jajagappa

I think it is what Jeff noted: Belintar and the Red Emperor both represent an Axis Mundi in the world, and that's an untenable position that both are aware of. Belintar cannot leave the Holy Country though (he never travels beyond that we are aware of), so has to engage by proxy.

Not particularly. SKoH p.163: Lhankor Mhy initiates with the Law Rune can use the Machine to read sorcerous grimoires and those who are not corrupted by them can learn magic just like that used by sorcerers. The Alien Combination Machine consists of several discs inscribed with runes and symbols. The discs can be rotated in order to decipher a sorcerous grimoire and purge it of its corruption, thereby restoring it as a fragment of the Eternal Book.

If you think about it, during the time of Belintar, there are effectively 3 God-kings in Genertela: Belintar, the Red Emperor, and Godunya (the latter obviously draconic, but worshipped by his people). The expedition to Kralorela must have touched upon this causing Godunya to react. Similarly, the Red Emperor's incursion into Dragon Pass caused Belintar to react as he could, but within the constraints of not leaving the Holy Country himself.

In one of my games, the PC's escaped the Otherworld by finding the Ivory Tower amidst the Fog of Ignorance. They stopped a Lunar assault upon the tower, gained admittance to the Tower, and then found that the passageways amid the stacks of scrolls eventually led them back into one of the mundane world temples.

That is likely the best way to look at them. Within the great Temple of Knowledge complex, they generally have their own buildings, libraries, etc. (but still all within the great ancient walls that form the rune of Truth within Nochet). These groupings likely represent particular "attitudes" within many of the schools. I suspect the Charterists are also Ivalists as they do not encourage or incorporate the study of sorcery. They are named for the Charter of Nochet, and are the experts on the records of the city. Notes indicate that they claim to be the oldest and original temple. They have the largest scriptorium and maintain most of the records of the palace going back to the First Age. Every important House in Nochet wants a husband or son-in-law who has studied with the Charterists. They are the white-robed scribes you see everywhere, but they record everything - all the important marriages, business and trade contracts, tribute paid to temples, etc. And copies of all of those documents are kept in their library. I picture great ancient storerooms in the basements housing the ancient clay tablets that were originally used. Sometimes the scribes practice tablets get mixed up among them. The Grey Lords are the specialists in the Elder Races and on Dragon Pass. Those are usually the ones found in Jonstown or Pavis. The group who do not have any school or building in Nochet are, of course, the Brown Men - the scholars of Irrippi Ontor. They have had a periodic presence though, and likely there are still some in the city. Specialities of knowledge is at the forefront. The Black Philosophers specialize in Underworld lore, but also have a strong sorcerous tradition. The Blue Philosophers were originally emigrants from Slontos - basically heirs of the Middle Sea Empire and its knowledge. They also know sorcery and have a lot of knowledge about other lands. Alchemists are prominent among both of those two groups, too, and maintain strict control over the Perfumed Houses. The Purple Sages were founded by Belintar. They are the heirs of the Final Information Library from the City of Wonders - if works were brought out before or during the sack of the city by Harrek, these are the folk who did that. Undoubtedly they are among those searching for Belintar's remains, trying to reconstruct what happened, and getting killed off by Lunar assassins and demons. I believe that the Grey Lords and Blue Philosophers are favored by merchant families due to their knowledge of other lands (the latter particularly by the sea captains). The Black Philosophers are clearly skilled in understanding and dealing with the trolls of the Shadow Plateau. The Charterists are likely the most skilled in Lawspeaking.

I feel there's enough with that bit to run with, too, and lines up sufficiently with how I've run heroquests in HQG that I'm happy to use it.

I suspect her worship fell before that when the Bright Empire of Nysalor destroyed the last of the Vingkotling lines. But, yes, she would have been reawakened at the Dawn by the surviving Orgorvaltes tribe, and in that sense overlaps with Tarndisi. As a civilizing goddess (i.e. an Earth goddess of humans) vs. Tarndisi's wildlands (probably more extensive in the Dawn Age), I'm not sure what the relationship would have been. Perhaps tolerating each other as long as the Orgorvaltes did not desecrate the wilderness? Seems reasonable.

