Lore24 Feb 27: Peristeroi

Peristeroi are spirits worshipped by the orcs that keep diseases and miscarriages away by scaring the demons and deities associated with them. They often have their statues or pictures displayed prominently on orcish homes, leading to the widespread myth that orcish deities are bloodthirsty monsters.

They are usually depicted as having large fangs, a broad tongue, piercing eyes and other monstrous features such as horns, claws, snake for hair, etc. There are hundreds of Peristeroi, and when moving to a new house, orcs will not sleep for the first three nights there. According to them, on the third night at midnight the Peristeros assigned to the house shows itself to them. Then they can use its image to protect their new home.

There are very few temples to the Peristeroi, but in areas long settled by orcs one may stumble upon the ruins of old houses with their statues or images intact. Once can contact them there, or they can take the statue or image back to their home so that the new Peristeros may watch over them. This is rarely done, however, as having multiple Peristeroi in a house can lead to them fighting, which is sure to bring ruin to the people and animals living there.

 

Image from Staatliche Antikensammlungen, Munich via theoi.com


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