Cults of Glorantha

Chalana Arroy

Chalana Arroy, the healer, is Glorantha’s daughter. Known for her purity and kindess she was key to the Lightbringers’ Quest and has aided each of the Storm Tribe gods in many ways and across many myths. In some she is credited with providing the cauldron that collected Orlanth’s blood after he battled the dragon Sh’kaharzeel; in others she is the Healer Of The World, travelling its length and breadth offering healing to all who fought in the dreadful battles of the Great Darkness. Her son, Arroin, was the product of a liaison with one of the Storm Tribe gods – although none know who this was.

During the Gods’ War she and Arroin met in the centre of the world. The Celestial Court was in disarray and Chalana Arroy found a dead god, which she could not heal. She realised then that being neutral and passive was failing her It was here that she and Arroin encountered Flesh Man who suffered the wounds of the entire world even though the battles had not yet come to pass. Arroin healed him but still Flesh Man fled and Chalana Arroy chose to go after him, laying passivity to one side. So she came into the Lightbringers’ Quest. Arroin’s story is told on page 202.

Runes: Life, Harmony.

The Life Rune is almost exclusive to Chalana Arroy but she is not the source of it.

Mythos and History

Chalana Arroy Acts (Resonance 90%) – The Power of Life; Life and Death are Opposites: Chalana Arroy begat Arroin into a world of sorrow and turmoil but he was loved by all and safe from the fears that beset the world. Walking together at the Centre of the World they came across a victim of battle, his wounds terrible. Chalana Arroy applied her salves and worked her magic but nothing would rouse this god. Arroin looked into the eyes and saw the presence of Death: he knew then that gods could die, just as Grandfather Mortal had died. He told his mother this and she wept, because her powers were useless against this new weapon.

Later Flesh Man came raving to where they were. He did not bear the wounds of the world but he knew of them because he was doomed with the curse of prophecy and saw all changes at all times and felt every part of What Was To Come. Arroin guided him to his mother’s side and they bathed him, fed him and gave him warmth. Arroin used his magic to heal his mind and Chalana Arroy, using the tears wept for the dead god, healed his body.

‘What is to become of everything, of all things?’ Arroin asked. Flesh Man answered: ‘Death. Death to All.’

Arroin turned to his mother, ‘We must stop this thing called Death.’

‘I cannot,’ she said. ‘I am Harmony. I must remain passive.’ ‘Then I will seek out doom and embrace it,’ Flesh Man said. ‘And Death shall embrace me.’

At these words Chalana Arroy understood. Death was as powerful as Life and could not be opposed if she sat idle and did not choose sides. Life itself is a side, although, until Flesh Man had spoken, she had not seen this. Until she had seen that even gods could die, she had not understood it. ‘Where you go, I shall follow,’ Chalana Arroy said.

‘I go to seek the one who wielded Death to make him put things right,’ Flesh Man said. Chalana Arroy agreed to accompany him. Together, with others, they found the Path to Hell and opened its doors. Chalana Arroy healed many along the way and experienced Wound herself. But when the Emperor rose from Hell and took to the sky, his daughter, Dawn, preceding him, Chalana Arroy broke the doors of Hell thus creating the Path of Life – so that all things might find resurrection, where the Path of Life deems it.

Nature

Chalana Arroy’s cult is extremely harsh and prohibitive, especially in their approach to acts of violence and war. The cult expressly prohibits the use of any weapons or magic that may damage a part of the world. As the worship of a nonviolent deity is a luxury in such troubled times, her worship is confined to the most devout; those who can, in all thought and action, set aside thoughts of violence and devote themselves to healing of all kinds, shunning that which brings harm. This is therefore not a cult for those who would use violence as a means to any end. The cult’s beliefs are so stringent that no arms of any form can be carried or used, and, upon initiation, cultists swear to never bring harm to any creature no matter what its shape or form. Offering healing to things of evil and Chaos is not mandatory but avoiding bringing them harm is.

For her worshippers Chalana Arroy promises continued healing in the afterlife, comforting and tending those who have ceased their mortal life due to violence or sickness. Death for Chalana Arroy cultists is a re-enactment of Chalana Arroy passing into Hell and bracing the gates to create the Path of Life. They move from one side to the other and continue their work.

The corpses of Chalana Arroy cultists are always buried after death. It is not uncommon for healing herbs to grow spontaneously over the grave of a holy cult member, so such individuals are often buried in temple gardens.

Organisation

All Storm Tribe cults consider themselves allied to Chalana Arroy but for such an important cult it has few temples. Those that do exist are modest halls of healing, the Life and Harmony Runes inscribed above the doors. Otherwise, shrines are small cairns with Chalana Arroy’s Runes etched into them and surrounded by healing herbs. A hut where the resident priestess lives is always close by – an indication that healing help can be found.

Initiates and Acolytes are known as White Maidens and, amongst the Storm Tribe, harming them is expressly taboo. Even the God Learners and EWF, who do not trust the Orlanthi traditions, observe the sanctity of Chalana Arroy because she healed even their number during the Gods’ War. Thus, White Maidens are usually guaranteed safe passage wherever they go because all know and understand that the cult never brings violence or threat.

The strongest principles of the cult are therefore those surrounding non-violence. Otherwise the cult has a very loose structure. Chalana Arroy healers live in Orlanthi communities and are often a very small but highly loved and respected group. Many are solitary healers who travel, much as their goddess herself travelled, bringing healing to those who need it.

Membership Standard.

Common Magic Endurance, Heal, Vigour, Warmth.

Higher Magic Standard.

Additionally, Chalana Arroy provides Cure Disease, Cure Poison, Heal (Body), Heal (Mind), Heal (Wound) and the following cult spells:

Comfort Song

Duration Special, Rank Initiate, Touch

This spell has a Duration, in minutes, equal to the caster’s Sing skill. The caster does not need to make a successful Sing roll when casting the spell; the spell itself is enough. Whilst in effect all those touched by the caster feel no pain and automatically succeed in Resilience rolls to resist the effects of damage sustained, although the damage itself is unhealed. At the end of the spell the pain returns and a Resilience roll, depending on the nature of the wound, may be required in order to remain conscious.

Sleep

Duration Special, Rank Acolyte, Touch

When cast, whoever is touched by the caster must make a Persistence roll opposed by the caster’s Pact or fall into a deep sleep that lasts for a number of hours equal to the spell’s Magnitude. If the spell is successfully resisted then the target suffers a number of levels of Fatigue equal to the spell’s Magnitude divided by two, for the Duration of the spell.

Gifts and Compulsions

All Chalana Arroy cultists are Compelled to abjure from violent or harmful action of any shape or form. For the cost of one Dedicated POW, they can choose from the following cult Gifts:

Abjure (Water, Food or Sleep) – The cultist ceases to require the subject of the Abjuration.

Endurance – The cultist feels pain only as a sharp, tingling sensation and never needs to make a Resilience roll to resist the effects of damage sustained.

Healing – The cultist regenerates 1D3 Hit Points per Combat Round, whilst still alive. One need not be conscious for the regeneration to work but if a wound is sufficient to kill, the regeneration ability will not restore life.

As the Pact develops, Chalana Arroy cultists become increasingly dedicated to healing and pacifism. No injured person or creature can be ignored and counselling against violence or harm becomes more prevalent within the cultist.

Cult Skills

First Aid, Healing, Lore (Chalana Arroy), Meditation, Sing.

Allied Cults

All Storm Tribe cults are considered allies but Chalana Arroy cultists cannot learn any harmful magic from them.