The Four Winds

The Orcs of the Howling Steppe, as well as most goblinoids, including goblins, hobgoblins, and bugbears, who live on the Steppe, and the few human peoples of the Steppe, all worship primordial forces of nature - the Four Winds - each of which represents a cornerstone of their shamanistic religion.

The North Wind

Bringer of Magic
Ukhiil, the North Wind, is the most mysterious of the four winds, bringing strange tidings from far off lands and changing the landscape of the steppe with her strange whims. When the North Wind blows, change is coming.

The East Wind

Bringer of Messages
Zuun, the East Wind, is the messenger of the Winds, bringing tidings both dark and hopeful. The East Wind carries travelers on their journeys and delivers them safely at their destination.

The South Wind

Bringer of Sustenance
Ömnöd, the South Wind, is the protector of bounty and the filler of saddlebags. When the South Wind blows, the herds of the steppe cross paths with the hordes and orcs eat well.

The West Wind

Bringer of War
Baruun, the West Wind, is the herald of slaughter, and when she blows, death follows. The West Wind carries hordes to glorious victory.

The Sun, Moons, and Stars

The Sun, Tengerigaal, the Twelve Moons, Shöngerigel Saruud, and the Stars, Tseguud, also feature in their shamanistic religion, though not as deities, as Orcs believe that only those who carry things with them when they travel, such as the winds, can truly be gods.

Orcish Spirituality and Death

Because they do not worship gods who dwell on the Outer Planes, Orcs, when they die, do not leave Nadmir, but remain on the Prime Material, usually as ghosts. As a result, Orcs despise what they call tsekhiuur, "lesser dead," the mindless undead servants of necromancers, as they believe an Orc's soul cannot roam free if it is captured in its body by a necromancer. Orcs are also next to impossible to resurrect via divine magic, both because they do not worship the New Gods, who fuel most resurrection magic, and because their souls prefer to remain as incorporeal forces rather than return to their bodies. However, so long as an Orc's soul is not held captive, upon death, an Orc will become one of three kinds of ghosts.

Taivasüns

If an Orc dies of natural causes, it becomes a Taivasüns, a benevolent spirit who can be called upon to serve as a mentor or advisor to a young Orc. Orcs often call upon their Taivasünsi ancestors in times of crisis to bestow upon them gentle advice and encouragement.

Uurtaisüns

If an Orc dies due to betrayal, skullduggery, or assassination, it becomes an Uurtaisüns, a vengeful spirit who can be called upon to wreak havoc upon the enemies of its descendents. Orcs often call upon their Uurtaisünsi ancestors to kill those who have wronged them. An Uurtaisüns will only act in this way against someone judged to be dishonest. Traitors are often hunted down by vengeful Uurtaisünsi.

Daichinsüns

If an Orc dies in honorable combat, it becomes a Daichinsüns, a stoic warrior-spirit who can be called upon to imbue a warrior with the power to defeat their enemies. Orcs often call upon their Daichinsünsi ancestors to aid them in combat and add their strength to their own.
On rare occasions, if an Orc dies in single combat with an enemy respected by the Orcs and by the fallen Orc in particular, that Orc will decide to bind themself to the combatant rather than return to their line of ancestors - a decision respected by an Orc's ancestors and horde. An outsider - a zerleg - with a Daichinsüns bound to them will be immediately recognized by Orcs to be a respected enemy or, in some cases, even a friend, of the horde. This zerleg will be able to call upon the Daichinsüns to aid them in battle as if the Daichinsüns were one of the zerleg's own ancestors. Some hordes have adopted honorary members from other races - respected enemies who became friends - into the horde as one of their own because a Daichinsüns respected them enough to bind themselves to them.