Crom



Crom The Grim Grey God ''“Crom was their chief, and he lived on a great mountain, whence he sent forth dooms and death. It was useless to call on Crom, because he was a gloomy, savage god, and he hated weaklings. But he gave a man courage at birth, and the will and might to kill his enemies, which, in the Cimmerian's mind, was all any god should be expected to do.”'' - The Tower of the Elephant

Pantheon

 * Cimmerian Pantheon

Name & Titles
Crom, The Grim Grey God, The Lord of the Mound

Regions of Worship

 * Cimmeria

Representation
Crom is the chief god of the Cimmerians. He lives atop a great mountain, sending forth dooms and death, caring little for mankind save to breathe into man's soul the power to strive and slay. The other gods of the Cimmerians are just as grim and indifferent as Crom himself. Crom does not send avatars into the world to meddle with the affairs of men. Some claim that the voice of Crom can be heard in the harsh winter winds of Cimmeria.

Gender representation: male

Symbolism

 * Grey mounds
 * Grey skies

Spheres of Power

 * Endurance
 * Strength

Rituals & Beliefs
The Cimmerians believe in their gods existence, but they do not worship them. Cimmerian religious ceremonies are minimal at best (prayers and supplications are useless, for it is better not to disturb this god lest he be resentful). Certainly ritual human sacrifice is not practiced — for no Cimmerian would passively allow himself to be served up on an altar. Invoking Crom can bring either a doom or aid upon the target, with equal chance for each effect. The Cimmerians believe in a gloomy afterlife in which the souls of the dead will wander Crom's grey realm aimlessly. It is useless to call upon Crom for aid «because he is a gloomy, savage god, and he hates weaklings».

The Priesthood
The Cimmerians have no priests, sorcerers, shamans or witches. Those who traffic with the power of the gods, even through prayer, are weaklings in their eyes. Crom has few followers and no priests. Crom does not care to share his divine power with mortals. It is enough that he breathes life into mortals when they are born. They do have oracles however, as befitting their superstitious nature. These oracles could read the dooms evident in a flight of birds or in the entrails of an animal.

Implementation IC & In-Game
Vanilla Crom religion. None of vanilla altars can be used since Cimmerians do not build temples.

More Information

 * Faith and Fervour (Conan RPG Book)
 * Return to the Road of Kings (Conan RPG Book)
 * Cimmeria (Conan RPG Book)