Gruumsh
Encyclopedia
In the Dungeons & Dragons
role-playing game
, Gruumsh, also known as Gruumsh One-Eye, is the patron deity
of orcs
, who regard him as the god of Conquest, Survival, Strength, and Territory. He is also considered a member of the default D&D pantheon of deities. His symbol is an unblinking eye, or (in the Forgotten Realms
campaign setting
) his missing unwinking eye.
In many campaign setting
s, the orcish pantheon of gods consists of the leader Gruumsh, as well as Bahgtru
, Ilneval
, Luthic
, Shargaas
, and Yurtrus
.
Gruumsh was further detailed in Unearthed Arcana
(1985).
(1992), including details about his priesthood.
His role in the cosmology of the Planescape
campaign setting was described in On Hallowed Ground (1996).
Gruumsh is detailed in Deities and Demigods (2002), and his role in the Forgotten Realms is detailed in Faiths and Pantheons
(2002).
(2004).
with brute power. His favored weapon is the spear.
Gruumsh considers himself supreme, and considers every non-orc his enemy, holding special enmity for some. Gruumsh hates Corellon Larethian
with a passion, because he lost his eye to Corellon in battle. He spreads this hatred to all of the Seldarine, especially Sehanine Moonbow
, who fooled the orcish god many times to protect Corellon and her other family members. Gruumsh also loathes Moradin
and the dwarven pantheon
.
In his own pantheon, Gruumsh rules over all the other gods (although Shargaas
and Yurtrus
bear him little real loyalty beside that made from fear), and has his orders carried out through his lieutenant Ilneval.
and Planescape
campaign setting
s, Nishrek is a part of Acheron, while in the Forgotten Realms cosmology this is a plane of its own. Gruumsh shares his home in the Iron Fortress with his son Bahgtru and his lieutenant Ilneval.
In 4th Edition, Nishrek was once a dimension in the Astral Sea, until Gruumsh used all of his power to throw his entire realm (literally) at Chernoggar in an attempt to defeat Bane and become sole God of War. The two dimensions fused together after the impact, and the two Gods have been in an eternal state of war ever since. Gruumsh lives in Chernoggar now, in a tower of skulls in the middle of what was once Nishrek. It is rumored, but never proven, that other Gods helped Gruumsh when he threw Nishrek at Chernoggar in an attempt to defeat, or at least distract, Bane to prevent the Black Lord from invading other realms.
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."
. Gruumsh meant to paralyze Corellon with his magical spear; this attack failed and initiated an epic battle. During the course of this battle Gruumsh injured Corellon and, according to legend, from the blood shed the elven people were created. Corellon ended the fight by putting out Gruumsh's left eye, which is how Gruumsh earned his moniker "One-Eye." Some orcish clerics
deny this tale, dismissing it as elven propaganda, and claim that Gruumsh always had one eye.
Gruumsh created the orcs in his image to be his servants in the world but was cheated out of a home for his people by the other gods, according to the following excerpt by Roger E. Moore
(from Unearthed Arcana
):
and elf-hating pantheons, and Araushnee was transformed into Lolth
. The two deities have been great foes ever since, though Gruumsh's alliance with another assisting deity, Malar
, has not been so badly corrupted.
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
, Gruumsh, also known as Gruumsh One-Eye, is the patron deity
Deity
A deity is a recognized preternatural or supernatural immortal being, who may be thought of as holy, divine, or sacred, held in high regard, and respected by believers....
of orcs
Orc (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, orcs are a primitive race of savage, bestial, barbaric humanoid.-Publication history:The orc was one of the earliest creatures introduced in the D&D game. The D&D orc is largely based upon the orcs appearing in the works of J.R.R...
, who regard him as the god of Conquest, Survival, Strength, and Territory. He is also considered a member of the default D&D pantheon of deities. His symbol is an unblinking eye, or (in the Forgotten Realms
Forgotten Realms
The Forgotten Realms is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers alike as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a setting for his childhood stories...
campaign setting
Campaign setting
A campaign setting is usually a fictional world which serves as a setting for a role-playing game or wargame campaign. A campaign is a series of individual adventures, and a campaign setting is the world in which such adventures and campaigns take place...
