Cults of Glorantha

Elmal

Steadfast Guardian Sun

Elmal was as son of Yelm, one of the many Suns who existed during the Stagnant Age. He served his father, Yelm, until Chalana Arroy healed his sight, showing him how his own brilliance had blinded him to what was around him. Seeing how the Emperor held all his subjects as little more than slaves, Elmal left his brothers saying, ‘Light is important, but it is not the only important thing. I must go and find them’. On his journeys, he demonstrated his own virtues of honour, honesty and steadfast bravery. In time, he became a loyal member of Orlanth’s people, bringing light and justice to barbarian gods. During the Storm Age and the Great Darkness, Elmal proved himself again and again, so that when Orlanth left on his great quest, he left the Storm Tribe in Elmal’s care. Despite Chaos, trolls and his own vengeful kin, Elmal survived, his waning glow one of the few lights to survive through the Darkness. When Orlanth returned from the Underworld, Elmal rekindled, burning as bright as he ever did.

Some Orlanthi tribesmen have always worshipped Elmal. These clans are often renowned for raising horses, solar rites, and steadfast loyalty to their kings. They are also an outlet for solar worship among these storm-loving barbarians. Among the Elmali clans, there is usually a minor temple though in areas where he is very popular, these may be major temples – often supplanting the worship of Orlanth among an entire tribe. Shrines to Elmal teach Steadfast.

Runes: Light, Truth.

Type: Sun, War.

Pantheon: Orlanth.

Worshippers: Steadfast guardians, watchful sentinels, solar barbarians.

Worshipper’s Duties: Loyally guard and watch, be ready for trouble.

Initiate Membership

Requirements: Standard.

Cult Skills: Athletics, Lore (Elmal Theology), Perception, Ride, Spear, Shield, Throwing.

Cult Spells: Detect Enemy, Fireblade, Ignite, Light, Protection.

Common Divine Magic: All.

Special Divine Magic: Steadfast, Sunripen. Acolyte Membership

Requirements: Standard.

Sun Thane (Runelord) Membership

Requirements: Candidate must have +90% or more in Perception and Spear. He must have 90% or more in three of the following skills: Athletics, Bow, Riding, Shield, Throwing.

Divine Magic: Sunbright.

Special Benefits

Initiates gain a +10% bonus on any Evaluate, Influence or Perception test made while standing guard.

Associated Cults

Chalana Arroy: Provides Comfort Song.

Erissa: Provides Restore Vision.

Ernalda: Provides Regal Aura.

Orlanth: Provides Know (Dragon) Weakness.

One of Yelm’s sons, Elmal was blind in his father’s glory until Chalana Arroy’s healing brought sight to his eyes and he saw the whole world laid-out as if it were a vast tapestry, with many threads, all bound together by the Sun Emperor’s greatness. Some threads were frayed and some were rebellious and defiant. Elmal saw them all.

Elmal also saw that many were held in thrall to his father and this created the defiance and rebellion that troubled the world so greatly. Elmal left the Solar Court and ventured out to learn more. Eventually, after many adventures, he came unto the Storm Chief ’s stead like a piercing ray of brilliant light. Orlanth offered this new person hospitality but was wary. Elmal accepted the hospitality in the right ways and offered the right responses. He sat at Orlanth’s right hand at the resulting feast and all basked in his light and listened to his stories. Orlanth, curious at how a son of the Sun could be so worldy and humble at the same time questioned him much on his father’s ways and how he might be bested. ‘You are both proud lords,’ Elmal said. ‘Pride always comes before the fall.’

Perhaps Eurmal the Trickster heard this and so engineered the taking of Death from Humakt, which was used to kill Yelm; perhaps not. But, when Orlanth slew the Emperor and was, later, to undertake his quest to bring him back from Hell, Elmal remained behind as the sole light in the world and took the Storm Tribe in hand, leading them, so that when Orlanth and the Lightbringers returned, it was into a hall filled with Elmal’s radiance.

Elmal is thus the Orlanthi sun god. His worship is not widespread amongst the Storm Tribe but he is nevertheless an important god, especially amongst those tribes that breed and raise horses. Elmal’s loyalty to Orlanth is considered an important relationship and when the sun breaks through thunderheads it is always an encouraging sign that these two gods, born to very separate heritages, share a common bond.

Arroin’s Story

During the Great Darkness, Arroin, Chalana Arroy’s son, was loved and protected by every living thing in the world. In return, he helped everyone whenever he could, with his own magic and his mother’s wisdom. Despite his kindness and the world’s protection, he was doomed to a wretched fate. Unable to turn away from anyone requiring aid, Arroin tried to heal Chaos: Chaos broke Arroin’s magics and broke the boy. He lay, close to death, until the Dawn, when his mother returned from her quest and took him unto her bosom. Arroin, though, no longer had the power of mastery of the magic world. Instead, he was bound to do the things that had survived his injuries and had not been damaged. Therefore he formed the Arroin sub cult of his Mother’s Cult, whose skills lie in abilities rather than powers.

The Arroin subcult is therefore the male version of Chalana Arroy. Magical healing is not available through the cult but the cult does offer two Gifts to those who form a Pact with the demi-god: At the cost of one Dedicated POW, First Aid is automatically raised to 100%; for a cost of two dedicated POW, Healing is raised to 100%. As a Compulsion, though, Arroin cultists are forbidden to use healing magic of any kind (although they can receive it from Chalana Arroy healers) and must rely upon their own skills.

Runes: Light, Truth.

