Gruumsh

One-Eye, He-Who-Never-Sleeps

Gruumsh

Description

Gruumsh normally appears as a hulking, 10 feet (3 meters) tall orc covered in battle scars and clad in a black, gleaming suit of plate mail armor. His tough, gray hide was corded with muscle, and on his one-eyed face was a bear-like snout. In some incarnations he had only a right eye and an empty left eye socket, while in others he simply had one large, cycloptic eye that stared unwinking in the center of his forehead.

Rituals and Beliefs

Gruumsh demands that his followers be strong, that they cull the weak from their numbers, and that they take all territory Gruumsh thinks is rightfully theirs. He tolerates no sign of friendliness from his people. Unceasing warfare is his creed, though Gruumsh does not object to simple colonization if that can be arranged.

His Clerics

Most of the orc pantheon was extremely patriarchal, with most of the gods only accepting male priests and shamans. This applied especially to Gruumsh, who was considered the orc god of virility. This was a result of the "might makes right" attitude common in orcish society, since males were stronger on average than females. Even so, a female strong enough to defeat those that would subjugate her could reach any position, with the sole exception of becoming a cleric of Gruumsh.

Gruumsh

A Depiction of Gruumsh, the One-Eyed God

GRUUMSH

(Greater Deity)

Gender: Masculine
Regions: All Orcish Realms
Representations:

• A triangular eye with bony protrusions
• An unblinking eye

Sphere of Power: Tempest, War
Can Be Worshipped with Other Gods: Yes