Cults of Glorantha

Mastakos

The god of movement and Orlanth’s charioteer, Mastakos was held captive in Dailath’s Well of Wisdom until Orlanth freed him and brought him into the Storm Tribe. During the Storm Age Mastakos travelled with Orlanth and no place was too far for his Seven League Stride. At night he is the bright planet crossing the heavens faster than any other object and he leaps across the Sky Dome, avoiding the Underworld and continuing his journey as a free god.

Mastakos is shown as a blue-skinned man driving a chariot pulled by dragonflies or seahorses.

Runes Motion.

Mythos and History

Mastakos Goes to War (Resonance 80%) – Keep Moving to Avoid Enemies and Death: When Orlanth was required to go to war his accoutrements were brought to him from the Four Edges by Mastakos who cleared each edge in a single bound. Many sought to stop him as he fetched Spear, Shield, Sword and Helmet, with vengeful gods using their own weapons to strike at his heels. One succeeded and Mastakos faltered. He called out for aid and Chalan Arroy, watching from the centre of the world, healed his injured ankle and he continued back to Orlanth’s stead.

Now there, Mastakos prepared the Chariot, which was a thing of storm and cloud, with wheels of thunder and spokes of lightning. To it Mastakos harnessed the dragonfly steeds known as Rage and Wrath whose wings beat like a storm of spears and spurred all across the heavens to where Orlanth fought against many enemies.

Orlanth was beset on all sides, from above and below. Mastakos rode the foes of Below into the ground and back to Hell. The foes of above he smote with his whip of thunderclaps and the foes to either side were crushed beneath the wheels of Chariot. He came across Orlanth, battered and bruised and with one mighty arm brought the Storm God into Chariot where the two then rode side-by-side, Mastakos at the reins, in pursuit of 1,000 fleeing enemies. Both gods shouted their triumph which is, even now, the howling of All Seven Winds, as they bore down on these enemies and either stabbed, crushed or trampled them beneath their combined fury.

At least, when all was vanquished, Mastakos rested and Orlanth went in search of other ventures. Death came looking for Mastakos but even so the god was too fast for it and he raced across the sky out-running Death and maintaining his pace throughout each and every night.

Nature

The cult is rare and most members are Acolytes or Rune ranks of Orlanth. As such they wield considerable power but never in Mastakos’s name. The cult’s members are expected to remain moving, questing and travelling save for those occasions where they act as charioteers to a king or chief. There are few temples although temples to Orlanth maintain shrines to Mastakos usually marked by a chariot wheel and set of reins.

As a cult in perpetual motion Mastakos disciples exist to spread the word, aid Orlanthi wherever they may be and to be resolute and fluid in all they do. Mastakosi are energetic, vibrant individuals who revel in speed, travel and the wind in their hair. Many live their lives outdoors, barely setting foot indoors for fear of being contained – just as Mastakos was contained in Daliath’s Well.

Organisation

The cult is loosely organised as befits its transient nature. It carries little power within a clan save for when messages need carrying or war looms and charioteers are required.

Membership Standard.

The cult has no Lay Members and Initiates are usually initiated into Orlanth or another, warlike Storm Cult.

Common Magic

Clear Path, Coordination, Mobility, Vigour.

Higher Magic Standard.

The cult also offers Amplify, Ebb and Flow, Extension, Guided Teleportation and Teleportation.

Guided Teleportation

Instant, Rank Rune Lord/Priest

This spell returns the caster to a specific location made sacred to Mastakos through a week-long ritual that is learned when the spell is learned. The ritual must be performed again if the location is to be moved from its initial place. The spell has no set range: it returns the caster from any point in the world to the sacred site.

Teleportation

Instant, Rank Acolyte

The range of this spell is one mile for every point of Magnitude. This spell allows a cultist to instantaneously move himself, or a target to anywhere within the range of the spell, as long as the destination is in direct observation, there is solid footing and no object bars their arrival. If these conditions are not met, the spell automatically fails. The caster is able to teleport objects of up to three points of SIZ per point of Magnitude, as well as himself

Gifts and Compulsions

Mastakos cultists are bundles of nervous energy, always moving, never still and frustrated and agitated if forced to remain in one place for too long. All cultists are filled with wanderlust, making it hard to make and retain family or romantic relationships.

Cult Skills

Athletics, Drive, Evade, Lore (Mastakos), Lore (Regional), Ride.

Allied Cults

Orlanth provides Flight.