Glorantha: Cult of Donandar Cult of Donandar originally published in White Wolf #18 This document is Copyright © 1998 Issaries, Inc. It may be freely linked to, and one copy may be printed for personal use, but any other reproduction by photographic, electronic, or other methods of retrieval, is prohibited. Table of Contents Mythos and History Donandar's Half-brothers Other Notes Mythos and History In the beginning existed only those perfect forms of energy which we call the Celestial Court. These mighty forces combined and recombined to create new beings. Harana Ilor, goddess of harmony and Larnste, god of change, coupled and produced a pair of twins to delight the universe. The pair were Silonia, goddess of Dance, and Ralforisus, god of Music. These siblings were close, and between them grew new creatures, like and unlike either parent -- new beings in themselves. Skovari was the first child of Dance and Music. He represents folk music. He lived in the Green Age, when everyone was equal and love was strong. He played among common folk, for everyone was common in those days. The world was young, sweet, and happy, like Skovari was, and people and gods sang and danced to his village tunes wherever he went. Molamin is the second child of Dance and Music. He went to the Grand Imperial Palace of the Sun, and there he entertained all the nobles, including the Emperor of the Universe himself. Yelm played his harp with Molamin, but preferred the songs of the Celestial Choir. Molamin, though, became the favored musician among the aristocracy of the world. Skovari continued to play for the commoners, and Molamin became the god of courtly music and dance. Drogarsi is the third child of Dance and Music. He was born in the Storm Age, and his favorite song is that of battle. He made songs and poems to stir men to courage, to brace them for battle, and to glorify their deeds afterwards. Thus he is the god of epic poetry, battle songs, military music, and war dances. After their third child was born the parents, Silonia and Ralforisus, were separated in the Darkness. Ralforisus found and stayed with Tylenea, goddess of Illusion. They bore the child Donandar. The young god left his parents to wander the world with worshipers of his mother, the Puppeteers, and from them he learned the arts of entertaining and mastery of illusions, but with the fall of the Greater Darkness he left the traveling players to seek alone what part he could play in ending the cosmic disharmony of Chaos. As he traveled, the mysterious force of the universe drew him toward his elder half-brothers. He came upon Skovari first, whose trust and love of the common people had caused him to be captured by a tribe that had turned to evil. Donandar freed Skovari, and they traveled together. The pair then came across Molamin, trapped and caged by the forces of Kyger Litor . Donandar intervened with a gift of hymns to Kyger Litor so enchanting and so flattering that she not only freed Molamin but granted Donandar her eternal friendship. Traveling on, the three came upon the White Goddess, Chalana Arroy, struggling to save the life of a god who lay beside a broken sword and a shattered trumpet. A horde of mindless things chewed away parts of the god even as Chalana Arroy tried to heal him. Donandar played entrancingly and the swarming monsters stopped eating to join in the solemn dance. Thus, he saved the life of the god, their last brother, Drogarsi, and won the gratitude of the White Goddess. Thus Donandar became leader, and the other music brothers lent him their songs and spells. When Donandar stood against chaos he hurled it back with songs and dances as earthy and moving as Skovari's, as elegant and gracious as Molamin's, and as stormy and rousing as Drogarsi's. Blending all, making harmony from cacophony, was Donandar's own secret power. When the sun returned Donandar greeted it with a song of triumph. Minstrels have many different philosophies and many different beliefs about the afterlife. The cult of Donandar emphasizes no particular belief. Their funeral customs are either those of the area they travel in, or else the corpse is buried beneath a road. Donandar possesses the three runes of Harmony, Mobility, and Illusion. Donandar's Half-brothers Donandar's brothers are each associated with a different widespread deity. Donandar cultists can worship Donandar acceptably at shrines to any of his brother deities. This helps the small cult to spread itself over a wide area. Skovari is the god of folk music and dance. Temples to Ernalda hold shrines to this deity. Molamin is the embodiment of classic or courtly music and stately dance. Yelm temples have a small shrine to Molamin. Drogarsi is the deity of war dancing and stirring martial music. Temples of Orlanth hold shrines to him. Other Notes Worship Services Donandar's worship services are also performances, to which the public is invited for free. These services are used by the cultists to advertise the next days' performances and titillate the crowd's interest. The worship service may even be held during a parade, to attract attention for tomorrow's show. [ New Here? | Greg Sez! | Main Page | Product Listing | Coming Events | Cool Links ]
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