The Hero Cult of Harmast Barefoot

Author's Notes: What with Harmastsaga being written, and the general lack of information about Harmast, I cannot be certain how many of the details here are actually official. I will most likely update it once Hero Wars is published and I can get more information.

Mythos and History

Harmast was the son of Hadrinor of the Berenneth tribe. He was born into a simple farmer's life, in 396 ST, into the generation of boys where no man could be initiated into the ways of Orlanth after Lokamayadon, a mask of Ragnaglar the Mad One, cursed the people. Vargast Two-Ring initiated Harmast, who was forced to flee. Lokamayadon later slew Vargast.

Harmast was sent by Orlanth himself to free and release the lands of good Orlanthi folk from the evils of the Broken Council and Lokamayadons krjalki ways. Harmast was the First Hero, he did what no-one had done before, he underwent a HeroQuest. Travelling the lands he pieced together the myth of the Lightbringer's Quest of Orlanth and learnt all the secrets that were to be learnt. He gathered a Ring and then he went to the Hill of Orlanth Victorious, before setting off to the Underworld. Here he rescued the son of Humakt, who had been slain at Kartolin Pass. He was called Arkat.

At first Harmast was pleased with Arkat, he seemed to be the great and mighty warrior that was needed to vanquish the foes that he faced. But Arkat fell to temptation, and fell to weakness, turning to the worship of darker gods. Harmast grew disgusted with what he saw, and enacted a second Lightbringer's Quest. It was not so successful, but he returned with Talor the Laughing Warrior, and with him they invaded Dorastor to free the Orlanthi people. Harmast slew Lokamayadon around this time.

Gbaji was slain soon after by Arkat, and Harmast saw that his work was done. He retired to Barntar's Stead where he resides even now. He can be found by travelling there, although Barntar himself will determine whether Harmast's idyllic life should be disturbed. Also the journey to reach him can be quite hazardous. However, some HeroQuesters wishing to enact the Lightbringer's Quest travel to him to try and pick his brains about the secret information he long ago learnt.

The Hero-Cult

The Hero Cult of Harmast Barefoot is thin on the ground, not being all that popular. It is worshipped generally by a few devotees within the Orlanthi cult, certain Orlanthi who wish aid on the Lightbringer's Quest and certain individuals who wish to fight "Gbaji" (especially within Ralios, many East Wild Orlanthi who fester particular hate for Arkati join it to help in their cause). The Hero Cult is small, perhaps no more than a handful of individuals even in large settlements of Orlanthi. The cult knows the HeroQuest to travel to Harmast Barefoot at Barntar's Farm (5 POW HeroQuest spell).

Initiates

Membership is by invitation only, although petitioning Priests of the cult often garners invitation if the character can prove their devotion to the cause and their worth. The Hero Cult invites HeroQuesters and certain individuals destined to re-enact Harmast's life of hatred against Gbaji and Arkat. Only worshippers of Orlanth may join. There is no test, only the truly worthy are invited in the first place. Membership requires 1 POW and initiates must devote 10% of their time and income to the Hero Cult unless they are Rune-level already in which case it is subsumed into their normal tasks.

Not only do they gain access to the HeroQuest, and usually to larger amounts of information on HeroQuesting and the Lightbringer's Quest specifically, they have few other benefits. They gain the passions of Harmast Barefoot (see my HeroQuest rules) and are blessed whilst on the Lightbringer's Quest (this is why so many people join the Hero Cult before enacting the Lightbringer's Quest). This blessing takes the form of an additional Support Point on the Quest (again, see my HeroQuest rules).

The Passions of Harmast Barefoot are:

Loyalty (Family) 5, Love (Family) 5, Loyalty (allies) 4, Hate (Gbaji) 7, Hate (Arkat) 3, Hate (chaos) 4, Hate (trolls) 2, Loyalty (Talor and his worshippers) 2, Piety (Orlanth) 5, Lust (a peaceful way of life) 4.

The Hate (Gbaji) passion normally only applies to one figure, one person whom the character has taken the belief that they are Gbaji. The GM should approve these choices, and the character should realise that once chosen, the initiates entire life should be devoted to their destruction.

In Lankst all followers of Harmast Barefoot are welcome into Lightbringer House at Windy Hill (see ToTRM #12).

Priests

Priests of Harmast Barefoot are rare. Only rune-levels of Orlanth whom have undergone the mythical re-enactment version of the Lightbringer's Quest qualify. There are, again, no tests. The only benefits are another increase in the same set of passions, as is normal for Priests, and access to the initiation rituals for the Hero Cult of Harmast Barefoot.