The Cult Of Glorantha

I. Mythos and History

Then the Lesser Darkness came, Yelm dissappeared and already the World Machine was beginning to crumble. Glorantha had already told of the doom that Umath the Destroyer would bring, but only the Mostali had listened to her. Glorantha watched as the Spike was invaded by her mothers diseased creations, the elves. With these creatures destroying the Spike Glorantha at last realised that her plans were ruined by the non-Mostali and wept. Glorantha was strong however, and was reputedly there when the Devil came upon the Spike and destroyed it. Many believe that she was killed with the destruction, but this is not the only consensus. The Mostali know the truth, the irrevocable reality of the Cosmos, they know that Glorantha escaped, by either disguising herself or changing her form. Some Mostali believe that she still wanders the planet, helping the World Machine. The Mostali know that Glorantha is still alive because the World Machine still moves, whirring away in its methodical ways, and that as long as it moves then she is alive, guiding it. Some Mostali think that Glorantha is in fact the Red Goddess, that Glorantha absorbed chaos and created the Red Moon, the herald of the World Machine.

Because Glorantha is either in hiding or in mortal guise then she cannot be contacted via Divine worship. The Mostali use her teachings as intricate and primal parts of the World Machine and use her teachings in their races structure. Now her followers abhore the way that she is refered to as being the planet and they disdain the use of the word. Threfore, Glorantha cultists are distinguishable by the fact that they refer to Glorantha as "the Inner World" constantly.

Glorantha's runes were undefined by the God Leaners, and the Mostali have never connected her specifically with any except the Infinity Rune.

II. Cult Ecology

Glorantha is the cult of the World Machines working, as Mostal is the World Machine. Glorantha heads such things as breeding of Mostali (err...sorry...mortar and pestle), feeding Mostali and organising the distribution of sorcery. A Tertiary Member of Glorantha leads almost every Mostali community, teaching them what is to be done. Glorantha appeals to most Mostali, although because her cult blames the collapse of their goddess wholly upon the acts of non-Mostali then the cult actively discourages Openhandists. The cult is organised on three levels, Tertiary, the equivalent of Lay Membership, Secondary, the equivalent of Initiate, and Primary, the equivalent of Priest.

III. The Cult In The World

Glorantha heads its cult in the Nidan Mountains. It appears in most Mostali communties of any size as Tertiary members are required to spread out sorcery use and POW expenditure and such, so that the World Machine can be repaired. In larger communities a Secondary member will be present, aiding the consorts of the cult sof Mostal, Stone and such. If a Diamond Dwarf becomes a member of the cult of Glorantha then they are usually elevated to the rank of Primary immediatley. The cult is pacifistic, the Iron Dwarf contigents are usually only for defence purposes. Mainly Gold Dwarfs join this cult.

IV. Tertiary Membership

To become a member of the Glorantha cult at a Tertiary level is relatively easy. A Mostal must have sacrificed at least five POW to the World Machine (i.e.used it upon the Mostal cult spells such as Stabilze Weapon, Stabilize Potion etc...), they must also pass examination in three skills related to their caste (i.e.make successful skill rolls in each one). No POW is required to be expended, but 50% of the cultists time must be spent on cult activities, such as distribution of materials. Once every five years a member must also spend at least one POW in spells aiding the World Machine by casting Mostal cult spells. The member usually gets training in leadership qualities and learning how to distribute materials. Tertairy members are also expected to tutor Mostali in Mortar and Pestle techniques. They gain access to no cult sorcery.

V. Secondary Membership

If a Mostali serves five years as a Tertiary Member then they are usually advanced to Secondary Membership. They must pass no more tests and sacrifice no POW. They must, however, donate 80% of their time to the cult. At Secondary Membership a more hands on approach is required. The skill Craft World Machine is now available to the Mostali, they are trained a base fifty hours in it upon membership, and an additional twenty hours a year. The member gets access to all cult sorcery not otherwise stated.

VI. Primary Membership

Only a Diamond Dwarf may join the hallowed ranks of primary membership. Firstly, the Diamond Dwarf must have at least 150% Craft World Machine and have served the cult without flaw for fifty years. The Primary members are expected to spend 100% of their time advancing the cult ideals of Glorantha and her uniform creation. The Mostali gains access to ALL cult sorcery. They must expend 1 POW a year into recreating the World Machine. In addition to their Diamond Dwarf powers they gain the following abilities, they gain the Sense Chaos skill at base 05% plus perception modifier, they gain the ability to temporarily induce life in other beings - for every magic point expended the being touched gains either one fatigue point or one hit point. If the Dwarf ever leaves the cult then all powers and status is lost.

