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Caladraland

Posted on October 10, 2021

Of course the Orlanthi know Lodril – he is the great god of Caladraland, a nation of nearly a half million people at the edge of Esrolia. Lodril lives here in a great volcano, and is sometimes called Veskarthan (which just means “the Vent”). According to the local Lodrili, this is where Lodril descended from the Sky and entered the Earth.

Lodril made many many gifts for Asrelia, and together they awakened the earth with their children. In the Darkness, Lodril was defeated and bound by Argan Argar and forced to build the Palace of Black Glass. Its highest parts were towering spires piercing the air and its basements rested in the Underworld. It radiated a thick darkness which dimmed the light of all the lands which the Only Old One ruled.

In the First Age, the worshipers of Lodril rebelled and broke away from the trolls. They received help in this from the dwarfs of Gemborg and from those people of the sea who claimed descent from Choralinthor, and received mercenaries from the barbarians of Wenelia.

In the Second Age, the Lodril worshipers welcomed the reunion of Aurelion, Caladra‘s twin, and allied with the God Learner province of Slontos against the Shadowlands and their EWF allies. The magnificent golden statue of Eurmal Lightbringer holding aloft a miniature version of the Sun was built by the God Learners at the Lighthouse. But Lodril aided the Old Powers in destroying the God Learners.

When Belintar arrived, the Caladralanders tried to kill him, using both force and magic. But they failed, and Belintar used the powers of the Steam Demons to win his assault against their leaders.

At the present time, Caladraland is ruled by the priests of the Volcano Twins. The population have adjusted their society around the needs and blessings of the vocano god. They are ruled by King Galerus, who was selected by the ruling council of clan chieftains for his ability to judge people carefully and his ability to lead armies. In 1620, Galerus refused to step down in accordance with tradition. Now called the King of the Diamond Diadem, Galerus allied with the dwarfs of Gemborg, the Demivierge of Rhigos, and the Warlord of Porthomeko. His kingdom has suffered terribly from a decade of barbarian invasions, but he holds onto power with the support of the Caladra and Aurelion cult.

Peloria has the largest number of Lodril cultists in Glorantha and the god has numerous holy places in the land. He made the Gods Wall near Raibanth, in Dara Happa. The volcanic plugs of Darjiin and the lava beds in Kostaddi are important sacred places, as is the Forest of Pillars in the Western Reaches. The caldera of Lake Oronin in the Lunar Empire is particularly important, and many stories hold that this was once Mount Fire, the place where Lodril descended from the Sky and entered the Earth. Another sacred place claimed as Mount Fire is the Vent, a huge, cratered volcano in the Holy Country more than two kilometers tall. Many stories hold that it was here Lodril descended from the Sky and entered the Earth. A plume of smoke visible from hundreds of kilometers away constantly rises from its cauldron. The Vent is very active and regularly erupts, but the damage it does is usually minimized by Lodril’s priests.

Now Lodril does not really have much of a cult in Dragon Pass, although he is certainly recognised by the Orlanthi. He is held to be the father of Quivin and many mountain gods, and scholars say that he fathered mighty Ernalda upon Asrelia.

So if we add Caladraland into the local mix, we have over 30k Lodril cultists and 60 k Caladra and Aurelion cultists. Add Esrolia to the mix and we get another 40k Lodril cultists. So yes, the cult is definitely present in the Holy Country, which means the Sartarites are definitely aware of it.

Who is the ‘Demivierge of Rhigos’? see the Guide to Glorantha page 249.

Jeff Richard

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Argan Argar, Asrelia, Belintar, Caladra & Aurelion, Caladraland, Cult demographics, Lodril, Peloria

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