Gruumsh

One-Eye, He Who Never Sleeps, the One-Eyed God, He Who Watches

Gruumsh, also known as Gruumsh One-Eye, is the patron deity of the Orcs, who regard him as the god of Conquest, Survival, Strength, and Territory.
Gruumsh appears as a powerful orc with one eye. A figure of fury and driven cruelty, Gruumsh rules the Orcs with brute power. His favoured weapon is the spear.

Divine Domains

Chaos, Destruction, Domination, Evil, Mysticism, Strength, Tyranny, War.

Divine Symbols & Sigils

Gruumsh's symbol is an empty eye socket, or a single unwinking eye. His sacred animal is the giant rat.

Tenets of Faith

Gruumsh teaches his followers that the strong are meant to rule and the weak are meant to be crushed, their flesh rended and their blood spilled, their bodies killed or enslaved, because purging the world of weakness is what is best for all. Slavery is usually only a brief reprieve before death. Runts and cripples are more than just a burden on society, but a sign of Gruumsh's disfavour, marked by their weakness for elimination. That which does not kill an orc only makes them stronger.
Non-evil followers of Gruumsh take a more moderate approach. They do not automatically kill or enslave non-orcs, and even dwarves and elves may be spared if they are not automatically hostile. They do, however, seek to prove orcish superiority at every opportunity through contests of strength and martial skill.
As Orcs that are not clerics or adepts are forbidden to speak his name, Gruumsh is also known as "One-Eye," "The One-Eyed God," "He-Who-Never-Sleeps," and "He-Who-Watches." The most devout followers of He Who Never Sleeps are a cabal known as the Fury of the Eye, the most zealous and ruthless orcish religious movement. They actively seek to drive their tribes toward conquest and the annihilation of their enemies. More moderate members of the Fury of the Eye seek to more pragmatically enslave their foes, reasoning the weak exist to serve the strong.
Outside orcish lands, half-orcs and other humanoids act as the eyes and ears of the Fury of the Eye cult, as they tend to be more accepted by other races. Given time, they may grow to treat mixed-race groups such as adventuring bands with the same devotion they would show an orcish tribe.
Gruumsh's priests wear dark red vestments, war helms, and black plate mail. Their favoured weapon is the spear.
Initiation to the Fury of the Eye may include acts of sacrifice to One-Eye or the enslavement of particularly reviled foes of the orcs. One extreme rite involves voluntary impalement with a spear, symbolic of Gruumsh's suffering at the hands of rival gods. If the initiate survives this impalement for a day or more, they are tentatively accepted into the fold. Cultists are called upon to continually prove their devotion through various means.
Smaller orcish tribes often raid nearby villages and harass those who intrude into lands they believe are rightfully theirs. Elf and dwarf settlements are likely targets, but any non-orcs are considered fair game.
"Gruumsh sees only victory!" and "Blood for the One-Eye!" are common oaths, as is "By his bloody spear!"

Holidays

Gruumsh's holy day is the new moon, and he is worshiped in orcish lairs. A sacrifice of blood is made to him monthly.

Divine Classification

God

Religions

• Ghoshbeg Rel

Alignment

Chaotic Evil

Gender

Male

Related Myths

• The Bloody Birth of the Orcs
• The Eye of Gruumsh

Gruumsh's Symbol by Sam Wood