The Great Tribe - The Greenskin Religion

Worshipped since the very dawn of Greenskin culture, The Great Tribe is the name given to a plethora of Gods and Goddesses that are found within the Greenskin Pantheon. Without a vast empite or kingdom that governs over the Orcish Tribelands, the religion is not organised and worship can vary greatly between tribes, clans and even individual family groups. Despite this, most Greenskin hold true to their faith, and it has often bought conflict.
Amongst the followers of The Great Tribe are Orcs, Goblins, Bugbears and Hobgoblins. With the wide variance in these races, alongside the tribal-nature found in the Tribelands, customs and beliefs can vary greatly. Typically, there will be a religious leader such as a Shaman or Priest in each tribe, who will be responsible for any religious duties and in keeping the stories that are passed on remembered. They may be accompanied by lesser followers, who aid in rituals and sharing the wisdom of the Gods.

"Before all, there was nothing. Then Grummsh forced himself to be. In this moment, all was created: Orc, Goblin, Bugbear. We came to this land and we are children of He Who Watches." - The Orcish Shaman, Tagdud Bonetooth

Little is known about the origins of The Great Tribe, but Shamans often tell of the coming of Gruumsh, the chief of all the Gods. With this, it is said that all the races that make up Greenskin culture were also created. Lorekeepers and historians from other lands have often questioned this as a fact, much to the disdain of the greenskin preachers.
Stories and legends about the Gods are passed down across generations, and remembrance of such is usually left to the religious leaders of various clans and tribes. All of this knowledge is often shared willingly to anyone, as the teachings of the Gods are deemed most crucial to survival. It is not unknown for Shamans or Priests to seek out a religious journey to another Clan or Tribe in order to share stories and ensure that the belief carries on.

Sacrifice and Rituals

Amongst the most common practices of worshippers of The Great Tribe is that of sacred rituals and sacrifices. These are often done at important times of the year, such as the migration of a tribe, or specific religious dates that the tribe recognises as significant to their history or the Gods. Most rituals include a form of music and dancing, with tributes given over for burial or to be burned in a fire. Such an act is seen as giving over such possessions to the Gods themselves to use.
Sacrifice of living creatures is common, to appease the Gods, bring luck or to drive of evils of the world. Animals such as sheep, hogs or goats are most common, although the more brutal of tribes amongst the Greenskin will offer up the blood of their enemies. Some particularly important rituals will demand a live tribute, and it has been documented that the more fanatical of Greenkin will willingly offer their own lives for such an honour.

The Great Plains of Gruumsh

"Green grass that sways in the breeze and all the warriors of old cheering our names. That is what awaits those of us who give ourself in battle."

Death is not the end for Greenskin life, and they will seek to earn their right to go to The Great Plains of Gruumsh. These reside in the world beyond, and are a fertile and endless lands full of rolling hills, mighty forests and a life of peace. The Gods reside here and enjoy a life of feasts, happiness and hunting. The many tribes and cultures of the Orcish Tribelands believe that those worthy enough will go to The Great Plains to join the tribe of the Gods. What makes one worthy to do this varies, and even the individual races themselves disagree. For an Orc or Hobgoblin, combat and honour will see a place there, but for Goblins it may be wealth and cunning. Bugbears, being the more savage of Greenskin races, believe sacrifice and worship will see them meet their Gods when they die.
For those that go against the teachings of The Great Tribe, it is said they will be cast in to the Unending Dark, a parallel of The Great Plains, where all the evil of the world is said to spread from. A life of torment and servitude, with all freedoms stripped from them, await any that end up here.

