumsh is the chiefmost deity of the orc pantheon; it is said that he and his wife Luthic are the progenitors of all orc-kind. According to the orcish oral traditions, Gruumsh sought the knowledge of the world so that it might benefit his people; to achieve this, Gruumsh plucked out one of his own eyes and placed it in the night sky to watch over the world of Teranuz in its entirety, his eye becoming the moon of Novus.  

Luthic Cave-Mother

Alignment	Chaotic Good
Symbol	A realistic humanoid heart
Divine Domains	Grave Life, Nature, Twilight
Sacred Oaths	Ancients, Watchers

  Luthic is the wife of Gruumsh, and serves as the orc goddess of life, nature and fertility. She is revered as the "mother" of all orcs, and it is believed that any orc that dies on the battlefield will be personally escorted to the afterlife by Luthic herself. In orcish culture, many female orcs are given the name "Lutha" as a sign of respect for Luthic.  

Bahgtru Leg-Breaker

Alignment	Chaotic Neutral
Symbol	A broken thighbone
Divine Domains	Ambition, Strength
Sacred Oaths	Glory, Treachery

  Bahgtru is the eldest son of Grrumsh and Luthic, and the orcish god of raw strength and physical might. In contrast to the thoughtful, militaristic power of Gruumsh, his son Bahgtru represents pure, uncontrolled brutality; it is believed his place in the pantheon is meant to serve as a cautionary warning of strength left unchecked.   In many stories, Bahgtru takes on an antagonistic role, aiming to usurp his father Gruumsh as the ruler of all orcs. Nevertheless, orcish warriors frequently utter a prayer to Bahgtru before heading into battle.  

Ilneval War-Maker

Alignment	Lawful Neutral
Symbol	A sword witgh a chipped blade
Divine Domains	Order, Solidarity
Sacred Oaths	Crown

  Ilneval is the younger son of Gruumsh and Luthic, as well as the orcish god of strategy and warfare. Due to his cleverness and tactical knowledge, he is often depicted as his father Gruumsh's primary wartime advisor.   In many ways, Ilneval and his brother Bahgtru are considered to be two halves of a greater whole, suggesting the belief that a well trained mind is just as important in battle as physical might.  

Shaargas Night-Stalker

Alignment	Neutral
Symbol	A red crescent moon
Divine Domains	Trickery, Twilight
Sacred Oaths	Vengeance

  Shaargas is the orcish goddess of the night, stealth, and deception on the battlefield; unlike the other deities examined thus far, her relationship to Gruumsh and Luthic is unknown.   It is believed that Shaargas was the one who blessed the orcs with the ability to see in the dark, so that they would be able to defend themselves against assaults from night-time predators and monsters. Orcs traditionally say a prayer to the night goddess before the beginning of a night-watching shift.  

Yurtrus White-Hand

Alignment	Neutral Good
Symbol	A white hand, palm outward
Divine Domains	Knowledge, Grave, Life
Sacred Oaths	Vengeance, Watchers

  Yurtrus is the orcish goddess of disease and medicine, and the spouse of Ilneval. She is believed to watch over orcish warriors who were wounded in battle by protecting their wounds from infection. Outbreaks of plague and disease are believed to be acts of divine retribution on her part; a punishment to her orcish followers for failing to uphold her ideals.  

Skrael Scar-Singer

Alignment	Neutral
Symbol	A war drum
Bardic Colleges	Spirits, Swords, Valor

  Skrael is the orcish god of storytellers, musicians and skalds. Of all the deities in the orc pantheon, Skrael is paradoxically the least powerful of the gods but also the most important, as without his domain of storytelling, knowledge of the other gods in the pantheon would cease to exist.   As such, the other gods of the orcish pantheon are often depicted treating Skrael with a deep respect and reverence, going out of their way to avoid getting him involved in conflicts between the other deities. In return, Skrael acts as an unbiased observer, transforming his observations into stories to be retold as part of the orcish oral traditions.