For those of you writing about Sun County in Prax, it is useful to remember a few details.
Sun County has about 19,000 people. As a general rule, about half are initiates, let’s say 9000 in Sun County. That means there are about 4000 Yelmalio cultists, 4000 Ernalda cultists, and 1000 Others. Throw in another 200 Yelmalio initiates from New Pavis.
So that means there are a total of about 4200 Yelmalio cultists in the River of Cradles. Of those, about 800 serve with the Sun Dome Templars, the rest are militia.
The Sun Dome Temple of Prax was isolated from about 1200-1550, surrounded and often ruled by hostile romads. Their horses all died, their Yelm-worshiping Pure Horse People allies disappeared, nonetheless, they held on ferociously to their Yelmalio cult, although he got dimmer and dimmer.All this changed around 1550 when they came into contact with Dorasar and his Yelmalio-worshipping companion Varthanis Brighthelm, and other adventurers from Sartar. They received magic and secrets from Monrogh Lantern and the light of Yelmalio brightened. The Solitude of Testing ended and the Sun Dome Temple rejoined in communion with its brethren in Dragon Pass. The Sun Dome Temple even chose Varathanis as Count in 1569 and for the next two generations, his family ruled Sun County.
Now Sun County is a mess. Solanthos is dead, and rival factions back Belvani or Vega as their count. New Pavis is now ruled by another Sartarite adventurer who has the loyalty of all the Great Tribes of Prax.
However, it is worth keeping in mind that the Sun Dome Temple is also a major cult center for probably three times as many Praxian Yelmalio cultists. These cultists are dangerous, disloyal, and problematic, but they also provide valuable goods and protection for Sun County.
Additionally, keep in mind that Sun County is in contact with the Sun Dome Temple of Dragon Pass. That contact may be sporadic, but the Solitude of Testing is long over.
One thing this does mean is that the Yelmalio cult in the River of Cradles is twice the size of the higher status cult in Sartar. The Sun Dome Temple of Dragon Pass might be the cultural and religious epicenter of the cult, but Sun County in Prax has much greater mass.
That is of course, assuming you count the Praxian members. Otherwise the cults are about the same size.
But still, that means that the roughly 5000 Yelmalio initiates of Sartar are comparable in number to the roughly 4000 Yelmalio initiates of the River of Cradles, which still means that the Praxian Sun Dome Temple is very substantial. It may be a backwater, but it is an important backwater.
I do think the richer Sun Dome Temple in Sartar is able to maintain more Templars. Perhaps 2400 of 4000 serve with the Templars, and the rest as militia.And that is why none of the Sartarite tribes really mess with the Sun Dome Temple. The Colymar can muster about 2500 troubles (about as many as the Sun Dome Templars), but most of their troops are militia. The Sun Dome templars are disciplined and trained pikemen. It would take an alliance of several tribes – which really means it would require the Prince. And since the Prince of Sartar is traditionally neutral or friendly to the Sun Dome Temple, why would you do that?
Sun Hawk is often worshiped in conjunction with Yelmalio by the Impala and Sable tribes.