Cults of Glorantha

Asrelia

Asrelia is the keeper and distributor of all that is good and desired (with respect to the culture in which she is worshiped). She is also the mother of Ernalda and Maran Gor. Asrelia is worshipped in several cultures: draconic (where she is protected by Earth Dragon), Orlanthi and amongst the Uz. Amongst humans, including the draconic EWF version of the cult, she is pictured as an ugly hag bedecked in endless necklaces and rings, cloaked in robes studded with precious metals. Shining jewels, sparking flints, living stones, fossils and numberless coins blanket the ground at her feet. In draconic imagery she is often depicted in this manner but held within the coils of Earth Dragon, or having a dragon’s head or tail, to symbolise their close relationship. Asrelia cultists from the Orlanthi and draconic traditions understand and agree on the close kinship of Asrelia with Earth Dragon.

Among trolls Asrelia is symbolised as a bowl carved from granite. On the bowl’s exterior are stylised ears stuffed closed with wooden or dirt plugs. The bowl’s lip is ridged and sharp and the interior has between three and seven undulating lines in concentric circles about the centre.

Runes Earth, Fertility, Luck.

Mythos and History

Asrelia Cheats the Emperor (Resonance 75%) – Beauty is an Illusion; Men are Vain Fools: None could gaze on Asrelia because she was profoundly ugly. The Emperor built for her a special chamber with a wall between her side and his, so that they could communicate but the Emperor would not be forced to gaze upon her. Asrelia found this insulting and so, to teach the Emperor a lesson, she had Earth Dragon capture a creature from Hell that was beautiful but evil and sit it in her place.

The Emperor came for Asrelia’s advice, as he often did. He called Asrelia to answer his questions and he heard a beautiful voice answer from beyond the wall separating Asrelia’s caves from the Emperor’s throne room. The voice carried no wisdom but the Emperor was beguiled. Next he asked for Asrelia to reach through and take a treasure he had been given, so it would be safe; a shapely hand and wrist emerged and the Emperor was lustful, so beautiful was the hand that he beheld.

In his lust he tore down the wall and coupled vociferously with the creature that Asrelia had brought for her trick. While he rutted, Asrelia sneaked through and bricked-up the chamber from the Emperor’s side, leaving him trapped with the creature, prey to its insatiable appetites.

She left him there for a long time, ruling as Empress in his stead and winning favour and tribute from all who visited. Everyone agreed that life was simpler without the Emperor’s whims and changing moods. Asrelia agreed and told this to the Emperor. ‘Very well, I shall change and be more reasonable,’ the Emperor said, struggling with the insatiable creature.

‘Not only that, I shall not be confined to the Earth Halls, not forced to wear a veil, nor forced to eat alone,’ Asrelia said. And the Emperor agreed. With that, Earth Dragon took away the lustful monster and the Emperor was allowed to emerge. He made good his promise and Asrelia emerged into the light but chose to live the majority of her life in darkness because it suited her; but she was determined that this be on her terms and not the terms of anyone else.

Nature

Asrelia hides the good things of the world away from mortals and so the entire earth is her treasure chest. Her cult is secretive and arcane but also wise. The cult priestesses are the treasurers of the many earth temples and also act as guardians of knowledge related to the earth and of women.

The cult has no real power beyond this role but it is revered nonetheless because Asrelia is the mother of Ernalda. In draconic cultures the cult is more powerful, as Asrelia is guarded by Earth Dragon and her members are skilled midwives and healers.

The cult treats male cults with a certain degree of indifference and sufferance. Men, it is believed, are vain, short-sighted and easily duped. They have little depth to them. Thus, whilst the cult is not unfriendly towards other, male-dominated cults, it is not exactly sympathetic. For this reason Asrelia priestesses are infrequent members of male-dominated clan rings.

Organisation

The cult has few temples of its own. However shrines to Asrelia are found in most Ernalda temples and Earth Dragon temples always have an elaborate shrine dedicated to her veneration. The cult follows the standard model of Initiates, Acolytes, Priests and Lords. Rune Lords of Asrelia are very rare although Rune Priestesses, who are responsible for the treasure caches of whole communities or tribes, are frequent enough. Rune Lords of the cult are tasked with finding more wealth, stolen, perhaps, in centuries gone by, from Asrelia’s halls and returning it to its true coffers.

Membership Standard.

Common Magic Befuddle, Countermagic, Detect (All Precious Metals and Gems), Protection, Repair.

Higher Magic Standard.

Asrelia offers the following Divine Spells and special Divine Magic: Absorption, Dismiss Elemental (Gnome), Summon Elemental (Gnome).

Asrelia’s Cavern

Duration 15, Rank Acolyte, Touch

The spell creates an invisible boundary that is impervious to all physical elements (wind, rain, snow, flame and so on) with a radius in metres equal to the spell’s Magnitude. Spells can be cast through the barrier and creatures can also cross it without any problems but all physical, non-living forces are repelled completely.

Hide Wealth

Duration 1 Day, Rank Initiate, Touch

Up to 1 ENC of goods is affected for every point of Magnitude of the spell. When cast, it causes the goods to become invisible to everyone except the caster for a period of one full day. The spell can be lengthened by casting Extension along with Hide Wealth, doubling the period to two days. Magic items within the bundle of goods cannot be detected by Detect spells although the presence of the Hide Wealth spell is, itself, detectable. If the hidden goods are moved, then the spell dissipates.

Gifts and Compulsions

The cult offers only two Gifts:

Evaluate: For the cost of one point of Dedicated POW the Evaluate skill is raised immediately to 100%. However, in return the Adventurer is compelled to sleep underground –in caverns, cellars, basements and so on. He is unable to sleep at all unless below ground level.

Earthsense: For the cost of one point of Dedicated POW the Adventurer gains the Earthsense Trait, precisely as trolls use it. However, in return the Adventurer is compelled to sleep underground –in caverns, cellars, basements and so on. He is unable to sleep at all unless below ground level.

Cult Skills

Commerce, Evaluate, Lore (Accounting), Lore (Asrelia), Stealth.

Associated Cults

Earth Dragon: teaches its draconic magic to draconised Asrelians.

Babeester Gor: teaches Great Parry.

Ernalda: teaches Regenerate Limb.

Maran Gor: teaches Blast Earth.

Ty Kora Tek: teaches Command Ghost.