Lords of Nishrek - Orc Pantheon

[Innovation]

Bahgtru

The Strong, the Leg Breaker, the Son of Gruumsh
Symbol: Broken thighbone
Home Plane: Nishrek
Alignment: Chaotic evil
Portfolio: Loyalty, stupidity, brute strength
Worshipers: Barbarians, followers, orcs, physically strong beings, warriors, wrestlers
Favored Weapon: “Crunch” (spiked gauntlet)

Cleric Alignments: CE, CN, NE
Domains: Evil, Strength, Chaos, Orc

History/Relationships: Bahgtru is the son of Gruumsh and Luthic. He is said to have killed the first behir, breaking each of its legs in the process of earning him his moniker. Bahgtru is feared by the other orc gods for his incredible strength, yet they call on him for assistance when they have need. Ilneval secretly resents Gruumsh's stupid, but loyal, son, for he dares not challenge the One-Eyed God while Bahgtru remains loyal to him. Bahgtru is implacably opposed to goblinoid deities, although he attacks them only when Gruumsh permits. He also hates the Seldarine and other sylvan deities, whose physical weakness he scorns. While Bahgtru respects the might of the dwarven gods, he still wishes to crush their skulls. Bahgtru also opposes the most obvious plots of deities of deception, including Baravar Cloakshaow, Cyric, and Mask.

Dogma: The mighty shall crush the weak, thus strengthening the tribe. Scorn the shields of weakness and rely on your physical prowess, for strength is enduring. Think not crafty thoughts, for they undermine the strength of the tribe. Loyalty to your leader is all that is required of you.

[Innovation]

Gruumsh

He Who Never Sleeps, the One-Eyed God, He Who Watches
Symbol: Unwinking eye
Home Plane: Nishrek
Alignment: Chaotic evil
Portfolio: Orcs, conquest, survival, strength, territory
Worshipers: Fighters, orcs
Favored Weapon: “The Bloodspear” [longspear] (longspear or shortspear)

Cleric Alignments: CE, CN, NE
Domains: Evil, Strength, War, Hatred, Orc, Cavern, Chaos

History/Relationships: Gruumsh is said to have lost an eye in a battle with Corellon Larethian, although the orcs' version holds that he always had one eye. Orc myths tell that when the races of the world drew lots for the land, there were none left for Gruumsh, but he took his spear and smote the earth to create caves, blighted glades, and badlands for his people to dwell. He holds absolute authority over his pantheon and considers no non-orc his ally. He particularly hates the elven and dwarven deities.

Dogma: Seek unceasing war against your enemies, and kill or enslave those that oppose you. Acquire territory and living space. Destroy elves, their homes, and their lands. Crush the dwarves and take their deep caves for your own. Be strong, and be prepared to show your strength at any moment. Showing weakness is the key to an early death. Those that are too weak to fight for your tribe should be put to the spear. The greatest gift that He Who Watches gave to the orcs was the ability to survive where the weaker races would die. Build your strength in these lands and use them to overrun your enemies.

[Innovation]

Ilneval

The Horde Leader, the War Maker, the Lieutenant of Gruumsh
Symbol: Bloodied longsword
Home Plane: Nishrek
Alignment: Neutral evil
Portfolio: War, combat, overwhelming numbers, strategy
Worshipers: Barbarians, fighters, orcs
Favored Weapon: “Foe Smiter” (longsword)

Cleric Alignments: CN, LN, NE
Domains: Destruction, Evil, War, Orc

History/Relationships: Ilneval serves Gruumsh as battle lieutenant, commanding the One-Eye God's armies when his master does not wish to do so himself. The Craft Warrior has destroyed one or two orc demigods before, and he secretly works to undermine Bahgtru as well. Gruumsh does not trust his self-serving lieutenant for good reason, but Ilneval remains loyal enough while the One-Eye God and Bahgtru remain on the same side. Ilneval loathes both Shargaas and Yurtus for their underhanded approach smells of cowardice. However, the War Maker is smart enough to use their talents effectively in battle with the gods of other pantheons. Despite his differences with the other orc gods, Ilneval loathes the goblinoid gods, the dwarven gods, the elven gods, and all the other traditional enemies of the orc pantheon and would never betray his race.

