Veskarthan

A view of the Vent of Veskarthan in Caladraland.

Mythos and History
Veskarthan is the Deep Lord, the Low Fire, the Great Devourer, and the Volcano God.
He was born when the golden sky, Aether; reached down in love to brush the yielding earth, Ga. He dwelt with his father in the heavens above the world, for it was the decree of the Old Gods that children of the sky must remain with their father, lest they burn the world with their brightness.
Veskarthan was appointed to guard the south of heaven from the forces of Predark, lest they invade the sky and corrupt it, but Veskarthan always kept one eye upon his mother, for he feared that without his spear, she would be easy prey for the Predark.
His watchfulness proved wise, when he saw a being squirming in the lands below him, which disturbed the Old Gods, and tainted the land around it. Taking up his spear, Veskarthan leapt from the heavens, and plunged down to the surface below him, uttering his terrible battle cry.
When he found the horror of Predark, he pierced it with his spear, and plunged still further down into the depths of the world. As they descended, Veskarthan released his inner brightness, burning the creature until it was no more than ash and char upon his spear point. He then rose once more, up to the surface, but found he could not rise further.
The Old Gods pointed that he had abandoned his post, and proven he had no honour; he had unleashed his brightness upon the world, and so scarred the earth; and he had touched the Predark, and they could not risk him contaminating heaven.
Veskarthan then laughed, and raised the Vent beneath him and cast off his brightness, declaring that if heaven would not welcome him, then it did not deserve him. He would stay on the earth, and defend it, and heaven would fend for itself.
When Umath the champion made his camp, Veskarthan greeted him as his brother, for they shared their parents, and both had been cast out by the Old Gods. They shared hospitality, and pledged to stand by each other in war and peace.
This peace lasted until Umath's first child the Storm Bull, quarrelled with Veskarthan. Both were proud warriors, who hated the Predark with a berserker rage, but their similarities made them enemies rather than allies, and Veskarthan left after Urox gored him, releasing a torrent of flame in the east, and weakening the volcano god.
When the darkness came, Veskarthan stood alone against it, unfearing of its might, and laughing at its monstrosity. He warred against them, and raised many sons to fight them as the trolls could not stand even their weak brightness. Unfortunately the king of the trolls, Argan Argar, outsmarted Veskarthan, striking at his wound from the Storm Bull, and defeated the Deep Lord. He bound him in chains of darkness, and seeing the Vent, and envying it, he commanded Veskarthan to build him his own volcano, one of darkness and cruelty.
Enslaved, Veskarthan could do nothing but obey, and raised the Palace of Black Glass for Argan Argar.
Here he remained, in chains and helpless, until Orlanth Umathson, visited the palace. Orlanth, recognizing his uncle, and hating to see someone in chains, had his trickster disguise Veskarthan as a burning brand in his mouth. The trickster carried him out of the Palace, and released him into his own Volcano. Veskarthan swore oaths of friendship and allegiance to Orlanth Windlord, and restored his brightness to the Vent.


Nature of the Cult
Veskarthan is the great Vent, an immense volcano and one of the great sacred peaks of the Orlanthi. The Vent stretches up seven thousand feet to reach the Lower Air, where its eternally smoking caldera is wrapped in clouds as the god meets with the Storm Tribe. To the people of the surrounding lands, he is the centre of the world, provider and ruler. To foreigners, such as the Esrolians and Rightarm Islanders, they know him mainly as the destructive god whose rampages at the end of the Second Age caused so much devastation.
Even amongst those peoples who fear him, Veskarthan still has a few followers, with even the trolls of the Shadow Plateau having a handful of scarred and cursed priests who worship him as the maker of the Palace of Black Glass.

Veskarthan Wooing Esrola. Esrolian Red-figure Calyx

Depiction
Veskarthan is usually depicted as a grotesque and almost inhuman figure, with pointed ears, tusked mouth, sharp claws, and a hooked nose. This sets him apart from the more beautiful Orlanthi gods, but the Caladralanders say these are signs of his strength and inner fire. He wears little, usually only a loincloth or tunic for modesty's sake.


Rune Affinities
Veskarthan is associated with the Runes of Fire and Disorder.

