Gorum

Our Lord in Iron

Gorum is a god of battle above all other pursuits; it is said that he would rust away into nothingness if there is ever a time with no more conflicts to be fought. Known as Our Lord in Iron, his faithful believe he is present in every iron weapon of war that is forged.

Appearance

Gorum's manifestation is that of a gigantic humanoid being in darkened heavy armor. His helmet covers all defining features except for a pair or fiery crimson eyes. No matter to whom he appears, Gorum will always appear to be the tallest creature, even when among giants and other large humanoids.

History

Gorum's presence was unknown in the earliest days of the world. His clergy claim he was formed from battle itself, a suit of iron armor standing alone on the battlefield once the dust had settled. His genesis is generally considered to have resulted from conflicts that erupted between orcs and humans following the former race's surge to the surface during the Age of Empires. Warriors and knights have ever since claimed to see a vision of the god as they strike a killing blow or charge into battle. Gorum is considered the divine embodiment of martial prowess and glory on the battlefield.

Relations

Gorum concerns himself with few matters outside of battle, and this attitude extends to include his relations with other deities. He sees little value in matters of diplomacy and politics, considering the pursuits of his divine peers as frivolous a best. The Lord in Iron is considered brash and impulsive; he takes what he wants, by force if necessary, and answers any direct opposition to his will with violence. His priests and followers tend to follow the god's example, which means that there are more ruthless and exploitative members of his faith than those who espouse altruism.

Providence

Gorum shows his favor through weapons and armor that bleed when touched, while his displeasure is seen when these same items quickly develop unnatural patches of rust, or else fall apart completely.

Servants

Most of Gorum's divine minions wear spiked metal armor. This includes his divine servitor race, the zentragt. These bear-like creatures often serve in the vanguard of the Lord in Iron's armies.

Unique servants

• Bloody Hands or Blood Hands: This servant is a crimson-skinned creature similar in appearance to a hezrou demon.
• First Blade: Gorum's herald is a horde of animated weapons and shields that swarm together into a humanoid shape, and is the approximate shape and size of an iron golem.
• Saint Fang: This minion is similar to a silver dragon with spikes, but with coloring akin to iron.
• Temperbrand: This creature is a fire elemental that has the appearance of superheated liquid metal.
• Gruumsh: The lesser deity of orcs who cares only for killing and destruction, but who still serves Gorum somewhat reluctantly

Church of Gorum

The church of Gorum proclaims faith in strength and power over spirituality or intellect. High priests are great warriors who attain their position through battle. Priests wear heavy spiked armor and forsake non-metallic weapons. They believe that the spirit of Gorum resides in all metal weapons and armor, and therefore take care to keep them polished and in good working order. The services conducted by the church consist primarily of actual and improvised percussion, to include clanging weapons against shields.

Worshipers

Gorum is worshiped by mercenaries and barbarians all across the world, but are most commonly found in lands where conflict and battle are common. It is not uncommon for two opposing armies to be carrying the Lord in Iron's standard into battle, which doesn't seem to bother the god; he's more interested in promoting the fighting rather than picking a winner.
The Lord in Iron is commonly worshiped by half-orcs, who believe that he is one of them, and that his encasement in iron is the deity's successful effort to hide his true nature from human worshipers who would be unable to handle his true nature. The Lord in Iron is commonly worshiped by half-orcs, who believe that he is one of them, and that his encasement in iron is the deity's successful effort to hide his true nature from human worshipers who would be unable to handle his true nature. Knightly followers of Gorum believe battle is the true calling of a knight, not tournaments or courtly pursuits. For Iron Knights, strength and determination supersede honor, duty, and fame. More than other orders, Gorumite knights are often found as mercenaries.

Temples and shrines

Gorum's temples tend to have the appearance of strongholds or citadels. They are walled and gated, and spikes adorn the structure. They are always ready for a battle or siege, and are kept stocked with metal weapons, armor, and rations. Shrines to Gorum are typically an organized pile of rocks with a helmet or blade set atop.

Holy texts

Gorum's church claims no holy text, but it does feature a set of seven holy poems called the Gorumskagat.

Divine Classification

Greater Deity

Alignment

Chaotic Neutral

Current Location

Elysium

Honorary & Occupational Titles

• Our Lord in Iron

Current Residence

Elysium

Eyes

Fiery Crimson

Hair

N/A

Skin Tone/Pigmentation

N/A

Height

Varies

Weight

Varies

Holy Symbol

Pathfinder Statistics 

Divine Domains

• Chaos
• Destruction
• Glory
• Strength
• War

Favored Weapon: Greatsword

D&D 5e Statistics

Suggested Domains

• Forge Domain
• War Domain