The Orc Cults vs Gorum, Rovagug, Lamashtu, Zon-Kuthon


Advice


Ok, so I'm working on a Half-Orc Crusader cleric. This guy is gonna be pure battle. We'll have an Aasimar barbarian in the group as well, so it will probably fall upon us to do melee support. I wanted to go Crusader Cleric because it's more offensive than anything, and coupled with the Half-orc's favored class option, destructive smite got a whole lot more interesting. My big thing is that I'm wondering, both thematically and gameplay wise, what faith would be better,
He's fresh out of Belkzen, and he's Chaotic Neutral at best with extremely strong qualities of ruthlessness. However, he's not overly destructive, psychotic, etc.

I guess my main questions are how prevalent are the Orc Cults vs the established gods. Thematically, would it be better to use the Orc Cults than plain old stereotypical Gorum? Out of the old Orc Cults, he'd venerate the god of battle above the others, and the weapon of choice for the Orc Cults is the falchion.

For a cleric, gameplay wise, how much more effective is a falchion than a greatsword? I'll eventually get keen and critical focus, tho no critical feats. I'd love to get an answer from you guys either way.

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I've got no answer to the mechanical questions, but as far as I've imagined it I see the worship of the Orc Cults vs. that of Gorum and the other 'official' gods as roughly fifty-fifty. The benefit of choosing the Orc Cults is it gives you a little more freedom creatively, as they're only lightly detailed in Golarion lore.

As far as I'm aware Orcs of Golarion has the best lore regarding orcish religion.


I've gotten Orcs of Golarion, friggin awesome book. Looked through it and it does have some info on the Orc cults. I figure they would be more popular with the lesser disenfranchised tribes and war parties like the Blood Trail tribe, the Gouged Eye, Gutspears, Steel Eaters, but big ones like Empty Hand, Black Sun, Murdered Child, etc would definitely worship Gorum, Rovagug, and Lamashtu.


Gorum sounds like the best fit for what you're going for. Take the Tactics and Destruction domains and you'll be a monster on the battlefield!


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Rovagug it will make your interactions way more fun. "His worshipers are savage monsters and human nihilists. He is the primary deity of the orcs"
You don't have to follow him for his evilness but respect his power. The guy was apposed buy the entire pantheon of gods and the best they could do was trap him. That's how I run my half-orc "Gorum just give you power to fight, Rovagug give you power to win!"


Now that's an interesting way to think about Rovagug. However, I wonder if it would be too much to expect for a half-breed from Belkzen. The thing about Rovagug is that his cult, especially in Belkzen, is almost entirely focused on destruction, violence, savagery, etc that I wonder if it's even possible for a half-orc, educated by his peers, to even come to such a conclusion on his own.


Major_Blackhart wrote:
Now that's an interesting way to think about Rovagug. However, I wonder if it would be too much to expect for a half-breed from Belkzen. The thing about Rovagug is that his cult, especially in Belkzen, is almost entirely focused on destruction, violence, savagery, etc that I wonder if it's even possible for a half-orc, educated by his peers, to even come to such a conclusion on his own.

There's "heretics" and fringe-thinkers in every religion.

While perhaps not likely to come to such conclusions, IMO, it's entirely possible.


AngryOrc wrote:

Rovagug it will make your interactions way more fun. "His worshipers are savage monsters and human nihilists. He is the primary deity of the orcs"

You don't have to follow him for his evilness but respect his power. The guy was apposed buy the entire pantheon of gods and the best they could do was trap him. That's how I run my half-orc "Gorum just give you power to fight, Rovagug give you power to win!"

They trapped him merely because the Lord in Iron did not yet exist. The gods of old did not truly understand what it is to walk the path of gore.

Crush all in your path, slay your enemies and annoint yourself in the spilled ichor of their defeat. Or die yourself. He does not care so long as you do so with sword in hand and fire in your heart.


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Ragnvald Hrolfson wrote:

They trapped him merely because the Lord in Iron did not yet exist. The gods of old did not truly understand what it is to walk the path of gore.

Crush all in your path, slay your enemies and annoint yourself in the spilled ichor of their defeat. Or die yourself. He does not care so long as you do so with sword in hand and fire in your heart.

Rovagug make Orcs, Orcs make war, War makes Gorum, Rovgug made Gorum!!! Rovagug so strong when he sneeze new deity is born.All fear Rovagug power. Only deity not afraid of Rovagug maybe Groetus "The God of the End Times" because Rovagug give him job! Why worship lesser deity Rovagug embrace the Orc blood inside you.


AngryOrc wrote:
Ragnvald Hrolfson wrote:

They trapped him merely because the Lord in Iron did not yet exist. The gods of old did not truly understand what it is to walk the path of gore.

Crush all in your path, slay your enemies and annoint yourself in the spilled ichor of their defeat. Or die yourself. He does not care so long as you do so with sword in hand and fire in your heart.

Rovagug make Orcs, Orcs make war, War makes Gorum, Rovgug made Gorum!!! Rovagug so strong when he sneeze new deity is born.All fear Rovagug power. Only deity not afraid of Rovagug maybe Groetus "The God of the End Times" because Rovagug give him job! Why worship lesser deity Rovagug embrace the Orc blood inside you.

Guess who just converted?

This guy.

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