Common Deities
The favorite deities of the orcs are Ares and Artemis. Ares for his battle oriented nature and focus on raw strength that many orcs possess. Artemis for the hunt due to orcs’ carnivorous diet as well as her love of fighting for female orcs. Hera is a distant third among common orc deities. Hera’s passive nature clashes with orc culture, but her dominion over animal husbandry provides blessings for a key part of orc diets.
Outside of these deities, many orc tribes have a patron deity. The Noon Shadows are devoted to Apollo. The Rock Tribe puts Hades first. The Night Souls owe their fealty to an evil moon demon. Many of these patron deities and their methods of worship are secrets as well, only known by those who pass a tribe’s trials and go through the rites of adulthood.
Place in Adventuring
Orcs often serve as enemies for adventuring groups. Clanless orcs earned a reputation in Cimmeria for raiding villages, slaughtering livestock, and murdering the inhabitants. Many adventurers get their first kill exacting revenge against an orc band that burned their village down. Orc life has been cheap and expendable in Cimmeria for a long time.
Orkish adventurers typically rely on their natural strength to overcome difficulties. Orcs are drawn to the barbarian and fighter classes. Those who surrender to their race’s darker urges follow the barbarian’s path. Others practice disciplined fighting styles to defeat their enemies as well-trained fighters. Either way, their predatory instincts serve them well in melee combat. Orcs are also useful as load-bearers to carry the weight of treasure collected on adventuring expeditions.
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