Elmal

From: David Cake <davidc_at_cs.uwa.edu.au>
Date: Mon, 3 Jun 1996 10:42:18 +0800

        A similar question to the Molanni one, about Elmal this time. OK, presuming Elmal is pretty much the same as Elmalus - both are names for the same being, the Sun God worshipped by the Vingkotlings, Elmalus is just the Dara Happanised view.

        Now, Shargash is said to be a crippler of Elmalus. When did this happen? I can't find any myths about Elmal being attacked by anybody, really. Except for the obvious, the Hill of Gold.

        We know what the Yelmalion version of the Hill of Gold quest is like. We have a fair idea what the Antirius version is like. But is there an Elmali version, and if there is who does he fight? The sequence of opponents for a Yelamlian is Orlanth, Zorak Zoran, Inora, chaos (bloodsucking chaotic tick things, I think). I think Elmal also fights Zorak Zoran (I think Greg said this some time). He presumably also sights chaos, and the forces of winter. But who is his first stop? It probably isn't Orlanth - after all, the most obvious difference between Elmal and Yelmalio is that Elmal is a loyal thane. So possibly Elmali who attempt the Hill of Gold get to fight Shargash as their first combat (who, if things go according to Shargashi mythical plan, probably cripples them, making it easier for the Zorak Zorani to eat their liver). The major point against it is that Shargash seems virtually unknown to Orlanthi myth (odd, as Shargash must have been the Dara Happan god they fought most often). Points in favour include Greg saying that the Dara Happans sometimes think of Orlanth worship as 'debased Shargash worship', that the Shargashi obviously have a myth of Shargash fighting Elmalus, and there must be some corresponding myth, and that Alkoth is really quite close to Vanch (actually close than any convenient source of Zorak Zorani, for a start).

        Alternatively, there is some completely different myth of Elmal fighting Shargash, but I have no idea what it is. Perhaps the story of the Second Son of Vingkot, with the Star Heart, might relate to all this somehow?

        On a related note - the cult writeup that I would most like to see of all those never done is Shargash. It would be a great cult both for Lunar foes for Orlanthi or for PCs in more pro-Lunar games.

        Actually, a cult writeup for Elmal wouldn't hurt either.

        Cheers
                David

PS I guess all this is of pretty marginal interest to Gloranthan reactionaries who don't acknowledge Elmal. Well, you miss out on lots of interesting stuff.


End of Glorantha Digest V2 #614


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