From: DevinC@aol.com
Date: Sat 06 Aug 1994 - 13:54:05 EEST
Devin Cutler here:
Some excerpts from treatises in Glorantha, which I handed out to players before they embarked on their Stormwalk Mountain heroquest:
...of that mountain known as Stormwalk Mountain, or the Holy Mountain, or the Twisted Mounatin, it is said that the number of spirals which the path up its side makes differs depending upon some unknown circumstances. Certainly, the report of Hugushus the Learned, a Grey Sage of some repute from Kathaela cannot be doubted when he writes in 1523:
....and the count of the spirals of the mountain were five, each being estimated at 400m apart. Therefore, the sacred mountain is 2000m tall.
And this same worthy notes in a passage of his journals in 1550:
....today we reached the town and slept within sight of the mountain. A count of the spirals reveals seven such spirals, one for each of the Lightbringers. I seem to remember a different count some time ago when I last passed here, but my recall is not what it once was. I shall check my notes when I return.
It may be noted that Hugushus never was able to compare his notes, as he met an untimely death at the hands of Uz near the Troll Woods. Curse the darkmen for their ignorance and lack of appreciation for the benefits of pure knowledge.
2) From a Lhankor Mhy treatise on heropaths:
...It is known that many magical paths crisscross Glorantha, especially in the Dragon Pass area, which seems to be a nexus for much of this continent's remaining magic. Many of these paths are used exclusively by Dragonewts (see Perscip's learned text on these plinth-marked roads). Other paths are accessed by way of magical entrances or rituals and these can be used to travel quickly and unseen from sacred site to sacred site. It is not known if all such sites connect to all such other sites, but if so, access is limited or hidden or both.
It has also been reported that, as these paths abut the heroplane, certain rituals are often required. Mostly, these rituals mimic the actions of some god or great hero who first blazed a similar route. These rituals then allow the traveler to follow in the hero's mystic wake.
It is also known that ritual enemies will often be found on these paths. First, because the original hero liekly encountered such an enemy, and so the new encounter is perhaps necessary in order to continue the trek. Also, it makes sense that powerful enemies who know that members of a certain cult use a certain path would likely lie in wait, in order to gain glory.
3) From an old Orlanthi Folk Chant:
Who can climb the Holy Mounatin?
Who can find himself worthy?
He who proves himself Virtuous
in all respects
4) Mastakos Lore as recited by a Priest (including Sage's Notes):
We know that the Feet of Orlanth (Mastakos) has his home atop the Moving
Mountain (I believe this to be Stormwalk Mountain, as it was twisted or
"moved" into its present shape), and that from his abode can all places, near
or far, be reached. It was from here that Orlanth began the Lightbringers'
Quest upon the Westfaring Path,a dn it is from here that Mastakos took his
eight steps to reach across the world in the service of Orlanth.
5) A section from the Book of Quests:
Those attemting to scale the Twisted Mountain are usuallu unable to reach its peak, due to fierce guardians which prevent unholy beings from passing.
However, those who have undergone the proper rituals may ascend to their ultimate fate.
Many are Uroxi, who seek to meet the Bull and regale him with their deeds in the hopes that he will gift them with the means to defeat even greater chaos. They take a different path.
Some are Orlanthi, for the way to the realm of Air and Orlanth's Castle is also that way. Also atop the peak is Mastakos' home, where the gift of travel or where movement spirits may be gotten.
of course, those who attempt to reach the top must prove themselves worthy, for Orlanth and the Bull require to test their worthies' mettle.
Of the Bull's path, see the next chapter.
But of Orlanth's path, if the ritual of entering is properly done, then the way may be taken. The way is awlays different, and involves at times a short journey, with few spirals, and at times a long journey, with some reporting nigh infinite length until a certain thing was realized. It is certainly true that Orlanth tests the virtues of his supplicants.
These are the virtues of Orlanthi:
Provision
Justice
Defense
Hospitality
Obedience
Honour
The supplicants do well to keep all of these in mind.
It is also true that, upon this path, Orlanth regards all supplicants as member of one clan...Orlanth's own clan. In fact, a portion fo the ritual of entry adopts the questers into the sacred ring or clan of Orlanth himself.
Jadon the Windlord, who dwelt in Karse and is now lost from census reported that he was given a hcoice between saving his chieftan from raiders on the mundane plane or helping a wind spirit who was being attacked by a ritual enemy. He wisely chose to save the latter, even at the cost of his kinsmen, since a clansman's first priority is to defend the clan, and while on quest, his clan was that of Orlanth's ring, not of the clan he had left behind on the mundane plane. Alas! Sometimes Orlanth requires hard choices to be made of his supplicants.
6) Notes on the Kero Fin Temples:
The tempoles atop Kero Fin are little known. What is known has been collected and distilled, for I have only included that information that is verifiable, corroborated by reliable sources, et al. I shall not include rumours or opinions, or anything else which might compromise Truth.
The temples atop the mountain are three:
A Great Temple to Prlanth
A Major Temple to Kero Fin
and a Minor Temple to Inora
The Temple to Orlanth is joined to the other temples, for Kero Fin was the mother of and Inora the niece of Orlanth. A group of monks tend the place, and it is believed that they always number 24. It is said that when one monk is about ot die, Orlanth sends him a sing, and the monks scour the lands to find the babe chosen by Orlanth as a replacement.
It has also been said that the monks mate with wiond spirits to create their offspring. I include both of these rumours because one or both must be true.
The monks are all Priests, Fourteen of Orlanth, Six of Kero Fin, and Four of Inora. The temples are attended by Mountain Nymphs, Gnomes, Sylphs, Wind Spirits, Kolati, and the occasional Windlords or Windchildren who can fly up the mounatin face.
No report of the temple interiors exist, except for the audience chambers,
which are said to be magnificent, and larger on the inside than on the
outside. The monks allow none to pass beyond. However, an account by Horrus
of Alda-Chur, who swears that he flew up to the temple to escpae Lunar
justice and seek asylum, told me that even the entrance to the audience
chamber is hidden, and that to gain acces to the temples, one must search for
"a cursed place, a blessed place, and that which lies but tells the truth".
He would not elaborate further.
Regards,
Devin Cutler
devinc@aol.com
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