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The Cult of Orlanth In Sartar

Posted on November 15, 2023

Orlanth is the patron god of the Kingdom of Sartar, and nowhere is his cult more fully developed. The three main subcults of Orlanth—Thunderous, Adventurous, and Rex—have temples and shrines throughout the kingdom; rarely must an initiate travel more than a day to worship their preferred aspect at a sanctified holy place. There is also a great temple to Orlanth Lightbringer, a mystical subcult that inspires individuals to correct the wrongs of the world. Many other subcults can be found in Sartar as well, but the ones discussed here are the most important and prominent.

Orlanth Adventurous is the warrior god subcult of Orlanth, patron of heroes, warbands, raiders, and adventurers. About a fifth of all cult activity is associated with this subcult, which emphasizes warrior prowess. Orlanth Adventurous often defies traditions and settled assumptions; he is a god of Change and Mastery, as much as a god of Air. Orlanth Adventurous is more often associated with cities and tribes than villages, although some clans have him as their patron god. The Four Magical Weapons subcult has been fully incorporated into the Orlanth Adventurous subcult throughout Sartar.

Orlanth Thunderous is the most popular and widespread subcult of Orlanth. About half of all cult activity is associated with this subcult, which emphasizes the god’s mastery of winds and weather. This is the atmospheric god, bringer of gentle rains and thundering storms, and married to Ernalda the Earth Mother. Orlanth Thunderous is the god of farmers, and his son Barntar is a popular subcult of Orlanth Thunderous. Most villages have a minor temple to Orlanth Thunderous with a shrine to the Barntar subcult; this temple is so closely linked with the local Ernalda cult that many people refer to this as the cult of Orlanth and Ernalda.

Orlanth Rex is the ruling god subcult of Orlanth, the patron of the Kingdom of Sartar, the cities, and the tribes. The Rex subcult is at the opposite end of social organization from Thunderous; instead of the village temples of Thunderous, Orlanth Rex is organized at a tribal level or greater. About a quarter of all cult activity is associated with this subcult. Orlanth Rex binds the other subcults and Lightbringer cults together and holds power over the other tribal temples and shrines. Orlanth Rex is intimately connected with the House of Sartar, and his dynasty serve as the highest priests of this subcult. The Sartar and Sartar the Builder subcults are associated with the Rex cult throughout the Kingdom of Sartar.

The only great temple to Orlanth Lightbringer in Glorantha is at the Hill of Orlanth Victorious, the very place where Orlanth began the Lightbringers Quest. Orlanth Lightbringer is invoked every Sacred Time and as part of many mystical ceremonies. This subcult can be joined by any Orlanth cultist and provides support for the acquisition of heroic and other magical powers through heroquesting. Orlanth Lightbringer is sometimes called the God of Heroquesting. He is closely associated with the other Lightbringer cults (Chalana Arroy, Eurmal, Issaries, and Lhankor Mhy).

No summary of the Orlanth cult in Sartar can be complete without the mention of Vinga. This warrior subcult worships the female incarnation of Orlanth and is open to female initiates of any Orlanth subcult. The Vinga subcult is respected for the bravery and ferocity of its members, who are known as the Vingani—a separate gender that is neither man nor woman. Throughout history, several Sartarite princes have maintained elite units of Vingani warriors.

Orlanth has one of the largest and most widespread cults in Glorantha, and was central in Dawn Age civilization and the Empire of the Wyrms Friends. His cult is one of the more complex in the setting, and has among the most subcults out there. The only cult I can really think of as comparable is Yelm.

Note that Vingans are not genderless – they are often called Vingani, who are a separate gender neither (Orlanthi) male nor (Orlanthi) female.

And it should be obvious that the Orlanthi would view thing Vingans as their own gender. They are full-time warriors but not men, they are women but do not follow Ernalda’s path.

Jeff Richard

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Orlanth Adventurous, Orlanth Lightbringer, Orlanth Rex, Orlanth Thunderous, Sartar (homeland), Sartar Book (preview), Vinga

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