He Who Never Sleeps, the One-Eyed God, He Who Watches
Greater Deity
Symbol: Unwinking eye
Home Plane: Nishrek
Alignment: Chaotic Evil
Portfolio: Orcs, conquest, survival, strength, territory
Worshippers: Fighters, orcs
Cleric Alignments: CE, CN, NE
Domains: Cavern, Chaos, Evil, Hatred, Orc, Strength, War
Favoured Weapon: “The Bloodspear” [Longspear] (Longspear or Shortspear)
Gruumsh (groomsh) is the driven and aggressive leader of the orc pantheon. Constantly battling other deities for the things he feels were stolen from him at the dawn of creation, he drives the orcs of the world to follow his example and conquer and slay their enemies. His great spear is covered in the blood of elves and his ever-burning torch is reflected in his one remaining eye.
Gruumsh’s church relates the legends of the orcs from generation to generation and spreads the worship of Gruumsh through fear, inspiration and an iron hand. The church takes an active role in the clan leadership, undermining a secular leader that opposes its goals. They are also responsible for the elimination of the sick, weak,. lame or unfit members of the tribe, regardless of age or status. Like most of the orc pantheon, his church is extremely patriarchal. Non-clerics are never allowed to say the deity’s name and may refer to him only by title.
Clerics and adepts of Gruumsh prepare their spells in the dark of night. Their holy days are the times of the new moon and anniversaries of great battles against elves, dwarves or other orc tribes. Those in wild areas tend to multi-class as barbarians, while those living near or in civilization commonly multi-class as fighters. Particularly zealous clerics pluck out their left eye as a sign of devotion.
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.
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.
Source: Faiths and Pantheons (Page 148)