Orcish Pantheon
Most extensive of all humanoid pantheons is that of the populous, fertile Orc race. Their myth of pre-time, constantly re-told by shamans around the campfire in the deepest dark of night, is archetypal for most of the humanoid races.
In the beginning all the gods met and drew lots for the parts of the world where their races would dwell. The elven gods drew the lot which gave them green forests and bright woodland, the Dwarf gods drew the lot which gave them the riches of the mountains, the Gnomish gods got the sunlit, rocky hills, and the Halfling gods picked the lot which gave them the rolling fields and meadows. The Human gods drew the lot which allowed the humans to dwell where they pleased, in any environment. Then the assembled gods turned to the Orcish gods and laughed loud and long. "All the lots are taken!", they said tauntingly. "Where will your people dwell, One-Eye? There is no place left!'
There was silence upon the world then, as Gruumsh One-Eye lifted his great iron spear and stretched it over the world. The shaft blotted out the sun over a great part of the lands as he spoke: "No! You lie! You have rigged the drawing of lots, hoping to cheat me and my followers. But One-Eye never sleeps; One-Eye sees all. There is a place for orcs to dwell... here!" , he bellowed, and his spear pierced the mountains, opening mighty rifts and chasms. "And here!" , and the spearhead split the hills and made them shake, covering them in dust, "And here again!", and the black spear gouged the meadows, and made them bare.
"There!" roared He-who-Watches triumphantly, and his voice carried to the ends of the world. "There is where the orcs shall dwell! And they shall survive, and multiply, and grow stronger. And a day will come when they cover the world, and they shall slay all of your collected peoples! Orcs shall inherit the world you sought to cheat me of!"
Members
- Bahgtru, The Leg Breaker, The Strong, The Son of Gruumsh, The Fist of Gruumsh.
- Gruumsh, He Who Never Sleeps, He Who Watches, The One-Eyed God.
- Ilneval The War Maker, The Horde Leader, The Crafty Warrior, The Lieutenant of Gruumsh, War Master, Son of Strife.
- Luthic The Cave Mother, Great Mother, Mother of Bahgtru, The Healer, The Blood Moon Witch.
- Nyxgaas The Night Lord, The Blade in the Darkness, The Stalker Below.
- Yurtrus The White-Handed, White Hands, The Lord of Maggots, The Rotting One, The Rotting Lord, Rotting Yurtrus.
The Orc pantheon in this order from left to right: Bahgtru, Ilneval, Gruumsh, Shargaas, Yurtrus, and on the lower row under Gruumsh: Luthic.
The Orc Pantheon
Basic Information
Membership
Relationships
Type
Religious, Pantheon
Permeated Organizations
Related Myths
Comments