|
Life of Moonson Religionsby Nick Brooke, Chris Gidlow and David Hall,with Kevin Jacklin, Rick Meints and MOB |
 |
| Return to Home Page |
Lunar CultsThe Lunar WayYou are a devotee of the Red Goddess, the spiritual head of the Lunar religion. She exemplifies all which the Lunar Way teaches. She is the goddess of freedom and tolerance. She teaches how to perceive, how to make judgements, and how to maintain balance. She urges individual experimentation to discover meaning in the world, and also supports public formalisation of those new discoveries as hero cults so that others can share the knowledge. Her son, the immortal Red Emperor, rules her secular domain, while Great Sister provides balance to his rule. Moonson ImperatorYou are a devotee of the Red Emperor. Your right to rule comes from worshipping the founders of your family clan as a subcult of Moonson Imperator. The cult worships the Red Emperor as the perfect embodiment of the Lunar Citizen. It does so by enforcing his Justice, supervising the actions of all other governing institutions in the Empire, and providing structures for all citizens to aspire to and achieve the highest rank. As such, it determines the basic social structure of the Empire, overlying the Empire's disparate cultures. The Red Emperor leads his cult personally. The Red EmperorYou are a devotee of the Red Emperor. You worship Moonson, the Emperor of Peloria, Son of Light, Lord of Glorantha, Bridge to Heaven, Free-Keeper of the Souls. The cult worships the Red Emperor as the perfect embodiment of the Lunar Citizen. It does so by enforcing his Justice, supervising the actions of all other governing institutions in the Empire, and providing structures for all citizens to aspire to and achieve the highest rank. As such, it determines the basic social structure of the Empire, overlying the Empire's disparate cultures. The High Priest of the Red Emperor's cult is the Speaker of the Imperial Senate, Geilbonus the Sycophant. Yanafal TarnilsYou are a devotee of Yanafal Tarnils, Lunar God of War. Yanafal Tarnils was one of the Seven Mothers, and his cult defines how the perfect Lunar soldier should behave. Most of his worshippers are career officers in the Red Army; the Scimitars of Yanafal are heroes of the Empire. The followers of Yanafal Tarnils are honourable men, known to one another as Comrades of Yanafal; you address each other as 'Comrade General,' 'Comrade Satrap,' etc. You pride yourself on your skill with the scimitar, the sacred weapon of the cult, and are happy to resolve disputes over matters of honour by duelling. The High Priest of the Cult of Yanafal Tarnils is Bellex Maximus, the Imperial Warlord. Jakaleel the WitchJakaleel the Witch is worshipped in the Lunar Empire as the Goddess of Primal Madness and Insanity. She is privy to the diverse horrors and solaces that lie within the darkness. The mad, crazy and insane are all accepted as lay members in her cult and offered free board and lodging in the cult's temples, or Asylums as they are commonly known. While the worship of Jakaleel the Witch is not large it is widespread throughout Peloria: major temples or Asylums are rare and remain places of mystery and horror, shunned by the sane and circumspect. Priestesses of the cult are known as Witches and make no secret of it. EtyriesYou are a devotee of Etyries, Goddess of Trade, Roads, and Merchants. She guided the Red Goddess on her Godquest and was made goddess of all exchanges. She is called Silvertongue for her eloquence. Her worshippers are merchants, diplomats, heralds and guides. She also possesses the secret lore of book-keeping. Her greatest temple is in Glamour, and nearly every marketplace in Peloria has at least a small shrine dedicated to her. The Red Dancer of Power, a demideity, leads the cult. Queen DeezolaYou are a devotee of Deezola, "the binder within" and one of the Seven Mothers. She was a ruler of lands on the Arcos river and a priestess of Arachne Solara. Deezola is the main healing goddess of the Empire, the favourite of nobles and poets, and also a mistress of earth magic. She embodies the principle of creation and growth - diverse, cyclical, mysterious and all embracing. She is the binder Within who holds the empire together through the power of maternal love. However, Deezola does not offer unconditional support. Since all Lunar gods reach down half way to their worshippers, so Deezola expects those she helps to be willing to help themselves. Queen Penelori, the satrap of Oraya leads the cult. Irrippi OntorYou are a devotee of Irrippi Ontor, Lunar God of Learning. Irrippi Ontor was one of the Seven Mothers, and his cult embraces the scholars, teachers and literati of the Empire. "Knowledge is Power," said Irrippi Ontor, and his worshippers also include many magicians and sorcerers from the Lunar College of Magic. The followers of Irrippi Ontor are learned men, known to one another as Red Sages. They are the undisputed masters of all branches of knowledge: tutors, professors, researchers and authors. The