The Mystic Cult of Orlanth Lightbringer
This sub-cult attracts men and women of adventure and imagination, people who are not completely satisfied with the society they are in, and yet believe in the Invisible God and the general worldview that accompanies his worship. In a nutshell, this cult appeals to people who want to know more, who want to expand their understanding and interaction with the world, people who in other cultures would be drawn to mysticism or become travellers or outlaws.
The Worship of Orlanth Lightbringer
Stygian Heretics still follow a fairly rigid social code. Each person
is expected to fulfill their special role in life, however those with
special aptitude may gravitate to a new role. Amongst the varied Gods
of the Stygian heretics is St. Orlanth, and one of his aspects is
Orlanth Lightbringer. This cult (Orlanth Lightbringer) attracts those
interested in cosmic and mythic secrets, in magic at its base level,
those who wish to appreciate and work with natural and godly forces
for the good of all. There are several deities within the cult: St.
Chalana the healer, St. Humakt the warrior, St. Lankhor Mhy the
knowledge keeper, St. Eurmal the trickster, St. Goldentongue the
trader and traveler, and the mystic goddess Ginna Jar. These are all
led by St. Orlanth, the leader of the Lightbringers. In this small and
secretive sect, usual worshippers follow St. Orlanth and focus their
study on him or one of the the first four listed Saints under him
(Chalana, Issaries, Lhankor Mhy, or Humakt.) Such individuals learn
healing, fighting, knowledge, and communication skills. Because of the
long hours needed to maintain the psychic disciplines, combat training
focuses on a single weapon of choice and on the shield or a chosen
parry weapon. Rare individuals with unusual aptitude may instead
choose a two weapon ability. These will always have as their focus St.
Orlanth or St. Humakt amongst the Lightbringers. After a time
individuals that progress well will be invited to be initiated into
the mysteries of St. Eurmal and then of Ginna Jar.
On completing a satisfactory level of study of the Ginna Jar mystic philosophy, an individual is `Initiated'. Such Initiation is an extremely well-guarded secret, and in effect is a ritual HeroQuest to meet Arachne Solara, as Ginna Jar, and join her followers directly. After this, the individual leaves their former home and sets out into the world on a special pilgrimage. Most of these people never return. The Initiation finalises the mystical training that has gone on before, opens the individual more fully to the secrets of the Great Web, and the mystic sorcery they have studied. Describing this as simply as possible - this type of sorcery involves using ones mind to focus on psychic mandalas, and manipulate them in order to become Resonant with different aspects of reality. (Hence the title of most of the sorcery as Resonances.) Imagine a moving mandelbrot that needs to be observed and gently manipulated by thought, and you get the picture, and also understand why trainees must remove themselves utterly from the world for so long.
The sub-cult does not advertise, save by rumor, does not recruit save by invitation, and does not preach, save by example. Slowly and secretly the cult of Orlanth Lightbringer works behind the scenes, promoting tolerance, communication and a reverence for the wonders and secrets of nature. The cult of St. Orlanth also preserves much arcane lore that would otherwise have been utterly lost over time. It teaches that the Invisible God is non other than Arachne Solara, Spider Goddess whose web holds the Universe together. It teaches that Malkion personified this goddess as a male to suit his own needs. In reality, they say, Arachne Solara may represent actively more female energy, but Gods in truth have no genders as we know them, and combine the energies of male and female. It teaches that Arachne Solara is so powerful she can only be communicated with through her avatar of Ginna jar. Ginna Jar translates the Spider Goddess's energies and intentions to a vibration safer and more comrehensible for mortals.
Being a Worshipper of St. Orlanth Lightbringer.
The learning techniques require intensive study through meditation and introspection, as well as philosophical discourse along the lines of the Eastern masters of the real world.
