Kolat and Kolatings

From: Bryan Maloney <bjm10_at_cornell.edu>
Date: Mon, 31 Jul 1995 12:22:21 -0400


Kolat is not an object of formal group worship among orthodox Orlanthi. However, "Kolatings" of all three types can be found in orthodox Orlanthi societies.

The first type of Kolating is the spiritual being that followed Kolat during the Storm Age. Kolat was a violent, reaving spirit, who gloried in plunder and pillage of the spirits of the Water and Fire tribes. Many spirits without places of their own followed Kolat. According to some Lhankor Mhy, the liar Malkion was the son of Kolating and a Sea tribe nymph. This should give you some idea of how far Kolat's depredations ranged. These Kolatings are still found as spirits of wild winds and fierce storms. They are summoned to protect Orlanthi villages and to be used in war.

The second type of Kolatings are various Orlanthi clans that claim linear descent from Kolat. Like all of Orlanth's brothers (except Humakt), Kolat fathered mortal children. His children are widespread and are noted for fierce tempers and poor tactical sense. Although they can be found far and wide, Kolating clans are never large, since they simply can't seem to mount any major organization for some reason. Lots of Kolatings die young.

The third type of Kolating is the shaman dedicated to Kolat. Orlanthi society makes room for these shamans just as it does for shamans of Daka Fal. In Kolating clans, Kolating shamans also worship Daka Fal as a matter of course. These shamans are not "fringe" people, no more than good solid Daka Fal shamans are "on the fringe". Orlanthi understand the importance of keeping in touch with Uncle Ned, even if Uncle Ned is dead. So Daka Fal is honored by Orlanthi as a bridge to the dead. Kolat is honored as a powerful and fierce warrior. In some villages, Kolat is invoked in war more often than is Urox or Humakt.

Kolating shamans must sacrifice a point of POW to bind themselves to Kolat. In return, they may sacrifice for any of the "Wind" or "Storm"-related divine spells normally available to Wind Lords or Storm Voices. They may also sacrifice for "Flight" reusably. They also may obtain "Worship Kolat", but there is no Kolating "Sanctify". Every wind-swept peak is sacred to Kolat, but no building must ever have stood upon the site. Also, any chaos-tainted ground is profane to Kolat, regardless of whether or not it is a wind-swept peak. Kolating shamans can also learn Summon Sylph and Command Sylph divine magic reusably. They also tend to have some affinity with Air-associated spirits in general.

Kolating shamans may not sleep under any sort of roof, and they may not live for more than a week in a single village or other such location. Thus, a lot of Kolating shamans act as "circuit riders" among several villages. (Evidently, if a certain amount of time passes, the village is eligible again.)

Most Kolating shamans wander the countryside, following the winds. They often are violent-tempered and prone to sudden frenzy. Unlike Daka Fal shamans, they eschew most of the taboos of Orlanthi society (except those against chaos), and will dress outlandishly and act like madmen. If Daka Fal is the Apollonian professional ecstatic of the Orlanthi, then Kolat is the Dionysian.


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