Maran-Gor
t j e Reason for Existence Maran Gor is the goddess of the Earthquake. She represents the dark side of the Earth Mother, even as Ernalda represents represents the benevolent side. She is worshipped now only by those who seek the carnage which is her most precious gift. n the grim areas where cults of women gather together to placate the dark power of the earth, her temples come in all si!es. More commonly, her cult consists of shrines within the temples of her sister gods. Maran was born in the Green "ge, along with her sisters, and was given ruler# ruler# ship over the greatest g reatest and most terrible powers of Earth. She took many lovers, and produced many children, these being the mighty quakebeasts quakebeasts of legend, which shook the earth as they walked. Maran loved her children, whose thundering movement brought brought joy to her heart, no matter the destruction they caused. n the Stagnant "ge, the Evil Emperor came to power. $e saw the quakebeasts as pests, and commanded his warriors to destroy them. %agrekriand %agrekriand and &estkarthan destroyed many of them, including the new warlike quakebeasts Maran shaped to defend the others from the 'ire (ribe. Seeing so many of her children slain, Maran took up her mace, and marched to battle the 'ire (ribe. 'rom then on, the goddess knew no joy. Maran is the violent and rumbling earth, whose angry movements destroy destroy the enemies of the Earth (ribe. "ll )rlanthi know that when the ground shakes, Maran is angry, and will immediately make propitiatory propitiatory sacri*ces to please her. her. Maran is commonly worshipped as a subcult of Ernalda. $owever, Maran is also
worshipped as an independent cult. (his is more common in places such as Esrolia and (arsh, and many traditional )rlanthi regard this form of worship as dangerous and unpredictable. Social Position Maran is not a popular goddess amongst the )rlanthi, the few initiates to her in each clan usually being primarily +abeester Gori ae warriors. Most of her worshippers are found in -eace lans, where they serve on the much smaller fyrd and act as bodyguards to the clans/ Ernalda priestesses. n 0ragon -ass, Maran has two great holy places1 the *rst being the Shaker (emple (emple at the base of 2intertop, 2intertop, this sacred sacred building has survived since the Gods "ge, and contains shrines to all the subcults of Maran. t is ruled by the Shaker -riestess, -riestess, the incarnation of Maran#Gor Maran# Gor upon Glorantha, who is served by forty seven male and female virgin cannibal initiates of Maran. (he second holy place of Maran Maran is Giniiji, also known as Snake#pipe hollow hollow.. (his valley and the neighbouring ones were created when Maran crushed a waiting army of haos. (he remains of this army reformed from the bloody mess left after the valley was made, and holy warriors of Maran are often found waging holy wars against the haotic monsters found there. Maran has relatively few full time priestesses maintaining her temples and shrines. (hey are all celibate, pledging their love to their goddess rather than to any man. Maran Gor/s ceremony day is 2ildday. Maran Gor/s high holy day is 2ildday of 0isorder week in the Earth Season
Likes and Dislikes Maran loves her sisters Ernalda and Esrola, and has pledged to protect p rotect these two paci*sts. (he ult honours this this pledge by always providing providing shelter and protection protection to -riestesses of these two cults. Should either have su3ered at the hands of a man or haos, then the ult will send a force of warriors to eact bloody vengeance on their behalf. behalf. She is often a rival of male war gods, such as Elmal and 4ro, looking for opportunities to tear down 5both metaphorically and literally6 their built up assumptions of superiority. (he ult is friendly with the the 2ar 2ar 2omen 2omen cults, such as +abeester Gor and and &inga, as they are family through her sister Ernalda. (hey show respect to any woman who is capable of defending herself and shows independent spirit. "ll of haos is Maran/s enemy, as is anything else that seeks to harm the Earth tribe. She also hates the elves and ice giants for the slaying of her children, the quakebeasts.
etj Membership Requirements Lay Member Maran#Gor cults have little to o3er those who are not willing to fully commit themselves to their temple and its greater well being. 2omen are o3ered temporary shelter, so long as they contribute in some way towards the temple/s upkeep. upkeep. Men who chance asking for the benedictions of the cult, often run the risk of being placed in thralldom, or at the very least, in a submissive position of servitude. (hose who choose to make an etended stay in a Maran#Gori temple will be epected to make the choice to either join the cult/s etended community, with a view to full nitiation, or to leave by the end of the net Earth season. 7ay Members must attend regular worship at weekly services on 2ildday. f the 7ay Member fails to attend, they can epect serious redress. redress. 2orse 2orse fates await for any males who refuse to acknowledge Maran/s power whilst under her roof. 7ay Members may learn Spirit Magic up to level 8. Initiate "ll normal candidates for nitiation must be mature mature females. (here is no culture requirement requirement for joining, only that their dedication to the Goddess is sincere. (hey must forswear forswear the direct worship of any benevolent benevolent Earth deity, knowing that failure on this part or becoming apostate from the cult will involve deadly repercussions. (hey must have at least least 9:;< in two of the following following skills •
eremony
•
2eapon "ttack
•
Mineral 7ore
•
Earth#(ongue
•
Scan
(hey must devote devote =:; of their time and income income to the cult, and must must surrender surrender all personal time when their $igh -riestess calls for a duty of vengeance. " Maran#Gor nitiate will be given food and lodgings in any of the rare
