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Ralios Orlanthi

Posted on January 2, 2023

The Holy Country has about 357k Orlanth initiates (and I mean initiate of Orlanth, not Orlanthi culture). Peloria has 225k and Dragon Pass has just under 100k.

But Ralios has some 560k Orlanth initiates!

In Ralios, the cult is centered on Top of the World, and was likely the God Learners primary source of information about Orlanth in the Monomyth. The Orlanthi of Ralios supported Arkat in the Gbaji Wars, and Humakt has a larger cult in Ralios as well. Top of the World has many temples and shrines on its slopes, but one must make your way past hostile werewolves and barbarian dragonewts to get there!

In the Second Age, East Ralios supported the EWF, but Western Ralios opposed it. Alakoring Dragonbreaker came out of Western Ralios, founded the Orlanth Rex cult and later crossed over at Top of the World into Brolia.

There are werewolves, barbarian dragonewts, elves, dwarves, and trolls a plenty in Orlanthi Ralios, as well as a growing danger from Dorastor. But the Orlanth cult here is not defined by conflict about the Lunar Empire – the Red Goddess is an evil from beyond the Rockwoods, but is an abstract evil. Ballid, Nida, Guhan, and Argin Terror are more obvious threats is Vesmonstran, and Halikiv and Dorastor are more obvious threats in East Ralios.

So if you want to set your RQ campaign in an Orlanthi land, without a Lunar Empire, without Prince Argrath and his Sartar Magical Union, look at places like Lankst or the East Wilds. You can have trolls, dwarves, elves, dragonewts, and the like, without that story going on.

You can introduce the Chariot of Lightning sect as a new charismatic sect that gives sorcery to Orlanthi. Maybe it has the feel of Thulsa Doom/Jim Jones, or maybe it is like the prophet Mani or the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (guru to the Beatles and the Beach Boys).

The Orlanthi of Ralios fall into basically three groups:

East Wilds. These are the most similar to the Orlanthi of Dragon Pass and Aggar, although they have been removed from substantial contact with Dragon Pass for nearly five centuries (in the Second Age they used to have fliers go between Dragon Pass and the East Wilds. They have a had many conflicts with the trolls of Halikiv and with Duke Kimiv of Naskorion.

Vesmonstran. All men are warriors in Vesmonstran and women too, or so the saying goes. Fractious clans and temporary tribes are grouped together in two loose religious-military confederations – that of Jofrain, and the more recently formed Otkorion. Otkorion is held together by the High Priest of the Chariot of Lightning, Surantyr the Non-heretic.

Safelster. Civilised Orlanthi, who have been heavily influenced by Malkionism, Stygian Heresies, etc.

Jeff Richard

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Alakoring, Brolia, East Wilds, EWF, Orlanth, Orlanth Rex, Ralios, Safelster, Second Age, Top of the World, Vesmonstran

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