Of the Faith of Barbarians (and Orcs)

The Barbarian Religion:

Neutrality/Chaos

• King Battle
• Mother Hearth (Lady Night)
• Maid Honor (Lady Virtue)
• Sir Courage (Lady Might)
• Grandfather Oracle (Lord Dreams)

The Barbarian Religion flourishes where the tempering fruits of civilization have not yet reached. The clan chief generally is high priest and the hierarchy that exists is an extension of family ties. Shamans do pop up now and then, and they received great respect. The tenets of the faith revolve around the struggle to survive and the necessity the community maintain coherence.
This animistic faith suffers much from strange spirits and distrusts magic, the undead, and decadence.

This is also the religion of the Orcs, with the following variations:

• Chief Battle
• Mother Den (Lady Night)
• Great Champion (Lord Might)
• Web Witch (Lady Time)

 There is no equivalent to the cult of the Maid Honor (the Shield Maiden) amongst the orcs. Also, instead of Lord Dreams, it Lady Time, as weaver of the courses of events, that inspires the more esoteric elements of Orc religion.

Hooks: This is the background for vikings, berserkers, barbarians (the class if used), and some Druids (or another shaman class). The connections between Orcs and barbarians may be exploited by a smart party—they is no reason why every encounter with orcs should end in combat. It should also be noted that, unlike goblins and their ilk, orcs are not part of fairy and do not follow the fairy faith.

Orcs respect power. They are savage and ruthless, but they can be allied with. They are not uncommon as mercenaries and retainer, especially among chaotic types. Closer to human society, it is not unheard of to have neutral tribes of orcs.