Fire Rune Affinity
Veskarthan is the deep fire, the flame beneath the surface of the earth which heats, rather than illuminates. His initiates can use their Fire Rune when fighting with spears or javelins, and will often use this affinity to make their spear heads become red hot. They can also start and enhance fires, and even summon lesser volcanic gods. As the lover of Esrola, goddess of the fertile earth, Veskarthan's initiates can also use their affinity to warm the earth as a man warms his lover, protecting the ground and its crops from cold and darkness. Initiates who are strong in this Rune are proud, lustful, and brave.

Disorder Rune Affinity
Veskarthan's association with the Disorder Rune is with material destruction. His worshippers have been known to use their Disorder Rune affinity to shake the ground, cause eruptions of lava, devour anything, break non-living objects, go into an unstoppable rage, and break restraints. Initiates who are strong in this Rune are destructive, reckless, and spiteful.

Particular Likes and Dislikes
During the Godswar, Veskarthan gained many allies and enemies, including Umath the father of Orlanth. It is through this he has gained acceptance within the Storm Tribe, and his many children have married Orlanth's kin. Despite the friendship he shared with his father, Veskarthan and Urox the Storm Bull are rivals for the affection of the earth, with the Storm Bull's adamant horns once piercing the Volcano God's skin, releasing a torrent of flame which burned up the great wastes of Prax.
Amongst the Earth Tribe, Veskarthan has taken Esrola as his bride, earning him the hate of Maran, who views him as a defiler and betrayer. When the earth shakes Veskarthan and Maran have begun to fight, and few buildings are left standing from their rage.
The only true enemy of Veskarthan is Argan Argar. The trollish god enslaved Veskarthan with chains of shadow, stole his bride, and forced him to build the Palace of Black Glass. It was only at the dawn that Veskarthan was freed once more, and he has never forgiven the trolls or their black lord for the insult.
Like all right thinking beings, Veskarthan despises the forces of Chaos, and will ally with anyone, even Urox or Argan Argar to wipe out all traces of them from the world.


Cult Organization
Outside of Caladraland and neighbouring regions, there are few worshippers of Veskarthan; at most but one in any tribe.
But in those lands surrounding the Vent, Veskarthan is worshipped as much, and even greater than Orlanth. For it is his volcanic ash which fertilizes the ground, and his sons who taught the people how to slash and burn the forests.
While Veskarthan has many shrines and temples dotting the landscape, the greatest temple to the god is located on the slopes of the Vent itself.
Named the High Temple, this is the home of the leaders of the Volcano God's cult, and even those who do not follow the High King of Caladraland, still pay their homage to the priests here.

Priests
The full-time priests of Veskarthan are aptly named Volcano Priests, and although they are few and far between outside of Caladraland, at least one can be found in each major city of the Holy Country. These fire-scarred men and women accept the locals' offerings, so that they may appease the hunger of the Great Devourer.


Holy Days and Sacrifices
Veskarthan's worshippers have only one regular holy day, instead the priesthood hold great festivals during times of high volcanic activity. Offering sacrifices of black boars, spears, and fish to the Deep Fire. Usually by throwing them directly into a volcanic hot spot, although any fire will do. When Veskarthan has been gravely insulted, human sacrifices are performed, with willing or unwilling sacrifices thrown directly into the vent to appease him.
On Fireday of Disorder Week in Fire Season, Veskarthan has his High Holy Day. On this day, sacrifices are given by all the Sixths of the Holy Country, and other nearby lands. Traditionally small fish are offered, in exchange for human souls and are thrown alive into great fires, set up by the Volcano Priests for this purpose. While many gifts are sent to the High Temple of the Vent for the priests, and their hungry god.


Initiates

• All initiates of Veskarthan must possess the Fire Rune with a rating of at least 1W.
• Membership is open to both men and women, although men are by far the most common.

Subcults
Veskarthan had many sons and daughters with goddesses of the earth. Many grew up to be mighty gods with their own cults, others are worshipped as subcults of their father. Several of the more common subcults are:

Pothomekan pottery statue of Erdana.

Erdana the Free Father
Erdana is the child of Esrola and Veskarthan, and partook of their natures of warmth and growth. He is the warmer of the earth, the father of life, and the grower of grapes. His worshippers may use their Fire Rune to protect crops from the cold.

