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Elmal – The Warrior Sun

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Elmal Elmal, known as Elmal Sun Chieftain or the Guardian Sun, is the head of the solar pantheon following his father Yelm's death. Both the Riders and their rivals the Wheels are Elmali. Contents 1 Worship 2 On the Circle 3 As Nobles 4 Lore 4.1 Ride Like the Wind 4.2 Lights Going Out 5 Myths & Rituals 5.1 Ride Like the Wind 5.2 Lights Going Out 6 Other Stories 7 Images Worship You can build a shrine, temple, or Great Temple to Elmal. He is the only god that you can build a Great Temple to in Ride Like The Wind. Elmal can provide the following blessings: Flaming Lance: Doubles the effectiveness of our elite warriors. Protection: Reduces wounds in battle. Morale: Improves the confidence of our warriors during battle. Steadfast: Improves our chances while defending. If you chose the Battle of Akashar during clan creation, you will start knowing Protection. If you chose Yelm as the main god your clan worshipped in the Golden Age, you will start with a shrine to Elmal and know Steadfast. If you build a temple or great temple (not merely a shrine) to Elmal, you may see the event Elmal Temple Request. On the Circle A worshipper of Elmal on the clan circle allows you to put more magic into War during Sacred Time. Elmali are often good (and certainly traditional!) choices for clan chieftain. They may even argue that "This clan needs a worshipper of Elmal to lead it." As Nobles Elmal's worshippers tend to be strong in Combat and Leadership, making them good chiefs and war leaders. Lore Elmal is one of the many sons of Yelm, the dead Sun; his brothers include Shargash and Little Yelm. He was married to Nivorah before her death, and afterwards married Nyalda, the Earth Queen. His children include Reladivus (with Nivorah), Samnal, Osara, Verlaro, Zarlen (with the Wheel Witch), and Inilla (with Nyalda). His foes include the Storm Pantheon (particularly Orlanth) and the Darkness gods worshipped by the trolls. Ride Like the Wind As you might expect, your advisors have much to say about the chieftain of their pantheon: "Elmal is the patron of defenses and guardians." "Elmal fights to restore what was lost when Yelm fell, but despite his fire the world grows ever colder." "When Yelm fell from the sky, Elmal took his place on the Sunpath." "Elmal taught us to feast together. Gamari gave us her milk, and Hyalor showed us how to ferment it." "Nyalda married Elmal, gaining protection and granting him greatness." "Nyalda gives calm and purpose to blazing Elmal." "When Elmal showed Nyalda Earth Mother how to protect herself from pounding hail, she left her useless husbands and married him." "In Elmal, Nyalda found a guardian who would fight to protect her." "Since the death of Yelm, Elmal illuminates the day. But there is now a night sky, where his star captains reign." "Elmal used hawks to speak to Hyalor, when the two were apart." "Elmal showed his love for his daughter Osara by showing her how to cleave off the heads of bandits." "When Elmal gave Osara and Zarlen their belts, he said, ‘Do not let the Storm Gang take them from you.’" "Relandar said, ‘It does not matter if they laugh at us.’ Elmal said, ‘You should have said that before I struck their heads off.’" "Elmal told Zenangar, ‘When you are right, argue the point. When you are wrong, throw a feast.’" "When Elmal blinded trolls with his brightness, they sent a curse of locusts in revenge." "Enemy dogs followed Elmal at the Battle of Cresting Wind. That day they learned that arrows could bear the gift of flame." "Elmal said, “To steal a horse under the sun’s gaze is glorious. To steal one under cover of night is lowly.”" "Elmal says, “My arrows pierce the enemies of the sun.”" "Elmal met a chill, pale orb in the sky. It hurled snow, hail and sleet at him, and said, “I am Yonesh, the Cold Sun.”" "As creatures of the sky, birds owe fealty to Elmal." "When the evil god Orlanth slew the sun, Elmal vowed vengeance." "Elves encased Elmal in the murder tree. “Wood burns,” he said, lighting an arrow." "Elmal fought Orlanth three times. Each time his shield stayed steadfast against the Murder God’s thunderbolts." "When Elmal seized a piece of bronze that once was part of the murder god’s father, his retinue said he should present it to the Emperor." "Even in the Golden City few beheld Elmal himself." "By Elmal’s fiery beard, I have ruled on this matter, and it is settled!" "Elmal made the first whooping run, and the Golden Princes quaked, and gave his clan the gold they owed him." "Enemy dogs followed Elmal at the Battle of