So, I’ve not made it a secret that I have a fondness for Glorantha. As a concept, it could easily be my favorite setting of all time. The actual execution (particularly regarding the most recent edition) is less to my liking, however. And I’m not just talking about the non-existent Gamemaster’s book that is referenced in the core book from 2018, or the decision to break up the cult books into 10 separate books, when each is only 150 pages (5 books of 300 pages would make far more sense economically for both production and the consumer).

No, the biggest gripe I have is how this edition simultaneously boosts the power and magic into the stratosphere while ignoring the effects of that magic on the cultures and societies within the world. Or, at least I hope this is the source of the weirdly hyper-traditionalist relationships between male and female in place when none of the real-life stressors that caused our ancestors to adopt this type of outlook are present.

For example, childbirth in Glorantha is safer than in our modern time due to powerful fertility magic because everyone has access to Rune Magic now. Anyone wanting to bear children can, even those born biologically male. Hunger and disease are minor and rare due to the ease with which harvests and health can be guarded and expanded in ways that we here in the modern world cannot fathom. This is not a society that struggles to get by, but the books seem to want you to think that it is. I can only imagine that this is due to some misguided desire for “realism,” even though this is a flat world with a literal skydome that holds up the stars. Its frankly appallingly silly to juxtapose this land of wondrous magic against the bleak and hostile world of the real world second millennium BCE.

In previous editions (especially the Hero Wars/HeroQuest editions) this was acknowledged and these influences were allowed to permeate the setting in a more internally consistent way, including a far greater equality between the genders. Ernalda is supposed to be the co-equal ruler of the pantheon and she is portrayed as such, with her devotees having an active (if inward focused) role to play in the world. They helped rule, organize, and care for the people while Orlanth’s devotees spent their efforts on war and diplomacy. In this newest edition, Ernalda’s followers are demoted to passive stay-at-home types whose only responsibilities are to remain barefoot and pregnant or as some sort of ritualized damsels-in-distress that can command Orlanthi followers to dash out into danger if the priestess says “pretty please.”

So, with all that said, the following is an attempt by my wife and I to rectify the presentation of Ernalda, aligning her with both her descriptions in presented mythology and the emphasis that the cultures that follow her put on her revealed aspects. This draws heavily on the HeroQuest material, but is still altered by our own thoughts. As always “Your Glorantha May Vary.”

Ernalda – Mythology Revised

The generous and wise goddess Ernalda is, by far, the most beloved and well-known deity in all of Glorantha. From her springs the bounty of life in all its forms. She is the maker and protector of everything they have and hold dear: family, food, and community. While the Orlanthi place her co-equal to Orlanth, she enjoys a similar prestige in the pantheons of other cultures, although not always under that guise. The Orlanthi revere her, as do the Esrolians. Even the Lunars and others who hate and fear Orlanth hold her as beloved and joyfully sacrifice to her.

The current Queen of the Earth Tribe, a position she inherited from her mother Asrelia, she is the embodiment of Rulership, for what can a King claim to rule without a Land and a People? Ernalda is both of these things, and so much more. Only through her is society ordered and Chaos kept at bay. She is the Inward Power, the opposite but complementary power to her husband Orlanth, the Outward Power. Where most of Orlanth’s worshippers are men, most of Ernalda’s followers are women, and she transmits to them the secrets of womanhood, through which all things are brought into being. She is the Mother, the Bounteous, and Weaver Queen who binds together mortals and gods alike into communities of her design.

During the God Time, Ernalda had taken this role under the authoritarian rule of Yelm, but the Sun’s controlling desires suited her not. Thus, when a young Orlanth, just come into his manhood, approached her with an offer of Freedom for both she and her daughters, she agreed of her own volition. This angered Yelm, who sought only to control and restrict those he claimed dominion over, and the resulting contest with Orlanth ultimately ended in Yelm’s demise. While it was Orlanth’s skill and strength that ultimately cast down the Sun, Ernalda was there beside her love, lending him her wisdom, craft, and support.

Thus it was that Ernalda joined her house with Orlanth and the two became one. Ernalda was neither given by a father or taken by a husband but was a partner of her own choice and volition, and she was content. She and Orlanth belonged together. And to them were born many children and they gathered a following of close friends and allies, for who chooses slavery when one can be free?

Not all was perfect peace within their home, however, as any who come together can attest. There is always some strife that comes which, for a moment, drives apart even those as tightly woven as Orlanth and Ernalda, and in those times she sent him away, or she herself took her own council and the two were, for a time, parted. During these brief times Orlanth had other lovers as did Ernalda, some of whom were even accorded the status of husband for a time. None of those relations stood for long, however, and eventually one of the pair came to see the error of their ways and came back of their own volition to seek forgiveness and reconciliation, and each time their love and connection grew stronger.

When the Great Darkness came upon the world, Orlanth left to undo the wrongs he had done, and Ernalda was left to see to their people alone. She was not without power of her own, and she was aided in this by her sister Maran Gor and her daughter Babeester Gor, but even their combined power paled against the onslaught of Chaos. So she did the only thing she could and sought safety in hibernation in her mother’s house. And there she slumbered until Orlanth came to wake her. His task was nearly complete, but he was in need of her wisdom once more.