Dogma: Strength is as much a function of the mind as one's boy. Train hard and think craftily in preparation for war, for all like is an endless battle. Unite your tribe into a raging storm, for there is great strength in numbers if all can work in concert. Once the time for combat is right, however, charge into the fray undaunted and let the blood fly where it may. Only through personal courage do you prove yourself fit for the mantle of leadership.

[Innovation]

Luthic

The Cave Mother, the Blood Moon Witch
Symbol: Orc rune for home
Home Plane: Nishrek
Alignment: Neutral evil
Portfolio: Caves, orc females, home, wisdom, fertility, healing, servitude
Worshipers: Monks, orc females, runecasters
Favored Weapon: A hand with long claws (claw bracer)

Cleric Alignments: CN, LN, NE
Domains: Cavern, Earth, Evil, Healing, Orc

History/Relationships: Luthic is the wife of Gruumsh and the mother of Bahgtru, although only the latter pays her heed. The Son of Gruumsh honors his mother's commands, even above Gruumsh, a small rebellion on the part of his otherwise loyal son that the One-Eye God tolerates only grudgingly. The other orc gods pay her only a modicum of respect and then only because she is the wife of Gruumsh, treatment she grudgingly accepts as her lot even if she detests it. Luthic harbors a deep enmity for the traditional enemies of the orc pantheon, including the goblinoid gods, the dwarven gods, and the elven gods.

Dogma: Life is sheltered within the earth from which it springs. Honor the wisdom of the Cave Mother, whose strength is the backbone of the horde and the root of valor in battle. Understand your position within the tribe and do your part to strengthen the tribe against rivals. The cave is the sheltering embrace of the Mother of Bahgtru and the bastion of orc strength. Endure all hardships.

[Innovation]

Shargaas

The Night Lord, the Blade in the Darkness, the Stalker Below
Symbol: Skull on a red crescent moon
Home Plane: Nishrek
Alignment: Chaotic evil
Portfolio: Night, thieves, stealth, darkness, the Underdark
Worshipers: Assassins, blackguards, orcs, shadowdancers, thieves
Favored Weapon: “Nightblade” (short sword)

Cleric Alignments: CE, CN, NE
Domains: Chaos, Darkness, Evil, Trickery, Orc

History/Relationships: The Night Lord's hatred of all life extends to hatred of other deities as well. Nevertheless, he has found it prudent to ally himself with the other orc deities and manipulate them to serve his ends. Shargaas maintains a cold alliance with Yurtrus, in particular, counterbalancing the more militaristic Gruumsh, Baghtru, and Ilneval. He also secretly reveals Ilneval's treacheries to Gruumsh as a way of cementing his own position within the pantheon and undermining the One-Eyed God's overly ambitious lieutenant. Shargaas has no allies outside the orc pantheon, but reserves his greatest hatred for the dwarf, gnome, and goblin deities.

Dogma: The darkness is cold and everlasting, but provides a dark mantle for the blade in the night. With silent strike and hidden hand, cull the weak from the tribe and eliminate all other races. Go down into the deep tunnels and wage war with those who dare abide in the demesne of Shargaas. Be alert for weakness in the eyes of the chieftain, for his mistakes may spell your own doom.

[Innovation]

Yurtrus

White Hands, the Lord of Maggots, the Rotting One
Symbol: White hands on a dark background
Home Plane: Nishrek
Alignment: Neutral evil
Portfolio: Death, disease
Worshipers: Assassins, monks, orcs
Favored Weapon: Pale white hands (unarmed strike)

Cleric Alignments: CN, LN, NE
Domains: Death, Destruction, Evil, Orc

History/Relationships: By his very nature, Yurtrus is not prone to forming relationships. He gives his silent backing to Chargaas in the latter's efforts to subtly counterbalance the influence of the three orc war gods. The Rotting One is also thought to maintain some sort of relationship with other gods of death and disease, such as Talona, although it may be more of a rivalry than an alliance. Like the rest of the orc pantheon, Yurtrus loathes the gods of the dwarves, elves, and goblins, and opposes them at every opportunity.

Dogma: Death is inexorable and eventually claims all life. The ravages of plague are simply death claiming victims who have yet to fall in battle, leaving all creatures to simply choose the manner in which death will most likely strike. The touch of White Hands can be forestalled only by bowing down to the Rotting Lord and begging his mercy, but, in time, plague strikes all living things. Fear him, for death lurks in the shadowed corners of Luthic's cavern and it will inexorably come again.