What with the recent talk about alcohol, I thought I'd post my cult write up for Minlister (in Sartar). My apologies to those of you who are bored, having seen it before. Comments are welcome.
Peace,
Peter
Maker of good-drinks, son of Ernalda,
Joined Orlanth's Stead, bringing wonderous beer!
Though Eurmal went swimming in his Barleyale keg,
Let all bless the Brewer with toasts and good cheer!
Minlister is the Orlanthi god of brewers (beer, ale, and mead). He is a son of Ernalda, brother to the Grain Goddesses, from whose gifts he is able to create alcoholic beverages. Some Eurmali say that Minlister is the beloved bastard son of the barley goddess and a rare King bee (who was really Eurmal in disguise). Minlisteri claim this story is either a joke or a lie.
I. MYTHOS AND HISTORY Before Time
Minlister was born during the Golden Age, to bring the gifts of the Earth to the gods in liquid form. Even though his drinks had no bad effects and always gave merriment and fellowship, the Sun Emperor and his court rejected Minlister's drinks on the basis that they were 'common' and relegated them to being served among the 'lesser peoples.'
When Ernalda became Orlanth's wife during the Storm Age, Minlister also moved into Orlanth's Stead. There he found gods who hailed and appreciated his drinks, and welcomed him as kin.
Kinstrife divided Orlanth's kin during the Darkness, as Vadrus and his sons often raided Orlanth's Stead. During one such raid Eurmal (whom Vadrus especially despised) escaped only by hiding under the brew in Minlister's Keg. This act forever altered the powers of Minlister's drinks, as the beverage was tainted by the Trickster and cursed with causing drinkers to suffer the effects known as a hangover. (Note that this change did not stop Eurmal from continuing to imbibe the altered drink to excess. In fact, he seemed to enjoy it all the more thereafter!)
When Minlister discovered what Eurmal did to his brew, he was angry and brought claim against Eurmal before the Lawspeaker, Lhankor Mhy. For reasons of his own Eurmal appeared before the Lawspeaker when he was summoned. The Lawbringer ordered Eurmal to undo his curse, but Eurmal said he could not. Instead he offered a blessing that would bring more humor and comeradery to those enjoying Minlister's drinks. Minlister accepted this, and since then his brews have caused drinkers to burp and fart, much to everyone's amusement.
After Time
The Dawn - (the worship of Minlister spread with the
rest of Theyalan culture; possibly a single Brewer
traveled about spreading the art of brewing ala Johnny
Ap- er... Barleycorn!)
Second Age - (not sure yet; God Learner's probably tried
to convince the Orlanthi that Minlister was Eurmal in
disguise, or that he was Eurmal's son.)
Third Age - (rejection of God Learner view, regional
diversity re-emerging)
Life After Death
Minlister worshipers retain their cultural beliefs about life after death, and follow the proper cultural funerary rituals.
Runic Associations
Minlister is primarily associated with the runes of Plant and Harmony.
II. CULT ECOLOGY Minlister and Eurmal often seem to have a love/hate relationship in the tales told of them. Brewers are sometimes friends of the local Eurmali, occasionally up to the point of asking a local Thane to provide protection for a Eurmali friend.
Although there is no mythic link between them, as a practical matter many Brewers who own inns are also members of the Harst subcult of Issaries.
III. THE CULT IN THE WORLD A minor sub-cult found only in Thayalan regions. In Sartar the worship of Minlister is as a sub-cult of Orlanth, and is strongest along the Goodale Path (which runs along the edge of the Starfire Ridges from Runegate Fort to Quackford.) In Esrolia the worship of Minlister is as a sub-cult of Ernalda, and it's members are almost all women. There the brewing cycles are tied to the woman's menstrual cycle, so that she can avoid contact with the brew during her "holy time."
IV. WORSHIPERS Requirements: Be a member of Orlanth (in Esrolia, Ernalda), be a brewer, and be willing to make a sacrifice to Minlister. The traditional sacrifice is a small keg of good ale. If the ale fails to satisfy the local Brewmaster (in Esrolia, Brewmistress), the applicant is rejected. Successful applicants take an oath never to harm a bee.
Benefits: Access to cult knowledge about brewing; brotherhood (in Esrolia, sisterhood) which exchanges yeast cultures along with their own.
Brew <beverage> (Common Skill)
Knowledge skill, base 05%
This skill allows the user to brew beverages
including beer, ale, and mead. It includes the knowledge
of making wort.
Brew <beverage> is a common skill and is available
from other cults and organizations.
V. PRIESTS (BREWERS) Requirements: Have 90% Brew <any alcoholic beverage>, be a full-time brewer, and sacrifice 1 point of POW to Minlister.
Bless Wort/1 point/ Ranged, Temporal, Passive This spirit magic spell increases the rate of fermentation in any fermentable liquid, and is used to make beer, ale, and mead quickly.
VI. MISCELLANEOUS NOTES Minlister has a mythic connection with Eurmal, and a Brewer can take the place of Trickster in an Orlanthi Minor Council. (While in this role a Brewer can sometimes have the opportunity to gain reuseable access to such Trickster spells as Group Laughter, Laugh, Water Into Beer, Burp Malodorous, Burp Melodious, Fart Malodorous, Fart Melodious, or Intoxicate.)
There are also Minlister Heroquests to gain the knowledge of brewing special magic beers. It is believed that this is how the Longbrewer house learned the secret of making Auld Mutz Ale. Other types of magic ales include:
Most beer brewed in Manaria is made with barley. When barley is scarce in the mountains they make do with malted oats. Hops are unknown in Manaria, with rosemary, yarrow, or rose hips being used instead to flavor and preserve the beer.
Some Orlanthi sayings about beer:
"You can't judge ale by looking at the keg."
"Praise not an ale 'til it has been drunk, a woman 'til
she has been bedded, nor a warrior 'til he has
fought."
End of Glorantha Digest V3 #9
WWW material at http://hops.wharton.upenn.edu/~loren/rolegame.html
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