Cult of the Horde Mother

The cult of the Horde Mother is the unofficial name of the goblinoid religion within the Great Horde.

Tenets of Faith

Followers of the Horde Mother observe monthly holy days on the new moons, symbolic of orc fertility. A yearly "Feast of the Moon" was celebrated by her worshipers to observe the changing of the year, when many of her followers take refuge in caves, the ancestral birthplace of the goblinoids. This event enabled the conception of many young orcs to add to the ranks of warriors in the horde. Clerics and adepts of the Horde Mother are some of the best midwives in the known world as they work to ensure a healthy crop of future goblinoids warriors are born each year.
Honor the wisdom of the Horde 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 all rivals. Endure all hardships.

Worship

Clerics and adepts of the Horde Mother pray for their spells each day whenever the moon (or moons) is highest in the sky. Holy days are tied to the new moons, which are also the symbols of orc fertility. A yearly "Feast of the Moon" is celebrated by her worshipers to observe the changing of the year, when many of her followers take refuge in caves, the ancestral birthplace of the goblinoids. The females of the tribe, led by the preistesses, prepare a massive feast of all food that will not keep through winter, while readying the rest for storage. This is the traditional time for warriors, particularly those freshly raised to adulthood over the previous months, to claim mates from amongst the widows and unmated. After short ceremonies certifying the relations, the great feast is held, during which the warriors regale each other with stories of their great deeds, and the deeds of the ancestors. After the feast, prayers to the Horde Mother are invoked, asking them to bless the tribe with many strong children the following year, and an orgy commences amongst the adults of the tribe. This is typically when a great many orcish young are conceived.

Priesthood

The clergy of Horde Mother are all women. The clerics and adepts of the Horde Mother are some of the best midwives in the known world as they work to ensure a healthy crop of future goblinoids warriors are born each year. They also oversee frequent fertility rites and the use of their healing and herbal knowledge. Priestess are also responsible for educating the youth. They are very powerful and influential amongst the tribes, it is not uncommon to find them wed to the most powerful members in the tribe, such as the chief or politically powerful warriors. While they are loyal to their mates and the tribe, they can often get their way through subtle manipulation and flattery.

Type

Religious, Cult

Deities

• The Horde Mother

Divines

• The Horde Mother