Kalavan
The loyal spearman, Kalavan wields his father's flaming spear in battle, to destroy all foes of his father and mother, Esrola. Kalavan is even counted among the Noble Brothers of Esrolia, and his shrines can be found in many cities. His worshipers are much sought out across the holy country as great warriors, for they may use their Fire Rune to turn their spears and javelins into bolts of living flame.

Torabran
Torabran was merely one of Veskarthan's many sons until his wife, the earth goddess Teka, was slain. Toarabran burned her body, to release her breath that it could return to her family, and taught others how to do the same for their beloved family members. In this way, he became the god of cremation. His worshippers use the Fire Rune to cremate the dead to prevent its return as an undead monster.

Devotees

• A Veskarthan initiate with a rating of 11W or more in their Fire Rune may dedicate himself completely to Veskarthan and become a devotee of the volcano god.
• Veskarthan's devotees are subject to the normal restrictions.

Common Veskarthan Feats
Devotees of Veskarthan may perform magic feats; recreations of his ancient deeds in the godstime.

The Sky Spear
When Veskarthan saw a chaos monster crawling in the earth, he plunged from the heavens as the Sky Spear, giving a mighty war cry as he did so. He drove the chaos thing deep into the earth, creating a great pit. In the depths of this pit, Veskarthan unleashed his powers of heat and destruction, and slew the horror. He then burst forth from the earth, trailing lava and ash, exultant in his victory.

Lesser Volcano Gods
As the Deep Lord, Veskarthan rules over a tribe of often rowdy and violent gods called the Lowfires. These gods are often his children by one goddess or another, and many are powerful beings in their own right such as: Gustbran Bonesmith, Dagalobran Oakfed, and Mahome Hearthmother.
The least of the Lowfires are the Urzani (HeroQuest: Glorantha, page 217), who animate fires and volcanic vents. They are often called upon by Veskarthan's worshippers as spirit allies, or to carry sacrifices to their father, the Great Devourer.

Sprites

Pelandan painting of a sprite

History
It is unknown exactly when sprites first appeared in Glorantha. Conventional wisdom claims they were creatures of the Green Age, like the vast majority of Aldryami. However, sprites are intricately connected with flowering plants, which were proven by the God Learners of Jrustela to first appear in the Golden Age.
Even their origin has been called into question, some of the myriad of stories include:

• In Dara Happa it is said that the god Arraz (sometimes called by the elven name Shanassee) created the first sprites in imitation of the winged Certami, to please the goddess Erenbaya mother of plants.
• In Ralios, sprites are said to be the flowers born by Flamal the great tree, which fell to the ground in mourning when he was destroyed by Zorak Zoran.
• The Orlanthi say that the sprites were created by the elves in imitation of Orlanth's Impests, the spirits which fly to vex those who have offended the King of the Gods. Like these petty gods, sprites are sent to plague those who have offended, and the Heortlings are known to call them Imps, after the messengers of Orlanth's wrath.

All of these myths, and others have enough evidence supporting them; but the Dara Happan legend has spread wide enough that it is accepted in many lands as the truth, even when Arraz is unknown to them.
What is known is that the sprites were present when Flamal fell at the hands of the trollish war god, and all died on the spot, or were sent into the underworld by his servants.
The sprites themselves, on those rare occasions when one has been interrogated, claim that they saw the thralls of Zorak Zoran, the burrowing rodents. These beasts chewed through the roots of the Great Tree, rendering him vulnerable to Death. They dove into the underworld to pursue the rodents, and have been fighting a war against them ever since, even after they reappeared on the surface at the dawn.