Thus it was that Ernalda wove a great net, aided by Ginna Jar, and once their task was complete, she called all the gods together to describe her plan. All in attendance, even Yelm, saw the wisdom of this plan, and they agreed to support the net that she called the Great Compromise. When Ginna Jar revealed herself to be Arachne Solara, Ernalda knew that she too had been fooled. The strange goddess devoured the Devil, gave birth to Time, and the shattered pieces of the world were bound back together, fragile but whole. Chaos was cast out of the world, back where it had come from.

The Wooing of Ernalda

At the waning of the Golden Age, when the world was still young and the Sons of Umath still roamed the world seeking their place within it, Orlanth, the youngest among them, became enamored with the colorful beauty of the Bountiful Earth. Thus it was that he came to Ernalda to ask of her a boon:

Orlanth: “Lovely lady of the earth,
Mother of all, who yields forth this bounty,
I ask of you but a portion
To have for myself,
A reminder of your splendor.”

Ernalda: “A portion of my earth?
It shows wisdom unforeseen
That a mighty warrior like yourself
Would seek such treasures.
You are wise, my lord. Are you generous too?”

Orlanth: “Orlanth Openhand is one of my names.
All gods can speak well of my generosity,
Especially you, Bountiful and Beautiful.
Take this, my bullroarer.
Roar it when in need and I shall come to you.”

Pleased with himself, Orlanth went to his boisterous brothers to show off his boon, but they only laughed at his foolishness and tore and scattered the flowers and leaves. Shamed by their laughter, he returned to Ernalda:

Orlanth: “What is this? You mock me?
What was wondrous in your hands
Was naught but dirt and gravel in mine.
Why did you trick me, Mistress of Illusion?
I demand recompense for this dishonor!”

Ernalda: “Oh, Master of Winds, Caller of Thunder,
If you find my gift worthless,
Then please, take this in its stead.
Twice the gifts I will trade back for my earth,
To satisfy your justice. Is this of sufficient value?”

Seeing reason in Ernalda’s words, Orlanth accepted the two gifts in exchange for what he saw as only worthless dirt. The first of these was his bullroarer, which he felt was a gift fit for himself. The second was a barrel of fine beer, brewed from the wheat she had grown from her own toil. Thirstily, the Storm God drank this down and was content, for it was good. Thus he returned once more to his older brothers, pleased with his resolution of the issue, but they again only jeered at their little brother:

“You are twice a fool, confused by the worlds of a woman
For, again, what you have gained is but a trifle,
Worthless and beneath one such as yourself!
While your stomach is full, your head is empty
And nothing that you have gained will last.”

In his shamed state of mind he saw truth in their words, and his mind was blank with fury at Ernalda’s duplicity. As he returned to her his rage grew hotter, for the earth, once blown bare, was once more green and even more delightful.

Orlanth: “Twice deceived and twice a fool!
I was an innocent fool with a blind heart
But that was before my eyes were opened!
That which you took back was not barren!
Lies told to reclaim that which was freely given!”

Ernalda: “You are strong and fierce,
But you abuse me, you are unjust.
I gave what was asked, and no less.
Are you not wise enough to see the truth?
The secret is there before you to perceive.”

Orlanth: “I see many things: Each thing you give me
Is less in my hands than in yours,
Is not what you told me it was,
Is useless to me and mine.
I see black spots of anger before me.”

Ernalda: “Great and Powerful Keeper of Kin,
Clear the spots from your mind: look again.
One half of the wonder is yours!
Your rain, fruitful wonder, spread my beauty.
By your power does my wheat grow!”

Orlanth: “Great woman, bountiful bosomed,
In your trickery there is wisdom
For the deceits have been my own.
Surely I stand bested by an honorable foe.
This lesson has been well learned.”

Ernalda: “I think the lesson only half-learned. Look again!
What strength we have apart we have together tenfold.
Let me see to the bounty, harvest, and home.
You see to your wars, and strength of arms.
But together our people will be joyous and fruitful!”

Orlanth, seeing the wisdom of Ernalda’s words and the symmetry of their powers, was convinced and accepted her offer. Ernalda and Orlanth then instituted the marriage vows of their religion and took oaths to the other. When Orlanth’s brothers laughed at him the god ignored them and took refuge in the sweet secrets of his wife.

Conclusion

This week I am mostly focused on reworking the mythic side of Ernalda. The tweaks were minor, honestly, with the exception of the Wooing. The original was, frankly, horrifying and completely missed the mythic point of their union in order to hew to the nastiness that makes up much of real world mythology. Orlanth is less Zeus the serial rapist now, and Ernalda is not just a beauty to be won like Hera, but a force of wisdom and power in her own right that compliments Orlanth.

Next week I’ll present the mechanical changes to Ernalda’s cult that we use. Spoiler, but she gets subcults back, like she had in HeroQuest!

Title image taken from the Well of Daliath, artist, Loïc Muzy. Use is intended as Fair Use, all rights belong to Chaosium.