The Grusha (Grew-Shruh)
The Eastern coast of Alus has seen kingdoms rise and fall over the ages. It was seen Orc tribes pillage and raid the land, only to stand side-by-side with its people to defend it when Abyssal forces sought to conquer it. And from that rose faith that compliments this unity and calls for the rise of civlization to fight back against the dangers of the world and to fight back against the dominance of nature. The Grusha are a pantheon of 5 gods that call for the rise and defense of kingdoms and true balance between nature and settlements. These 5 gods are:
- Grunish the Emperor: Leader of the Pantheon, God of Architecture, the Forge, Cities, and Kingdoms
- Bruna the Hearthwife: Goddess of the Home, Knowledge, and Rest
- Elroz the Ranger: God of Agriculture, Hunting, and Harmony with nature
- Neruza the Raven Queen: Goddess of Death and Species unity
- Vanush the Hidden Hand: God of Commerce, Crime, and Subterfuge
Mythology & Lore
The story of the Grusha begins with their namesake, Grunish. A member of the Lunishra pantheon in the beginning, he was a staunch advocate for decimating the nations of the non-Orcs outside Lumin lands. For generations, he watched as his followers defeated and pushed back those that weren't Orcs. However, the ferocity and power displayed by the other races and their gods impressed the warrior. And it made him question if alienating the Orcs from others was the proper path.
He questioned his fellow gods on the matter and they recited the same reasons about how these people squandered the gifts of nature with their stone cities and did not live in balance. But did that call for constant war against them? Did it call for living nomadic lifestyles constantly when their enemies could field massive cities? Could there not be a way to live in harmony with nature while still living in settlements? These questions haunted Grunish for some time and in his doubt, followers of his doubted as well.
One of his followers, a fearsome warrior known as Orzag, fell to this doubt. He led a mighty band of Orcs into the mountains and pushed so far that he made it to the eastern side of Alus. The fractured kingdoms were all ripe for plundering with their infighting and would bring him great glory. And so his band set upon them with a fury. And through his eyes, Grunish saw the new land. Orzag felled many kingdoms but also met many fine warriors who fell by his blade. And being so far from home meant he no longer had the criticisms of his homeland to weigh upon him.
With that new freedom, Orzag and Grunish saw the fine warriors who stood against him and the former even called upon mercenaries to replenish his ranks when he lost too many. And through these actions, he came to see the strength of Orcs working alongside non-Orcs. As did Grunish. Yet in the end, word got out about Orzag's actions back home and he was summoned back to face the consequences.
If he returned home, it meant dishonor or death for him and he'd likely have to abandon any Half-Orc children he sired as well. Both he and Grunish couldn't accept that. The god had realized the strength of the outsiders. And that they'd be better served having those forces under their banner. And he realized the power of industry and urbanization. When he spread these words, many of the other gods weren't willing to listen to his words. The few that did joined his side.
Grunish told Orzag to stay where he was and made a calling to any Orcs who chaffed under the Lumin culture and restrictions. He told them to head east across the mountains to eastern shores. Many warriors who felt similarly to Orzag went east with their confidants. The Lumin who stayed antagonized those that left but refused to attack them. Grunish was told that in time, his people, now known as the Grumin, and the Lumin people would meet again eventually and their battle would decide whether his pantheon or the Lunishra would be the dominant belief for their people.
Divine Origins
The Grusha pantheon was caused by a schism in the Lunishra faith over in the Northern Taigas. This was caused by a tribal leader known as Orzag who chose to cross the Alusian mountains and strike deep on the east coast of Alus. His warband made many conquests but the more people they lost, the less they were able to replenish them with Orcs from the homeland. It all came to a head when the Daestran rift opened. The Protector of Avestra and the Lone Wanderer even arrived on the battlefield to fight. And the Orcs were no different since they saw the threat of the Demons.
This conflict made Orzag and his Orcs realize how powerful non-Orcs were. Some of them even bonded with or fell in love with said people and had Half-Orc children. Even Orzag himself had Half-Orc children. When word reached back home, they were appalled and called for Orzag's return to be punished. Instead, he refused and chose to set roots in what would become Orzag's Cradle. Other Orcs who chaffed under the restrictions of the Lumin culture left and joined him. Since the old faith still embodied that old culture, they changed their faith, using Grunish the warrior as the foundation.
As kingdoms rose and fell in the region, the pantheon was shaped to reflect the rise and fall of kingdoms and old gods once left without many followers in the Lumin faith were converted into new gods that found many followers in the Grushan faith.