High Priest of the Cult of Irrippi Ontor is Fod-Ariam, the Red Sage of Glamour. Danfive XaronYou are a worshipper of Danfive Xaron, the Lunar god of Redemption through Suffering. Danfive Xaron was one of the Seven Mothers, and his cult runs Penitentiaries (prisons and labour-camps) offering criminals sanctuary and the hope of rehabilitation. The cult's strict and inflexible code of conduct also attracts many who seek greater meaning and direction from life, such as yourself. The cult is also the Empire's secret internal police force, the Black Army, maintaining a network of informers among its former Penitents to watch out for potentially disruptive activities, and agents to nip them in the bud. Grand Master Orsorkhon the Cenobite is the unquestioned leader of the cult of Danfive Xaron, dwelling within the grim and terrifying Xaronea prison in Glamour. The Twin StarsYou are a worshipper of the Twin Stars. These two powerful spirits were daughters of the Red Goddess and the man inside the invisible shirt. They played vital parts in the Conversion of the Sable Tribe to the Lunar Way, and have been worshipped by your people ever since. Erelia is the patron of Eloquence with Barbarians, where Verelia is patron of Deadly Distraction in Crisis. Their cult is loosely organised, though it is said that the Twin Stars themselves will return to lead their followers when the Empire enters its time of greatest peril. The Crimson BatThe Cult of the Crimson Bat was formed by the Red Goddess to care for and to feed the Bat. In binding the demon, she gained some control over the beast's hunger: now, even in peacetime, it must devour many people and animals every week to sate its appetite. Both civil and military authorities usually co-operate fully with the cult, at least overtly, providing sick or stray animals, unwanted slaves, criminals, rebels or barbarians. The priests of the Crimson Bat are important officers in the Lunar College of Magic, and they ride the holy steed of the Goddess. They are the masters of the Bat, riding it in battle and controlling its actions in accordance with the wishes of the Lunar Empire. The identity of the High Priest of the Cult of the Crimson Bat, known as the Chief Feeder of the Bat, is a State Secret: the theory is that if the identity of the person who directs the Empire's ultimate deterrent were known, he or his family could become targets for attempts at extortion, corruption or assassination. You are the Chief Feeder of the Crimson Bat. You obey the orders of the Director of the Field School of the Lunar College of Magic, Didius Copernicus. He is the only person who should know that you are the Chief Feeder of the Crimson Bat, and is the only one who can authorise you to unleash its awesome Chaotic power against the enemies of the Empire. AnnillaYou are a devotee of Annilla, the ancient mystic goddess of the Blue Moon. This planet was before and behind her bright Red Sister. Annilla sends out the invisible forces which control the tides, inspire her assassins and cause mysterious disappearances. She preserves the mysteries which empower the Red Moon. Outsiders say there have been other Blue Moon Goddesses: Lesilla, whose body is the Blue Moon Plateau, Orogeria the Virgin Huntress and so forth. You know that these were in fact disguises worn by Annilla to obscure her secret purposes. No one knows who really leads Annilla's cult, though most speculate that it is the priestesses who live atop the Blue Moon Plateau. |
|
Dara Happan CultsMolanni, Calm AirDaughter of Air Gods, Molanni joined her kinsmen's enemy Yelm and her cult remains part of the Sun God's pantheon. While her kin are changeable and violent, she is still, stagnant and calm. Whatever importance the cult might have in the Lunar Empire is subsumed by the Red Goddess's own struggles for the Middle Air. The cult helps control the weather in Peloria, and supports the annual expeditions to Valind's Glacier. OriaOria is the Great Mother. Her broad sweep includes all forms of nourishment, so she is worshipped with the cow, sow or ewe goddess as appropriate. Worship of Oria includes ancient rites and forgotten powers of the Old Earth. She has many husbands and sons, and is usually worshipped in conjunction with them, making her one of the most widely worshipped deities in the Lunar Empire, with temples throughout the Heartlands and beyond. ShargashYou are a devotee of Shargash, the terrifying War-God of Dara Happa. Shargash was a son of Yelm, called down from heaven when the Sun was slain. Shargash was filled with insatiable hunger for justice. He defeated Umath, but would not cease destruction till all who opposed the divine order were slain. He reigned a thousand years until at last he destroyed the whole world by purifying fire. He died bringing order to Glorantha. Shargash was the first sun god to return from the dead, so his worshippers have no fear of death. Lest he destroy the world anew, he is bound beneath the great Amphitheatre of Alkoth. Here his hunger is fed by the gladiators. The Red Emperor has confirmed his position as War-God and defender of Dara Happa. Worship of Shargash is primitive and savage, with howling, bellowing and scarification the common prayers. |
