Where did Belintar come from? (2012)

Submitted by GianniVacca on Fri, 22/06/2012 – 09:35

OK… Where did Belintar come from?

Submitted by metcalph on Fri, 22/06/2012 – 22:39.

If you want a non-canonical answer, the thing is ask is why did Belintar appear at that time?  What had anybody done to make him appear?

Was the Only Old One trying to break the Closing and the Ludoch sent him back a captive God Learner?

Did somebody perform the Lightbringer’s Quest to overthrow the Only Old One?

Was Belintar a Fonritan fleeing the collapse of the Yranian Empire?

Did the Ramalians perform a dread summoning to overthrow a potential threat?

Did the people of God Forgot in contriviving to break the Shadow Tribute transform it into a Ponzi scheme that when it crashed, created an agent of light?

Did the Black Arkati slip up on their HeroQuests?

Submitted by Jeff on Sat, 23/06/2012 – 02:00.

All great ideas worth pursuing in your campaigns!

But the canonical answer is: No one knows. Not the Lunars, not the Masters of Luck and Death, not Lhankor Mhy, not the zzaburi of God Forgot, not the Only Old One, not even the God-King’s closest companions – no one knows. And not for lack of trying. Belintar is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma.

Editor-in-Chief, Moon Design Publications

Submitted by Daniel Adamov on Sat, 23/06/2012 – 19:24.

Wait, Lhankor Mhy doesn’t know?

Now that’s scary. Maybe he just isn’t telling anyone?

Submitted by Jeff on Fri, 22/06/2012 – 11:06.

Here’s the official and canonical answer (from the Guide):

Nobody knows who Belintar was or where he came from, though there are many stories and theories. Some claim that he was the Golden Age ruler of Kethaela, from before the Vingkotlings and the Only Old One, returned to his land. Others claim that he was the destroyer of the Middle Sea Empire and came to protect the people of Kethaela. Still others claim he was a simple sea captain or even a sailor who magically survived the Closing.

When Belintar arrived, nobody knew what he was or initially believed his claims, but Belintar proved to all he was God-King of the Holy Country. He accomplished this by demonstrating to the many peoples of Kethaela, the lawfulness and virtues of his rule and they helped him destroy the Only Old One. This process involved revelations by and about Belintar, remarkable appearances, magical contests, violence, war, and the occasional surprises that were not what anyone expected.

Editor-in-Chief, Moon Design Publications

Submitted by Charles on Fri, 22/06/2012 – 09:52.

he swam in from the sea… 🙂

Submitted by Herve on Sat, 23/06/2012 – 13:14.

I have talked to many people of the Holy Country, and pored over the Book of Belintar, which He personally wrote parts of, while his followers wrote others, mostly exegesis of His own words. None of them knows where Belintar, who in earlier times was called Pharaoh, come from.

One thing is known : he was/is a Living God. This is a paradox : Gods cannot exist in Time. They are on the Other Side. Yet this happened before, with Nysalor and the Red Goddess – whatever her name is this week. Many people worshipped Belintar; scholars founded schools of wizardry based on grimoires written from His teachings.

Belintar united the Six and made something Greater of them, creating the Holy Country. He killed the Only Old One to make this, and destroyed the house of Heortland as well. He bankrupted the talari of Casino Town by winning all bets he made there. He danced atop the crater of the Vent Volcano and bathed in its lava. He had Martaller the Mostali toil for him and build him wonders of technology, particularly the City of Dreams.

It is pointless to try to understand where Belintar came from : we are too small to understand. It is much pertinent to study His many deeds and exploits, and try to understand His wisdom. And yet, He is so many faces one can only understand parts of it. I myself devoted to the study of his Elemental Progression Philosophy, following the steps of his student Hephonestes.

Archived Glorantha Q&A from Moondesign.com

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