) his missing unwinking eye.
In many campaign setting
Campaign setting
A campaign setting is usually a fictional world which serves as a setting for a role-playing game or wargame campaign. A campaign is a series of individual adventures, and a campaign setting is the world in which such adventures and campaigns take place...
s, the orcish pantheon of gods consists of the leader Gruumsh, as well as Bahgtru
Bahgtru
In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Bahgtru is the orc deity of Strength and Combat.-Publication history:Bahgtru was first detailed in Roger E. Moore's article "The Half-Orc Point of View," in Dragon #62 . In Dragon #92 , Gary Gygax indicated this as one of the deities legal for the...
, Ilneval
Ilneval
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Ilneval is the orc deity of Warfare and Leadership. His symbol is a bloodied longsword.-Publication history:...
, Luthic
Luthic
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Luthic is the orc goddess of Fertility, Medicine, Females, and Servitude. Luthic embodies the orcish feminine ideal, subordinate to male orcs but still protecting the cohesion of orcish society. Her sacred animal is the cave bear...
, Shargaas
Shargaas
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Shargaas is the orc deity of darkness, night, stealth, thieves, and the undead. His symbol is a skull on a red crescent moon.-Publication history:...
, and Yurtrus
Yurtrus
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Yurtrus is the orc deity of death and disease.-Publication history:...
.
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st edition (1977-1988)
Gruumsh was created by James M. Ward for the Deities and Demigods Cyclopedia (1980).Gruumsh was further detailed in Unearthed Arcana
Unearthed Arcana
Unearthed Arcana is the title shared by two hardback books published for different editions of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game...
(1985).
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition (1989-1999)
Gruumsh was detailed in the book Monster MythologyMonster Mythology
Monster Mythology is a sourcebook for the second edition of the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game. Released by TSR in 1992 and written by Carl Sargent, with interior illustrations by Terry Dykstra, John and Laura Lakey, and Keith Parkinson, Monster Mythology was released as a companion volume for...
(1992), including details about his priesthood.
His role in the cosmology of the Planescape
Planescape
Planescape is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, originally designed by Zeb Cook. The Planescape setting was published in 1994...
campaign setting was described in On Hallowed Ground (1996).
Dungeons & Dragons 3.0 edition (2000-2002)
Gruumsh appears as one of the deities described in the Players Handbook for this edition (2000), and in Defenders of the Faith (2000).Gruumsh is detailed in Deities and Demigods (2002), and his role in the Forgotten Realms is detailed in Faiths and Pantheons
Faiths and Pantheons
Faiths and Pantheons is a campaign accessory for the 3rd edition of the Dungeons & Dragons, for the Forgotten Realms campaign setting.-Contents:...
(2002).
Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 edition (2003-2007)
Gruumsh appears in the revised Players Handbook for this edition (2003). His priesthood is detailed for this edition in Complete DivineComplete Divine
Complete Divine is a supplemental rulebook for the 3.5 edition of the Dungeons and Dragons fantasy role-playing game published by Wizards of the Coast...
(2004).
Dungeons & Dragons 4th edition (2008-)
Gruumsh appears as one of the deities described in the Dungeon Master's Guide for this edition (2008).Description
Gruumsh appears as a powerful orc with one eye. A figure of fury and driven cruelty, Gruumsh rules his pantheonPantheon (gods)
A pantheon is a set of all the gods of a particular polytheistic religion or mythology.Max Weber's 1922 opus, Economy and Society discusses the link between a...
with brute power. His favored weapon is the spear.