Cresting Wind. That day they learned that arrows could bear the gift of flame." "Trust in Elmal, god of war." "The times grow ever worse, and Elmal grows ever more steadfast." Lights Going Out With the wedding of Beren, one of Elmal's mortal descendants, and Redalda, a daughter of Vingkot Orlanthsson, at the end of Ride Like the Wind, Elmal and Orlanth have made peace with one another. With Orlanth's death during the game's prologue, Elmal took up the task of guarding Orlanth's divine home, Orlanthstead. Though your clan has fully become Rams by the time of Lights Going Out, they still worship Elmal. Having formed the Berenethtelli tribe out of the Rams in the Black Eel valley, your clan has spread Elmal's worship to some of the neighbouring Ram clans as well. Elmal is the patron god of the Berenethtelli kings, who belong to your clan. As such, your clan ring has quite a few things to say about Elmal: "Hyalor, guardian hero of early Riders, taught them that kings were unnecessary. To have an Elmali king, we had to become Rams." "Elmal was our god long before we accepted Orlanth." "When Beren married Redalda, Orlanth and Ernalda joined Elmal as our main deities." "Elmal honors the royal clan, as he does no other." "When the sun god asks you to do something, you do it." "My father earned the nickname "the Sun" by incarnating Elmal, but every attempt at 'Elmal the Vigiliant' since his has failed." "Some call Yelmalio Sun-Spear a brother of Elmal. Others call him a False Sun." "Hyalor, guardian hero of early Riders, taught them that kings were unnecessary. To have an Elmali king, we had to become Rams." "When Elmal confronted the Golden Men, they were called the Small Suns." "Elmal fought the Teller of Lies, and though he was grievously wounded, was never killed. I am merely human, but I can still channel Elmal's power." "When his father fell from the sky, Elmal sheltered us in his light, becoming the god of survival." "Heler is to the Water Tribe as Elmal is to Fire." "When it gets darkest, remember Elmal's light." "Elmal might give us the traditional gift attending a royal birth—cows." "It is Emal who defends us, not the undead." "Elmal can always be found staunchly guarding Orlanth's citadel." "Elmal guards Orlanth's stead while he sleeps in the underworld." "When he pledged to protect Orlanthstead, Elmal brought a horse as a gift." "Elmal owned horses and cows but above all is the defender." "Elmal slew Teghern before joining the Storm Tribe. Yet in the Gods War all events happen at once, so here it is, before us now." "Elmal will be the last of our gods to die. Will it be Teghern who slays him?" "The stories we tell, including the battle between Elmal and Teghern, are a human way of imposing order on jumbled cosmic events." "When Ernalda died, Elmal found seeds she left behind. 'Put these in all her temples,' he said." Myths & Rituals Ride Like the Wind Elmal's main myth is Elmal Guards the Sunpath, which is the basis for his ritual, Elmal Path Guardian. He also appears in: Nyalda's Bride Price Hippogriff Reborn Ekarna's Four Trades Busenari Finds the Light Zarlen's First Wander Osara and Verlaro Inilla and the Golden Bush Lights Going Out Elmal is not the main character of any myths in Lights Going Out, but he makes a brief appearance in his daughter Osara's myth Osara the Warrior. He also has a minor role in the myth How Horses Came to Orlanthstead, including him fighting Zorak Zoran and having to abandon his city after the onset of the glacier. Though Elmal has no ritual of his own in Lights Going Out, he is one of the deities who can be contacted by traveling to a Gods War portal on the map. The game also makes mention of a ritual called "Elmal the Vigiliant" but all attempts have apparently failed since Brolarulf's incarnating of Elmal and it is not possible to attempt it yourself in-game. Other Stories Elmal appears—albeit in somewhat different form—in other stories of Glorantha. Elmal on the King of Dragon Pass wiki Elmal on the Glorantha wiki Images Elmal guarding the sunpath.view image Elmal's kinsmen present him to Nyalda, who he wishes to marry.view image Elmal is frustrated and enraged by Yatelo, the Hungry Sun.view image Elmal pays a visit to your clan.view image Elmal makes peace with Orlanth.view image Elmal and Orlanth overlook the Black Eel Valley.view image Elmal defends Orlanthstead against the missiles of Chaos.view image Elmal stands triumphant against Chaos.view image Elmal, the last fire, guards Orlanthstead to the very last.view image
Elmal, known as Elmal Sun Chieftain or the Guardian Sun, is the head of the solar pantheon following his father Yelm's death.

