Cults of Glorantha

Flamal

Flamal has a variety of names: Seed Father, Root Father, First Root, Grower and others. He is the father of all plants, all things that grow and the Plant Rune is his to command. He is included as a Storm Tribe god because many consider him related to Ernalda, Esrola and Asrelia although this is sometimes disputed: all of these cults have myths that include Flamal to some degree.

Every plant in Glorantha is descended from Flamal, from the mightiest tree through to the humblest weed. The Aldryami revere him but most humans worship more useful goddesses, such as Ernalda and Esrola. Zorak Zoran ate Flamal during the Gods’ War and so created the Great Hunger, which caused all to starve until the sun rose again and Flamal was reborn.

Runes Infinity, Plant.

Mythos and History

Flamal and Zorak Zoran (Resonance 60%) – Why the Hunger of Trolls Cannot be Trusted: Flamal’s garden was vast and beautiful. At its centre was the First Tree from which Flamal himself came and this was Flamal’s pride, joy and wisdom. Within the tree dwelled many spirits who were Flamal’s lovers and wives. He loved them all.

One day as Flamal tended his seeds, Zorak Zoran came into the garden. He was hungry and demanded food from Flamal. Flamal showed him a stock of roots which Zorak Zoran devoured. The troll god wanted more, so Flamal showed him the orchard, which Zorak Zoran devoured also. He was still hungry. Flamal showed him the wheat fields and Zorak Zoran ate those also.

When Zorak Zoran demanded the Great Tree to eat, Flamal denied him and the troll god became angry. He had borrowed the weapon called Death from Trickster and he used this to first cut down Flamal, killing him, and then to cut down First Tree. He took the remains of Flamal into the remains of First Tree and gorged himself. Zorak Zoran remains there even now, sleeping-off his meals.

From the roots of First Tree others made the Great Temple which, after the Great Compromise, became known as Hrelar Amali and became a site for more great temples. When Flamal was regrown after the darkness ended, he was tended by the elfs and they venerate him still, keeping him safe from those like Zorak Zoran who would eat all in sight.

Nature

The cult promotes growth of plant life. It ignores fertility of all things in preference for the sole fertility of plants. This means that, save for the Aldryami, the cult has little practical application for most humans who find the various grain and fertility goddesses more accessible from a worship point of view. Flamal, because he was killed, is a distant god, too vulnerable and plant-like to offer much to his followers. Nevertheless some Orlanthi do offer Flamal worship and these are those who deeply enjoy the tending of gardens and plants, growing plants for their own sake rather than for food. Naturally the cult of Flamal is attractive to elfs.

Organisation

The central temple to Flamal is the bole of First Tree at Hrelar Amali in Ralios, although that site is also home to other temples dedicated to many gods. The God Learners control Hrelar Amali and limit access to it but those who worship Flamal and can prove their devotion clearly pose little threat to the God Learners and can gain access to it.

Elsewhere shrines take the form of gardens always with a great, central tree somewhere within and a representation of Flamal (a wise old man covered in myriad sprouts and roots and usually carved from amber) close by. Zorak Zoran cultists take delight in desecrating these temples, re-enacting their god’s devouring of Flamal. Thus, the cult often hires guards from other Storm Tribe cults to watch over the gardens if trolls are known to be on the prowl.

Membership Standard.

Aldryami are allowed to join the cult automatically. The cult has no Acolyte level. Rune Priests of Flamal are allowed to become Shamans of Aldrya automatically.

Common Magic

The cult teaches: Clear Path, Co-Ordination, Detect Troll, Extinguish and Vigour.

Higher Magic Standard.

The cult also teaches: Evergreen, Rain and the Flamal special spells of Fruition and Tree Communion.

Fruition

Duration Instant, Rank Initiate, Touch

The spell takes a day to prepare and cast. It causes a radius in metres equal to the Magnitude of the spell to bear fruit as long as that area is not barren and already contains fruitbearing trees or plants. Depending on the season there is the possibility that the spirit tied to the plants will be killed by this spell: Sea Season 30%, Fire Season 15%, Earth Season 10%, Dark Season 50% and Storm Season 70%. If cast during Sacred Time the spirit always survives.

Tree Communion

Duration 15, Rank Rune Lord/Priest, Touch

Cast upon any tree the Flamal cultist communes directly with the tree’s spirit, learning all that the tree has seen, heard or experienced within a number of weeks equal to the spell’s Magnitude. The transference of knowledge occurs over the Duration of the spell and requires that the caster hug the tree tightly, pressing his head or cheek into the bark hard enough to leave an impression of the tree upon the skin. The knowledge transferred is not expressed as language but as visuals, sounds, sensations and so forth.

Gifts and Compulsions

Flamal Cultists, on becoming Initiates, gain the Gift of a bonus to their Influence skill equal to half their Pact (Flamal) when dealing with Earth cultists and Aldryami of the opposite sex.

All Flamal cultists are compelled to Hate Trolls, attacking them whenever trolls are encountered. A Persistence roll can be made to resist the urge, however Zorak Zoran cultists must always be challenged in revenge for what Zorak Zoran did to Flamal.

Cult Skills

All crafts and lores pertaining to plants, herbs, growing and gardening. Lore (Aldrya), Lore (Flamal).

Allied Cults

Ernalda provides Bless Crops.

Other Grain Goddess cults, such as Ralia, provide Elemental Summoning (Gnome).