The cult of Orlanth Lightbringer teaches unusual, if not unique, mystical sorcery. The results of the magic appears similar to Malkionic sorcery, but it is a very different discipline. On acceptance into this sub-cult, worshippers begin the long process of accessing a different style of arcane law, know as the spider's vision. During this process they have no choice but to forget any sorcery they have known previously, although they may choose to relearn it at a later date using new psychic skills. Once accepted, each student chooses a specialist field from one of several different sources. St. Chalana provides healing magic, St. Goldentongue provides communication and traveling magic, St. Lhankor Mhy provides knowledge magic, and St. Humakt works for Orlanth his King in providing combat magic. (St. Humakt partially replaces Flesh Man who was a participant in the original Lightbringers' Quest.) If St. Orlanth himself is chosen as the focus for study, this is a more general field for those who wish to keep their options open. These are the main sects within this sub-cult, and worshippers may choose to specialise in whichever one they are drawn to. Typically worshippers spend several years learning a cross section of basic skills, magics and philosophy from the Priests of these sects. Once a worshipper has proved themselves worthy, they move onwards towards the even more secret heart of the cult.
St. Eurmal
St. Eurmal, the Trickster, tricked and cheated his way into the company of Lightbringers, and yet it was his disorder that saved the day more than once, when all else was lost. Likewise for the cult of Orlanth Lightbringer, the magics of St. Eurmal have allowed them to remain active and protected throughout their dangerous history. Such a cult philosophy they hold at this level is tantamount to the highest heresy and treason, according to some, and their mystic secrets could be desired by any power hungry, jealous or suspicious overlord. Thanks to St. Eurmal the cult has protected itself through trickery, illusion and diversion, time and time again.
Ginna Jar
Here at last is the centre of the cult of Orlanth Lightbringer. St. Orlanth led the Lightbringers through the Underworld, but during the quest they were stopped. They could not continue, they had insufficient power and all seemed doomed. Then, the mysterious figure of Ginna Jar, who had aided them before, revealed herself as an avatar of Arachne Solara the Spider Goddess of Nature. She brought them together into a new kind of oath and pact, pooled and combined their energies. The Lightbringers gained a new power, the power of mutual acceptance and combined abilities, and this was personified in their new member Ginna Jar. They fought the Devil, and Arachne Solara mated with him and devoured him, and then they freed Yelm, the Emperor.
But even now, the world above was collapsing, the mortals dying, with their Gods unable to protect them. Chaos was gaining superiority and all seemed lost. Once again Arachne Solara, as Ginna Jar, stepped forward and offered a solution, the Gods Compromise. This would require more than just the combined energies of the Lightbringers, but the combined energies of all Gods and Goddesses that were connected to Glorantha. Grasping at their last hope, the Gods and Goddesses all rallied under Arachne Solara, and the Web of the Gods Compromise was created. The Lightbringers heroically led the way back to the upper world, burst asunder the Gates of Dawn, and Arachne Solara cast forth her net. This Net, or Web, collected the isolated and dying pieces and peoples of the world and bound them together with the combined intent of all the Gods, who sacrificed their freewill to save the world. Hidden within the folds of the web was Arachne Solara's child, and Time began.
Arachne Solara in her purest form is much too powerful to be contacted directly, except by the most experienced High Priests. Therefore her worship is co-ordinated through St. Orlanth and the other Lightbringers, through her avatar of Ginna Jar. This allows mortals to gain some aspects of her power, and to go forth and do her bidding in the world. Whilst some worshippers who are admitted to the secret lore and mystic magic of Ginna Jar stay on to teach for many years, most are asked to leave the physical confines of the cult. After 2-5 years in the outer circle of the Lightbringers, 2-4 years learning the secrets of St. Eurmal, and a further 2-4 years studying at the inner circle of Ginna Jar's lore, worshippers are considered prepared for the world at large.
