The Cult of Lodril

A secret cult within Fiesive. Mt. Fiesive is, in actual fact, a volcano. It was born from the ground in Godtime, a lone sign of Lodril's power. He summoned it as a mountain range to stop advancing chaos hordes, but the krjalki destroyed it as it rose - all except the greatest mountain of Fiesive who gouted fire upon the world and swept the chaos aside.

The volcano was tamed by Arkati at the end of the First Age, for they knew great rites to seal it. When the Arkati were sent to war in the Third Age, nearly a millenia later, they took the secret to their graves. After a few awful divinations, Rafali shamans (Rafali are a primitive tribe of Lalian fire worshippers) were asked by the Orlanthi to solve the portents. The Priests of Orlanth did not know what was wrong, only that Rafali shamans could solve it. Outrage grew at foreigners being brought into Orlanthi lands and the Rafali shamans wre forced away. However, more enlightened individuals within the city realised that the shamans were needed. In secret, a handful stayed.

The shamans quickly divined the problem. A city had been built on top of the Arkati monastery designed to keep the volcano quiet! Soon a cult grew in secret to placate Lodril and keep the volcano silent. The shamans vanished after one generation, and the priesthood was formed in it's place. At first membership was limited to those in the Ralia priesthood who sought to save the city. As the worship of a foreign god is something no Orlanthi would appreciate, the cult is still a secret, doubly so as pagan god worship is reviled by the Henotheistic Church.

The temple itself lies in a hollowed out chamber centred around a lava pool with a statue of Lodril at it's centre - a gift from the Rafali all those centuries ago. Access to the chamber is through the lava veins accessed via secret doors in and around the temple to St. Ralia in the base of the mountain. The temple is a small shrine, with no defences other than cult spirits (mainly salamanders) and a spirit that can inhabit the Lodril statue.

The cult has about forty members, one priest, four acolytes and the rest are initiates. There is room enough for only one priest. The priestess is Anna Halifar, also a Priestess of the Farmer Caste. As of 1621 ST they have no champion to defend them.

The cult is slightly different from the one presented in Gods of Glorantha. Firstly, there are no sub-cults, secondly they have slightly varied magic and, lastly, they have their own spirits of reprisal. There are no associated gods.

Initiate Membership

Standard. Skills - Climb, Jump, Spear Attack, any Craft skill. Initiates must spend one week a year at the temple, and the odd day when asked. The first rune spell they sacrifice for must be Suppress Lodril, and when they have 3 points of that spell they can then sacrifice for other rune magic at the discretion of the Priest.

Spirit Magic: Disrupt, Endurance, Extinguish, Heal, Heat Metal, Ignite.

Note: Spirit magic is only taught after the initiate has done favours for the cult and are trusted enough to receive it. Money cannot purchase spirit magic.

Acolyte Membership

Standard.

Priesthood Membership

Standard, but there is only one position open.

Common Rune Magic: All.
Special Rune Magic: Command Salamander, Earthwarm, Enhance Gustbran, Enhance Mahome, Firespear, Suppress Lodril, Suppress Oakfed.

Spells (see GoG p.53)

Suppress Lodril
1 point
ritual ceremony, stackable, reusable
Reduces the chance of a volcanic eruption by a cumulative 1% per point of spell. Normally the spell is cast at least once a year, sometimes more. As Anna has 9 pts., the acolytes each have 6 pts. Each and each initiate casts 2 pts. The chance I reduced by 113%, leaving a margin of error in case someone fails to enact the ceremony properly.

Spirits of Reprisal

The dead champions of the cult act as a spirit of vengeance for those who endanger the cult. Any who hurt the cult are attacked by 1d6 ghosts.

Divine Intervention

This sect of Lodril can only DI to prevent an eruption.