In the game Nomad Gods, a number of spirits can appear, including a very powerful one named Oakfed. Now, not discounting the possibility of the actual spirit appearing physically on the material plane, I think much of what "makes up" these units is the actual worshipers of the deity, augmented by his powers. This applies to the many lesser spirits as well - -- since they are smaller spirits, with fewer worshipers, and even fewer dedicated worshipers, they are correspondingly less powerful.
Note that the other Great Spirits in the game also have semi-permanent cults, and great power. Gagarth the Wild Hunter is worshiped by many outlaw bands, and also in a somewhat different form by some Praxian clans. Malia has many covert worshipers, even in Prax, and has lots of broos to support her. Zola Fel is more problematical, though I think many nomads worship him when they are in the area. Note that he does not have the same powers as the other Great Spirits, at least in the revised version of the game. Dark Eater is essentially a cognate of the Dark Eater, and is worshiped with some frequency among the morocanth, if only infrequently by the other tribes.
All that being said, since the minimum required number of people expressed interest (one), I have just de-formatted my cult write-up. Parts of this cult are actually by Chaosium, and are coryright by them. The rest is copyright 1996 Stephen Martin.
OAKFED WILDFIRE
Great Spirit of Fire
MYTHOS AND HISTORY
Oakfed is the Low Fire, the secret heart of fire. When Chaos came to Prax
it crept
up the sky like a foul river. The Sun was there, bright defender of
Genert's Realm,
and he fought chaos with all his might. Alas, the Splendid God was not
strong
enough, and he was overcome by chaos, exploding when it touched his pure
body.
Many embers and sparks remained in the newly cleansed sky, and these
formed
the Wanderers and stars that we see even today, but the largest piece
fell to earth
at the Monkey Ruins (burning that corrupt city to the ground). This was
Oakfed,
who provided light and warmth to men in the Night.
Oakfed is the Need Fire, who burned brightest when the need was
greatest.
When the Dark Eater led his armies of trolls down from the north, Oakfed
did
not burn hot enough on his own to resist them. The tribes fed him the
great
forests of Prax to keep him alive, earning him his name and the undying
enmity
of the elves. He burned brighter in the Darkness, and for the first time
drove the
Dark Eater away. From this true worship and reverence Oakfed joined the
Great
Spirits of the Plains.
Oakfed is the Holy Fire, and within his scorching conflagration things
are
changed to their inner nature; evil is destroyed and souls are purged. He
scorched
Chaos in the Darkness, protecting the Plains until the Devil came, for
even
mighty Oakfed could not burn the One Evil. He aided Storm Bull then, as
did all
the rest of the world, and thus earned a place for himself in the
recreated world.
Oakfed is the Wild Fire, famed for burning even stone. He destroyed any
foe
who dared to face him, boiling away the rivers of the land and turning
the storm
demons to ash. When he grew greedy and threatened to devour the men and
their
herds, however, Waha Great Khan overcame the wild spirit. He chained
Oakfed
in the bonds of Time, transforming him into Malome, the gentle Camp Fire
Girl,
whom he gave into the care of the priestesses of the Paps. Thus, men
still revere
Oakfed, and worship, though with fear.
When Pavis built his city on the River of Cradles, the shamans of
Oakfed
resisted, and met defeat at the hands of the new god. So Oakfed was
mastered
again (but still not tamed), and again became a servant of the cosmic
order.
When the Lunar Empire came to Prax, Oakfed alone of the Great Spirits
led
his followers to resist them, as he always resists chaos. However, foul
Lunar
sorcery overcame the wild spirit, turning his hunger against his
followers. Almost
all of his worshipers burned on that dark day, and Oakfed's power was
weakened
yet again. But the last survivor of Moonbroth has recruited followers
from among
all the tribes, and the worshipers of the Wild Fire again wander the
plains of Prax,
as they say they always will.