Relationships
Gruumsh is the husband of Luthic and father of Bahgtru. Ilneval is his most capable lieutenant.Gruumsh considers himself supreme, and considers every non-orc his enemy, holding special enmity for some. Gruumsh hates Corellon Larethian
Corellon Larethian
In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Corellon Larethian is the leader of the elven pantheon, and the god of Magic, Music, Arts, Crafts, Poetry, and Warfare. Corellon is also considered a member of the default D&D pantheon. He is the creator and preserver of the elven race, and governs those...
with a passion, because he lost his eye to Corellon in battle. He spreads this hatred to all of the Seldarine, especially Sehanine Moonbow
Sehanine Moonbow
In many Dungeons and Dragons campaign settings, Sehanine Moonbow is the elven goddess of the moons. She is one of the more powerful members of the Seldarine. The Lady of Dreams actively opposes the nefarious schemes of the Spider Queen and the other drow powers. She is said to be the wife of...
, who fooled the orcish god many times to protect Corellon and her other family members. Gruumsh also loathes Moradin
Moradin
Moradin is the chief deity in the dwarven pantheon in the Dungeons & Dragons game and is a member of the default D&D pantheon. Moradin's domains are Creation, Earth, Good, Law, and Protection. His titles include Soul Forger, Dwarffather, the All-Father, and the Creator...
and the dwarven pantheon
Dwarf deities
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, the Morndinsamman, the dwarven pantheon of gods, consists of the leader, Moradin, as well as Abbathor, Berronar Truesilver, Clanggedin Silverbeard, Dugmaren Brightmantle, Dumathoin, Muamman Duathal, and Vergadain...
.
In his own pantheon, Gruumsh rules over all the other gods (although Shargaas
Shargaas
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Shargaas is the orc deity of darkness, night, stealth, thieves, and the undead. His symbol is a skull on a red crescent moon.-Publication history:...
and Yurtrus
Yurtrus
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Yurtrus is the orc deity of death and disease.-Publication history:...
bear him little real loyalty beside that made from fear), and has his orders carried out through his lieutenant Ilneval.
Realm
Gruumsh's divine realm is the Iron Fortress in Nishrek. In the standard cosmology represented by the GreyhawkGreyhawk
Greyhawk, also known as the World of Greyhawk, is a fictional world designed as a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game...
and Planescape
Planescape
Planescape is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, originally designed by Zeb Cook. The Planescape setting was published in 1994...
campaign setting
Campaign setting
A campaign setting is usually a fictional world which serves as a setting for a role-playing game or wargame campaign. A campaign is a series of individual adventures, and a campaign setting is the world in which such adventures and campaigns take place...
s, Nishrek is a part of Acheron, while in the Forgotten Realms cosmology this is a plane of its own. Gruumsh shares his home in the Iron Fortress with his son Bahgtru and his lieutenant Ilneval.
In 4th Edition, Nishrek was once a dimension in the Astral Sea, until Gruumsh used all of his power to throw his entire realm (literally) at Chernoggar in an attempt to defeat Bane and become sole God of War. The two dimensions fused together after the impact, and the two Gods have been in an eternal state of war ever since. Gruumsh lives in Chernoggar now, in a tower of skulls in the middle of what was once Nishrek. It is rumored, but never proven, that other Gods helped Gruumsh when he threw Nishrek at Chernoggar in an attempt to defeat, or at least distract, Bane to prevent the Black Lord from invading other realms.
Worshippers
As orcs that are not clericsCleric (Dungeons & Dragons)
The cleric is one of the standard playable character class in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. In the game, clerics are versatile figures, both capable in combat and skilled in the use of divine magic. Clerics are powerful healers due to the large number of healing and curative...
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."
Clergy, temples, and rituals
Gruumsh's priests wear dark red vestments, war helms, and black plate mail. His sacred animal is the giant rat. His holy day is the new moon, and he is worshipped in orcish lairs. A sacrifice of blood is made to him monthly.Myths and legends
In a past time, Gruumsh had two eyes but he lost one in a fight with the chief elven god Corellon LarethianCorellon Larethian
In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Corellon Larethian is the leader of the elven pantheon, and the god of Magic, Music, Arts, Crafts, Poetry, and Warfare. Corellon is also considered a member of the default D&D pantheon. He is the creator and preserver of the elven race, and governs those...
