Jeff Posted October 24, 2015 Share Posted October 24, 2015 From time to time, I plan to post a little information about a Gloranthan deity here on BRP Glorantha. I'm going to start with a demigod, Jonat Big Bear. Jonat(JO-nat) Malkioni and Orlanthi pantheons – demigod founder of JonatelaJonat Big Bear is the demigod son of Redel the Bear God and was born among the Rathori barbarians in the late Second Age. His adventures brought him to Seshnela around 1050 and he returned to Fronela with troll and wizard allies. He enslaved the Yellow Bear and unified the petty kingdoms and tribes of Syanor, often by force, and founded the kingdom that now bears his name. He retired into his underground tomb at the end of the Second Age and it is prophesized that one day he will return from his tomb to punish the enemies of his people.Jonat is worshiped as the founder of Jonatela and as a war god. The rulers of Jonatela trace their descent to him and serve as his priests.Jonat is depicted as a bipedal bear wearing a crown and carrying a sword. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joerg Posted October 24, 2015 Share Posted October 24, 2015 As usual, such name dropping creates lots of questions leading on.Redel the Bear God sounds like a civilized version of Rathor, possibly the form venerated or propritiated by the sedentary folk of the Janube valley and Syanor.Was Jonat subject to the need for hibernation? (And if so, how did he overcome that?)Jonatela grew to be a direct neighbor of Carmania when the Carmanian lion shahs were succeeded or rather overthrown by the bull shahs. What sort of conflicts have there been over Charg before the Ban?Is the yellow bear in any way similar to the blonde spirit bears of the Pacific coastal forests of the USA and Canada? A sun bear (deity)?https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kermode_bearEnslaving bear gods appears to be a trend in Third Age Glorantha - Jonat's Yellow Bear, Teelo Estara's Sky Bear and Harrek's White Bear. 1 Quote Telling how it is excessive verbis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EMH Posted October 24, 2015 Share Posted October 24, 2015 He retired into his underground tomb at the end of the Second Age and it is prophesized that one day he will return from his tomb to punish the enemies of his people."Lord Jonat, hear our prayer! Our enemies are laying waste to our lands! Come forth with Crown and Sword and defend your Folk!'(muffled voice from inside tomb) "Grrr... mmmph... I'll be up soon... just five more years...""We have honey..."(Tomb door flies open) "I'M UP!"Works every time. 5 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noita Posted October 25, 2015 Share Posted October 25, 2015 (edited) "Lord Jonat, hear our prayer! Our enemies are laying waste to our lands! Come forth with Crown and Sword and defend your Folk!'(muffled voice from inside tomb) "Grrr... mmmph... I'll be up soon... just five more years...""We have honey..."(Tomb door flies open) "I'M UP!"Works every time.Nearby swarms of bees, angered by the recent Honey heroquest close in on the heroes.... Edited October 25, 2015 by Iskallor 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pentallion Posted October 25, 2015 Share Posted October 25, 2015 I hear the heroquest works best if you bring along a donkey and a piglet. 5 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jajagappa Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 I hear the heroquest works best if you bring along a donkey and a piglet.Don't forget the Little Black Raincloud Feat. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noita Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 I love Glorantha...:) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EMH Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 I think we've got ourselves a heroquest... If we can just beseech Mralot to let one of her children accompany us on the Honey Quest, we might be able to pull this off! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noita Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 It certainly needs a write up. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jajagappa Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 I think we've got ourselves a heroquest... If we can just beseech Mralot to let one of her children accompany us on the Honey Quest, we might be able to pull this off!There's obviously two pre-quests or early stations to this quest:1) You need to get the runt of Mralot's litter 2) You need to find the donkey a tail 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
triciab79 Posted July 4, 2022 Share Posted July 4, 2022 (edited) What kind of bear is Jonat? I need to do an illustration and I’m struggling to find what sort of bear he is. Also, would he wear armor or just naked bear with a crown and a sword? Edited July 5, 2022 by triciab79 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallowglass Posted July 8, 2022 Share Posted July 8, 2022 On 7/4/2022 at 2:35 AM, triciab79 said: What kind of bear is Jonat? I need to do an illustration and I’m struggling to find what sort of bear he is. Also, would he wear armor or just naked bear with a crown and a sword? He was most likely from the Irgari, or Brown Bear Rathori. But he was also descended from Redel, and I'm not sure what kind of specific bear he represents, if any. There's a lot of bear gods in Glorantha! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darius West Posted July 8, 2022 Share Posted July 8, 2022 (edited) I feel the need rising to joke about the Right to Arm Bears. Edited July 8, 2022 by Darius West 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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