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Cults of Glorantha

Grain Goddesses

Every region in Glorantha has its own grain goddesses. Sometimes a single goddess commands all grain crops and sometimes there are separate goddesses for each type of grain. Although there are so many such goddesses, they share the same runes and offer similar magics to those who worship them. Thus the description of this cult, here in the Storm Tribe chapter, applies equally to those daughters of Ernalda and Esrola as it does to grain goddesses of Dara Happa, Pamaltela or any other grain producing region.

Runes

Harmony, Plant.

Mythos and History

Some of the most well-known grain goddesses are as follows. Note how the goddess often lends her name to the region, showing the importance of the goddess to Gloranthan society.

Region Goddess Grain

Grains in italics are peculiar to Glorantha.

The goddess is always related to the Earth Mother and the Grower, sometimes a sister but more commonly a daughter. Most myths describe how the grain goddess has been imprisoned in some way and able to reach the surface only at certain times of the year, which is why most grain crops have a seasonal cycle rather then being prevalent year-round. Grain goddesses are frequent targets for ravenous monsters, particularly trolls and Zorak Zoran, who ate Flamal, figures larges in many grain goddess myths.

The most recent abuse of grain goddesses is the notorious God Learner Goddess Switch. God Learner sorcerers of Pythos University devoted many years of research to finding two deities of separate cultures who had similar myths. They chose the respective Grain Goddesses of Wenelia and Slontos: Inica, goddess of wild rice and Einkorn, the goddess of grassland wheat. Their adventurers, who blended in with the wild grazing and foraging peoples of both lands, learned two similar myths: ‘Inica Feeds the People’ and ‘How Einkorn’s Bounty Filled the Land’. Squads of HeroQuesters journeyed into these myths, playing the roles of the goddesses’ attendants. Over many iterations, they slowly altered the stories, until finally Inica and Einkorn were drawn into the same story. A few minor deities proved resistant and were slain during this process. Eventually, the grain goddesses were forced to admit that they had to be long-lost sisters; then the sorcerers enacted a new story in which the two goddesses, to stave off a worldeating famine, traded husbands.

At first the switch appeared to be a great success, proving that the grain goddesses were essentially interchangeable. A few flowers stopped blooming in each place but so what? Then the crops failed. Inica’s delicate grain could not be cultivated in Slontos and Einkorn’s grass-wheat was damp and blighted in Wenelia. Fruit stopped growing in Wenelia and in Slontos no marriage lasted for more than a year.

Nature

Grain goddesses are fertility goddesses without whom the people of Glorantha would starve. Worship is therefore widespread and although the myths of grain goddesses may not always be foremost in the minds of a community, the Goddess Switch shows their undoubted importance – not only to the cultivation of grain but also to many other parts of the community.

Organisation

Large temples are rare but small shrines are commonplace throughout Glorantha. A local Rune Priestess tends one or more shrines, supported by Acolytes and Initiates. Acolytes and Initiates of one grain goddess are accepted at the shrines of foreign grain goddesses, such is the closeness of myth and kinship. Divine spells can thus be renewed at any grain goddess shrine.

Membership Standard.

Common Magic

Clear Path, Detect Blight, Detect Pest, Vigour, Warmth.

Higher Magic Standard.

Bless Crops, Clear Skies, Evergreen.

Gifts and Compulsions

None.

Cult Skills

Any Craft and Lore skills relating to crops and cultivation. First Aid, Healing, Lore (Grain Goddess), Lore (Regional).

Allied Cults

Earth Mother cults provide access to their Divine Magic.