The Hands of Yurtrus

Mythology & Lore

Yurtrus (pronounced: /ˈjɛrtrʌs/ YER-truss) is an orc god of death and disease. Where Shargaas symbolize the fear of what lurked in the bowels of the earth, Yurtrus embodies the constant threat of death and plagues with which the orcs lives with every day. The Lord of Maggots do not speak or communicate, but is sometimes receptive to prayers and sacrifices to save an individual or a tribe from the ravages of disease. He was depicted as an orc whose body was covered in sores, excepting his hands, which were white and unblemished. Sacrifices are generally offered to the Rotting Lord by inoculating a particularly horrible disease in victims.

Worship

Followers of Yurtrus believes death is inevitable for all living beings. The ravages of an epidemic are simply death taking victims who has not fallen in battle, so orcs should choose their end where it is most likely. However, disease would ultimately attack all living creatures. Orcs could only avoid the touch of White Hands by begging for mercy, and they should fear him, for death was always lurking in the shadows, and it will certainly strike again.

Priesthood

Apart from some monastic orders, Yurtrus's cult was not organized and its clergy was dispersed among numerous tribes and clans, or so they say. The priests are rarely tribal leaders, but the terror inspired by their god gave them greater independence. Clergy were intermediaries between the tribe and Yurtrus when the community was the victim of a disease or an epidemic. In addition, priests of Yurtrus handles the bodies of those who have succumbed to disease, died in battle, or passed away with old age (which is very rare for orcs). The priests of Yurtrus are also responsible for overseeing the food stocks of the tribe, determining when meat is rotten or water too polluted to drink. Thus, some tribes began to worship Yurtrus as a god of food and health to be appeased. The priests and followers of Yurtrus prays at dusk for their spells. Many clerics are also assassins, divine disciples or monks. An entire monk order called the "Brotherhood of the Scarlet Scourge" was dedicated to him. Unlike other monks, these monks could learn clerical abilities without destroying their potential as monks. They bleached their hands and infected their own long-grown nails with red ache through a special powder made from b" Sacrifices were generally offered to the Rotting Lord by inoculating a particularly horrible disease in victims.