Tenets of Faith
- Grunish the Emperor: If you have the strength and the cunning, raise your banner and build a country off your ideals. As long as this country grows and stays strong, you will have his favor. But should you wane in your duty or should your country fail, you may find it quick to fall and exist only in the annals of history.
- Bruna: Always care for your home and be prepared to defend it. But do not neglect the opportunities to rest and learn when you are able.
- Elroz: Countries and civilization cannot grow without food, whether it be from animals or plants. But always strive to have the two in balance, never allow one to dominate the other.
- Neruza: Accept others who will stand with you because no matter what, you all die the same. Accept that and accept death when it comes for you.
- Vanush: Follow the path of the Merchant, the Malefactor, or the Rogue.
Worship
- Grunish's worship is quite simple: Build upon your country. Masons, crafters, politicians, it matters little. As long as your country, or "civilization", thrives, it is seen as good worship in his eyes and the eyes of his priests. When a new building is finished or a political ceremony occurs, there are often prays spoken to Grunish to bless these occassions.
- Bruna's worship says to care for your home. This means that one has to look after friends and family and make sure they rest as much as possible. Education is also important which is why there are so many schools in Virush for the people to learn from.
- Elroz's faithful look after the land and keep nature in balance with civilization. After all, the people of Avestra are part of nature as much as everything else. When a wolf pack hunts too much or too little, it affects the entire area. So too do people when they don't live in balance. As such, farming is done enough to feed the people but not enough to drain the land of nutrients. Same goes for hunting animals as well. Another form of worship is to hunt those that threaten nature, mainly referring to monsters or creatures such as Aberrations or Demons.
- Neruza's worship is to look after the graveyards and hunt down any undead that exist. Also, accepting others, especially those of a different creed is integral to her worship.
- Vanush has three types of worship: Make money and support the economy. Do not get rid of all crime but do not allow it to become so rampant that it disrupts the economy. Use subterfuge in any form to protect the former two or to defend your country.
Priesthood
- Grunish's priests are often found in cities. They bless buildings, crafted goods, and even rulers. The Virushian Emperor has an archpriest of Grunish within their court as all emperors are anointed by said priest when they ascend the throne. To rise through the ranks, a priest of Grunish must forge something, whether it be an object, a building, or even a city.
- Bruna's priests are found anywhere, especially in schools. They embody her desire to teach and instill the want to learn and be better than one was yesterday. Additonally, they are often the ones who perform marriage ceremonies for any couples who follow the faith. They even run orphanages for children who have been abandoned or lose their caretakers. These three methods are usually how they rise through the rank as the more success they have in teaching, conducting marriages that last, and raise orphans into adulthood who become model citizens will allow them to rise in the faith.
- Elroz's faithful are found in farming and hunting communities. His priest are often rangers and farmers themselves or even butchers. There is no way to rise through his priesthood, simply look around the land and keep settlements in balance with it.
- Neruza's priests are gravekeepers and morticians most often since her role as a goddess of death is dominant.
- Vanush's priesthood depends on which version of him you follow. The merchant's priests are often part of businesses, blessing them and any trade that might bring more commerce to their business or country. The Malefactor's priests are looked down upon but they bless criminals to achieve their goals and even often them safehavens from their crimes within reason. The Rogue's priests are spies and assassins, forming organizations and completing contracts as a way to worship him.
Political Influence & Intrigue
This pantheon is the driving force behind Virush and it's bid to become a stable empire. Across the empire, there are signs of the faith all over and it pushes them to face any dangers to the country. This is why they are preparing for war against Yggdragun as the Jovun march south. However, it also pushes them economically as they clash with Nubia over control of an island integral to trade in the Ashen Sea and why their businesses are trying to ensure protection of ships in the Cican Strait.
However, it's biggest impact is the eventual war between Virush and Skuvtun when the two border each other. Their faiths contradict each other and the Lunishra faith has made it clear that they will see this false religion smashed and any who follow it rot and feed the land where they fall. As such, this is not just a religious war but a cultural one as well between the two Orc people that reside in these lands. Time will tell if they will ever meet in battle and which faith will survive.
Sects
Neruz and Vanush: Blood Cult
Some people have taken to following Neruz and Vanush so much that they believe the only way to truly worship the goddess of death and the god of assassins is by murder. Not just contract assassination but random, indiscriminate, or even pre-meditated killing. There have been attempts to destroy these cults and educate the masses on how to truly truly worship them. Unfortunately, there are still those so depraved that they will continue down this path of blood regardless and the only recourse left is to kill them.
Type
Religious, Pantheon
Predecessor Organization
Demonym
Grushan
Deities
Location
Related Ethnicities
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