Yurtrus (YER-truss)
Yurtrus White-Hands is the hated and feared Orc deity of death and disease. He is a capricious lord, dispensing suffering and crippling plagues with a callous whimsy. Even orcs, a notoriously brutal race, hold him in loathing. Their "reverence" is fueled by a desperate hope – to appease the Rotting One and divert his pestilence from their own doorsteps.
Orcish children learn obedience not through gentle guidance, but through chilling tales of the Silent One. Yurtrus' name is a whispered threat, a reminder of the cold halls that await the disobedient. These stories hold a grim truth. Yurtrus reigns supreme over the orcish dead.
Divine Symbols & Sigils
Clergy, Temples and Worshippers
The priesthood of White-Hands exists in every Orcish tribe, but dominates none. They are both shunned and feared; disliked and avoided for what their deity represents, but too dangerous to banish. Their primary duty is to intercede with the Rotting One to ward off disease and untimely death, and also to request his help in sending such plagues against their enemies. In addition to their primary duties, priests are solely responsible for the disposition of the dead, and oversee funeral rites for all members of the tribe. They also oversee burial lands and other sacred death sites such as barrows, tombs, and dedicated pyre locations. Because of their control over these aspects of Orcish life, interference with another tribe's funerary procedures is a strong taboo observed by most orcs out of fear of retaliation from members of Yurtrus' clergy regardless of their tribal affiliation. The priests also function as diviners, using extispicy (divination by means of inspecting the entrails of sacrificed animals) as their preferred method of determining omens surrounding specific events. The priests of Yurtrus are also responsible for overseeing the food stocks of the tribe, determining when meat is rotten or water too polluted to drink. Thus, some tribes began to worship Yurtrus as a god of food and health to be appeased. Sacrifices are generally offered to the Rotting Lord by inoculating a particularly horrible disease in victims.Priestly Vestments
At all times, priests of Yurtrus wear soft leather gloves made from the skin of non-orcish humanoids, humans, and demihumans. These gloves are bleached white to mimic their god's hands. In addition, they wear leather clothing made of the same material. They carry special maces with heads carved in the shape of a clenched fist. The heads of the maces are always made of a hard white substance, such as marble or bone. These maces are used in battle, as well as functioning as the priesthood's holy symbol. Even in battle or when travelling, followers of White-Hands wear their ceremonial garb at all times. They may use other weapons or armor if necessary, but it is considered a breach of protocol, and they only do so if absolutely necessary.Hierarchy
Yurtrus' clergy is comprised primarily of orcs. The Yurtran clergy is predominately male, but are open to females, but generally only those who survived a debilitating disease or plague choose to join the priesthood. Novices in the service of the Lord of Magots are called the Muted and full priests are known as Plaguehands. The hierarchy of Yurtrus' church varies from tribe to tribe, but is usually based on pure seniority. However, in many tribes, the highest positions are open only to priests who have been "touched by White-Hands," a term the priesthood uses to describe those afflicted at some point in their life by a disease with lasting physical effects (scarring, discoloration, rotting, etc.). Shamans and witch doctors are not part of the clerical hierarchy, although they are considered brothers of the faith. Shamans are found in about three times as many Yurtrus-dominated tribes as witch doctors.Temples
As with the clergy themselves, shrines consecrated to White-Hands are found in virtually every Orcish tribe. They are typically the location where death rites are held and the bodies disposed of (funeral pyres, interment, etc.). The priesthood rarely builds temples, but they frequently take over crypts and tombs and reconsecrate them to the Lord of Maggots. In addition, in communities that build tombs, barrows, or similar chambered burial sites for honored dead, the upkeep, protection, and maintenance is the purview of the clergy of Yurtrus. Temples and shrines are always built in close proximity to the tombs, either connected or unconnected, whichever is most appropriate. Undead guardians are frequently found in all such tombs and temples, created and controlled by the clergy of the Rotting Lord. Members of the priesthood are also dedicated defenders of tribal land, as they consider it part of their duties to the tribes' dead, and make effective use of their maces and spells in battle.Rituals
