Earth-Heart Cult¶
The Earth-Heart Cult is the religion of the earth-heart, a great red fragment of the Worldstone that fell on Markhan in the Shattering. It was once "the primary religion of the orcs" (S522). The gods of the Orcish pantheon had it destroyed, and it rose again, no longer orcish, as a priesthood of humans and goblins serving the heart-mother Agrob'Anzut.
Also called: the earth-heart religion (S522).
The temple of the earth-heart¶
"In the aftermath of the shattering, a particularly large worldstone fragment slammed into what is now Markhan. A few smaller pieces broke off, but the largest became known as the earth-heart (for its deep red color) and was worshipped by primitive humans, goblins and orcs. It was a long fought over place, but the orcs eventually prevailed. They built a sprawling temple complex around the fragment and several smaller neighboring fragments. Orcs from across the continent came to the the complex for hundreds of years to be buried near the crystal. Catacombs were carved from the rock and literally millions of remains are believed to reside within the Temple of Cath'upak, or the Temple of the Earth-Heart" (S522). The Worldstone, the Shattering and the temple in Markhan have their own pages.
"During this time, the orcs of the priesthood of the earth-heart mastered some of the stone's secrets and their agents set up shrines across the continent surrounding much smaller worldstone fragments. The Earth-heart cult became the primary religion of the orcs and it's priest's enjoyed unprecedented power and influence over orcish society" (S522).
The loyalist war¶
"The gods in the Orcish pantheon set out to correct this blasphemy and wars between earth-heart clans and clans remaining loyal to the old gods ensued. After several hundred years of scattered conflict, a loyalist army led by the Ascendant Horak successfully overcame the defenses at the Temple of the Earth-Heart and slew many of the priests there. The high priestess, Agrob, lay dying when she merged her spirit with the earth-heart crystal. Horak razed the temple and buried the indestructible crystal under the rubble. He then set a guard upon the site to ensure the cultists could not return and reclaim it. The now powerless cultists were rooted from the orcish clans, and many clans that remained clinging to the ways of the cult were completely destroyed. The earth-heart religion had been wiped out" (S522). Agrob and Horak are Figures of the Earlier Ages.
The reborn priesthood¶
"After some time, the crystal awoke. Guided now by the consciousness of Agrob, it sought revenge against the orcs who had murdered its followers. It bred an army from the beasts of the land, warping them into gargantuan creatures known as dinosaurs", and drove the Orcs1 out of central Markhan to the north. "The crystal meanwhile, fortified its home and strengthened connections with the other crystal fragments located across Markhan at old orcish shrines. Earth-heart priests began again to appear, but not among the orcs. Instead, the new earth-heart priesthood came from among humans, goblins and other creatures" (S522).
"Their power is mithis based, bestowed by the heart-mother, Agrob'Anzut. The heart-mother can project herself to pretty much anywhere on Markhan. She appears differently each time and chooses her race and age to maximum effect. She always appears female. Some scholars have noted the tendency of a child to be used when violent, a young-adult woman for persuasion and ministration, and a old-woman for prophecy, warning and wisdom. The priesthood wears deep reddish-brown robes with crimson thorns as trim. Their holy symbol is a clear red crystal. They also often carry a staff with a clear red crystal on top" (S522). Mithis is described under Cosmology.
Earlier accounts¶
The 2014 and 2018 versions of the text (S449, S522) are identical in every word.
Gap
The old Orcish pantheon that destroyed the cult is never named, nor are any of its gods. Whether the Sun God Rak'or, worshipped by the orcs of the Fifth Age Urok'gar Confederation (S057), belongs to it, the sources do not say. No date in any calendar is given for the loyalist war or the crystal's awakening.