The origins of the Yelmalio cult in Sartar are pretty well explained in the Sartar Book (with some more information in Sartar Companion), although the classic (Praxian) version does not appear as a player cult until the Pavis book comes out. Both cults exist in Sartar, although very few Yelmalio cultists exist outside of Sun County and Alda-Chur.
Prior to Monro's vision, the option for people strong in the Fire Rune who could not fit into the larger Orlanthi society was to join foreign cults (often resulting in kinslaughter). The Hendriki had no alternative Solar tradition than Elmal (the Pavis Yelmalio cult had no contact with Dragon Pass until Dorasar's companion proved them that their Little Sun was the same Cold Sun that Monro worshipped).
Jeff
>
> I don't want to start a new debate over the divisive Y vs E debate
> again, but I'm trying to pull together a Risus campaign set in Dragon
> Pass. I've been playing RQ since 1978, so that's a big part of my view
> of Glorantha (I still love the monomyth!), but I plan on using some
> background and adventures from later products like the Sartar book.
> So, the issue of Yelmalio vs Elmal has cropped up. I favor the old
> view of an old Yelmalio presence (established more than a century
> ago). However, I like the notion of "Elmal the Loyal Thane", who also
> has also been around for quite awhile. Is there a way for these two
> notions to coincide?
>