Hero Wars
Glorantha
Issaries, Inc.
GTA
Market Place
Tribes
Library
  Biturian
News

The Travels of Biturian Varosh

The Spirit of the Wind Comes Forth

We went first to the Pairing Stones, a remarkable monument, for one is pale blue and the other is pale brown. Both are some seven meters high and tilt slightly towards one another. On Orlanth holy days the Stones are a gathering place for various airy cults to meet, for this is the place where the first Wind Lord of the cult lived and, after he died the last time, was burned.

It was not a holy day when we arrived, but many Orlanth worshippers were there anyway. They were led by a Storm Voice named Farangar Horseteeth, who was preparing a ceremony to initiate some of his followers, and to get an allied spirit for a new priest. Krogar asked politely if they also could attend and I, of course, agreed. Norayeep and I then paid a complimentary 5 Lunars each to Farangar to become Lay Members for the ceremony, and thereby participate.

The worshippers stood at the south side of the monument facing northward between the rocks. Farangar, Krogar, and a woman I did not recognize stood between the plinths and questioned the candidates for initiation, while their sponsors stood quietly behind them. Krogar questioned some of them very closely, which seemed to bother the other two who already knew the candidates, and who seemed to be anxious to get on with the ceremony. But at last even the Wind Lord seemed satisfied, and the three began their invocation.

I was not prepared for the onslaught of Enforcers which came rushing from behind the priests. They hurtled over us, their yellow eyes gleaming hungrily as they searched for maldoers. The Wind Fists buzzed around at head level, zooming straight at a face and turning aside only at the last moment. The Flint Slingers leapt over the heads of the crowd and clouds of impests made ringing sounds as they passed harmlessly among us. Several people in the crowd began scratching themselves absentmindedly. It was a very impressive display, and I am sure that any Orlanth Initiate viewing these things regularly could be easily urged to follow his cult vows.

When it came time to summon the allied spirit, I could see a crowd of them roiling angrily about behind the priests. Krogar called out a chant "for the Spirit of Wind to come forth," and one detached itself and moved toward the new Storm Voice. There was an exchange of energies as they met, the new priest whistled and one of the cult cats ran forward, and the new ally entered into the body with a visible mood of satisfaction, and the cloud of spirits disappeared.

This should have concluded the formal ceremonies and even the priests and Wind Lord seemed surprised when the cat rose up on its hind legs and spoke in clear Tradetalk.

Lords and Voices, friends and kin.
Evil lurks, the Moon comes in.
The Wind calls, the need is great,
Travel to Swenstown, do not wait.

Then it fell to all-fours again, eyeing its new master. The new priest showed no hesitation, but immediately made a cheer and an oath to be off by the sunset. Farangar and the woman conferred hastily, then agreed to go also. Krogar finally assented as well, but only after a long silence.

While everyone bustled about preparing to depart, Krogar came to me. He did not need to explain his dilemma, for plainly he was torn by his contract to me and to his response to his god. I made it clear that I had no wish to cross Orlanth, and released him from his duty to me. He reminded me that he must fulfill all his oaths, and so charged one of his Initiates named Chokar Thon to lead the others of his band and stay with me. Thus he answered his call to adventure, but still met his earthly responsibilities.

< Previous chapter    Back to map    Back to index    Next chapter >