Sun Dome Temples

[metcalph]

2 hours ago, Tindalos said:

Tharkantus: Th seems to mean spirit or being, as seen in Yuth (Imperial Spirit, or god), the various -gatha names (probably gat-th-a, or spirit home/avatar), and the four Overseers. Specifically the four Overseers include it within the syllable "Arth", meaning overseer (or tutelary deity), which is found reversed here. Th-ar likely has the same or a similar meaning, regarding his role as a guardian of the Sun Domes. I am unsure over the meaning of Kan, although it is also the same as Ken in several other names, as well as Kan.

It's translated as the Empty Saving Hearth according to History of the Heortling Peoples p108

[Ali the Helering]

 Tindalos wrote:

Tharkantus: Th seems to mean spirit or being, as seen in Yuth (Imperial Spirit, or god), the various -gatha names (probably gat-th-a, or spirit home/avatar), and the four Overseers. Specifically the four Overseers include it within the syllable "Arth", meaning overseer (or tutelary deity), which is found reversed here. Th-ar likely has the same or a similar meaning, regarding his role as a guardian of the Sun Domes. I am unsure over the meaning of Kan, although it is also the same as Ken in several other names, as well as Kan.

Metcalph replied:  It's translated as the Empty Saving Hearth according to History of the Heortling Peoples p108

(For some reason my 'quote' function isn't working)

 

Indeed it is, but that is a Theyalan explanation of a word in another language, and history and literature show us just how inaccurate they can be.                                                        For example, the Biblical use of the by no means unique story of a hero pulled from a rush boat on a river to justify the Hebrew understanding of Moses as 'pulled out', rather than the standard Mizratic (Ancient Egyptian) meaning 'Son of'. 

[metcalph]

19 minutes ago, Ali the Helering said:

Indeed it is, but that is a Theyalan explanation of a word in another language, and history and literature show us just how inaccurate they can be.              

Not "that is" but "that could be".  Since Monrogh required knowledge of Firespeech, I find the chances of a mistranslation remote.  Furthermore suggesting that something is mistranslated and so can be safely ignored seems to be to be a rather cheap way out.  If there is to be a gap between the translation and the actual meaning, it would be more productive to explain why.

 

19 minutes ago, Ali the Helering said:

For example, the Biblical use of the by no means unique story of a hero pulled from a rush boat on a river to justify the Hebrew understanding of Moses as 'pulled out', rather than the standard Mizratic (Ancient Egyptian) meaning 'Son of'. 

In the specific cases of Moses, the writers knoew Egyptian (next door) but they were keen on denying his Egyptian identity so as to put forward a spurious origin for his name (similar minded reformers destroyed Moses' bronze snakes for the same reason).

[Tindalos]

5 hours ago, metcalph said:

It's translated as the Empty Saving Hearth according to History of the Heortling Peoples p108

Looking again at Tharkantus, I don't see any linguistic similarity to Meldek (Emptied), apart from the k, which would be rather spurious. Together with it's -us ending, it's unlikely to be a Theyalan name.

Kantus as a suffix is found primarily within the lineage of Avivath (Latkantus, Vorlatkantus, Meslatkantus, and Merbeskentus), which could refer to a hearth. It is unknown in meaning (well, -us being a masculine suffix itself). If we assume this to be Empty, it would have linguistic similarity to Kar (not). Saving is likely a translation of Thar, as his role of guardian and protector. A hollow tutelary spirit who guards the hearth.

 

Also from that page we get Daysenerus meaning Pure/(Ultimate)All Light.

While the Dara Happan for all is likely derived from Glor, meaning collective, which we do not see here; Day in this instance could be a theophoric reference to Dayzatar's purity, or Day could mean pure as well as first (since the Dara Happans do associate purity with a singular existence). Senerus would presumably refer to light in some way.

[Ali the Helering]

1 hour ago, metcalph said:

Not "that is" but "that could be".  Since Monrogh required knowledge of Firespeech, I find the chances of a mistranslation remote.  Furthermore suggesting that something is mistranslated and so can be safely ignored seems to be to be a rather cheap way out.  If there is to be a gap between the translation and the actual meaning, it would be more productive to explain why.

 

In the specific cases of Moses, the writers knoew Egyptian (next door) but they were keen on denying his Egyptian identity so as to put forward a spurious origin for his name (similar minded reformers destroyed Moses' bronze snakes for the same reason).

I didn't suggest that it could be safely ignored, simply that it couldn't be relied on.  To me, that seems the cheap option.  The reason for the gap would probably be wilful ignorance on a vast level, promoted by the native Elmali to diminish the majesty of Yelmalio.

The purification of the Jerusalem Temple that destroyed Nehushtan (the bronze serpent) was performed as an act of monotheistic intolerance, not nationalism.  Jewish knowledge of Mizratic is by no means likely by the time that the Torah is being written, since it is not one of the diplomatic languages of the Ancient Near east by that stage.  A few merchants perhaps, but otherwise assuming such knowledge is a bit of a stretch.

