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Why The Lightbringers

Posted on August 31, 2023

Orlanth is one of the great transformative forces in Glorantha. He’s why we have Night and Day, he’s why storms brings forth new growth from the Earth, and most importantly, he (and his six companions) is why the cosmos exists within Time.

That last one is why the book is called The Lightbringers. The Lightbringers Myth is THE defining myth for the Theyalans. The Lightbringers Quest moved through the realms, tying them together and loosening them. They remade the channels through which the energies of life flow.

Even cults that hate Orlanth begrudgingly acknowledge this. And the cults of Chalana Arroy, Eurmal, Issaries, and Lhankor Mhy all have huge parts to play in this – and these deities are among the most important in Glorantha. We often understandably focus on the elemental deities, and forget just how widespread and important these four are.

And Flesh Man – us poor, suffering, mad mortals – played a part in this as well. Mortal Man was involved in the greatest of Gods Age events and ranked among the great gods. Think of that – Mortal Man helped recreate the cosmos! Thank your ancestors that you exist!

Finally, Ginna Jar, the ghost of Glorantha, the feminine One, was there as well. The spirit of Shakti is there and she helped guide and bless the Lightbringers on their journey.

The Lightbringers task was impossible. They suffered, failed, and lost – until they somehow succeeded and revived the cosmos. They brought forth the Dawn and their secrets spread quickly across Genertela and beyond. Not as the “Storm Tribe” or the “Gods of Air” but as the Lightbringers. Of course their kin and friends came with them too – Humakt, Daka Fal, Storm Bull, etc. But it was also the Lightbringers that were the vanguard.

And that’s why the book is called The Lightbringers.

Lightbringers, page 7

And even the Lunar Empire, the new rulers of much of central Genertela, normally act surprisingly gingerly around the Lightbringers, even if Orlanth is an avowed enemy of the Red Goddess. In the Lunar Provinces, about 25% of the population are initiated to the Lightbringers, with other 25% initiated to the Earth goddesses. About 28% follow the Lunar Way, with the rest mostly being Solar cultists.

Jeff Richard

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