Cults of Glorantha

Kero Fin

Kero Fin is First Mountain. She exists upon Glorantha as the mighty mountain of Kero Fin, so tall that her summit cannot be seen and reaching it is a HeroQuest. Kero Fin is the mother of all mountains and the mother of Orlanth and Yinkin. She unites the Earth and the Sky and all born in her shadow, it is claimed, are Orlanthi at heart, no matter what they come to believe.

Runes Air, Earth, Stasis.

Mythos and History

Kero Fin Prevails (Resonance 60%) – Strength Through Permanence; Strength Through Unity: At one time all was flat and featureless. Sky and Earth were one and this togetherness created nothing new and nothing of interest. When, eventually, Sky and Earth were separated, there was much confusion. Umath, the Primal Air, filled the void and his nature was tempestuous and violent. He raged between the Sky and Earth and could not find peace.

Kero Fin was born in the earth but her father was the Sky. She sought both by thrusting herself out of the Earth and as high as she could go. She passed through Umath’s domain and the god wooed the goddess. She saw his true nature and was attendant to it. Kero Fin became Umath’s wife and she bore him a son, Orlanth, who was as unruly as his father but had some of the sensibilities of his mother.

During the Gods War many tried to tear Kero Fin down but she was protected by her husband and son. Later when dragons came and tried to rape her, Orlanth drove them off. When the Spike was destroyed, Kero Fin caught many shards and turned them into other mountains. The tears she wept on that day became the first rivers and one she named Engizi. Throughout all Kero Fin prevails. She is the Mother Mountain and the most permanent thing in the world because she unites Sky and Earth, Air and Space. From her comes strength and solidity. To be born in Kero Fin’s shadow, the Wintertop, is to know the wisdom of All Things.

Nature

This is a small cult centred around the veneration of Kero Fin as the Grandmother of the Storm Tribe. In this time of strife and warring empires the cult has gained a new prominence amongst the traditionalist Orlanthi as Kero Fin symbolises immovable defiance; one that can resist warring gods, wars and even wrathful True Dragons. The cult believes that, long after the EWF and Middle Sea Empire have destroyed each other, or themselves, Kero Fin will prevail still acting as a beacon and symbol for all true Orlanthi.

The cult promises its members that, upon death, they will climb effortlessly to the summit of the mountain and become part of Kero Fin’s radiance, the eternal snows of Wintertop. This will be a transcendence more than an afterlife because Kero Fin prevails no matter what and thus so will her faithful. In earthly matters Kero Fin worshippers are staunch in their belief that the Storm Tribe are the true inheritors of Genertela (and anywhere Kero Fin’s shadow is cast). They are fervent believers in their own supremacy, even over Orlanth, which means they are often at odds with the traditional clan ways and move away to hermitages on the slopes of Kero Fin itself. Stubborn, immovable and of fixed views, this is a cult for those who deny the ephemeral empires that control the world currently and believe solely in the permanence of the Storm Tribe above all things.

Organisation

The cult has few worshippers within Olranthi society; they tend to be solitary individuals who find hermitages for themselves in high places, hill-tops and on the slopes of Kero Fin herself. All adherents must be within sight of their goddess ensuring that she is the first thing seen on waking and the last thing seen before sleeping.

The cult has no Rune Lords. Rune Priests are allowed to build their residences on the higher slopes of Kero Fin and to administer to those Acolytes who build their hermitages lower down. Those who do not recognise Kero Fin’s dominance and power and driven away soundly, with rocks and weapons.

Membership Standard.

Common Magic

Coordination, Endurance, Frostbite, Slow.

Higher Magic Standard.

Amplify, Behold, Fog, Meditate, Mindlink.

Gifts and Compulsions

All cultists must remain within the sight of Kero Fin. Passing away from her shadow reduces their ability to cast Divine Magic by half.

Cult Skills

Athletics, Influence, Insight, Lore (Kero Fin), Meditation, Persistence.

Allied Cults

Orlanth provides Flight.