The Pantheon

Due to the cultural differences that can happen between tribes, there is a plethora of lesser dieties and heroes whom fall under the Orcish Pantheon. To list them all is an impossible task, as these vary with tribe, year and many are forgotten or created dependant on the Greenskin stories. Listed below are the Major Gods and Goddesses, that can be found across Greenskin culture.
Gruumsh "He Who Watches" When Gruumsh awoke, he bought with him all of the Greenskin and other Gods. He is chief amongst them all, and has the greatest strength and honour. He is also referred to as "Gruumsh One-Eye", after the legendary battle when he went against the Elven Gods. It is said that in that fateful battle, Gruumsh lost his eye to an arrow, but this did not stop him as he broke the ranks of the Elven Gods. To the tribes that are more devout, it is usually the Chosen of Gruumsh who leads, and they are usually the strongest of the Greenskin.
Ilneval "The Wise" At the right hand of Gruumsh is an elderly Orcish deity, his hair grey and eyes deep and sullen. He is the wise-one, and knows all there is to know. Strategy and tactics in war, the ways to hunt, fight and survive, and even some of the mystic Shaman and Druidic arts: all of these are gifts bestowed by Ilneval. Hobgoblins worship him especially, for their love of discipline and strategy aligns perfectly with Ilneval's teachings.
Bahgtru "The Head Claimer" Amongst The Great Plains, creatures can be found for the Gods to test their might. Amongst these was a giant Behir, and it was said that it would be the greatest test of Strength for any that try to best the beast. Bahgtru laughed at this, and sought out the creature. The battle lasted 6 days and 6 nights, and on each of these, Bahgtru broke one of the legs of the beast. On the final day, he burried his great axe in to the beasts skull, and claimed victory. Bahgtru is the ferocity of the Greenskin's made manifest, and those that follow him compete in great contests of strength. Bugbears favour Bahgtru in particular.
Luthic "The Cave Mother" The life-mate of Gruumsh is Luthic, and it is she who keeps The Great Tribe together and brings life to the world. When another of the Gods disagress with Gruumsh, it is Luthic that challenges them and brings them back in line with a visciousness the other Gods fear. Despite this brutality, she is caring and watches over all the life of the world. She is the one that breathes life to those Greenskin that fall pregnant, but she is also the one who sings her song to bring fallen Greenskin to The Great Plains. Those Greenskin that grow crops or provide food worship Luthic more, and idols of her are kept close to the hearth for protection.
Yurtrus "The Pallid" With a face painted of white, Yurtrus is the God of disease, plague and illness. Even Greenskin are not immune to such things, and it is said that Yurtrus is the one that brings these things. He does this to bring stability to the Unending Dark, for if it is not appeased with souls, it shall spread to engulf the world. Being the Lord of the Dead for Greenskin culture, he is respected and feared, and followers of him typically paint their faces white in mimicry of their dark God.
Shargraas "Lord of Night" The bringer of nighttime comes each day, blanketing the land and hiding the sun from those that can see it. In the dark, the unknown and cunning can prosper. Being seen as a God with no honour, Orcs typically shun those that follow Shargraas. Goblins, however, are often found worshipping Shargraas, as he is known to prey on the weak, using stealth to bring about his enemies demise.
Mazoga "The Earth Warder" For the lands and world that the Greenskin inhabit, they have Mazoga to thank. It is her that created the lands, the seas, the mountains, and bought all the creatures for the Greenskin's to thrive off of. She watches over the lands, and often leaves The Great Plains to bring about change to the Greenskin world. Many Druids follow Mazoga, teaching patience and caring for the natural world.
Yerug "The Wanderer" A lesser God, and one of the youngest to appear, Yerug is patron to exploration and adventure. To those Greenskin that have the inspiration to venture further than their tribe, Yerug whispers, guiding them far and wide. Many that are seen as "strange" or an outsider in a tribe fall to the call of Yerug, and will leave to sate their thirst for seeking new things. Yerug is also prayed to when a Greenskin must travel far, be it by road or sea.

Type

Religious, Pantheon

Related Ethnicities

• Goblin Culture - Caravans and Tribes

"Many see us Orcs, and all Greenskin, as savages; brutes not good for anything but fighting. But we have our own ways, and amongst them, the ways of The Great Tribe. What the Gods teach is life, and how to survive. They make us strong."