VII. Special Cult Skills

Craft World Machine
(Base 00%, only Secondary or Primary members of the cult can learn it, others find it impossible)
This ability can only be used in conjunction with the various sorcery spells and cult activities. It can only be learned by members of the cult of Glorantha, it specifically teaches how to repair and augment the World Machine such as organising the breeding cycle of Mostali or what spells to be cast and when, some people claim that this is Divine signals sent from Glorantha. This skill may only be increased by experience or being taught by a Primary level member.

Recognise Rune Metal
(Base 05%)
This ability allows a cult member tell the type of rune metal being shown to them. It requires about five minutes tapping it, weighing it or tasting it. This is especially useful in metals that appear to be similar to another. It requires a special result to distinguish if it is enchanted or not.

VIII. Special Cult Sorcery

Brew Mostali
ritual(enchant)
This spell is what is used to brew the protodwarf produced from New Mud Laboratories. This spell need only be cast once but for every year the Mostali spends brewing a Craft World Machine roll must be made otherwise the protodwarf dies. The first time this spell is cast 1 POW is expended. The first time the spell is cast the Mosatli must not only roll underneath its enchant roll but also Craft World Machine.

Create Rune Metal(Primary only)
ritual(enchant), temporal
This powerful spell creates Rune Metals right out of thin air. The Rune Metal created equals 1 ENC for each set of intensities used to form it, for instance lead requires 2 intensities to form 1 ENC, so an intensity 10 spell will make 5 ENC of lead. The metal is unenchanted but comes in any form required.

Rune Metal Intensities
Aluminum/Quicksilver 2
Bronze 1
Copper 3
Gold 3
Iron 6
Lead 2
Silver 4
Tin 2

Each time this enchantment is cast 1 POW is expended. The Rune Metal dissappears when the duration expires. For the enchantment to be successful the roll made to enchant must also be below the skill Craft World Machine.

Enchant Rune Spinning Wheel(Primary only)
ritual (enchant), temporal
This spell creates a spinner (see below). Once cast 1 POW is expended, the enchantment lasts until the duration ends and when cast the caster must roll under Craft World Machine.

Grant Regeneration
ritual (enchant), temporal
This is cast upon important creatures neccessary to the World Machine. This includes Iron Dwarfs, Jolanti and war gnomes. It has the important feature that it regenerates at 1 hit point per hour per intensity, i.e. 5 intensities will heal 5 hit points per hour or one hit point every twelve minutes. This enchantment only ever expires when the duration ends. It is cast as a gift of life.
Every time this enchantment is cast 1 POW is expended. The enchantment expires when the duration expires. When the enchantment is cast the caster must also roll underneath Craft World Machine.

Nullify Rune Enchantment
ritual (enchant), temporal
This powerful enchantment is cast upon enchantments the Mostali wishes to have either control of, or else nullify long enough to destroy it. This enchantment is cast upon other enchantments and completley negates the effects of the enchantment for the duration, although the Mostali has control over this spell for the duration and can switch the enchantment on and off at will. Binding enchantments do not expel their spirits if nullified, but while nullified the spirit cannot go anywhere, thus making an effective way of trapping a spirit.
1 POW is expended every time this enchantment is cast. It ends when the duration expires. When cast the roll must also be beneath Craft World Machine skill. This enchantment is used upon enchantments that are either heretical to the World Machine or else would be best to be used at the will of only one dwarf.

IX. Notes

Spinning Wheel
The Glorantha cult have also shared an association with creation due to their relationship with Maker. Glorantha used this for the good of the World Machine by teaching the Mostali how to make Spinning Wheels. Resembling normal spinning wheels these objects have a unique power, they can spin Rune Metals. The user must gather up an amount of any material equal to the amount wished to be produced, for instance if someone wanted to spin 5 ENC of iron then 5 ENC of soil or wool needs to be gathered. The user must belong to the cult of Glorantha. The user spends one hour per ENC converting the materials, the user must roll underneath Craft World Machine otherwise POW is expended and the spinning is unsuccessful. One POW is expended per ENC of Rune Metal spun. Any Rune Metal can be created.

Glorantha and Mostal

Mostal is the World Machine, Glroantha is the spirit that works it. Mostal teaches how the World Machine works while Glorantha organises every Mostali and their position in the reparation of the World Machine. Her skills and spells lend themselves to working out what has its positions in the World Machine, such as Recognise Rune Metal is used to determine what the metal is and how best it could be used within the World Machine.