Mythos and History

Elmal Finds the Storm Tribe (Resonance 80%) – Truth through Reason; Light is Understanding: When Elmal gained the power of sight he saw that the world was in chains. Everyone had to obey the sun’s commands and there was no respite from his light, which often burned and scorched when it should illuminate. Elmal’s sight was that of Truth and so he saw things as they really were and not as Yelm would have them seen. He needed to see more; he took to wandering. First Elmal wandered along the length of the Blue Serpent River, who had seduced and married Elmal’s brothers. She tried to seduce him too but Elmal saw that she was manipulative and uncaring. He rejected her and travelled on. Next he came to the mountains and found the troll god, Zorak Zoran, devouring the skeleton of something he had killed. This was the first time Elmal had encountered Darkness and he saw within it many secrets that should be exposed but Zorak Zoran finished his meal and skulked back underground before Elmal could converse with him.

Then Elmal came to the forest, where the children of Aldrya frolicked. They taunted him but Elmal ignored them. When their taunts became malicious, he went to Aldrya. ‘I am a traveller and unaccustomed to such mockery. Do all of your children behave this way?’

‘Children are children,’ Aldrya said. ‘They do as they wish so they can grow.’ Elmal nodded but saw little wisdom in these words. He travelled on.

Next he came across a monster that was chasing Grandfather Mortal. Elmal seized a sunspear from his father’s court and hurled it at the monster, which exploded and formed a deep depression in the land and a hideous, stinking lake. Grandfather Mortal thanked Elmal and introduced him to his son, Flesh Man. Elmal saw much pain in Flesh Man’s eyes and advised him to find Chalana Arroy; ‘She will heal you. And you will heal her.’ Elmal said.

Finally he came to a tula, at the centre of which was a vast hall filled with many gods. The chief of those gods, a mighty storm, bade him welcome even though he knew Elmal was the son of the Emperor. ‘I might be my father’s son but here in your hall, I am your friend and I would enter, stay and leave as such.’ Elmal said. Orlanth pondered these words.

‘What is my strength?’ Orlanth asked.

‘The wind in your hair and the rain on your brow,’ Elmal said. ‘What is my need?’ Orlanth asked.

‘The space to flow and a place for your brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, wives and lovers, followers and friends.’ Elmal replied.

‘How can I trust you?’ Orlanth asked. And Elmal removed one of his eyes, which Chalana Arroy had given to him and gave it to Orlanth.

‘Through this, we might see the same things in the same way. And in holding this, you might cast me back to the land of the sightless if I should ever betray you.’

And the two embraced and there was much rejoicing, for the light of the sun had found its place in the tribe of the storm and there might be light through the clouds.

Nature

Elmal’s worshippers believe in the balance of light, truth, motion and freedom. When Orlanth killed the sun, Elmal helped him realise his mistake. When Orlanth went to rectify it, Elmal’s light kept the Great Darkness at bay. When Orlanth returned, Elmal gave the stead back to Orlanth, signifying the depth of their friendship. In return, Orlanth allowed the marriage of Elmal and Hippoi, the Horse Goddess, with whom Elmal had fallen in love. This was how the Foreigner’s Marriage was created.

The cult therefore holds light and storm as balancing forces and holds horses in very high regard, as these are the sons and daughters of Elmal and Hippoi. Fair maned horses are held in especially high regard.

Elmal’s cult appeals to those Orlanthi who are of a less tempestuous nature and believe in a more reasoned approach to life.

Organisation

The cult maintains separate shrines within Orlanthi steads and it is not uncommon for entire clans to be dedicated to Elmal, centering their nature on the breeding and cultivation of horses. Elmal temples are marked by their lightness of construction and the many windows built into their fabric to permit as much light as possible.

Priests of Elmal preach a path of reason and understanding. Devout followers are contemplative fellows who believe in neither judgement nor anger but are capable of both. The mounted warriors of Elmal are feared adversaries but are known for not acting rashly and always acting decisively. Rune Lords of the cult are active questers replicating, as minor HeroQuests, the journeys of Elmal through myth. Elmal worshippers are at their best when they have a cause to champion and a group to defend.

Membership Standard.

The cult welcomes members from outside the traditional Orlanthi heartlands, just as Elmal was welcomed into the Storm Tribe. Rune Lords of the cult are known as Sun Thanes.

Common Magic

Detect Enemy, Fireblade, Ignite, Light, Protection.

Higher Magic Standard.

The cult also provides these spells: Clear Skies, Gleam, Sunspear.

The following spells are special to Elmal:

Steadfast

Duration 15, Rank Rune Lord/Priest, Ranged

Each point of Magnitude in Steadfast provides the recipient of the spell with a +10% parrying bonus to Spear and Shield Combat Styles. The recipient also gains a +3 bonus to his SIZ for the purposes of resisting Knockback and the Bash Combat Manoeuvre.

Sunbright

Duration 15, Rank Rune Lord, Ranged

This spell creates a circle of light around the caster with a radius equal to the spell’s Magnitude in metres. The light creates the full effects of daylight affecting those unable to stand daylight accordingly.

Gifts and Compulsions

The cult has no Compulsions. However, Initiates gain a +10% bonus to the Evaluate, Influence and Perception skills when standing guard or keeping watch.

Cult Skills

Athletics, Brawn, Lore (Elmal), Perception, Ride, Spear and Shield Combat Styles.

Allied Cults

Chalana Arroy provides Comfort Song.

Erissa provides Restore Vision.

Ernalda teaches Regal Aura.

Orlanth Dragonbreaker provides Know Dragon Weakness.