Appearance

God Learner Woodcut of a sprite bound by a dog spirit

It is very hard to get a decent look at a sprite, due to their caution and small size. Their appearance is further
clouded by the motes of some luminous substance, the infamous pixie-dust desired by alchemists and poisoners. Most who have seen them describe them simply as tiny humanoid figures with brightly patterned wings.
When examined closely, any idea of them being child-like or beautiful quickly falls away. Sprites, like other Aldryami, more closely resemble plants than humans. Their body is formed around a large central root acting much as the torso does with other creatures, while other more slender and flexible roots sprout off from it, acting as arms and legs, with no great distinction between one or another.
These limbs rarely display any form of symmetry, with odd numbers of finger-like rootlets sprouting from their limbs almost at random, which they use to grasp objects.
The "head" of the sprite sprouts above the central root, formed out of a flower-like organ, the result resembles the antenna of a timinit, with stamen-like organs providing sight, sound, and other senses to the sprite, all concealed by protective petals when not being used.
The wings of a sprite are formed from what, on a normal plant, would be leaves. The network of veins across them giving a superficial resemblance to those of butterflies or moths, as does the ever-present dust which coats them.
This radiant dust is shed in vast amounts by a sprite when confronted with humans and other non-Aldryami, and seems to be its pollen. Exactly why this is done has been debated amongst scholars. The two most dominant theories are as follows: Firstly, that it is done to ensure survival of the species, to lay the seed of the next generation even when the current generation of sprites is endangered. The other is that the pollen acts as a kind of language mankind is not privy to, and is much like how an animal roars to scare off a predator.


Habits
Sprites have the shortest lifespan of any Aldryami, living for just a single year at most. While the vast majority are born in Sea Season and die in Storm Season, there are some forms, kin to winter flowering plants, who are active in the Dark and Storm seasons.
Sprites spend most of their short life in a dormant state, buried just beneath the surface, with only their head and wings exposed. In this state, they resemble just another flower or weed, and on occasion an unwary traveller has camped in a field to rest, only to discover he is in a nest of sprites. The reason for their dormancy is unknown, with God Learner studies determining that your average sprite spends less than a season active.
When active, sprites spend much of their time guarding flowers in isolated groves, or spying on intruders into elven forests. They will often serve as spies for the larger elves, watching invading humans or trolls from high branches out of sight, or even from the spirit world.
When forced into violence, sprites will typically flee, for they are flimsy beings, and at great danger from enemies. They will take advantage of their ability to fly, and when enemies cannot reach them, will often pelt them with small stones or nuts. This poses little risk, but can distract enemies to allow elves or other Aldryami to flank them.
The one exception to a sprite's caution, is against rodents of all kind, which the sprites blame for the death of Flamal. They will attack rats, shrews, and even rubble runners with a fury unseen outside of berserkers. Occasionally a visitor to an elven wood may even find rodents impaled on thorns, like the victims of a butcher bird.


Magic
Sprites are beings that stand on the boundary between the inner world, and the spirit world, and are able to see and interact with spirits as if they were solid entities. Sprites may even become spirits themselves through concentration, abandoning their material form, and appearing to vanish into thin air.
In this state, sprites are vulnerable only to spirits and shamans, but likewise cannot attack those in the inner, material world.
Sprites are loath to remain as spirits for long, suggesting that it is uncomfortable, or even painful to them.
Other than this, sprites have no other innate magic. However, like other Aldryami all sprites are part of the Aldrya tradition, although none has ever become a great magician or shaman.