That period of Glorantha content went off in a lot of odd directions, so I'd take it with a big grain of salt as to whether it was to mean anything at all, or was just something thrown in to ooh and ahh at. The core story is that the Boat Planet flows along the Sky River, and the Sky River invasion was opposed by the Sky, therefore so will the Boat Planet's return (even if it is a 'heavenly body'). You can also look at it as Yelm (or the Young God) was the one who stabilized the Perfect Sky after the Sky River's invasion, thus guiding the Celestial River into its proper path. (Think of it as achieving a balance between Sun and Rain to support life below.)

In the Guide p.649, it is noted as the Youth. Youth: This star (which is sometimes part of a constellation of the same name) is the residence of the Spirit of Youth, or perhaps is his body. It is brightest in Sea Season, then fades throughout the year to the point of being invisible for much of the winter season. Dara Happans also say this star is Yelm’s Throne, the place where his annual journey through the sky both starts and ends. GRoY p.49 notes: Youth or Throne. This is the Young God who stabilized the heavens and accomplished many other deeds, and then set his chair in this place where he rests. He gets up once a year to cross the Sky and view his domain. However, the figure most commonly identified as the Young God is Yelm. See WF11 p.24. Yelm's life is usually divided into five separate phases. They are: 1) The Young God, who lived during the Golden Age of innocence;... and p.25: Young Yelm lived during the Golden Age. Some people claim that he was the harbinger of that age, for he is radiant and bright and lit wherever he goes. Some times Harbringer is a title or synonym for Yelm. The Young God is also hailed as the Provider, too . The agricultural communities hail him as the Wheat Bringer. Many old elf songs call him the Flower Bringer suggesting that the Green Age was of non-flowering plants before Yelm came along. The nomads call him Hunter at this stage, and say that this is the age he practised harmlessly with weapons. The Rising of Lightfore at the beginning of Seaseason aligns with the Youth, and his subsequent progression in the Sky tells the story of the Young God (aka Young Yelm).

See the brief note in this older thread, but there are six divisions: Charterists (who wear white), Grey Sages, Green Sages, Purple Sages, Black Philosophers, Blue Philosophers.

Probably the best summary I've seen on setting up on-going clan/neighborhood dynamics! Would make a nice little appendix for the Citizens book.

A good example is the Nochet Temple of Knowledge which actually has SIX distinct, competing "schools" within its confines and they very jealously guard their secret wisdom and knowledge from each other. It takes the Chief Librarian sometimes to enforce access to one group's specific library.

I'm not sure that would be so. Orgorvale is one of the daughters of Vingkot, so puts her in the Vingkotling/Early Storm Age. Tarndisi is most likely from the post-Great Darkness/Silver Age (a "Dawn" Redwood spirit if you will). However, even if not contemporary, perhaps Orgorvale planted or set aside the seed that would become Tarndisi? Seems reasonable. We know from Heortling Myth p.89-91 that Orgorvale was the youngest of the four children between Vingkot and the Summer Wife. She married Ulanin the Rider, who clearly came from a different tribe (one of horse riders - and there are associations, I believe, between the Dundealos tribe and Ulanin/horse riders). We also know the Summer Tribes had "many troubles with the dark men", if that's of use in the story (e.g. if Kallyr is challenged by Darkness in the Underworld). And we know that the Orgorvaltes tribe was dominant in the region around Boldhome and the Quivin Mountains: "Amongst the Quivini and the Hendriki, there are many stories of Ulanin the Rider and the Orgorvaltes tribe. They were great horseman and had many friends and allies." To my knowledge almost no tales or stories are actually described, so a lot of opportunity to define what these old myths are that Orgorvale remembers and responds to.

And the Eleven Lights p.111. Generally the place was original an Earth "city" whose inhabits strove to reach the Heavens, but were cast down and destroyed in their arrogance. The ridge line was burned and the Cinders Pits left as a bubbling, noxious set of mud pits amidst the wreckage of the Star Tower. (Picture Yellowstone or Lassen Volcano in the US or Geysir in Iceland perhaps.) How deep the Star demons burned is unknown. However, there may well be blocked off Earth caverns that lead much, much deeper, perhaps to Asrelia's realm or even the Caves of Silence. And maybe there's an army of star demons who pursued those paths to ensure the Earth would never rise again there. Quite open to interpretation if you want to make it a gateway to the Underworld. But you don't have to go much farther to get to the Underworld. Indrodar's Necklace in the Good Sword clan lands is just across the Starfire Ridges. And that is a Humakti site to enter the Underworld (noted in SKoH p.335).