Elmal – The Warrior Sun – Cult Write Up for Runequest Glorantha

Elmal – The Warrior Sun – Cult Write Up for Runequest Glorantha

Background, Runequest Glorantha

By Dave Butler & Michael Dalzen

Runes: Fire & Truth

Elmal is the sun. He is a weapon companion of Orlanth and a member of the Storm Tribe. He unblinkingly executes any deed needed for the tribe. During the Darkness, he defended the stead from all foes while Orlanth was on his Lightbringers Quest, and so Elmal helped keep the world together so that Orlanth could recreate it at the  Dawn.

Holy Days

Every Fireday is a holy day, and in addition, there is one seasonal holy day per season other than Sea Season, as follows:

  • Victorious Sun Day(Fire / Fertility / Fire)
  • Husband Day(Fire / Mobility / Earth)
  • Truth Day (Fire / Truth / Darkness)
  • Thane Day (Fire / Harmony / Storm)
  • The Long Night (Freeze / Luck to Gods / Fate)
  • Survival Day (Fire / Luck)

Initiate Membership

Requirements:  Standard.
Cult Skills: Battle, Cult Lore (Elmal), Insight (human), Javelin, Listen, Any Spear, Ride, Scan, Shield, Worship (Elmal).
Favoured Passions: Devotion (Elmal), Honor, Loyalty (leader).
Notes: The Elmal cult teaches its initiates the cult secret Shield Wall (see below).
Spirit Magic: Bladesharp, Detect Enemies, Farsee, Firearrow, Fireblade, Lantern, Parry, Protection.
 
Rune Magic

Common Rune Magic: All.
Special Rune Magic: Bless Crops (uses the Fire rune), Catseye, Command Fire Elemental (small or medium), Detect Truth, Dismiss Fire Elemental (small or medium), Oath, Summon Fire Elemental (small or medium), Sunbright, Truespear (uses the Fire rune).
Enchantments: Ban, Binding Enchantment, Magic Point Enchantment, Matrix Creation, Spirit Armor Enchantment.

Faithful Thane (Rune Lord)

Requirements: A candidate must have 90% in Javelin, any Spear skill, and Loyalty (leader), plus 90% in two of the following abilities: Battle, Honor, Insight (human), Listen, Ride, Scan, or Shield.
Allied Spirits: Faithful Thanes may be given an allied spirit, especially if they are seen as facing a daunting defensive task. The spirit may inhabit a spear, a shield, or a horse.

Character Creation

Cult Starting Skills: Any Spear +20%, Shield +15%, Scan +10%.
Special Rune Magic: Bless Crops (uses the Fire rune), Catseye, Command Fire Elemental (small or medium), Detect Truth, Dismiss Fire Elemental (small or medium), Oath, Summon Fire Elemental (small or medium), Sunbright, Truespear (uses the Fire rune).
Cult Spirit Magic: Bladesharp, Detect Enemies, Farsee, Firearrow, Fireblade, Lantern, Parry, Protection.
Favoured Passions: Devotion (Elmal), Honor, Loyalty (leader).
Notes: An initiate learns the Elmal cult secret Shield Wall (see below).
Associated Cults: ChalanaArroy, Ernalda, Eurmal, Issaries, LhankorMhy, Orlanth, Storm Bull.

ELMAL SUBCULTS

Anatyr the Chieftain
Spirit Magic: Glamour
Special Rune Magic: Morale
Special Note:Insight (human) +10%

HyalorHorsebreaker
Spirit Magic: Slow
Special Rune Magic: Command Horse
Special Note: Ride +10%.

RedaldaHorsefriend
Spirit Magic: Mobility
Special Rune Magic: Bless Horse (see below)
Special Note: Animal Lore +10%. Redalda is the only subcult through which women can worship Elmal, and Redalda is only worshipped by women.

Rigsdal the Night Watchman
Spirit Magic: Lightwall
Special Rune Magic: Stay Alert (see below)
Special Note: Celestial Lore +10%

Associated Cults

  • ChalanaArroy: Provides Cure Chaos Wound.
  • Ernalda: Provides Earth Shield.
  • Eurmal: Provides Reflection.
  • Issaries: Provides Path Watch.
  • LhankorMhy: Provides Detect Truth.
  • Orlanth: ProvidesFearless.
  • Storm Bull: Provides Face Chaos.

ELMAL CULT SECRET
SHIELD WALL

Initiates of Elmal are taught a cult secret, the Shield Wall, which is incorporated within their use of the Battle skill when commanding a troop of 5 or more (the initiate himself included), armed with large shields.

The organizing initiate rolls his Battle skill. If successful, all participants in the Shield Wall (including the initiate) may roll their Battle skill to augment every Large Shield Parry or Spear Attack, so long as they stay in the Shield Wall. If the organizing initiate’s initial Battle roll was a Special, all subsequent augment rolls are made with +20%; if the organizing initiate’s initial roll was a Critical, all subsequent rolls are made with a +50%.

ELMAL SPECIAL RUNE SPELLS

BLESS HORSE
Truth Rune – 1 point
Touch, Instant, Stackable

This spell provides relief to a horse. Each point of Bless Horse grants one form of relief (e.g. from fatigue, from hunger, from birthing pains, from disease, from an injury, from a curse) to a single horse; in the alternative, a single form of relief may be granted to additional horses by stacking additional points of Bless Horse (multiple forms of relief may not be provided to multiple horses in a single casting).

At the gamemaster’s discretion, the caster may need to expend magic points (e.g. to heal hit points) or engage in a POW v. POW contest or Spirit Combat (e.g. in order to relieve possession by a hostile spirit).

STAY ALERT
Fire/Sky Rune  – 1 point
Touch, Duration 24 hours, Stackable

For the duration of the spell, the target stays awake and alert with no penalties. Each additional point of Stay Alert will either cause the spell to affect an additional target oradd an additional 24-hour period to the spell’s direction. If the Stay Alert spell lasts more than 24 hours, it can only affect a single target and Stay Alert cannot be stacked with Extension.

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