Cults of Glorantha

Yigg

The Raging Storm, Yigg is one of the Vadrudi, the winds stolen from Orlanth by Vadrus and commanded by Valind. Unlike the other Vadrudi, Yigg was not killed in the Gods’ War and is rampant still; an untameable, violent, amoral force. When Vadrus was killed and Valind went on his quests for vengeance, Yigg fashioned a great longship, Howling Stead, from Vadrus’s bones and sailed it with a band of bloodthirsty gods out across the seas of northern Glorantha. On wild, storm-wracked nights, Howling Stead can be seen crashing through the waves, its murderous crew upon the decks, hunting for lesser ships to destroy.

Runes Air, Cold, Water.

Mythos and History

Yigg and the Secret Wind (Resonance 66%) – Trickster Cannot be Trusted. Chaos Must be Killed. Trust only the Secret Wind: Yigg sailed Howling Stead to the heart of the world where he knew the Secret Wind dwelled. He needed a guide and found, at the top of the Obsidian Mountain that was part of The Spike, the Red Eyed Man. The Red Eyed Man was very old but in a young man’s body. Yigg sacrificed several of his crew to gain the Red Eyed Man’s attention and he agreed to guide Yigg to the Secret Wind.

The Red Eyed Man led Yigg through six hells and two heavens. His crew were killed along the way. They came, eventually to where Secret Wind swirled and howled, trapped between two trees that were made of bones. Red Eyed Man had tricked Yigg: guarding the Secret Wind was God Killer, a thing of Chaos and Hatred. Yigg slew the Red Eyed man and devoured his head. Then he attacked God Killer with his axes made from the arm bones of Vadrus.

The battle made the seas above the world rise and crash down on the land, submerging large parts of it and turning the lands of the north to how they are today. Yigg killed God Killer by letting himself be swallowed and then hacking his way free through the monster’s spine, burying its brain in the mud that flowed from its veins.

He took Secret Wind, a goddess, for his wife and together they made a new crew from God Killer’s bones and their own loins. Secret Wind fills Howling Stead’s sails and propels the ship through the God Plane and beyond it, for that is its secret: the ways between all worlds.

Nature

This is a violent, bloody cult of pirates, cut-throats and desperate sea-farers. It has few worshippers but the pirates of the northern Fronelan coasts are ardent worshippers and their longships are floating temples to Mighty Yigg. The cult seeks only to deliver terror and death. It claims the seas of all the worlds as its own and believes that, after death, one joins Yigg’s crew on Howling Stead to bring terror to all seas for eternity. At the moment of death all worshippers see Howling Stead waiting for them, a rope thrown down from the decks to allow their soul to climb up and join the grimfaced warriors who wait, silently.

The cult distrusts red-eyed men for the reasons explained in the myth. They also hate all worshippers of Eurmal, whom they believe the Red Eyed Man clearly was.

Organisation

Every longship is a clan upon the seas. Every ship is a temple to Yigg and bears his likeness – a cruel-faced, wind-swept, wind-like warrior – as its figurehead. The winds directly are worshipped as the daughters of Secret Wind.

All Yigg pirates are Initiates of the cult. It has no Lay Members. Acolytes are the mates of the vessel and the Rune Priests lead all rituals that precede an attack on a helpless (or not so helpless) ship. Rune Lords are the captains and leaders of these terrible, floating clans.

The cult’s High Holy Day is Water Day, Movement Week, Sea Season.

Membership Standard.

Yigg members must kill a captured foe as part of their Initiation.

Common Magic

Bladesharp, Coordination, Frostbite.

Higher Magic

Berserk, Consecrate, Dismiss Magic, Ebb and Flow, Elemental Summoning (Sylph), Elemental Summoning (Undine), Excommunicate, Extension, Heal Wound, Sail Through Ice, Shield.

Sail Through Ice

Duration 12 Hours, Rank Rune Lord/Priest, Ranged

This spell must be cast on a ship. For the Duration of spell it can cut through any ice as long as the thickness of the ice, in metres, does not exceed the spell’s Magnitude. The ship travels at its normal movement rate whilst the spell is in effect.

Gifts and Compulsions

Yigg worshippers must accept one of the following Compulsions. In return, they become immune to any surprise attacks whilst on their ship or carousing on dry land.

Abhor Land – The cultist cannot set foot on dry land, abhorring it utterly. If forced onto dry land he will attempt to escape back to a ship – any ship – as his priority.

Challenge Chaos – Every sign and creature of Chaos must be challenged and fought.

Fear Red-Eyes – The cultist is fearful of anyone with red or glowing eyes. It becomes a Compulsion to bring that person harm.

Merciless – All foes are to be killed, no matter who they are, what they offer or how they plead. All foes slaughtered are in Yigg’s name.

Cult Skills

Athletics, Boating, Brawn, Lore (Yigg), Shiphandling, Axe, Sword and Spear Combat Styles.

Allied Cults

Orlanth provides Wind Words.

Valind provides Freezing Wind.