Kero Fin

Mythos and History
Kero Fin was born in the Green Age, when Larnste the Soul Arranger rested with Gata the Earth Mother. Even if other mountains had deeper roots, or grew to greater heights, Kero Fin was Larnste's favourite child, for when he looked at her he remembered the one time he had paused in his labours, and was pleased.
In the Golden Age, Kero Fin stood alone, in a great wide land, for when he rested, Larnste had not planted any other mountains to accompany her. Still, she was not lonely, for she had many suitors, from across the world. Many gods met here, and became allies or enemies while they sought the hand of the mountain goddess. Many rivalries started in those days, such as those between Deer King and Fralar, father of Carnivores. But all respected Kero Fin's word, and none fought each other in her presence. Even the mighty dragons loved her, and their first and greatest nest was placed at her feet, giving the area around her the title of Dragon Pass.
When Umath Storm Father was born, he alone did not desire Kero Fin, for he loved another, but was kept from her. At this, Kero Fin was surprised, and spoke to him of this. He described his longing for Asrelia Earth Mother, and when Kero Fin heard it, she knew of this longing as well. She loved Umath Storm Father, and although he could not love her back, they spent many enjoyable ages together.
When Umath left to confront the Evil Emperor, Kero Fin was with child; and when Umath was dismembered by Jagrekriand, the child was born as Orlanth. Kero Fin loved the greatest of her children, and gave him the winds of his father and the changing of Larnste as his birthright. Having nothing to offer him herself, she instead gave him Dragon Pass, or Kerofinela as it would become known, as his to rule. And so Orlanth became Orlanth Storm King.
Kero Fin prospered throughout the Storm Age, when Orlanth made her the Law Rock of his camp, and built his great fort to surround and enclose her. She shared her land with many other goddesses, with her sons and daughters and their lovers, she was accompanied by many, and loved by all.
Then came the Great Darkness, when her children and lovers dwindled and perished. Kero Fin herself, stood strong and remained, even as the land froze, she survived. She covered herself in a robe of snow and ice, and stood there, in the darkness, with Elmal bringing light from her peak, until Orlanth returned with the Sun.
After the Dawn, the worship of Kero Fin was always greatest amongst the Koroltes tribe of Heortlings, where it was often said that there was a shrine to her on every hill and rise in their lands. Although many other goddesses were welcomed into their lands, she was still the foremost goddess in Koroltesland for much of the First and Second Ages.
The Dragonkill ended this, for too many of her cult were slaughtered when they would not flee, and outside of Dragon Pass, it was too difficult to reach her, resulting in a waning of influence and power. Only the Beastmen and Trolls of the Indigo Mountains were still able to reach her during this time, and the goddess slumbered much of the time.
When the resettlement of Kero Fin began, old shrines were once again opened, and the Orlanthi were once again able to reach Orlanth's mother for pilgrimages. Only in Tarsh did the cult thrive, and even then it was never in the numbers she once had.

Nature of the Cult
Kero Fin is the greatest mountain in Genertela, who rises from the surface of the world to reach the Middle Air above. She is the mother of mountains, and of all the living things that inhabit the lands around her.
She is also the power of rule, for all living beings must obey their mothers, and so any who gains her blessing may rule all others in her name.

Depiction
For most people, Kero Fin needs no depiction, other than the great mountain of Wintertop. Here she is embodied, rising from the bosom of the earth, and touching the Middle Air where her son, Orlanth, dwells.
When called upon for rituals, or other purposes, her representations tend to be simple, showing a motherly woman, swathed in white robes, and always holding a child.


Runes
Kero Fin is connected with the Runes of Earth and Mastery.

Earth Rune Affinity
As the goddess of mountains, Kero Fin is deeply associated with the Earth Rune. Her initiates have used her Earth Rune to cause avalanches, climb hills and mountains, endure mountain weather, summon and command lesser mountain goddesses and gods, and find safety in the mountains. As the great mountain Wintertop, she was also mother to many gods and goddesses, including Orlanth, allowing her worshippers to use the Earth Rune to perform great powers of motherhood, such as comforting children, easing births, and convincing their children with quiet words.
Initiates strong in the Earth Rune are maternal and patient.

Mastery Rune Affinity
Kero Fin's association with the Mastery Rune comes from her power of sovereignty over Dragon Pass. This gives her different powers over all who live there, spirit or man, although they do not function when out of sight of her sacred mountain. Some of the effects initiates of Kero Fin have used her Mastery Rune for include: Calling shadowcats, commanding people from Dragon Pass, crown tribal kings, create a covenant between inhabitants of Dragon Pass, and bless marriages.
Initiates strong in the Mastery Rune are dignified, just, and authoritative.

Particular Likes and Dislikes
Kero Fin is friendly with most other deities, for she ultimately does not care for the feuds and rivalries of other deities. She bears a special love for her children Yinkin and Orlanth, and for her lovers who survived the darkness, such as Veskarthan, but she welcomes and accepts any who come to Kerofinela as friends. The exception to this is the forces of Chaos, which Kero Fin despises, as do all right thinking-creatures.