. Gruumsh meant to paralyze Corellon with his magical spear; this attack failed and initiated an epic battle. During the course of this battle Gruumsh injured Corellon and, according to legend, from the blood shed the elven people were created. Corellon ended the fight by putting out Gruumsh's left eye, which is how Gruumsh earned his moniker "One-Eye." Some orcish clerics
Cleric (Dungeons & Dragons)
The cleric is one of the standard playable character class in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. In the game, clerics are versatile figures, both capable in combat and skilled in the use of divine magic. Clerics are powerful healers due to the large number of healing and curative...
deny this tale, dismissing it as elven propaganda, and claim that Gruumsh always had one eye.
Gruumsh created the orcs in his image to be his servants in the world but was cheated out of a home for his people by the other gods, according to the following excerpt by Roger E. Moore
Roger E. Moore
Roger E. Moore is a designer of role-playing games. He is best known for his long-running tenure as editor of Dragon magazine, and was the founding editor of Dungeon magazine.-Early life:...
(from Unearthed Arcana
Unearthed Arcana
Unearthed Arcana is the title shared by two hardback books published for different editions of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game...
):
In the beginning all the gods met and drew lots for the parts of the world in which their representative races would dwell. The human gods drew the lot that allowed humans to dwell where they pleased, in any environment. The elvenElf (Dungeons & Dragons)In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, elves are a fictional humanoid race that is one of the primary races available for play as player characters. Elves are renowned for their grace and mastery of magic and weapons such as the sword and bow...
gods drew the green forests, the dwarvenDwarf (Dungeons & Dragons)In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, dwarves are a humanoid race, one of the primary races available for play as player characters...
deities drew the high mountains, the gnomishGnome (Dungeons & Dragons)In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, gnomes are one of the core races available for play as player characters. Some speculate that they are closely related to dwarves; however, gnomes are more tolerant of other races and of magic, and are skilled with illusions...
gods the rocky, sunlit hills, and the halflingHalflingHalfling is another name for J. R. R. Tolkien's Hobbit which can be a fictional race sometimes found in fantasy novels and games. In many settings, they are similar to humans except about half the size. Dungeons & Dragons began using the name halfling as an alternative to hobbit for legal reasons...
gods picked the lot that gave them the fields and meadows. Then the assembled gods turned to the orcish gods and laughed loud and long. "All the lots are taken!" they said tauntingly. "Where will your people dwell, One-Eye? There is no place left!"
There was silence upon the world then, as Gruumsh One-Eye lifted his great iron spear and stretched it over the world. The shaft blotted the sun over a great part of the lands as he spoke: "No! You Lie! You have rigged the drawing of the lots, hoping to cheat me and my followers. But One-Eye never sleeps. One-Eye sees all. There is a place for orcs to dwell…here!," he bellowed, and his spear pierced the mountains, opening a mighty rift and chasms. "And here!," and the spearhead split the hills and made them shake and covered them in dust. "And here!," and the black spear gouged the meadows and made them bare.
"There!" roared He-Who-Watches triumphantly, and his voice carried to the ends of the world. "There is where the orcs shall dwell! There they will survive, and multiply, and grow stronger, and a day will come when they cover the world, and they will slay all of your collective peoples! Orcs shall inherit the world you sought to cheat me of!"
Forgotten Realms
Gruumsh once had an alliance with the conniving drow goddess Araushnee, to bring down the gods of the elves once and for all. His plan failed, despite a divine force brought against the elven gods consisting of the Seldarine's enemies in all the goblinoidGoblinoid
Goblinoids are a category of humanoid legendary creatures related to the goblin. The term originated in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, in which goblins and related creatures are a staple of random encounters. Goblinoids are typically barbaric foes of the various human and...
and elf-hating pantheons, and Araushnee was transformed into Lolth
Lolth
Lolth is a fictional goddess in the Dungeons and Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Lolth , the Demon Queen of Spiders, is the chief goddess of drow elves...
. The two deities have been great foes ever since, though Gruumsh's alliance with another assisting deity, Malar
Malar (Forgotten Realms)
Malar is the Faerûnian deity of the hunt, evil lycanthropes , and bestial savagery and bloodlust in Ed Greenwood's Forgotten Realms fictional world of Abeir-Toril for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game...
, has not been so badly corrupted.