dedicated 0ark Earth temples found in the world. Should they be without a place to call their own, they will likely be o3ered permanent residence residence in echange for a vow of service to the reigning $igh -riestess. "ll Earth temples relating to the more benevolent Goddesses will be inclined o3er aid or shelter when requested, but will likely not want the nitiate to remain long in their stead. Males who have found themselves in a temple/s good favour and>or are concubines to eisting female nitiates and "colytes, may be accepted into the ult as nitiates. "s with all instances of males joining Maran#Gor, there is much prejudice to overcome overcome and a looming epectation that the male nitiate will /o3er up his male aspect/ as sacri*ce to the Goddess. nitiates gain access to further cult Spirit magic and also receive =:: hours of free training in cult skills, and half price after that. (hey must sacri*ce sacri*ce a point of -)2 to Maran#Gor Maran#Gor.. (hey may sacri*ce -)2 -)2 to gain 0ivine magic from Maran#Gor. Maran#Gor. (his magic will be spent until prayed for again during Sacred (ime or the cult $igh $oly day. (hey may pray for and and potentially receive receive aid from 0ivine 0ivine ntervention. nitiates may learn Spirit Magic up to level ?. Acolyte (here are are those amongst the supporting 7ay Members Members and nitiates who feel a true bond to the Earthshaker Earthshaker Goddess and are are drawn along the path path which leads them closer to her. 2hether this leads to full -riesthood or not, becoming an "colyte imbues the cult member with a much stronger divine connection. 'emale acolytes of Maran#Gor need not be celibate, but may not be married. "ny sons born to the acolyte must be sacri*ced. 0aughters born must be dedicated to the service of Maran#Gor Maran# Gor or +abeester#Gor +abeester#Gor for as long as their mother raises them. Male nitiates may choose to become "colytes, assuming that their -riestess *nds them su@ciently pious, and there are no more worthy candidates. (o reach this height however, the candidate must willingly become a eunuch, and have his male aspect sacri*ced to Maran#Gor (hose wishing to come come "colytes must must pass a test of worthiness, worthiness, set by their $igh -riestess. (hey must also have at least A9; in four of the following skills1 • • • • • • • •
eremony limb "ny -arry or 0odge (hrow Scan 2eapon "ttack Mineral 7ore Earth#(ongue
(hey must devote devote 8:; of their time working working for the cult and 9:; of their their income to either their temple/s co3ers or used towards ult aims. "colytes are epected epected to attend all the yearly and seasonal $oly 0ay ceremonies, along with leading or assisting in weekly worship services. (hey may be called upon to lead worship when no -riestess is present, teach cult skills, perform divinations or other cult rituals. "colytes may not become Shaman or Sorcerers, unless otherwise stated. "colytes can train with all cult skills at half price, if a trainer with su@cient skill is available. "colytes gain access to Beusable 0ivine magic for their ult/s ommon 0ivine magic. (hey may regain their spent 0ivine magic spells each week, by casting the 2orship 2orship Maran#Gor spell at an appropriate shrine, temple or holy place on 2ildday. Special and "ssociated ult 0ivine magic remains either one#use or is regained on $igh $oly 0ays>Sacred (ime. "colytes may learn Spirit Magic up to level C.
Rune Priest Bune Bune -riestesses are the leaders of the Maran#Gor cult and command a miture of fear, awe and respect from those who meet them. )nly women may ascend to this rank within the cult and all who do must forswear all love and joy D becoming celibate. andidates appeal to their temple/s $igh -riestess or ideally, make a pilgrimage to Shaker (emple in 0ragon -ass and seek the Shaker -riestess/ blessing. n any case, the candidate must must have :;< in the following skills1 • •
eremony "ny -arry or 0odge Skill
and :;< in three of the following skillsF • • • • •
limb (hrow Scan 2eapon "ttack Mineral 7ore
•
Earth#(ongue
(hey must have a total total of -)2 and cult 0ivine 0ivine magic equalling =< (he -riestess lives to serve her temple temple and her Goddess. (hey (hey must dedicate :; of their time and personal income to the bene*t of the cult or towards cult business. (heir duties include leading worship ceremonies, performing performing Sacred (ime rituals rituals to strengthen strengthen and renew the cult, teaching cult spirit and divine magic, collecting tithes and ordaining new nitiates into the faith. Bune Bune -riestesses, with their deeper links to the Goddess, can learn more powerful versions of cult spirit magic than nitiates or "colytes. (hey are also granted as much free time training in cult skills are they require, when trainers of su@cient skill are available.
Bune Bune -riestesses may gain an "llied Spirit from Maran#Gor. Maran#Gor. (his will either be a Gnome, which the -riestess has captured through use of the ommand Gnome miracle, awakened and bound to her service, or the spirit of a suitable Huakebeast, Huakebeast, should one be available. (he "llied Spirit will have its intellect awakened awakened 5I0C6 and it will act as a normal familiar>allied spirit, able to learn and cast spells. Bune Bune -riestesses may regain their spent 0ivine magic spells each week, by casting the 2orship Maran#Gor spell at an appropriate appropriate shrine, temple or holy place on layday. layday. (his includes Special and "ssociated ult 0ivine magic. Bune Bune -riestesses may learn Spirit Magic up to level . Magic Spirit Magic • • • • • • • • • •
+efuddle +ladesharp +ludgeon 0emoralise 0isruption 0ullblade $eal ronhand Strength &igour
Divine Magic • • • •
2orship Maran Gor Etension 0ivination 0ismiss Magic
• • • • • • • • • •
$eal 2ound Soul Sight Spirit +lock Mindlink 2arding +last Earth ommand Gnome ommand Huakebeast reate 'issure Shake Earth
"srelia -rovides D $ide 2ealth +abeester Gor -rovides D Shield Ernalda -rovides D Earthpower (y (y Jora Jora (ek (ek -rovides D +less Grave &oira -rovides D nvigorate
