Skip to content
The Well of Daliath
Menu
Menu

Notes on Alkoth I

Posted on August 6, 2021

Alkoth is a standard Dara Happan city that also happens to be an entrance to the Underworld, and is a city of the dead. That is less of a contradiction than it might seem!

Alkoth’s patron god is Shargash, who is the Death God of the Celestial Pantheon (Death and Fire). As a Death God he has strong connections with the Underworld and is tied with Yelm in his Dead God aspect. That Underworld connection is going to mean that there are ghosts and other underworld things whenever the barriers between the mundane world and the divine realm is weak – temples, holy days, astronomical conjunctions, etc. Most of that activity is concentrated around the high-walled enclosures where the dead are burned – these temples are decorated with the heads and skulls of the slain, a grim and grisly reminder of the city god’s power.

But most people go along their normal mortal activities. They work, cook, sleep, raise kids, sing and dance, and go through their lives. They worship other gods and spirits, make offerings to their ancestors, and even participate in the Lunar mysteries.In fact, because of the city’s mighty patron, Alkoth rules the surrounding countryside and collects tribute – probably largely in the form of rice, pork, and other foodstuffs – from the surrounding villages of Henjarl. This large agricultural surplus supports a large population, which in turn aids Alkoth in maintaining control over its marshy hinterland. Compared to Darjin, Henjarl is more “civilised”- canals crisscross the marshlands and contain the waters, making rice cultivation easier. Perhaps that is a direct analogy to Shargash abandoning Biselenslib for Oslira and her irrigation canals!

The Shargash cult forms the basis of the city’s militia, with the Hell Men serving as an elite warrior society. However, most members of the militia are farmers and tradesmen. When the drums beat, they drop their regular activities and engage in battle. However, they are not soldiers and rarely fight outside of Henjarl unless led by the Red Emperor.

Alkoth. Source, Wikipedia

Are the Hell Men demons, or human warriors? Human Rune Masters.

Jeff Richard

Next
Previous
Alkoth (metropolis), Henjarl, Shargash

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
  • Role-playing in Glorantha
  • About This Site
  • Get involved!

Latest Posts

  • Notes on Maniria III

    Between the Holy County and Ralios is the land of …
  • Slaves amongst the Orlanthi

    Orlanth, as the God of Freedom, finds slavery objectionable. His …
  • Lunar Empire Seventh Wane

    This map from the Glorantha sourcebook is very useful for …
  • Worshiping Deities

    Now being an initiate is not the only way to …
  • Lunar Empire events 1625

    With the Lunar Book getting close, it is perhaps worth …
  • The thirteen main cults in Sartar

    There are thirteen main cults in Sartar, which collectively are …
  • Orlanthi clans around the Quivin Mountains

    I particularly love this map of Old Sartar, showing most …
  • The Hill of Orlanth Victorious (Redux)

    Repost.
  • Dundealos and Pol-Joni

    Among my favorite Sartarite tribes are the Dundealos and their …

Links

  • Chaosium
  • Glorantha on BRP Central
  • RuneQuest on BRP Central
  • RuneQuest Glorantha on MeWe
  • Glorantha Wiki on Fandom
  • Prince of Sartar Webcomic
  • Glorantha G+ Archives on Tapatalk
  • Search mailing list archive

Latest from BRP Central

  • Becoming a shaman of Daka Fal
  • Feedback from the BRP/Runequest community on creating a RQ Pbp (TOM?)
  • Tomb of Yurmonis
  • Runequest Starter Set player folio comments
  • POW, Rune magic and regaining stats
  • Troll Skull Helmet
  • New on the JC: "Tiny Treasures" by Smol Snek
  • Munchkin Learners
  • Running Six Seasons in Sartar
  • zzaburi perspective of the invisible god

Popular Tags

Avalon Hill Boldhome (large city) Chaosium Cult demographics Cults of Runequest (preview) Ernalda Esrolia (homeland) Fonritian pantheon FR G+ post Greg Stafford Guide to Glorantha (preview) Humakt Issaries Jar-eel Kralorelan pantheon Lhankor Mhy Lunar Empire Lunar Pantheon Magazine Malkioni pantheon Map Maps Michael O’Brien Mongoose Nochet (metropolis) Nomad Gods Orlanth Orlanthi pantheon Photo reference Population demographics Prax (homeland) Praxian pantheon RQ3 RQG Sandy Petersen Sartar (homeland) Spirit Cult Subcult Tales of the Reaching Moon Troll Pantheon Yelm Yelmalio Yelm Pantheon Youtube

Recently added or updated

  • CHA4043 The Lightbringers – Q&A

  • CHA4044 The Earth Goddesses – Q&A

  • CHA4041 Mythology – Q&A

  • RuneQuest Glorantha Corrections and Q&A

  • Slaves amongst the Orlanthi

  • History of Kethaela – The Third Age

  • Notes on Maniria III

  • Notes on Maniria II

  • Notes on Maniria I

  • Comparable Manirian technology/historical level (2012)

  • CHA4042 The Prosopaedia – Contents

  • Orxili

  • Oropum

  • Oorsu Sara

  • Oorduren

  • Oread

  • Nralar

  • Nymphs

  • North War Wind

  • Negalla

©2023 The Well of Daliath | Design: Newspaperly WordPress Theme