After death good men go to Malome's warm paradise in the Earth, with
Eiritha
in the Paps, where all the good things in life are found. Wicked men burn
in
Oakfed's fires until they have been purified, then return to the earth
for another
cycle of life. Corpses are always burned; shamans always seek to be
cremated
using the Cremate Dead spell.
Oakfed is associated with the runes of Fire, Disorder, and Motion.
CULT ECOLOGY
Oakfed is one of the Great Spirits of Prax. He is often contacted by
shamans who
wish control of his wildfires, but also has a permanent group of
worshipers who
tend to his needs as he tends to theirs. Oakfed protected the world
during the
Night; despite his excesses, this protection is remembered by his
followers. He is
also the Holy Fire, the flame which burns Chaos into ash, and his
followers revere
his protection within Time. His cult is small, but strong.
Oakfed's cult fights Chaos fiercely, always seeking to destroy the
remnants of
the greatest foe so the universe can be pure again. The forces of
Darkness are also
disliked, as are the efforts of the Red Moon to tame Oakfed or replace
him with
the more easily controlled fire gods of Dara Happa; the Lunar Empire is
especially
hated since Moonbroth, when they killed Oakfed again and again. Oakfed's
disdain for plant life is exceeded only by the hate of the aldryami for
him, and the
two cults can never coexist peacefully. He is friendly to the spirits of
fire,
especially Bright Treasure (the Sun) and Baba Ulodri, patron of the
Men-and-a-Half, but has few ties to other gods.
Oakfed is subservient to Waha (and is thus an ally of the nomads) and
to
Pavis (and so serves the city-dwellers as well). However, he always seeks
to escape
his bonds, and few mages are powerful enough to hold him for long.
Oakfed's high holy days occur in midsummer and midwinter. They begin at
dusk on Fireday, continue through Wildday night, and end at dawn on
Freezeday, as the worshipers welcome the Sun back to the world. The
winter holy
days are celebrated in Illusion Week of Dark Season, and celebrate
Oakfed's
triumphs over chaos and darkness. The summer holy days begin in Harmony
Week of Fire Season. His defeat (whether by Waha or Pavis) is reenacted,
with
emphasis on his transformation and service.
THE CULT IN THE WORLD
Worship of Oakfed is found throughout the world, always in the
hinterlands. In
most lands he is known only as one of the Lowfire subcults of Lodril, and
so has
no autonomy. His worshipers can be found from Maniria to Kralorela, and
across
the plains of Pamaltela, although this worship most often takes the form
of a
Spirit Cult. His worship is never found in civilized areas: his uncaring
fires cannot
be easily tamed by the city dwellers, who thus prefer to deal with his
gentler
siblings.
Oakfed is worshiped fully only in lands where Lodril and his cognate
deities
are weak or unknown, mainly among the nomads of Prax, the Wastes, and
Pent,
and among the Veldang of Pamaltela. The form of the cult provided here is
unique to Prax, although it bears similarities to his worship in other
lands.
Oakfed's shamans are feared for their ability to call the Wild Fire
forth, and
praised for their ability to banish him again. Shamans of Oakfed do not
operate
well together, due to the fierce dedication each displays. Instead, each
shaman
leads his own band of followers, or wanders alone, gathering together
with other
bands only on holy days. There is no coordination between different
groups of
worshipers; when groups meet, the most powerful shaman will take charge.
The
usual worship site is a shrine, although Minor Temples can be found where
he has
enough worshipers. Shrines provide Create Wildfire. A semi-permanent
Minor
Temple can be found at the Monkey Ruins in Prax; all cult spells are
available at
this and similar sites.
INITIATE MEMBERSHIP
Requirements for initiation are standard; everyone must pass the test,
even
candidates whose parents are members of the cult. The skills tested are
Ceremony, Orate, Summon, World Lore, and one other skill deemed useful by
the examiner, usually a weapon attack. The candidate may not be a shaman,
sorcerer, or priest of another god (except Lodril, et al), and may never
have
worshiped any chaos thing. He must give 10% of his income and 20% of his
time
to the cult, and must always seek to destroy chaos, but there are no
other
requirements.
