Cults of Glorantha

Heler

Heler is the bringer of rains and one of Orlanth’s staunchest allies, so much so that Heler’s name is synonymous with loyalty. Heler is frequently depicted as a blue-skinned man and he represents the Storm Tribe’s strongest connection with the Water Rune.

Sheep are sacred to Heler and he is thus a god of shepherds as much as a god in the traditional Orlanthi mould. His myths tell of his devout loyalty to Orlanth and Ernalda but also speak of his own deeds especially his battles with the enemy, Daga, sometimes called Ui, which is often a corrupting force attempting to sunder the Storm Tribe. In this era of the warring empires Daga is sometimes portrayed as a dragon or as an invader god, representing the Middle Sea Empire’s prophets and saints. Heler is the rain and the clouds. His nature is as changeable as the weather; at times warlike and violent but at others calm and passive. He was once a god of the sea and helped invade the sky to oppose the Emperor.

Runes Air, Motion, Water.

Mythos and History

Heler Challenges Chaos (Resonance 60%) – The Need for the Cleansing Rain: When Chaos tried to unmake the world it sent Ui, the Chaos Rain to pour down on all things and change their ways. Heler rose up from his resting place and became the clouds to obscure Ui’s sight of the land. Wherever the Chaos Rain touched, Heler sent his own rain to wash away and cleanse the foulness that arose. Much was cleansed but some places Heler could not reach and Chaos grew there. Orlanth gave Heler his thunderbolts and Heler threw these at Ui. Storm Bull let Heler ride upon his back to charge the Chaos and the two gored, stabbed and tore at the monster, splitting it into three parts. Storm Bull ate one, Orlanth buried another and Heler took the third far into the sky and threw it so that it froze, like ice and shattered. The Chaos rain stopped and the world was safe again.

Nature

Heler’s worshippers are scattered across the Storm Tribe’s lands and occupy an ambiguous place in Orlanthi society. This cult is often a refuge for those who consider themselves apart from traditional Orlanthi ways – usually because their own natures are somewhat changeable.

Organisation

The cult maintains small shrines in most Orlanthi settlements but temples are few and far between. The largest temple is the Bluewater Shrine in Wenelia where worship of Heler is at its strongest.

The cult’s High Holy Day marks the time when Heler came to the Storm Tribe and defended Orlanth against accusations made by the Emperor: Water Day, Movement Week, Sea Season.

Membership Standard.

Rune Priests are known as Rain Makers.

Common Magic

Coordination, Mobility, Multimissile, Vigour.

Higher Magic Standard.

The cult also provides: Dismiss Elemental (Sylph), Elemental Summoning (Sylph), Rain and the following special cult spells: Cloud Call, Cloud Walk, Command (Ram), Heler’s Downpour, Mist Cloud.

Cloud Call

Duration 15, Rank Initiate

This spell covers the area of sky, visible to the caster, with clouds. There is a chance equal to the Pact (Heler) that the clouds will also generate rain which will last for the spell’s Duration.

Cloud Walk

Duration 15, Rank Initiate, Touch

This spell allows the caster to walk upon clouds (including low-lying mists) as though firm ground. The uneven nature of clouds may require Acrobatics or Athletics tests to negotiate them with alacrity. When the spell dissipates the clouds lose their tangibility and the caster falls to the ground below. The spell only confers the ability to walk on clouds; reaching them is another matter entirely.

Heler’s Downpour

Duration 10, Rank Rune Lord/Priest, Ranged

This spell can only be cast when it is raining or snowing. The spell calls forth driving hail that inflicts damage based on the Magnitude of the spell, as follows:

Magnitude

1–2 1D2 3–4 1D4

5–6 1D6 7–8 1D8

9–10 1D10 11+ 1D12

The damage inflicted represents the strength of the hail over the Duration of the spell and is thus applied only once. When determining the location struck, roll 1D10+10 rather than 1D20. Armour and other magical defences protect against this damage, as does suitable cover. Rune Priests of Heler are immune to this damage, however.

Mist Cloud

Duration 15, Rank Initiate, Ranged

This spell creates a natural-looking mist two metres in diameter for each point of Magnitude of the spell. Visibility within the cloud is limited to one metre. The cloud moves with the caster but the caster’s visibility within the cloud is also compromised.

Gifts and Compulsions

Heler worshippers are, by their nature, mercurial characters, prone to bouts of high frivolity followed by brooding silences and sulks. They are also incredibly loyal and will not betray any cause they are committed to.

Cult Skills

Athletics, Evade, Influence, Lore (Heler), Seduction, Spear and Shield Combat Styles.

Allied Cults

Ernalda provides Regal Aura.

Orlanth provides Flight.

Yinkin provides Identify Scent.