Skip to content
The Well of Daliath
Menu
Menu

Malkioni Heresies

Posted on January 4, 2023

Most Malkioni are far more concerned about heretical sects of Malkionism than about non-Malkioni subjects. Arkatism or “the Stygian Heresy” is considered one of the most heretical outgrowths of Malkionism.

So for example, when the Seshnegi conquered Safelster, the Orlanthi, Aldyrami, followers of the Old Gods, etc., were likely left alone. Orlanthi warriors could become horali or dronari and keep their cults, Issaries cultists could even claim descent from Talar and become low-ranking talars. These people had to declare loyalty to the King (later Emperor), temples had to pay a special tax, and so on, but were basically allowed to practice their traditional rites unmolested.

The same tolerance did not apply to wayward Malkioni – especially wayward zzaburi. Arkatism was viewed as a heresy, and followers were accused of consorting with Darkness demons and worse.

Modern Rokarism worries about Arkatism, Hrestol-worship, God Learnerism, Galvosti, Boristi, Red Goddess worship, and Chaos worship. That’s what the Watchers are looking out for. They don’t worry that much about tributary tribes worshiping Old Gods or Lightbringers.

Of course, in the Third Age Malkionism has largely been in retreat, and few Malkioni in Genertela have many non-Malkioni subjects.

That being said, Malkioni rulers are known to destroy temples that are perceived as being overly powerful, rebellious, or threats to them. The Malkioni destroyed the great temple of the Old Gods at Hrelar Amali, destroyed Arkhome, Basmol, and others.

As we know, from time to time, assemblies of zzaburi and other Malkioni leaders have periodically convened to settle doctrinal and disciplinary disputes and to revise and correct the contents of key texts. Typically they try to preserve the teachings of Malkioni, Hrestol, etc., determine and promulgate the canonical texts, establish rules for castes, resolve disputes between groups, etc. Several have been convened to purify Malkionism of falsehood.

These assemblies are usually hosted by a powerful talar, who is expected to reward the final outcome of the assembly. Pretty much anyone who can assert the right to be there can go – but then you have to prove you are a zzaburi. Some get kicked out of the assembly – the host might ask what is the teaching of Malkion on a subject, and if you “get it wrong” you and your followers get expelled by the rest of the assembly. Lots of that sort of thing. If it is a small group that gets expelled, like the God Learner followers of Galvost or Borist, they might end up forming a sect considered heretical by other Malkioni. If it is a large enough group, they might be able to claim the assembly itself was heretical and we end up with a schism or even a civil war (think a “fitna”.)

Jeff Richard

Next
Previous
Boristi, Galvosti, God Learners, Hrestolism, Malkioni, Stygian heresy

Sections

  • Search Tips
  • Current RuneQuest Glorantha Publications
  • RuneQuest Glorantha Corrections and Q&A
  • Catalogue
  • References for Glorantha
    • Gloranthan Canon
  • Gloranthan Documents
  • RPG Systems & Versions
  • Gallery
  • About This Site
  • Get involved!

Latest Posts

  • So what are the Thunder Brothers?

    Now I rather thought the description in the Lightbringers book …
  • Humakt and Orlanthi society

    The relationship between the cults of Orlanth and Humakt also …
  • The Size of Sartar

    At the time Argrath is acclaimed Prince in 1627, Sartar …
  • Sun County, Prax

    There’s about 19,000 people in Sun County, with some 4350 …
  • Hey that’s cool Jeff, but what the heck am I supposed to do with that in my Runequest game?

    I posted two “deep” background articles on the nature of …
  • Introducing Gloranthan Gods and Cults

    Gaming a lot of RuneQuest in a lot of different …
  • Argat / Arkat / Argrath

    Here are a few more notes for Discord. Now from …
  • The Cycle of History

    Some notes from a discussion on the Chaosium Discord channel …
  • Magic Items and Runequest

    So. Lets think of some of the categories they might …

Links

  • Chaosium
  • Chaosium’s RuneQuest RPG Wiki
  • Glorantha on BRP Central
  • RuneQuest on BRP Central
  • RuneQuest on Discord
  • Prince of Sartar Webcomic
  • Glorantha G+ Archives on Tapatalk
  • Search mailing list archive

Popular Tags

Boldhome (large city) Chaosium Colymar (Sartar tribe) Contents Cult demographics Cults of Runequest (preview) Ernalda Esrolia (homeland) FRA Furthest (large city) G+ post Gods Wall Greg Stafford Guide to Glorantha (preview) Humakt Jar-eel Lunar Empire Lunar Pantheon Magazine Malkioni pantheon Map Michael O’Brien Mongoose MRQ1 New Pavis (small city) Old Glorantha Q&A Orlanth Orlanthi pantheon Photo reference Population demographics Prax (homeland) RQ3 RQG Sandy Petersen Sartar (homeland) Spirit Cult Star Subcult Tapatalk post Tarsh (homeland & Lunar province) Troll Pantheon Yelm Yelmalio Yelm Pantheon Youtube

Recently added or updated

  • So what are the Thunder Brothers?

  • Humakt and Orlanthi society

  • The Size of Sartar

  • Sun County, Prax

  • Spirit Magic by Cult and Associate Cult

  • Humakt Temples, Shrines and Sites

  • Ernalda Temples and Shrines

  • Orlanth Thunderous Temples, Shrines and Site

  • Maran Gor Temple, Shrines and Site

  • Barntar Temples and Shrines

  • Seven Mothers Temples and Shrines

  • Hon-eel Temples and Shrine

  • Twilight

  • Nightlight

  • Lunar Deities

  • Petersen’s Campaign Log (1984)

  • Ducks – A Sartarite Tribe

  • Thoughts on The Lightbringers Quest

  • Aronius Jaranthir

  • Iphigios the Crafter

©2025 The Well of Daliath | Design: Newspaperly WordPress Theme