An initiate who wishes to become an apprentice shaman must follow the
normal procedures. Shamans of Oakfed accept only Oakfed initiates as
students
or assistants.
Initiates are taught the Spirit Magic spell of Disrupt for free when
they join.
Other spells are available from cult shamans, and are earned normally.
The spells
of Darkwall and Repair are forbidden to members, and must be forgotten if
known. Initiates may sacrifice for one-use of cult Divine Magic spells
with the
permission of their shaman, and have access to Divine Intervention,
though this
access is limited (see Miscellaneous Notes).
SHAMAN MEMBERSHIP
Shamans are the leaders of the cult. They fulfill the role of priests,
and deal with
Oakfed directly on the Spirit Plane. They require absolute loyalty from
their
followers, and are known for the purity and fierceness of their
dedication. The
shaman's fetch always takes the form of a flame.
In addition to meeting normal requirements for becoming a shaman, the
candidate must know at least one use each of Summon and Command
Salamander. He must pass the Test of Holiness (POW x3% or less on 1d100)
before he will be allowed to attempt to awaken his fetch. The spirit
faced is called
the Wicked Writher, but is identical to the Bad Man in all respects.
Shamans of Oakfed can not deal with any type of plant or chaos spirit,
but
there are no other restrictions. Fire and sky spirits are friendly, but
most other
elemental spirits are hostile; animal spirits are neutral or hostile.
Shamans are also
priests, and have access to reusable Divine Magic. Like initiates, their
attempts
at Divine Intervention are limited.
Especially powerful shamans of Oakfed have been known to draw upon him
to power one of the Soul Winds which can devastate armies, searing the
souls and
burning the bodies of all who are touched by them.
Common Divine spells: Divination, Sanctify, Summon Salamander, Worship Oakfed
Special Divine spells: Command Salamander, Create Wildfire, Cremate Dead, Suppress Wildfire *
OAKFED SPECIAL DIVINE MAGIC
Create Wildfire
1 point
ranged, instant, stackable, reusable
This spell must be cast on a fire. Each point increases the fire's
diameter by 1
meter, although the fire's damage does not increase. If no substance is
available
for the increased fire to burn, it rapidly dwindles to its former status.
This spell has no effect on Fireblade or similar spells. It increases a
salamander's size by one cubic meter per point of spell, but does not
change the
elemental's Hit Points or the damage it inflicts.
Cremate Dead
1 point
ritual Ceremony spell, nonstackable, reusable
This spell allows an official (usually a shaman) to fully destroy the
bodily remains
of one cult member after death. It guarantees that the ghost will not
return to
haunt the family. It also burns all goods sent along with the corpse,
allowing the
deceased to carry some weapons and supplies into the land of the dead. It
can be
used on the still-animated skeleton, zombie, or even vampire form of a
former
Oakfed initiate or shaman to burn it, although the target's Magic Points
must be
overcome in this case.
Suppress Wildfire **
1 point
ritual Ceremony spell, stackable, reusable
This spell must be cast on a fire. Each stacked point decreases both the
fire's
diameter by 1 meter and its intensity by 1d6. If both size and intensity
are
reduced to nothing, a candle-sized flame will remain.
One point of this spell reduces the damage done by a Fireblade or
Firespear
by 1d6, or decreases a salamander's size and damage done by 1 cubic meter
and
1d6. The caster must overcome the magic points of the weapon's holder or
the
salamander, respectively, for the spell to take effect.
SUBSERVIENT CULTS
Wild Fire
Oakfed's spirit of retribution is the Wildfire. Any worshiper who betrays
the cult
will burn. The greater the betrayal, the greater the burning, and a
worshiper who
forsakes him to worship Chaos is certain to die slowly and painfully by
fire.
ASSOCIATE CULTS
Baba Ulodri
Baba Ulodri is the ancestor of the Men-and-a-Half, a cognate of Lodril.
