Myths about how early Orlanthi got their sheep?

[Akhôrahil]

Do we have any myths or stories about how Orlanth/early Orlanthi got their sheep? I believe I've read that either Heler brought them along from the Water Tribe, or they were captured in some raid against them.

Looking for inspiration for a heroquest for getting magical sheep. Just some sheep-stealing myth in general would be fine too.

Some sheep-related myths and heroquests, since I'm looking them up now anyway:

https://glorantha.fandom.com/wiki/Hagodereth_Heroquest

http://www.soltakss.com/orlram.html

https://wellofdaliath.chaosium.com/home/gloranthan-documents/glorantha-2/the-missionaries/

https://myth-o-logic.org/glorantha/gloranthan-fiction/the-sheep-of-luck-2/

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"One time Tol was attending the sacrifices of the Tolings, calling himself Voriof, and he looked downward, again prey to the Law of Love. He saw Urotha, Cloudewe. Voriof came in the shape a ram and seduced her. Their child were the Urothings, or Cloudsheep. Voriof came to her several times, and each time they lambed another child, and sometimes twins. When those lesser gods grew up some married each other, and some took husbands and wives from among the other tribes. They are the founders of the fifty Urothing lineages. They are the most numerous of all the families"
—Sartar Companion

[Akhôrahil]

By Jeff Richards, https://glorantha.steff.in/digests/WorldofGlorantha/2007/4567.html

(Oh, and if anyone could point me to the post that this is an addition to, that would be fantastic!)
 

Hagodereth
Hago was a storm god whose first action, according to his oldest worshippers (amongst the Talastarings and Anadikkings), was to court his wife, Hethana. She wished him to bring to her the golden fleece of Dereth, king of the storm sheep which thundered across the skies of their world. He did, and after that Hethana has been the Golden Ewe. Hago himself wore the skull and horns, and was called Hagodereth. Hagodereth taught the Talastarings three special abilities. He taught them to raise the wind, and to call the storm sheep to them. Finally, he taught them to walk upon the air when the storm sheep did so. Sacred Places: Mount Matu. However, the Hagodereth cult is found throughout Talastar as he is the ancestor god of about 1 in 6 clans.

Varnaval the Great Andam
The Young God of the Vikuranthings, Varnaval was a shepherd and the first king of men. He tamed the ordeeds and, after he hitched them to his chariot, raided the foreigners and forced them to pay tribute. Aided by Vorios the Iron Ram, he waged war upon the foreigners and conquered the world, until they murdered him with demons and sorcery.  He then explored the Underworld and aided the Lightbringers. Each year his worshipers celebrate his death and his rebirth in Sacred Time.

[...]

Vorios
Vorios is the Storm Ram, with five curled horns, brass thunder hooves, powerful iron horns, and a fleece of living lightning. In this form, he leapt from mountaintop to mountaintop across all Genertela. After each leap, he seduced a goddess and fathered sheep, clouds, or other creatures. He is the divine mount and companion of Viskuranth and carries him to the top of Mount Visku.
Sacred Places: Mount Vorios (also called Thunder Mountain).

Edited January 13, 2020 by Akhôrahil

[Akhôrahil]

A far more robust description of the Hagodereth Heroquest (Jeff Richards):

https://wellofdaliath.chaosium.com/home/catalogue/websites/moondesign-com/jeffs-old-blogs/bearded-storm-and-hagodereth-and-wyters-2/

[Sir_Godspeed]

There's also the story of the Descent from the Mountain in Book of Heortling Mythology: 

The Descent  from the Mountain
The Sons of Umath lived upon the Great Impenetrable Mountain that is now called The Spike. They lived high up on its slopes in great hidden valleys. Many other peoples lived there too, some more numerous than the Storm Tribe.   “Now is the time,” said Orlanth, “that we go.” He signaled, and Mastakos leapt up and ran away so fast that he disappeared from sight. All of the people urged their herds to action. Orlanth’s household marched and Vingkot led the bulls, Voriof the rams, Vederi the goats, and Varnaval the ordeeds. The alynx helped all of those chiefs. Ernalda’s household marched behind, with their herds. [...] During the march, the chiefs called their Wild Companions. Vingkot called the Great Bull, Voriof the Great Ram, Humakt the Great Wolf, Barntar the Great Pig, and Varnaval the Great Andam. [...]

 

Notice how through all of these stories, Voriof, ostensibly the god of unitiated male Orlanthi youth, is associated with fathering sheep, may be considered a ram (if we assume Vorios and Voriof are cognates), and may be an alternate name for Orlanth.
 

[Akhôrahil]

7 hours ago, Sir_Godspeed said:

Notice how through all of these stories, Voriof, ostensibly the god of unitiated male Orlanthi youth, is associated with fathering sheep, may be considered a ram (if we assume Vorios and Voriof are cognates), and may be an alternate name for Orlanth.

When we get back in time and down to more sheep-centric Orlanthi like the Talastari, Orlanth and Heler and Voriof start to flow together a bit. There's a powerful sheep-myth stratum down there, much of which has then been reduced with the loss of Varnaval and the lessening of Voriof as bulls become more important.

Edited January 15, 2020 by Akhôrahil

[Akhôrahil]

As quoted by Jajagappa:

Quote

In days of yore, the Turtle were hard-pressed by the Two-pine and the Badger clans. Then did the champion Erinvarik lead his companions on the Cloud Castle Quest. They walked the Rainbow Bridge and entered through the Lightning Gate. Orolmarn refused them, but Erinvarik challenged him to a set of contests, even as the Lord of Beasts had done. Orolmarn could not refuse. It was there that Erinvarik won the Cloud Sheep for the clan and the Ivory Horn of Orolmarn that could Summon the Thunder Brothers. The clan was pleased with the gifts, though they mourned the loss of Erinvarik."

 

Edited January 15, 2020 by Akhôrahil

[Zo Fo Draziw]

On 1/13/2020 at 4:18 PM, Akhôrahil said:

By Jeff Richards, https://glorantha.steff.in/digests/WorldofGlorantha/2007/4567.html

(Oh, and if anyone could point me to the post that this is an addition to, that would be fantastic!)

I think this is an addition to his more general Talastar notes. Click the "by thread" list and search for Talastar (and Jeff)

[Minion1stClass]

I always heard it was Tinder.

[soltakss]

Orlanth was feeling tired but couldn't get to sleep. He tried fighting all his thanes to tire himself out, but that didn't work. He blew himself across to all the mountains and back, but that didn't work. He dallied with all of his concubines, but that didn't work. Eventually, Eurmal suggested that he count the clouds in the sky, as counting above 5 always tired himself out, well maybe to 10, or 11. Orlanth counted and counted, but this didn't help, but Heler parted the clouds and revealed the sheep within. Orlanth counted the sheep instead and felt himself becoming drowsy, but the drowsier he felt the closer the sheep came, until they crowded around him. Orlanth put his head on the sheep as a pillow and gathered them around him as a blanket, sleeping soundly in their embrace. When he woke up, he found Voriof clutched in his arms and gave him the task of counting sheep.