How Wide-spread is Sentient Sacrifice in Glorantha?

[Evilroddy]

How wide-spread is involuntary “human” sacrifice in Glorantha? By “human”, I mean all sentient creatures not just humans. I know that the Lunars and the Dara Happans practice this but what about other cultures? I am not talking about deaths caused in ritual heroquests or ritual combat/competition as in Esrolia’s Tournament of the Masters of Luck and Death, but one or more sentient beings being involuntarily slaughtered as part of a religious ritual. Do Western cultures do this (and I do not mean as punishment for Heresy)? Do Orlanthi cultures do this? What about Praxians, Teshans, Kralorelans, etc.? I would be interested to know what other know and think about this.
Cheers.
Rod Robertson.

[Roko Joko]

I was just reading in 10,000 Goddesses that they sacrifice men in Esrolia through the Ana Gor cult. In King of Dragon Pass it’s occasionally a decent idea to sacrifice thralls to certain gods, but it’s rare.

I think sacrifice in general isn’t a big part of Malkionism because it’s not theistic, but some tap, and the Vadeli mix worship of evil gods with Malkionism.

I bet the Aldryami would do it, if they needed to, for special rituals. I think it would be for purposes like fertilizing a specific plant rather than sending the victim’s life energy off into the otherworld.

I want to say sacrifice in general isn’t a big part of Praxian religion either, and even animal slaughter for food has a lot of rules about it. I think the Waha rules would be that you don’t kill people except in war or maybe as punishment. Likewise I wouldn’t expect a lot of sacrifice in Pamaltela except in Fonrit, just because they’re evil there.

I’d guess there’s not a lot of it in the East. The Blood Sun cult does it, but that is presented as a novelty, which is partly why I want to say it’s uncommon. Probably on some islands, since they’re supposed to be diverse.

[Peter Metcalfe]

I’m not too sure about the Dara Happans practicing Human Sacrifice, the only reference I can recall is Naveria sacrificing Vantestos.

A consideration to bear in mind is whether the Sacrifice is state-supported or occurs despite the best intentions of the state. For example, the Hungry Ghosts tradition practices human sacrifice in Kralorela to keep the dead peaceful but I doubt the Mandarins like them very much.

Body Sacrifice would be practiced in Safelster only in secret. Everybody admits it happens from time to time but are quick to point out it happens in nearby cities, “never here!” A noted exception to this would be that Bastion of Religious Freedom, Tinaros, which allows such sacrifices so long as Argin Terror is profusely praised.

Malkionism had a example of Malkion the Sacrifice and also a reference to the King of Loskalm being a sacrificial hero. I think it’s interpreted allegorically in the Modern Age but who knows what it was like before.

As for the Blood Sun, they’ve been in Bliss in Ignorance (and ripping out hearts) ever since the Storm Age.

[Robin Mitra]

See Sartar: Kingdom of Heroes p. 86 for human sacrifice among Heortling Orlanthi in the name of Sorana Tor / Ana Gor. See Esrolia: Land of 10k Goddesses p. 54 for the practise in Esrolia.
Also I believe that the Maran Gori of the Shaker temple practise human sacrifice more frequently than the rest of Dragon Pass, although I have no reference at hand at the moment.
In my Glorantha human sacrifice is common among most cults in Fonrit. But I don’t know if that is canon.

[Simon Phipp]

I’ve just assumed that Malkion and Hrestol were the “Last Sacrifices”, SO Malkioni don’t nee to make sacrifices any more. Some sects might still do so, though.

Chaos Cults sacrifice people all the time.

Lunars have sacrifices to the Crimson Bat, at the very least, and probably to some Pelorian deities, but I can’t think of any offhand. Hon Eel has blood sacrifice to grow maize – following the example of her elven lover whom she sacrificed to make the first maize grow.

Trolls probably do, as trollkin are ritually eaten. The Blood Sun is definitely a sacrificial deity.

The Holy Country didn’t have sacrifices, as the Pharaoh was the Last Sacrifice and sacrifices himself when people needed to be thrown into volcanoes or ground into the earth. The act of becoming Pharaoh is a sacrifice of sorts. Now that he is dead, however, sacrifices might start up again.

The Storm/Earth cultures definitely have sacrifices. Maran Gor is big on sacrifice, as are many of the other earth deities. Storm deities don’t seem to be so keen, for some reason.

[J Michael Dawson]

I bet some Borists and Galvosti do their tapping in a ritual setting that honors the sacrifice of the victim, or at least supposedly protects the officiant from chaotic contamination in the case of Borists.

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