The Gods of The Orcs

The Gods of The Orcs

Orcs believe their gods to be invincible. They see the principles that define them and their deities at work every day in the world around them. Nature rewards the strong and mercilessly eliminates the weak and the infirm. Orcs don't revere their gods as much as they fear them; every Tribe has superstitions about how to avert their wrath or bring their favour. This deep-seated uncertainty and fear comes forth in the form of savagery and relentlessness, as Orcs ravage and kill to appease the gods in order to avoid their terrible retribution.

At the pinnacle of the Orc Pantheon is Gruumsh 'One Eye', who was the first of the Orcs to ascend to Godhood and he continues to direct the destiny of All Orcs. He is aided and abetted by the other warrior deities, Bahgtru 'The Leg Breaker, Ilneval 'The War Maker' and Ushug 'The Warrior Queen', who bring strength and cunning to the battlefield. The followers of all four are a Tribe's raiders and ravagers-often the only part of an Orc Tribe that its victims ever see.
Deep within the den of a Tribe, far away from the Warhearth where warriors gather and celebrate, dwell the followers of Yurtrus 'The White Handed', the god of disease and death, and Shargaas 'The Night Lord', the god of darkness and the unknown. Orcs too weak for battle (because of bodily weakness, malformation, injury, or age)often join these Cults instead of facing daily humiliation, exile, or death.
Serving as the bridge between the two parts of the Tribe are the priestesses of Luthic 'The Cave Mother', the Orc goddess who represents both life and the grave. It is her worshipers that raise young Orcs to be warriors, and then, at the end of their lives, take them to Yurtrus and Shargaas to be carried into death and the great unknown.

Nishrek And The Eternal War

Orcs believe that if they die with honour, their spirits go to The Plane of Acheron, the infinite battlefield-specifically The Layer of Nishrek, where they join the Army of Gruumsh and fight on his behalf in the endless War against the Goblinoid followers of Maglubiyet. Gruumsh sees this conflict as a chance to pit his people against an eager foe and enable them to prove their worth before their deities. He relishes every short-term triumph and swears revenge for every setback.
Luthic, though, takes a longer view. She understands the cosmic implications of Maglubiyet's attacks. To prevent the Goblinoids from outstripping her people in population, she urges the Orcs to have many offspring and teach them the ways of battle not only for survival in the material world, but to keep Maglubiyet at bay in the conflict on the planes. Her children will remain in her care, and if need be she wouldn't hesitate to take to the field herself and claw Maglubiyet's beady eyes from his face to prevent him from taking them from her.
The cosmic battle between the two pantheons has raged for Thousands of Years without resolution, leading those who study its ebb and flow to expect the stalemate to continue. A different view is put forth by The Archmage Tzunk, who notes that Maglubiyet has never faced a foe as ferocious and protective as Luthic. He predicts that the War will end with Luthic the only deity standing, as the cave mother ascends to rule her warrior children.