The Dark Tread

The Dark Tread, and even its name, are forbidden in orc clans. Clergymen of Gruumsh revile its practice and command everyone to stay away from its existence and knowledge lest the wrath of Gruumsh fall upon them. Many have warned of the collapse of the entire clan itself, or being sold into elven slavery, or even worse. Despite this, some have thoughts of its possibility, though these thoughts are often quashed by Gruumsh and his influence over them.

Start of a Journey

Those that do manage to push through the thoughts are spiritually brought before a wide shallow sea of still, clear water. Soft grass is underfoot and they breathe for the first time deeply air without blood or malice or war. This is known as the Sea of Peace. The journey has just begun for these brave orcs.
The difficulty in the journey is its length and its nature. The orcs are severing the ties with Gruumsh and must defeat the shards of himself he placed inside them. The shard is nothing compared to actual Gruumsh, and there have been instances of Gruumsh's avatar or a horde being sent to deter and bring back an orc who walks the Dark Tread.
The exact details of the journey are unknown, and those who survive tend to keep to themselves, even among fellow Treaders. These that survive the sojourn describe themselves as "born again" and free from Gruumsh's influence and rule over them. They say that almost every dream starts in the Sea of Peace before launching into whatever other dreams they desire. These born-again orcs, called simple Born-agains, and their children and their children are free from Gruumsh's control.

Life After

Despite the spiritual peace, born-again orcs have been known to come back to Gruumsh due to many nuanced factors, either from lack of community or lack of food or lack of power, all things Gruumsh promises, the dogma seeps back into them. The survival rate of Born-agains who return to their clan and Gruumsh is half, for Gruumsh looks down upon those who rejected him.
Clergy often make examples of born-again orcs, making them confess to their wrongdoing, of pretending to know more than Gruumsh, and thinking themselves more powerful than the deity of war. Many are put down, but some are allowed back. Gruumsh even has hunts called "Birth Hunts" to find and eradicate the Born-agains.

Saint Boligad

Only one Born-again has gone back to Gruumsh and then walked for a second time The Dark Tread, a mythical figure to those seeking the Dark Tread. His name is Boligad the Walker, some call him Saint Boligad. He isn't worshiped like a deity but revered as important, especially during the Dark Tread. Many orcs almost lost in some deep freezes of a trial cry out to Boligad and channel his perseverance and strength, giving them the power to push through.

Quick Facts

• This ritual is to dispel the influence of Gruumsh.
• Only Orcs and Half-orcs are allowed to undergo and discuss the Dark Tread.
• About half of those who undergo the Dark Tread survive.
• If successful, these orcs are exiled from their tribes. No exceptions.
• One can return to Gruumsh after the Dark Tread.
• Only one has ever successfully undergone the Dark Tread twice, Saint Boligad.

This ritual is for Orcs and Half-orcs only!!