I think she predates the Dawn.

I've varied this in my HQG game based on length of the quest and what abilities they invoked/really succeeded on, and would do similar in RQG heroquests. But most likely I'd give them a choice of one power between a couple options (much as what Jeff did) as I think that keeps it from ramping up too much power too quickly and makes the players think about what was most important to their characters. Kulbrast had the greatest choice (pick from any Trickster rune spell), and I liked that he chose Group Laughter.

I did not think that was the case, though possible I misheard. My thought was that each of the characters only ended up choosing one spell even though they could have chosen a couple. But again, might have missed something.

Have them go searching in a temple of knowledge (or pay the sages to look). With a success they find documents pertaining to the ancient cult of Vrimak. These describe sacrifices, meditations, and Ritual Practices. All of these can contribute to a successful worship (including knowing the right day/season for such worship). Sacrifices and Ritual Practices take time, but add bonuses. Meditation can augment the Worship roll. These should allow at least some successful worship, if Vrimak finds them worthy (should be some possibility that Vrimak considers them hostile, particularly if they have the wrong Runes, and sends an eagle to attack them). Edit: well temple of knowledge probably doesn't work if they are on an island. But perhaps the island has an ancient ruin and long-lost tablets?

Of course, Spirit Cults are another option. There are many lonely spirits who would enthusiastically welcome an initiate. (Firshala in Griffin Mountain as one example.) You might encounter one in a cave, a hidden glen, upon a lonely moor (or the Starfire Ridges), in a stream, etc. The Spirit teaches the potential initiate what is needed to worship them and to gain their limited magic.

Prodigy of Belintar and Valira Delainaeo. This is noted in the Guide p.142: "These included the Esrolian noblewomen Valira, appointed by Belintar and bearing his special knowledge" and "Dormal himself may have been critical to this success. He was the child of Valira and an unnamed father (who was proven to be Belintar in one of his earlier bodies)." Also noted in the Glorantha Sourcebook p.28 regarding the Queens of Esrolia: "Valinyr (1564–1585). Born 1540 to House Delainaeo (great-granddaughter of Bruvala and niece of Brengala). Called the Sage. Overshadowed in history by her cousin Valira (the lover of Belintar and mother of Dormal), Valinyr was a shrewd ruler and a generous patron of many temples (particularly the Temple of Knowledge). Retired to become Reverend Grandmother." By the way, it is quite possible (or at least my theory) that the old woman who became Belintar in 1614 and is subsequently slain by Jar-eel was Valira.

One option is to be anointed/blessed by a deity while on a quest. This approach just happened in my HQG game where one of the PC's followed a dark trail in pursuit of a dark demon and wound up climbing up the stairs to the Tower of Night where the Empress of the Night (i.e. Xentha) sometimes rests during her journey through the night sky. The PC successfully passed the Gate of Fear and Hunger, then entered the Tower itself. He was led into the Great Hall of the Empress, and was so awed by her that he swore devotion upon the spot. If he vowed to aid her and bring worship to her upon the mortal world, she would bless him with her kiss. Thus he was initiated into the cult of Xentha, but now has obligations to create a shrine and convince at least some of the Orlmarthi to worship her.

Rick noted that it is a 64 page intro. My sense is that would be beyond what they'd want to do for a Free RPG day. Plus I think they'd be more likely to provide a playable scenario than background material.

I used to think that the rooster would make sense for Shargash (sent out first by Yelm before the Dawn), but I think it would fit for Lodril too.

The OOO never managed to find out. Do we need to? We know what he did and accomplished. We know he's now passed on and is not returning in the Hero Wars. I think we just need to accept that his origin will remain one of the Mysteries of Glorantha.

Got some nice real estate for you then - island views, plenty of water at the junction of several rivers, good Duck hunting and all. Current owner's an old chap named Delecti. Been expanding the habitable area of late. Very open to inquiries.