Tal'Magoth

"Believe in the Kin that believes in you."

—Premonitions of A Faithful

Summary

Followers of The Creed of Tal'Magoth are sparse outside of the Orcish Territories. The religion follows tenets based on the First Warchief, Tal'Magoth. The orcs are a private people, and are reluctant to spread information on their Creed unless proven trustworthy.

What is known is surprisingly far less barbaric that other orcish behavior. It is a religion that does not recognize sex or gender, believing that followers can be whatever they desire to be, regardless of societal norms forced upon other races. However, the concept of marriage remains traditional in the religion in that one spouse takes a dominant role and can even engage in polygamy. The Creed also enforces that orcs always have a War Chief to "lead the kin, for those with weary eyes always have their knives at our backs."

Origin

The tale of Tal'Magoth is simple and is embedded into the recorded history of the races of dwarf and elf history just as much as the history of orcs.

Tal'Magoth was the son of an orc whose name has been lost to history. It is known that Tal'Magoth was diplomatic and saw the balance for both war and peace. He loved his people and would do anything to secure his kin's safety, going as far as to negotiate amongst the dwarves and elves for land, as they had been forced onto an island for many years. It is a bit strange to imagine an Orcish war chief happily sipping moon tea with an elf, or enjoying a spar with a dwarf, but for his people Tal'Magoth would do anything.

The dwarves and the elves, however, were greed and saw the orcs as barbarians. The orcs did not understand the many comforts that the other two races lavishly enjoyed, and thus were seen as beasts. The dwarves refused to share the Gamordan Mountains and the elves had laid claim to everything north of their peaks. Despite Tal'Magoth's diplomacy, the elves and dwarves co-operatively invaded the Orc's lands, pillaging and murdering those who stood in their way. Tal'Magoth was forced to watch his daughter and her children be ruthlessly murdered by the invaders.

As a result of this invasion, the orcs were forced into a tiny portion of the northwest, now known as The Chasm and The Seat of the War Chief. Having been betrayed and disrespected for the last time, Tal'Magoth raised a counter-offense. What was previously lush elvish gardens, and tall white spires, or anything that was touched by the elves were demolished by his forces. The elven cities burned for many years, creating an arid and sparse landscape, topped with a blood-red sky.

When they attacked the dwarves at the Gamordan Mountains, Tal'Magoth brought their capitol of Frostbrew Den to its knees. Temples were destroyed, and castles reduced to rubble, and the elves and dwarves were forced back. Thus, Tal'Magoth reclaimed the mountains and found comfort and pride in the burning skies and the ruins, cementing in history the true strength of the orcs.

Tal'Magoth is known to dwarves and elves as a homocidal tyrant, but to Orcs he is known as an example of true strength, and the power that sleeps within every orc.

The Trial of Tal'Magoth

The Creed of Tal'Magoth is one that has very strict traditions to follow, as the Creed's focus is to follow in Tal'Magoth's influence. The Trial is the most important tradition of the mall. When a War Chief reaches an age where death looms over, they must being the Trial of Tal'Magoth.

Orcs are chosen from across the Orcish Territories and are brough onto a sacred island. For up to forty nights and forty days, these chosen orcs are to fight to the death. If a champion is not decided by the end of the Trial, it must be repeated. The champion is then brought before the War Chief, where they then fight to the death, and if the champion fails, the Trial is repeated. However, should the champion succeed, they bring the War Chief a clean, honorable death and takes their place amongst The Seat of the War Chief, and is given a weapon of the finest materials of his choice.

The Trial is designed to find an orc leader that is not only physically capable, but also wise and strategic. He must be honorable, proud, and ready to serve his kin. a woman can become War Chief, but most women opt out of the Trial to instead lead the armies the War Chief would send.

Tenets of Tal'Magoth

The Tenets of Tal'Magoth are as follows:

"Believe in the Kin that believes in you.
Follow Tal'Magoth and may you prove yourself worthy of his respect.
Carry your fallen kin on your back and restore their honor.
Do not lie to your kin. Always be honest.
Do not steal from your kin. Always embody integrity.
Do not betray your kin, for you death will not be clean.
Follow the War Chief, and respect their sacrifice.
For one day, you may follow in their footsteps."

—Premonitions of A Faithful