Grendel religion
Religion
Overview
Grendel are incredibly pragmatic about their faith. There are a variety of religions practiced in Grendel lands including Eternal Worship, Ancestor Veneration and a version of The Way of Virtue. In recent years, especially in Spiral and amongst those Grendel who deal with The Empire, their particular version of The Way has become predominant. From the plot wiki: The Grendel have always been comfortable with religion, preferring to acknowledge local beliefs rather than proselytize their own. Grendel traders in Sumaah will talk about virtues, then make donations to the Black Bull when visiting Asavea. The Grendel view is that such things might exist, they might be able to offer help to the Grendel and thus it can do no harm to placate them. Their approach is akin to Pascals Wager, with most Grendel prepared to cheerfully accept any belief or creed they think may help them. Many Grendel adopt a "lucky rabbits foot" approach to belief, if they performed a libation to the Black Bull that morning and concluded a profitable trade deal that evening, then they are likely to adopt the Black Bull into their personal pantheon of beliefs that can help them succeed in the future.
The Grendel Way is founded on the idea of Power, a sort of overall score for getting across The Howling Abyss when you die. Again, from the plot wiki:
As explained above, the Grendel take a very pragmatic approach to religion. Since you are joining a new nation, you will do what you need to do to conform. On the other hand, that means you are less likely to be True Believers™. Essentially, the default Spiral Orc sees religion as a useful tool for guiding them through life, and whatever their priest tells them is what they’ll do. If you want to play a very religious character, make sure to read up on the Grendel Virtues and their Imperial counterparts and try to understand where there is synergy and where there is dissonance. Feel free to ask a member of the plot team for help on this one.
Power
At the heart of Grendel beliefs is the assumption that only the most powerful of them will be able to cross the Howling Abyss when they die. Rather than looking to the ancestors for aid, as they once did, instead the Grendel are driven to accumulate as much power as possible. Physical strength is one component of this, but only one - for the Grendel influence, authority, charisma, and confidence are more important than personal might. Wealth is a critical component, partly as a demonstration of power, but mostly for the power it brings. Grendel mystics and philosophers call this quality puissance but most Grendel simply refer to it as power. Foreign gods, such as those of the Iron Confederacy or Asavea are often seen as something like an eternal, a creature of another world that may or may not be able to offer the individual aid in their quest for power. Few Grendel would genuinely abase themselves before such a creature, to a Grendel the single most important creature in the universe is themselves. But if words of obeisance to a statue provide good fortune, then most Grendel are happy to take any advantage they can get.
The virtues are important to the Grendel because they believe that the proper application of the correct virtue at the correct moment will help them gain power. The role of ancestors is more nuanced, the Grendel welcome the words of their ancestors at critical moments believing that they offer practical advice on how they might succeed but most believe that real power comes from within, that an individual can only truly succeed on their own motivation and inspiration. Since the ancestors offer aid to all the Grendel, any rational being can see that the only way for an individual to gain power over those around them is to transcend that advice and go beyond it.
Ambition
- Power cannot be granted
Ambition is one of the most common virtues on the coasts of the Broken Shore, especially amongst young Grendel who have little to lose. Ironically, it's importance is much diminished for those at the top of Grendel society who, desperate to hang on to the power they have accumulated are more concerned with Loyalty and Vigilance. Sadly the Grendel lack any of the wide appreciation that the Empire has on the many forms that ambition may take. Only the drive for power is important to the Grendel, those who earnestly seek other paths are seen as deficient and spiritually weak.
Audacity
- Power is a crown, learn to put it on
Audacity is vital to the Grendel, their understanding of this virtue is similar to the Imperial notion of Courage but is far removed from bravery in battle. Indeed the Grendel tend to view bravery as an aberration, every Grendel must be ready to fight when needed but those who take unwise risks are fools who put their fate in the hands of chance. This virtue is about personal self-belief, about hutzpah, which the Grendel view as entirely positive.
Cunning
- Insight is the greatest weapon
The Grendel value information nearly as much as they do wealth. They are always desperate to be better informed than those they deal with, seeking to know everything they can about them. The Grendel pay well for good information. But cunning encompasses more than just knowledge, it is also about ingenuity as well as the ability to read others. Facts are important to every negotiation and stratagem, if you know how much wealth a merchant has then you have a better idea what they can afford to pay. If you know how many armies the Empire is facing, then you know what they can spare to send against the Grendel. But much more important is understanding, being able to read your enemies, to predict them, to instinctively know when they are bluffing and whey they are telling the truth. Neither facts nor understanding are useful without the ingenuity to use them in creative and imaginative ways. The Grendel pride themselves on outwitting their enemies.
Fidelity
- You cannot drive an ox with a broken back
Each Grendel is primarily concerned with their own wealth and power, but all but the stupidest Grendel understands that power is not achieved by working alone but by working together. The virtue of Fidelity emphasizes the importance of showing loyalty to those around you - in proportion to the benefits that that brings you. Fidelity also includes ideas of honesty - the importance of negotiating in good faith so that others will know the benefits that cooperating with you brings. A key part of fidelity is the way the Grendel treat those over whom they have power. Allies and most especially subordinates who are gouged, taken for everything they have, will turn against you. You can trade with a merchant many times, you can murder him only once. Those who keep faith and pay heed to the well-being of their underlings will ensure their continued loyalty.
Prosperity
- Wealth is Power
Salt Lords and other powerful Grendel live lives of wealth and opulence not far short of that enjoyed by the richest Merchant Princes of the League. The Grendel don't just see wealth as the natural reward for hard work and ambition, they understand that wealth is a means to power, that it is the most effective tool with which to influence others. The Grendel, understand the Freeborn ideal that everything is for sale at a price, and are comfortable with offering money for distasteful actions. The Grendel nation of Fidelity means that they believe that the powerful should share a portion of their wealth with associates and underlings, to ensure their continued loyalty, but the idea of generosity for its own sake is an anathema to them. The more help you give people, the less they are motivated to work for what they have. Starvation is nature's way of teaching you to learn to look after yourself. Crucially, the wisest Grendel understand that power begets power, that people are drawn to serve those they see as successful. Public displays of wealth are the best way to demonstrate your power and thus increase it.
Retribution
- Vengeance for what you have lost, retribution for what you will gain
The Grendel embrace lex talionis, the view that retribution is central to a just society. A nation whose people do not fear retribution is one where they do not fear to steal or murder each other. On a personal level they know that you cannot be powerful without being prepared to exact revenge on those who cross you - be they subordinates, competitors, or enemies. Retribution is costly and dangerous but those who are not prepared to pay the price will find power stripped from them. They believe that the threat of retribution is harmonious, that it keeps both parties honest. The Grendel are deeply comfortable with negotiating from an opening position that begins with an explicit threat of violence or retribution. Central to the notion of retribution is the belief that the Grendel should negotiate in good faith. Nobody fears retribution from an individual who is insane enough to follow through on his threats just because they can.
Vigilance
- Traitors wear broad smiles
The Grendel preach that complacency is a weakness, a trap that can bring even the most powerful low. Those with power must be eternally watchful lest they be betrayed by the people they deal with. But Vigilance is more than just paranoia, individuals must be alert for every opportunity - the powerful are those who seize every chance that is offered to them. The Grendel strive to be guarded against treachery while remaining open to any decision that might profit them.