Myth of the Month: Hrelar Amali (2011)

posted Sat, 12/11/2011

The City of the Gods (Hrelar Amali) is located on the Crimson Plains between Ralios and Seshnela. It is the sport where Flamal, beloved of Ernalda, fell at the hands of Zorak Zoran during the great War. For this reason, it is one of the most sacred spots in all Genertela. At Flamal’s death, the Enerali people built a temple to him, and added a temple to Ernalda herself and one to Xentha, who carried off Flamal’s body, as appeasement. After Ehilm was resurrected at Hrelar Amali, a temple was built for him and the Theyalans and Seshnegi added temples to Orlanth and Magasta. Later temples to all the greater deities were added, as well as many to lesser gods.

To guarantee the place’s sanctity, the priests never worked, and were given food and other necessities by the gods themselves. The place’s sacred quality was also maintained by oaths which protected any pilgrims and priests while there, or on the way, so long as they wore the yellow robes. There is always a mouthpiece for the temple, who acts for any god who is in charge at the time. He is called chief of the Court, and was created by the rulers of the Spike itself from their blood.

As long as Hrelar Amali was populated and maintained no other cities rose in Genertela. At last it fell to the corruption of a particularly vile form of magic called Vadeli sorcery. Many efforts have been made repopulate it, but no one alive remembered how to do it right.

Random Fact from Greg’s Files: Smoking is an old Ralios habit. In Ralios, the prehistoric people say that a plant was born whose blessing was to be a vehicle for sending prayers to the spirits. It was the Kafl plant. The leaf is dried and crumbled and kept in elaborate beaded bags until used. Then it is rolled into paper, and the spirit talkers light one end and puff on it, feeding the spirits with their smoke and prayers. Kafl leaf has been a popular pick-me-up in the West for longer than anyone knows, although the Rokari wizards deplor it as a vile habit, a debased relic of barbarian customs.

Comments

Submitted by Joerg Baumgartner (not verified) on Sun, 13/11/2011 – 17:53. 

IIRC, the Seshnegi reached Hrelar Amali first during the Silver Empire era, but that was the result of a first de-paganizing of the Seshnegi religion, so I don’t think that these Seshnegi would have raised a temple to a pagan deity there, least of all one allied to the Waertagi, recent foes of theirs. But then I think that the temple to Magasta originally was a temple to Eron, the aldryami god of waters, and that its institution mainly was an identification. Unlike the temple to Orlanth, which may have been a new addition when the Theyalans arrived. 

Submitted by Peter Metcalfe (not verified) on Sun, 13/11/2011 – 14:29. 

I *think* Magasta is worshipped there due to the presence of the lake Ehilmka. On an even more speculative note, it’s not said that the Vadeli ruined Hrelar Amali but that their sorcery did. Somebody else may have used Vadeli Magics to damn the City of the Gods. 

Submitted by Hervé (not verified) on Sat, 12/11/2011 – 23:02. 

Tantalizingly vague, fascinating, generating more questions than giving facts : a typical Gloranthan text. I like the mention about “no other cities grew” while Hrelar Amali was populated ; it makes a local fact Universal. I wonder how Magasta’s temple came to be, so far inland. And how the vadeli twisted the city. Also, I wonder what the seshnegi do to / in Hrelar Amali now they control the site. 

Submitted by Joerg Baumgartner (not verified) on Sat, 12/11/2011 – 20:53. 

“As long as Hrelar Amali was populated and maintained no other cities rose in Genertela.” I just love this statement… tell that to the people in Nochet, Alkoth or Raibanth. Basically, the sanctity of the city in Hrelar Amali kept the Enerali from founding cities elswhere in their part of the world. Overall, this is a maddeningly vague myth, and I have read better ones for Hrelar Amali – like those for Dawn Age Safelster. I do like the new angle (and can of worms) opened by the mention of Vadeli sorcery, though, and I’m looking forward to fruitful and endless discussions about Vadeli influences in western Genertela.

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