Chief Gruznak the Ruthless is a hulking figure of dread, his visage marred by battle scars and a gaze that could freeze the blood of even the most hardened warriors. His rise to power within the Bloodclaw Warband was swift and brutal, marked by a series of cunning power plays and ferocious battles that left no doubt about his right to lead. Gruznak is not merely a brute; he possesses a keen intellect that he employs to devastating effect, both on the battlefield and in the treacherous arena of orcish politics. His reputation for cruelty is not just a product of his military tactics but also stems from his insidious practice of capturing human women to bear half-orc children, who are then raised as child-soldiers in his warband.
 
While most orcish tribes revere Gruumsh, the one-eyed god of destruction, the Bloodclaw Warband deviates from this norm. Under Gruznak's rule, they have come to worship and revere Beholders—those enigmatic and terrifying entities that embody the very essence of malevolent power. This unusual form of worship has imbued the warband with a sense of otherworldly dread, and their shamans, known as "Eye-Seekers," practice dark rituals aimed at communing with these aberrant beings. Gruznak himself is said to possess an artifact known as the "Eye of the Beholder," a gemstone that grants him visions and insights, further enhancing his strategic acumen.
 
Gruznak's leadership is a complex tapestry of fear, respect, and near-fanatical devotion. His warriors follow him not just for the spoils of war but for the almost religious fervor that he inspires. He is not just their chief; he is the living embodiment of their twisted ideals and dark ambitions. In Gruznak, the Bloodclaw Warband has found a leader capable of channeling their innate ferocity into a focused, terrifying force. As long as he sits at the helm, the warband is unlikely to be anything less than a nightmarish plague upon the lands they terrorize.