Ernalda has taken many husbands, most notably Orlanth, Yelm, Yelmalio, Argan Argar, Flamal, Magasta, Storm Bull, and even Pamalt. So who is her “favorite”? The short answer is “usually Orlanth”, but here’s the longer answer:
In Sartar (and other lands dominated by the Orlanth cult), Orlanth is Ernalda’s clear favorite. It’s obvious to everyone. When we celebrate Ernalda with festivals and the husband gods show up, Orlanth is always strongly present. He almost always wins the marriage contests (it is considered shocking when another husband deity wins a marriage contest), and in Orlanth’s ceremonies, Ernalda always has her key place. The other husband gods are acknowledged, but they aren’t particularly important.
In Esrolia, Orlanth is clearly the most popular and important husband (his local cult is at least twice the size of all the other husbands put together), but the other husbands have a strong presence, especially Argan Argar (whose local cult is a third the size of Orlanth’s). The other husbands often win the marriage contests, probably on average about one in three times.
In the Sun Dome temples, Yelmalio is the favoured husband deity of Ernalda. Again she has her key place, and the goddess is revered. Even in Sun Dome lands, Orlanth wins the marriage contest about as often as Yelmalio, signifying the role that Air and Light have making the world fertile (and reflecting that the Sun Dome lands are little oases of solar-worship in a sea of storm-worshippers).
Among the Grazelanders, Yelm and Orlanth both compete for the favour of Ernalda. Yelm is the favoured of the horse people, Orlanth the favoured of the local farmers and traders. The Feathered Horse Queen has chosen Orlanth two-thirds of the time, and chose the Lunar way once.
Now out among the elves, Flamal is celebrated as Ernalda’s favoured husband. He competes with Yelmalio, and Orlanth rarely shows up (and if Argan Argar shows up, that is a cause for consternation).
The constant in all of these is Ernalda’s presence. Who the favoured husband is depends on the local population – in most lands, that is Orlanth because in most of the places Ernalda is worshiped, Orlanth is the most popular husband deity.
So in Esrolia Orlanth is twice the size of everyone else put together. Argan Argar is 1/3 the size if Orlanth. So if Argan Argar is 100, Orlanth is 300, and everyone else combined is 50? Seems awfully low for Yelm, Yelmalio, Flamal and Magasta. Okay, Storm Bull is a rarity in Esrolia, but Magasta in a sea girt land? The Mythology book answers your question, it might seem low to you, but it is correct.
All of the husbands get Ernalda’s full blessings, but since in most places Ernalda is worshiped Orlanth is the main men’s cult, his cult is favoured – because he is the local husband. Where another husband is locally predominant, he is favoured.
The gods are locked into their God Time actions, and so when you experience the love that Ernalda has for her husband, it is a real valid experience – you are her love.
In Time, we have cults comprised of worshipers who experience the deeds of their god through their initiatory rites, sacred time, high holy day, and so on. Ernalda has several husbands and we all acknowledge that. But we experience through the vantage of whatever husband is predominant locally. Where there are more than one locally important husband, we have marriage contests and other magical contests. In Sartar, Orlanth wins 95% of those contests, because his cult really has no rivals there. In Esrolia, Orlanth wins maybe 66% of those contests, and so it is common to see Argan Argar as a favoured husband, but Orlanth is more commonly so favoured. In Sun Dome County, Orlanth wins maybe 50% of those contests, with Yelmalio winning the other 50%, and so both are favoured.
In none of these cases is the god trying to pull a fast one on their worshipers. We experience the deity but that experience is also dependent on who shows up.
Whoever is with Ernalda is her favorite. At that time and that moment. Ernalda’s corporeal love is always full and generous – there’s no fast one involved. Air, Sky, Darkness, and Sea – she has given her love to each.
The cultists of Yelmalio, Yelm, Argan Argan, Flamal, and Magasta all have the same experience when they are with Ernalda. Her love for them is complete and full. And whenever they can, they say that they are the favoured husband (they just don’t get the opportunity all that often).
One might say mortals have a tendency to view the gods through their more limited perspective.
I think the thing that people are finding tough to imagine is that the Earth Goddess offers her gifts of corporeal love freely and fully to those she chooses. There is no lie, no cheat, and deceit – but those she chooses have something she needs or wants. Flamal covered her earth in vegetation, Yelm gave her warmth, Yelmalio light, Orlanth gave her rain and protection, and Argan Argar protected her in the long light. And so on.
“In Sartar (and other lands dominated by the Orlanth cult), Orlanth is Ernalda’s clear favorite.” In Sartar in general, without a doubt. But how do the Torkani with their worship of Argan Argar as Ernalda’s partner fit into this? Are they the lone exception with Orlanth not being the no. 1 husband, or is Argan Argar still only a close second, even for them? Even among the Torkani, Argan Argar is only a close second. Orlanth has around 1100 initiates among the Torkani, and Argan Argar has 800. But Argan Argar’s importance among that tribe stands out notably in Sartar, as elsewhere the Lord of the Surface World is barely even acknowledged.
Who is Ernalda’s favoured husband in the Lunar Empire? In the Heartlands? Ernalda is not worshiped outside of Sylila – Dendara is the Earth Queen in the Lunar Heartlands. In the Lunar Provinces, it is Orlanth Thunderous and Yelmalio as the primary husbands. Orlanth Thunderous and Barntar are more popular than Yelmalio, but their cults are disfavoured by the ruling Seven Mothers (and the other Lunar cults).
Now Lhankor Mhy, Issaries, Eurmal, etc., – these are not associated cults with Ernalda, but they are associated cults with Orlanth. And I am sure when they participate in the big Ernalda festivals – as associates of Orlanth – what little they experience is Orlanth is the main husband. Or even the only husband mentioned.
The reverse is true for Babeester Gor and Maran Gor. They participate as associates of Ernalda. What they no doubt experience is that the Earth Goddess has many husbands – and the local ruling god needs to marry Ernalda to hold that status. And Humakt doesn’t care – he’s friendly to Orlanth, but largely apathetic towards the whole matter.