Grim Hands

A Cursed People

We were once children of the sky and moon until the foolish city of Xer'Pakti refused us tribute, an by our right we sacked, burned and desecrated as the honor and respect of the clan demanded. But the humans prayed to their dark gods, and the cruel sea raised in in the wrath mother's image swallowed our ships, our people and the city that would have been ours. As we drowned, I heard him, a whisper from the depth, a promise of salvation, and damnation. Now we are bound. To serve our new father

— Mar'Amka - The Grim Handed

The Grim hands bear the mark of their pact plainly for all to see, their skin a deathly pale green(for orcs) and ashen grey, adorning their skin with bone piercings and scar tattoos, their bodies scared with self mutilation to better mimic their god. They boast not of great glorious nor do they sing songs of joy and battle. They are strange and otherworldly for their other kin, preferring instead quite peace with select companions, they spent their time in focused training and prayer.

Reclusive Hunters

The Grim Hands live deep within the jungles of Barkur, living as hunters and warriors, they live a harsh existence within the hostile lands which they dwell, honing their skills as warriors always to better serve their god.

Pragmatic and Enigmatic

The Grim Hands bear an usually demeanor, for while they have the same thirst for battle as their other brethren, the Grim Hands do not fight with brutish vigor and battle bravado. They fight silently in utmost dedication and focus, preferring quick strikes and raids to minimize their looses, they do not act unless they see a wordy gain, having no need for glory on it's own, to them glory is not earned in battle, but rather in the results of a battle, battle scars are nothing, if it did not gain something for the tribe, battle is nothing if it did not expand the tribe, to them true honor is found only in conquest and victory.

Structure

The Grim hands are lead by a single figure Mar'Amka, who serves as an amalgamation between a chieftain and shaman and speaker for Midnight Father, as such his is will divine and obeyed and relayed by the speakers, who serve as priest warriors and minor leaders.

Public Agenda

To spread the will of the Midnight father, and restore the Clans to their former glory. Though the tribe has remained in self inposed isolation within the deep jungles of Barkur, they have never hidden their intentions from their brethren, one day when they are strong enough they will leader a great host and create promised land for their kin.

History

The Grim hands like many other orcs tribes lived a nomadic lifestyle, which eventually saw them them become raiders and sailors, becoming a dread scourge upon the southern coast of Utvana. The tribes rampage would go on for many years, until they attacked the city of Xer'Pakti, though none know what transpired, all have seen the aftermath, the city was taken by a great flood, and since then the the Grim hands, have been skulking the jungle of Bar'Kur.

Foreign Relations

The Grim Hands are at odds with almost all of their neighboors, being seen as the remnants of the raiders that nearly brought and end to all inhabitants of Xer'Pakti and the reason for it's destruction the human settlements view them with outmost hostilitiy as senceless barbariens, their fellow Orcs view them as traitors to the gods and their kin. As such the Grim Hands are mainly isolantist and have few if any political ties to any outsiders.

Mythology & Lore

They consider the ousting of Arash a grave mistake by gods and the old leaders of the clans, for surely all can see that by following the teachings of their parental gods the orcish clans have become scattered and divided. if they had stood has one beneath a mighty leader instead of their constant bickering they would not had been defeated again again by the other races. As such, only by following the very god who had insisted on a unified dream for their people, will they prosper, this is the age of Arash, and by his will alone, can the clans redeem themselves.

Divine Origins

Their Grim hand's worship is young, yet it has already profoundly shaped them, having changed their lives in almost less then a few generations. It was in the moment Mar'Amkamade the pact their devotion was born, for in that moment Arash The Broken

Tenets of Faith

Do not suffer betrayal unanswered. Give in kind all that you receive.
Do not fight heedlessly. Fight only for to spread his name, fight only for the tribe.
Do not boast without meaning. Act only with reason, act only when necessary.
Do not allow yourself to wilt. Focus on your studies, focus on your duties.
Do not give without reason. Compassion is a gift, best spent on those you cherish you.

Ethics

Essentially the tenents are allowed to be interpreted very loosly, as long as they adhere to the core principles, that actions are carried out for the good of the clan, that there actions reflect on god and to make an act that could comprimise the safety of the clan on their own.
For to them pragmatism a carefully studied dogma, all ations have consequences, and they must weigh wether or not the net total is gain for the clan or a loose.

Priesthood

The Priesthood of the Grimhand is known as the speakers, for they speak the will of the The Midnight Father. They serve as orators in prayer, as Counselors on matters which are duplicitous, and to deescalate tension within the tribe. They serve has captains and leaders, in essence they serve every major role within the clan.
At their head is Mar'Amka who serves as de-facto leader of both the speakers and the tribe. For he is the chosen of The Midnight Father. As such speakers are selected and chosen and trained by him alone, ensuring that all chosen have a direct line to god.
The Speakers show their status by coloring their left arms a pitch black in coal to emulate their Leader's burden. While those who are truely devoted burn their left arm to bear the pain of their leader, that his suffering may be eased.

By the Midnight Father

Type

Geopolitical, Clan

Alternative Names

Formerly known as the Blood sails

Demonym

Grim Hands, Zhavarr-Zemar(Hollow-Hearts) as they are called by other orc tribes, for forsaking their parental gods.

Leader

Mar'Amka

Government System

Theocracy

Economic System

Gift economy

Deities

• Arash The Broken

Location

Bar'Kur

Neighboring Nations

• Asentai Overseas Trading And Lumber

Notable Members

• Mar'Amka

The more devoted members of the tribe often make various painful piercings and sometimes more extreme acts of self mutilation in order to show their devotion.