||
Foreign ReligionsCarmanian DualismThe Dualist Church of Carmania oversees all other religions and cults within the West Reaches, including those of the Lunar Way. Its Magi decide whether religious beliefs are acceptable or heretical. Carmanian Dualism is rooted in the opposition of great cosmic principles: Good and Evil, Light and Darkness. The Magi adore Idovanus, the Wise Lord, and thwart the schemes of Ganesatarus the Evil One. Their first touchstone is Truth: Ganesatarus is the Deceiver, and his agents can appear as fair and wholesome as any of the helpers of Idovanus: nevertheless, their fair exteriors can conceal a multitude of foulness. The second is Necessity: leaders are often called on to inflict harm, a principle of Darkness which can be used in the service of the Light. The Hierophant of Carmania, Brostangian Archmoor, is head of the Carmanian Dualist church. The Witch-Cult of SpolThe Witch-Cult of Spol preserves ancient secrets of Dark Sorcery which have been lost by the Dualist Church. The roots of your secretive faith are prehistoric, and it derives its power from acknowledging the universal powers of oppression, pain, and suffering. Beyond the mere labels of "Good" and "Evil" is the underlying truth: the world was born from primeval darkness, source of all magics, and those who know this can manipulate the most potent forces of Glorantha. Eolian ReligionYou are a devotee of our own particular nature religion, and are willing to say almost anything about the Red Goddess, which keeps you safe and happy. You do not acknowledge personified deities, but gather with other Thrice Blessed at prehistoric monuments, especially the stone circle of Yng-Isin and the Twin Mountains to worship Air, Fire, Water, Darkness and Earth once in each season. You know how to harness the lines of power which run through Glorantha by means of alignments of megaliths, in a manner very similar to that practised by Dragonewts. The Way of Char-UnYou are a devotee of the cult of Yelm the Sun, which prescribes the ideals of manhood. It is for men to lead, and for women to bear sons. Men must care for their horses and for their women. You trace your kinship back to Char-Un, the tribal founder, whose worship unites the nation. Char-Un taught the harsh survival code of his people: To be strong is to survive. To be weak is to die and to provide for the strong. Pity, Mercy, Compassion, these are words only for city dwellers. In your language there is but one word to translate them: "Weakness". If a foal is weak, it is killed, then stripped of all usable material lest it weaken the whole herd. Thus it is in all aspects of life. Such is the way of Char-Un the Butcher! Ancestor WorshipWhile paying lip service to the official Lunar religion, you are devotee of ancestor worship. Your tribe was one of the few in Aggar which revered their ancestors more than Orlanth, and this may explain why the Lunars favoured the tribe. However, you do count Orlanth and his kin as some of your ancestors (a fact not known by the Lunars) and this makes you wary of persecuting their worship too much. You can call on your ancestors to help you with historical questions concerning the region and with specialist magics. CacodemonYou are a devotee of the Chaos God Cacodemon, as befits your Ogre half-blood. Cacodemon is a remnant of the army of Wakboth the Devil, Leader of the Chaos Horde, who was destroyed by the gods of order during the War of the Gods. Cacodemon exists only to spread disorder and destruction, and to increase the personal power of his devotees. As a Talon of Cacodemon you have the power to call a Fiend to your aid, and the power to call down Cacodemon himself (though only if he too wills it). UleriaYou are a devoted worshipper of Uleria, Goddess of Love. Uleria is the deity of all forms of love and fertility: communal, reproductive and carnal. Her temples have three doorways, one for each type of worshipper. Uleria is a universal deity, one of the goddesses of the Celestial Court. She is powerful in every land, but most powerful in her magical cities, each of which is called Zoria. You have heard rumours that there are other cities of Zoria elsewhere in Glorantha: you would love to learn where these might be, and what the strange amorous and erotic practices of foreign lands are. If you meet any foreigners (or people recently returned from abroad), ask them to tell you (and show you!) what they have learned. Don't be shy: it's all in the name of religion. |
||
|
|
Glorantha, HeroQuest, Hero Wars, and Issaries are trademarks of Issaries, Inc. The contents of this page are copyright by Nick Brooke , Chris Gidlow and David Hall, 2001; any material derived from Greg Stafford's world of Glorantha is also copyright by Greg Stafford. Glorantha is the creation of Greg Stafford, and is used with his permission. |
|