Cult Organization
Kero Fin's singular temple and holy place is her material body, the mountain that bears her name (but is also known as Wintertop). Her cult is strongest there, but in each of the peoples in the surrounding lands of Kerofinela worship her in their own way.
The Sartarites of Dragon Pass no longer give Kero Fin the preeminance she once had, but even to this day, they respect her greatly. Shrines still occasionally can be found in tribal lands, and every prayer to Orlanth invokes her power.
Among the Tarsh Exiles, Kero Fin has become a uniting goddess, although the cult has existed since the time of Arim the Pauper. The exile tribes view her as a great protecting goddess, who guards them against the Lunar usurpers, just as a mother hides her children beneath her apron.
The Grazelanders know the great mountain Kero Fin as the incarnation of the goddess Orest, Mother of Mountains, and of the Lady of the Wild and La-Ungariant. They worship Kero Fin under that name, and know that although she is the mother of all that is good, she is also the goddess of those places horses may not go. Thus her initiates are both rare, and respected for their mastery of secrets other Grazelanders do not know. It is said that the Feathered Horse Queen worships Orest, and this is the source of her power of rule.
The half-men of Beast Valley have now been forced almost to the reaches of Kero Fin's influence. Where once they had free roam during the Inhuman Occupation, now they see her only distantly. They still revere her as the Mother in Law of Ironhoof their king, and know that as the mother of the Lady of the Wild, they owe her much.
The trolls of the Indigo Mountains pay great honour to Kero Fin, even though the trolls of nearby Dagori Inkarth view her with suspicion for birthing their great foe, Orlanth. In the Indigo Mountains, she is known to be the husband of Himile, the trollish god of cold and ice, who cloaked her with his wintry cloak, and she in return birthed Inora the goddess of the mountain tops. The troll hags who are her priestesses are the only ones who can climb up to the snowy reaches of the Indigo Mountains, and bring back gifts from the ice demons and snow nymphs who reside at their peaks, and are often rivals with the priestess of Korasting over who bears the greater children.
The Dragonewts are known to acknowledge the mountain goddess, and crown whoever is chosen to be King of Dragon Pass, but if they worship her, and what how she appears in their stories is unknown.

Priestesses
Kero Fin has only a handful of priestesses, who are ritually garbed in white, and dwell apart from others, on the highest point of a tribe's lands.

Holy Days
Although Kero Fin is worshipped as part of all Orlanthi worship ceremonies, her cult perform special ceremonies, on two days of the year. The first is Birth Day, the first day of the year (on Freezeday of Disorder Week in Sea Season), this is also an equinox, when both day and night are of equal length. Here ceremonies celebrate the birth of each of her children, even among those who would normally be enemies or rivals (such as Inora and Orlanth). Priestesses of Kero Fin walk among the people on this day, giving gifts and blessings to all who are the children of the mountain goddess.
King Day (on Winds Day of Stasis Week in Fire Season) is Kero Fin's high holy day, when people come to seek her blessing of rule. the greatest ceremonies are performed at Wintertop, and many come to offer the goddess gifts. In Sartar, this day has almost been completely replaced with Founder's Day, when Sartar became King of Dragon Pass. The priestesses of Kero Fin have accepted this with grace, but have never been seen amongst the festivities.

Sacrifices
Kero Fin accepts any domestic animal, although shadowcats are the most common. Such is the power of Kero Fin, that the sacrifice actually volunteers for the task, and dies instantly and without bloodshed, knowing it shall soon be in the bosom of the goddess.

Initiates

• Initiates of Kero Fin must have either the Earth Rune, or Mastery Rune at 1W or higher.
• Men usually initiate to her Mastery Rune aspect, worshipping her as the granter of sovereignty, and mother of Kings.
• Women instead usually initiate to her Earth Rune aspect, worshipping her as the great mountain, and Mother of kings.

Subcults
Kero Fin has had many daughters and husbands, as well as secret names and titles known only to a few. These other deities are often worshipped as subcults of Kero Fin.

The Desired One
The Desired One is the name of a shared aspect of Kero Fin and Ernalda, the ruling power of the Earth. She is the power of sovereignty, who chooses who rules the land of Dragon Pass. Ambition is what she craves, and she chooses only the greatest to be her lover, and wear her necklace. This subcult is the rarest of all, with barely a handful of members at any time, and only one being publicly acknowledged, usually the Feathered Horse Queen of the Grazelanders. This subcult provides the Sovereignty Feat.

