Crucible

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See also: Ascension

Upon death, an orc or dromaar can engage in the Crucible, a posthumous duel to the death against a deity in which the winner becomes or remains a deity and the loser is effectively annihilated. Many deities in the orc pantheon were mortal orcs and dromaars who ascended through the Crucible, particularly following the death of Gorum in 4724 AR.

Process

An orc invokes the Crucible by declaring their Deathright before drawing their last breath, whether prior to battle or before passing away in their sleep. An orc can declare their Deathright any number of times during their mortal life; Varg, for example, is said to have invoked it prior to every battle he fought.

After death, the deceased orc chooses a deity to challenge. While most choose an orc deity, records indicate some have also challenged other types of deities, and the deity being targeted does not have to be one that the mortal worshiped in life. The orc's soul is then escorted, often by a psychopomp, to that deity, who must accede to being challenged and defines the rules of the challenge. The challenger has a single opportunity to rescind their challenge at this point.

Regardless of the details, the challenge is straightforward: the challenger must kill the challenged deity in a fair fight, on neutral ground in a location where deities are stripped of their powers. Both combatants have access to any equipment, allies, or restorative powers necessary for the battle, but both sides must always battle in equal numbers. Allies can be of any nature, including other deities; for example, Uirch invoked the aid of Torag to battle Lanishra, who in turn employed his herald for aid. An invoked ally is not obligated to answer the call.

Among the combatants, both—and only—the challenger and the challenged deity are at risk of annihilation. If the challenger loses, their soul is disintegrated into quintessence; if the deity loses, no power can restore them. Any allies of either party who fall during battle do not die and are not destroyed. The battle ends only after either the challenger or challenged are dead.

A visible Vow Mark appears on the deceased mortal orc's remains to indicate that they are challenging a deity in a combat to destruction. The Crucible can take days or months to complete, and disturbing the body during this process can result in a curse. If the challenger succeeds, a Godmark appears on the remains; if they fail, the Vow Mark disappears.

Ascended orcs

Mahja Firehair ascended to divinity via the Crucible.

Pathfinders witnessed a Vow Mark on the corpse of Burning Sun tribe leader Mahja Firehair after she led a victory in battle against the wight forces of the demilich Geir, a subordinate of Tar-Baphon, near Freedom Town in the Hold of Belkzen. The mark was described to the Pathfinders by the Sarenite orc Uirch.

Uirch later himself died and entered the Crucible, and both he and Firehair subsequently ascended to divinity after the death of Gorum in 4724 AR. Other recently ascended orc deities also revealed themselves after this point, such as the assassinated warlord Grask Uldeth, the hunter Jukha, and the firearms master Wulgren. Not all who succeed in the Crucible reveal themselves immediately, and there are more orc corpses with Godmarks than there are known orc deities.

Orcs known to have ascended via the Crucible✝

Mortal challenger	Defeated deity	Ref.
Grask Uldeth	Zagresh
Jukha	Unknown
Mahja Firehair	Sezelrian
Rull	Unknown
Uirch	Lanishra
Varg	Unknown
Wulgren	Unknown

References

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