Ginna Jar worshippers, those from the innermost heart of the cult of St. Orlanth Lightbringer are not taught to be stagnant or stationary. The work and purpose of Ginna Jar is dynamic and spread wide, throughout all the web of creation. Once these apprentices are seen to be ready each goes through a final ceremony. In this they enter another plane and face Ginna Jar as an aspect of themselves. Then, at last, they are ready and receive visions and signs, directing them to leave their origins and travel out into foreign lands doing Arachne Solara's will. From now on they are known as Initiates, and as well as being worshippers within the Stygian Heresy have become effectively Initiates of the spirit magic cults of the Lightbringers: Orlanth, Chalana Arroy, Lhankhor Mhy, Eurmal the Trickster, and Issaries. (Only Humakt is not part of this agreement, because his purpose is always combat, and the purpose of Ginna Jar is often that of reconciliation.)
Cultists in the World
The Initiates are given a magical weapon, the plain robes of a traveling monk, food and bedroll, and must leave their home. Many never return. Their destinations are varied but their purpose is the same. Ginna Jar expects them to journey to foreign cults, especially the Lightbringers, and work with their priests and high priests, preserving the secrecy of Ginna Jar, but promoting inter-cult co-operation, supporting the sanctity of nature, and preserving Law in the face of Chaos. How each Initiate chooses to do this depends on their own abilities and demeanor. The ways of Arachne Solara are not set in stone, rather the reverse - the ways of the Spider Goddess are unpredictable and uncontrollable, closer to Trickster than any other God. Some work secretly with a cult High Priest. Some are sponsored by a local Chief, some may even set up small colleges in urban areas and spread the word that way. Some travel alone, operating as mystics, appearing suddenly here or there, speaking their heresy and disappearing as suddenly as they arrived. All followers of Ginna Jar are also part of the huge, informal group of members of the various sub-cults of Arachne Solara. How they portray themselves is also a matter of personal discretion. After contact with Lightbringer cults, such an individual might legitimately take visible status as an Initiate, others may identify themselves as having no cult allegiance at all, a minority might even apply to join one of the few cults such as Donandar or Trickster which accept sorcerors fairly readily. It has even been known in areas of extreme violence that a Ginna Jar worshipper might rejoin the cult of Humakt to create an environment where co-operation can at last become possible, but normally this is not considered an option.
In short, followers of Ginna Jar may be encountered in any place and any guise. You may already have met one and would never know it. Their true identities are known to few or none, revealed only in time of absolute necessity. Their actions are varied, part of some wider and greater plan, and yet they are mortal, with desires and failings just like you and I. One can certainly expect each mystic to be acting in some way as an interpreter, negotiator, translator, deal-maker, explorer or cultural ambassador.
To obtain new Resonances when out in the world, the mystic must perform a minor HeroQuest for each. Most often this is combined into the complusary Ginna Jar ritual that must be carried out once each Sacred Time. There are options. The mystic may choose to simply fulfil the basic requirements and the cost of 1POW and with no risk. Or they might choose to perform any number of these quests to learn new Resonances, and the cost for this is the POW purchase cost of each Resonance. This option negates the 1POW basic cost, so long as at least 1POW is sacrificed for a Resonance. The different aspects of the cult have different types of Quests required: St. Chalana - healing, rescuing, being injured ... St. Eurmal - solving a puzzle, stealing something, performing a bizarre and senseless task St. Goldentongue - a long and difficult journey to collect or deliver an object or message ... St. Humakt - fighting oneself or chaos, or a random foe - -.. St. Lhankor Mhy - seeking something lost, learning the nature of something, collecting information St. Orlanth - a heroic deed Ginna Jar - a bizarre and dangerous trip beyond the bounds of reality
Mystic Initaties are only restricted in which Resonances they learn
(except for Commune with Ginna Jar) by the success of the Quest and
the ammount of POW they wish to sacrifice. Your average person may
learn no more than 3-5 Resonances without actually enrolling as a
student of St. Orlanth Lightbringer, as much deeper training is needed
to expand the perceptions sufficiently. People who are not mystically
trained may not learn Resonances belonging to St. Eurmal or Ginna Jar
herself.
End of The Glorantha Digest V5 #637
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