Although
the two gods are not associated, Oakfed is a favored spirit of the
agimori
shamans. The Men-and-a-Half claim Oakfed as the son of their god, and
subservient to him, but the cult does not acknowledge this myth.
Malome
Malome is the Camp Fire, Oakfed's gentle sister. Oakfed's followers
protect her
worshipers when they are in danger, especially if they are menaced by
Chaos.
Thus, Oakfed shamans can occasionally be found at the Paps, serving as
defenders. Malome provides no spells to her brother's cult, nor does she
receive
any from him.
Pavis and Waha
Oakfed protected the world in the Darkness, but each time devoured
everything
for fuel until only his charges were left. In all lands he was mastered
by a local
deity, thus preserving his status as a protector. He is subservient
because of this,
though he can never be fully tamed. As a conquered spirit, Oakfed gains
no
benefit from this status. However, priests of the ruling god gain use of
one of
Oakfed's Divine spells.
Prax is notable because Oakfed was defeated twice, in the Godtime by
Waha
and during Time by Pavis. He is subservient to both, and each has a spell
from
him: Waha gains Cremate Dead, and Pavis gains Command Salamander.
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES
Spirit Cult Worship
Oakfed can be worshiped by an independent shaman. The spell provided is
Command Salamander. Because Oakfed is a Great Spirit, the spell of Create
Wildfire is available on any special Worship roll.
The Monkey Ruins is the greatest Oakfed holy place, for these ruins
mark the
spot where he first came to Prax. A permanent temple to Oakfed exists
there; if
a successful worship service is held there by a non-Oakfed shaman, the
ritual is
treated as one level greater: a normal success is considered to be a
special success,
and a special success is considered a critical. This makes more spells
available to
the shaman and his worshipers. However, the temple is maintained by
Oakfed's
permanent worshipers, who jealously control access to the shrine and the
fragments of burnt wood which are his relics. Thus, only when the cult is
weak
(such as in the decade after the Battle of Moonbroth) can independent
shamans
make use of these properties.
Divine Intervention
Initiates and shamans of Oakfed have only limited Divine Intervention,
because
he is really just a large spirit. He cannot honor requests for healing or
resurrection, nor can he transport his worshipers. Other requests within
his
powers will be granted, though he cannot be called upon by a given shaman
or
one of his followers more than once per week. Thus, if an initiate
successfully
calls for Divine Intervention on Windsday, neither that initiate, his
shaman, or
any other initiate in his band, will be able to call upon Oakfed until
dusk of the
next Fireday (when the cult considers the week to begin).
*****BEGIN BOXED TEXT*****
CULT LEADERS
Evarr Stormburner
Evarr was only a junior shaman at Moonbroth, but he alone survived when
the
Lunars unleashed their foreign fire god to turn Oakfed against his
followers. All
of the initiates and other shamans were devoured, but when Oakfed came
Evarr
saw an avenue of escape. Instead of a futile attempt to flee, he called
upon
Oakfed's sister and jumped towards the Hungry God. Enfolded within the
gentle
Camp Fire Goddess he survived, and awoke days later in the Paps,
scorched, but
alive.
Evarr immediately travelled among the tribes, and soon had enough
followers
to summon his god back. He headed deeper into the Wastes, there to
restore the
power of his cult and his god. He continues to preach against the Lunars,
and is
particularly popular among the Bison and Impala tribes.
Evarr gained his name in a conflict with a group of Wild Hunter outlaws
soon
after Moonbroth. He and a rival priest each summoned their gods, but
Oakfed
was stronger. The renegade priest and his followers were slain, and Evarr
burned
the Wild Hunter so severely that it rained ash for three days.
*****END BOXED TEXT*****
Stephen Martin
ilium_at_juno.com
The Book of Drastic Resolutions
drastic_at_juno.com
End of Glorantha Digest V4 #19
WWW material at http://hops.wharton.upenn.edu/~loren/rolegame.html
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