Oroninela

This is a handout I used in a game I ran at the 1996 Seattle Mini-Con. Player characters lived on the south shore of Lake Oronin, in the village of Meglardinth (pictured below). The game was set during the transition from the Wendarian Period to the Pelandan Period. The information is based on my extrapolations from the Entekosiad. Greg Stafford is still developing ancient Peloria, so this is all subject to change.
I plan to run the game again at Glorantha-Con IV.

History

Once, all the tribes were peaceful. Everyone painted the signs, knew the songs, and shared what they gathered or hunted. We revered the many descendents of EthElsor the Grandmother and the sons of Turos, father of mountains. Warriors of the Blue People

When the Crooked Gods stole part of Entekos's power, the weather grew colder and wetter. The gods of water began invading Wendaria.

With difficulty, the first flood was confined to a lake, but aided by his sons he burst out, and became the Poralistor River. Oronin fought the god of Fire Mountain. The volcano exploded, leaving Lake Oronin, named after the victor. His army's path became a river, and his blue-colored followers settled along the rivers and lakes.

Then YarGan came, and his cruel warriors conquered all the other Blue People, though Oronin refused to give YarGan any fish. YarGan gave refuge to evil sorcerors, and built the first city.

Bisos was the son of KefTavar, a milk-white bull god. He led his people to Lake Oronin. He showed us how to milk the cattle and make cheese, and how to plant barley and make it into beer. When the Blue People tried to take all this for themselves, Bisos killed YarGan and drove them all back underwater. They no longer take slaves to sacrifice, but still demand tribute.

Geography

Most of the land is wild and covered with woods. Major river valleys are dotted with holy places, with surrounding towns and farms. There are many volcanoes; the most active is Arketos in the Yolp Mountains.

To the southeast is Naveria, where people build with red bricks. To the northeast are the rugged Darsen Hills. To the south is Suvaria, where people live in the marshes and wear no clothes. On the other side of the Worian Hills is Vanstal, Bisos's homeland. People still practice the old ways in the Brass Mountains, where the Blue People couldn't reach them, and can draw copper from the rocks. Bindle lies between the Brass Mountains and the Sweet Sea, and Bisos's kinfolk live there. The Talargs, or tree people, live in the deep forests.

People

Oroninians are hospitable and friendly to strangers, ready to entertain or carouse at a moment's notice. Fully 35% could best be described as passionate. Another 20% could be described as hotheaded, lustful, intense, ecstatic, tempestuous, excitable, cruel or generous. The remaining 45% fall into every type of personality under the sun and stars.

The basic social unit is the extended family. Ancestry is traced ambilineally (through either parent). Families are grouped into tribes, usually centered around a town.

Each tribe is led by a Speaker, the head of its most important family. A Council of men and women from each of the families advises him. The women have their own Council, where each goddess has a say.

Marriage is often to cross-cousins (children of your mother's brother or father's sister). The wife usually lives with the husband's family.

Technology

Men clear fields by burning, then women plant them with barley. Women also grow gardens which include root crops, spices, and medicine plants. Men tend the cattle and hunt. Dogs, chickens, and pigs are also domesticated.

Tools are made of stone, usually obsidian, and set in wooden handles. village

A family lives in a longhouse, made of clay over a wooden frame, with round windows and a peaked roof of thatch covered with clay. They're usually whitewashed, and decorated with red, black or yellow. A town consists of a dozen or two longhouses arranged in a circle around the chief's house.

Very little is built of stone, and even the monuments which grew from the actions of the gods are of wood.

Men go to war wearing paint and masks, carrying spears, javelins, and knives.

Magic

Most magic is through song and dance, often done wearing masks, paint, or other regalia. It works best when a group of people sings the same song. Damuski can talk with spirits.

Deities

A large number of deities are known. Everyone pays his or her respects to whichever is most appropriate at a given moment. Families inherit the responsibility to tend a deity's shrines. Wendarian Warriors

Bisos the Bull is the culture hero, who taught people how to raise cattle, sow barley, and brew beer. He's worshipped mostly to the south and west of Oronin.
Entekos is the Sky Mother, and a planet.
Naveria brought culture to the land east of Mt. Jernotius. She invented ovens and bread.
Oria is the Queen of the Earth. Turos rescued her from where Monster Man had chained her underground.
SurEnslib is worshipped in Suvaria, to the south.
Turos is the god of the earth. His son Vogestes the Spearman led the first tribe away from Fire Mountain. Turos is worshipped primarly north of Lake Oronin, especially in Balovius and Rafelios.
YarGan is the cannibal god of the Blue People.

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