The priests and followers of Yurtrus pray at dusk for their spells. Yurtrus's holy days are on the new moon, and he is worshipped in underground crypts. Appropriate sacrifices are made to him monthly. Once a month, on the night of the full moon, the Yurtran clergy gathers in a sanctified crypt to perform a ceremony called the Propitiation. This ceremony is intended to re-affirm their faith and humility before White-Hands, and ward off the diseases and plagues he inflicts. Typically, sacrifices will consist of two herd animals, such as cows, goats, or sheep, or a single humanoid captive. The blood is drained from the sacrifices and the bodies burned on a ritual pyre. While the bodies are burning, the priests gather around and sprinkle the blood into the fire, all the while reciting pleading chants asking Yurtrus to spare the tribe his touch. Crypts used for these ceremonies are usually the burial places of great Orcish chiefs, although captured dwarven, Human, or elven crypts may be used once they have been consecrated to Yurtrus. When plague or disease afflicts the tribe in significant numbers, the priests will perform an emergency ceremony called the Appeasing. The details of the ceremony are very similar to the Propitiation, but there is an added layer of extispicy divination before the sacrifices are burned. If ill omens are seen in the entrails, a new sacrifice of a herd animal or a captive is made and extispicy is performed again. This cycle continues until good omens indicating the sacrifice is accepted are found.Tenets of Faith
Death is inevitable and always ends up taking the life. The ravages of an epidemic are nothing else than taking the death of victims who have not fallen in battle, allowing them more or less choose their end. We can not avoid contact with white hands in bowing before the Lord Putrescent and pleading for clemency. However, the disease can attack all living creatures. Fear him, for death is lurking in the shadows of the cave Luthic and it certainly strikes again.
Holidays
The Church recognizes two major holy days. The first is the Ceremony of Contagion, which is celebrated on Midsummer's Eve. It is said on that day the god spread a contagion that sapped the world of life and drew it inevitably toward winter and the end of the year. After a series of bloody sacrifices to protect the orcs from the ravages of disease, the priests of Yurtrus went forth to spread disease and death worldwide, especially among other races.
The second holy day, known as Putrescent Death, is celebrated on the eve of Midwinter. During that night, the clergy of Yurtrus celebrate the death of the world, symbolized by the sacrifice of intelligent creatures from other races.
Personality Characteristics
Motivation
Yurtrus is an enigma, shrouded in silent terror. He embodies the inevitable fate that awaits all orcs: death, decay, and the embrace of the grave, whether met through brutal combat or wasting disease. Every orc carries this shadow within them, propitiating the Lord of Maggots with offerings and prayers. Should his withering touch befall them, only the most fervent pleas and sacrifices can hope to turn his wrath elsewhere. But Yurtrus remains forever silent, a chilling testament to the finality he represents.
Social
Contacts & Relations
Within the Orcish Pantheon
Like Nyxgaas, the Rotting One maintains a frosty distance from the rest of the Orcish Pantheon. Physical separation on different planes and a lack of interaction contribute to this isolation. He harbors a single spark of something beyond indifference – a simmering resentment towards Nyxgaas. An ancient dispute over the domain of undeath still rankles Yurtrus, a grudge etched deep within the Silent One. Yurtrus, by his very nature, shied away from true alliances. However, a cold pact of convenience existed between him and Nyxgaas. The Rotting One silently supported the Night Lord's subtle machinations to weaken the influence of the three orcish war gods: Gruumsh, Bahgtru, and Ilneval. Ilneval, in turn, harbored a deep loathing for both Yurtrus and Nyxgaas. He despised their underhanded methods and cowardice. Yet, he wasn't above utilizing their skills in conflicts with other pantheons. Even Gruumsh, the mighty god of war, held a sliver of fear for Yurtrus. While legend whispered Gruumsh could overpower the Rotting One, the thought of entering Yurtrus' diseased realm was enough to deter the war god. Perhaps death itself held no fear for Gruumsh, but the prospect of Yurtrus' pestilent touch did.Other Pantheons
Yurtrus reflects the outlook of his pantheon - aloof and disdainful. The other races naturally despise him, mirroring their hatred for orcs. Elven, dwarven, goblin and hobgoblin deities hold him in equal contempt. Other death gods, like Urogalan and Dumathoin, view him with indifference. Ironically, Yurtrus might be the least hated orc deity by outsiders. While they still despise him for his role in orc mortality, his influence doesn't extend beyond his own brutal race.Titles:
White Hands;The Lord of Maggots;
The Rotting One;
Rotting Yurtrus;
Alignment
Neutral Evil
Realm
Children
Aligned Organization
Related Myths
Ruled Locations
| LG | NG | CG |
| LN | N | CN |
| LE | NE | CE |
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