## Grushnar the Reclaimer
**Title**: The Reclaimer, Flamefather, Lord of the Last Oath
**Pantheon**: Orcish War Gods
**Alignment**: Lawful Neutral (with Chaotic interpretations by fringe sects)
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### Domains of Worship
- **War**
- **Grave**
- **Fire (Homebrew)**
- **Oath & Honor**
Grushnar is the **ancestral orc god of fallen warriors**, keepers of the oath, and the sacred flame that carries the memory of the dead. He is not a god of bloodlust but of **purposeful battle**, honoring the **final stand**, the **last charge**, and the defense of that which must not fall.
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### Symbol & Appearance
- **Holy Symbol**: A burning axe crossed over a grave mound
- **Visual Depiction**: A towering orc wreathed in bronze flames, bearing runed armor and a shattered war helm, his eyes burning embers
- **Sacred Flame**: An eternal fire said to burn beneath [[Gor’Karn]]’s heart—now corrupted and dormant
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### Lore & Teachings
- Grushnar was the first orc to die defending others, sacrificing himself to protect his tribe from an infernal invasion in the First Age.
- His spirit returned as fire, becoming the god who watches over orcs who **fall with honor**.
- He does not reward victory—only **the valor of the stand** and **the weight of one's final choice**.
**Oaths made before Grushnar are said to bind the soul even in death.**
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### Worship & Culture
- Grushnar is revered in burial rituals, ancestral chants, and warrior trials.
- Warriors swear oaths before battle in his name, binding themselves to fight to the death.
- His shrines are often simple stone altars with runes carved in blood or flame, often lit with **soul-flame torches**.
**In [[Gor’Karn]]:**
- The [[Sacred Stone]] of Grushnar served as a **channel to his divine will**, marking chosen warriors for protection or spiritual duty.
- The Six Shields of [[Durgath]] were each bound to him in life and death.
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### Tenets of Grushnar
1. **Stand your ground where others fall.**
2. **Die with oath unbroken.**
3. **Remember the forgotten.**
4. **Never flee from duty.**
5. **Let the fire consume only what you cannot carry forward.**
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### World Connections
- **[[Gor’Karn]]**: Site of his sacred flame, long corrupted by [[Korgath]].
- **The [[Sacred Stone]]**: A divine anchor to Grushnar’s realm. His influence has been severed but not destroyed.
- **The Undead Curse**: Considered a defilement of Grushnar’s will; the undead have **no place in his halls**.
- **Varnak**: A tragic echo of a once-faithful shield-bearer who may yet return to Grushnar’s grace.
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### Player Options (DM Permission)
- **Clerics**: War or Grave Domain (with thematic fire spells)
- **Paladins**: Oath of the Flamebound (custom oath tied to standing against death and holding the line)
- **Blessing of the Reclaimer**: A once-in-life divine gift where a warrior may stand back up with 1 HP if they fall defending their allies (usable only if their oath to Grushnar remains unbroken).