Ernalda is the main goddesses of the Earth Temple complexes in Dragon Pass and her cult has been greatly enriched by the Esrolian Earth Religion and the heroquesting of the Feathered Horse Queen. These Earth Temples are a loose network of largely autonomous temples that have a loose pecking order. Great temples are considered senior to major temples, which in turn are senior to minor temples and shrines. The Feathered Horse Queen is acknowledged as a powerful incarnation of Ernalda, but has no direct authority over individual temples or priestesses. In Sartar, there are great temples at Boldhome, Clearwine, and Alda-Chur and major temples at Alone, Clay Man, Dancing Snake, Gladmow, Goodfarm, Goodfork, Greenstone, High Pole, Hill Pear, Ingan, and Three Emerald Temple. These temples include shrines and even minor temples to other Earth deities such as Asrelia, Babeester Gor, Maran Gor, Ty Kora Tek, and Voria, as well as to Ernalda’s husband deities – normally Orlanth and Yelmalio, but in some places even Flamal and Storm Bull. Minor temples are normally twinned with a minor temple to Orlanth Thunderous or Orlanth Adventurous. Orlanth is viewed as Ernalda’s most important consort and the cults are very closely connected. The Orlanth cult protects the Earth Temples, but other cults, such as Yelmalio, Storm Bull, and even Argan Argar, compete for the honor. Although priestesses do not generally lead the clans or tribes, they are women of great influence and importance, and in some communities more so than the chief or king. At the same time, the Earth Temples typically do not participate in local clan or tribal conflicts, except as they involve the Earth Goddess.
In Sartar, the Ernalda cult is the ultimate authority over the land itself, delegating care over specific pieces of land to cults, tribes, or other entities. Ernalda and her fellow Earth goddesses governs the cycles of fertility – that of birth, growth, decline, and death. One of the most important rituals the cult performs is Bless Crops, which helps assure the fertility of the fields. This ritual typically involves the sacrifice of an animal, ritual hierogamy between the Earth Priestess and a representative of the local Husband God while worshipers dance and sing, and then engage in merrymaking. The boundary stones marking the lands delegated to tribes, clans, temples, or other entities or individuals are protected by Babeester Gor.
The Ernalda cult is often responsible (or asserts responsibility) for arranging marriages between its members and suitable followers of one of the Husband-Deities, although individual choice is acknowledged and permitted. Temples sometimes arrange marriage contests for women who consent to the rites—these contests are open to any follower of a recognized Husband-Deity and test the suitors to prove their worth through a series of contests. Contestants are typically sponsored by their communities or temples, but “wanderers” are always permitted. The contests match the participants’ prowess at combat, athletics, social skills, and magic. Most contests last a week (and are combined with the High Holy Day ceremonies), but some contests take much longer. The winner of the contest is chosen as the year-husband of the participant, and the participating community gains blessings and magical allies as a result of a successful contest. Many Earth priestesses prefer to choose their consorts in this manner, and the stakes are much higher. The marriage contest of an important Earth priestess is an event of regional importance, and a truce suspends hostilities between followers of the Husband-Deities during the contest.
The FHQ is the incarnation of Kero Fin? Ernalda.
Note that the month and year of this post are correct, just not the date.