Ganval
Ganval was the most beloved of Kero Fin, and the first to be granted her necklace of sovereignty. He won friendship with everyone in Dragon Pass with his good humour, and has many oaths of friendship and obedience with the elemental gods and spirits of the land. The only god who did not treat him with kindness was Hrognar, son of Telmor the Wolf God. Hrognar and his spawn slew and devoured Ganval's children, and Ganval now counts all wolves as his enemies. Members of this subcult must swear an oath to never befriend wolves, wolf runners, or wolf spirits. In exchange they may use their Mastery Rune to summon and command elemental spirits.

The Lady of the Wild
Known as Velhara to the Orlanthi, and Tara to the Grazelanders, the Lady of the Wild is the mother of the wilderness which surrounds Kero Fin, her mother. She is a fearsome goddess, clad with a necklace of her unworthy suitors' skulls, and armed with nature's fury itself. She is a favoured goddess of the half-men of Beast Valley, as she was the mother of their king, Herjeen; but she she receives sacrifice from all hunters in Kerofinela, to avoid her wrath. Her worshippers are able to use their Earth Rune to command natural animals.

Inora
Inora is the goddess of the mountain tops, daughter of Kero Fin and a god of cold and frost. Also known as the White Lady, she is worshipped even in far off Prax and Halikiv, where her mother is visible only as the most distant of figures. Inora cloaks herself in snow and ice, and her every step brings a flurry of cold to the lowlands. She is counted amongst the winter gods, who ride out every dark season to blanket the world in frost, and forces people to hide within their steads for protection. She is said to be the lover of Valind, god of the Glacier, although all agree neither is faithful to the other. Her few worshippers are able to use their Earth Runes to freeze the ground.

Sorana Tor
Sorana Tor is Human Sacrifice, the power to use the life and breath of a human to empower magic without strengthening Chaos. Often known by the name Ana Gor by other Orlanthi, Sorana Tor is hated and feared by most Orlanthi, except among rare cults such as Humakt and Ty Kora Tek. Kero Fin knows that sometimes horrific deeds must be done to safeguard the world, ans so allowed Sorana Tor to build her temple at Kero Fin's foot. Here she waits, despite the attempts of others to drive her away, and was found by Arim the Pauper, who took her as his bride. This subcult provides the Sacred King Feat to men, and her female worshippers can use their Mastery Runes to perform human sacrifice.

Devotees

• A Kero Fin initiate with a rating of 11W in either the Earth Rune or the Mastery Rune may dedicate themselves completely to Kero Fin and become a devotee of their goddess.
• Devotees of Kero Fin are subject to the usual restrictions.

Feats
Devotees of Kero Fin may perform magic feats, repetitions of their goddess' mythic deeds. Some feats are universal to the Kero Fin cult; others are associated with specific subcults.

The Great Dance
Kero Fin is the dancer at the centre of the land, who caused the great dragons to circle her in fascination and lust. While she dances, all draconic beings will stop their actions to watch her dance, and gaze at her in love and wonderment. When the dance stops, the dragon is freed from the enrapturement, and may react in dangerous ways, such as when Drathdaw the Stone Dragon sought to mate with Kero Fin.

Sacred King
Sorana Tor, although a terrifying goddess, is generous with her rewards. Those she accepts as her lovers and champions become great warriors and wise leaders. This greatness is touched with sorrow, for Sorana Tor will not relinquish that which she loves, and her chosen ones will never have children with any other than her. Worse yet, is the knowledge that a day will come when Sorana will claim their life, either in peacetime, such as when Arim or Illaro Blacktooth died in her arms, or on the field of battle.

Sovereignty
Kero Fin is the great power of sovereignty, the Law Rock, and the maker of kings. If someone is successful at wooing her, she can grant him her necklace, and hand in marriage, so that he might rule her lands of Kerofinela. None who live within her borders can gainsay the words of the person she has appointed as King of Dragon Pass, and all shall respect him as the one true king of the land.

Lesser Mountain Goddesses
Kero Fin is the great mountain goddess, and her daughters are the nymphs of mountains and hills, the Oreads (also known to the Grazelanders as Orestiads.)
In addition to her daughters, she also commands the loyalty of the Little Mountain Spirits, a group of Earth Elementals who appear as small bearded men formed of pebbles and stones. They are responsible for many rockfalls in the mountains of Kerofinela.