[metcalph]

Just now, Ali the Helering said:

I didn't suggest that it could be safely ignored, simply that it couldn't be relied on.  To me, that seems the cheap option.  The reason for the gap would probably be wilful ignorance on a vast level, promoted by the native Elmali to diminish the majesty of Yelmalio.

Monrogh isn't an Elmali and knows Firespeech.  How is he going to mistranslate it?  I do feel that plain ignorance as a reason for mistranslation is just uninspired.  Why are the Elmali promoting such a mistranslation given that they barely know who Tharkantus is at all (he fought against the EWF and Monrogh's speaking at least five hundred years later).  What would your preferred translation be?  What type of magics do you think Tharkantus provides compared to Yelmalio or Daysenerus?  These are more productive avenues for speculation than just a simple naysaying of the source.

 

[Ali the Helering]

57 minutes ago, metcalph said:

Monrogh isn't an Elmali and knows Firespeech.  How is he going to mistranslate it?  I do feel that plain ignorance as a reason for mistranslation is just uninspired.  Why are the Elmali promoting such a mistranslation given that they barely know who Tharkantus is at all (he fought against the EWF and Monrogh's speaking at least five hundred years later).  What would your preferred translation be?  What type of magics do you think Tharkantus provides compared to Yelmalio or Daysenerus?  These are more productive avenues for speculation than just a simple naysaying of the source.

 

The source is actually quite specifically not Monrogh.  It is someone recording and commenting upon Monrogh's narrative, unless we are to accuse Monrogh of being a proto-Trump by referring to himself by name in the 3rd person!  Please note, I did not suggest plain ignorance, but wilful ignorance, a pernicious and common quality when it comes to differing cultures and religions.

If you want speculation, that it easy.  I prefer a RW anthropological approach, since that is my qualification and profession. 

Speculation - Monrogh doesn't even know who he is talking about, but is co-opting centuries old names and myths to justify a fresh revelation.  Again, hardly original.

Speculation - Dayserenus appeared as a Rinliddin cavalryman (not avilry, interestingly enough), so perhaps rather more avian magic, or at least less Yelmite-syncretic and more Vrimak related.

Speculation - Tharkantus is brought to Balazar.  For it to remain as a cult of the cities rather than simply of the nobility, it would have to fulfil a socially relevant role, which cannot be taken as a given in Balazaring society.  Yelmalio's magics are not spectacularly suited to the needs of these post-EWF survivalists.  Might one look for the anti-Draconic magics of Domanand?

Productive avenues?  Perhaps.  However, critiquing a source is not nay-saying, nor is speculation necessarily useful except to say that MGW therefore V to the extent that it would be unrecognisable.

[M Helsdon]

10 hours ago, metcalph said:

Actually this (and a further quote) is from History of the Heortling Peoples p108.  And before calling Monrogh a dubious source, it's kind of important to show that he actually is dubious.

That would be him claiming to have refounded the Sun Dome Temples, when he only refounded one.

 

12 hours ago, Tindalos said:

Daysenerus: Day likely means first (Dayzatar (First Child Overseer, referring to his birth order, and role overseeing the heavens), Dayen (Preceeder, one who goes first,) Dyan (One)). Sen may be a corruption of Shen (Foot), and Er is a masculine syllable of some kind (possibly man?) Dayserenus could be the First Foot Man or herald. Nysalor's Harbinger.

Interesting, but Nysalor preceded the revelation of Daysenerus, if not the worship of the deity. Based on GRoY, I'd relate it to the appearance of Lightfore preceding the first Dawn.

Regarding Yelmalio, I'd take the name as North Theyalan - with a mixture of North Pelorian and Theyalan components, as befits a name that probably first appeared in Saird, with its heavily syncretic culture.

[M Helsdon]

14 hours ago, metcalph said:

It doesn't show Yelm as a pile of dust, Plentonius writes that pile of dust on the wall is  a portion of Yelm and ascribes the apparent contradiction to Yelm's foresight.  That's a big difference.  If you look at the Entekosiad, you see a reference to the Ash Man whose description is a much better fit than what Plentonius says.  

True, in part, but I believe this highlights the problems of trying to analyse a pre-Time artifact in Time.

 

14 hours ago, metcalph said:

So while Plentonius' description of what the God Walls can and should be challenged, it does not follow that we cannot put the Gods Wall down to any specific period.  It shows an Emperor receiving worship from the Gods of Five Peoples (four of whom are shown wearing dress corresponding to Rinliddi, Zarkos, Darsen and Suvaria).  The Emperor is seated on a dais held up by a women crowned with a city.   That shows that cities were important in his empire.  Among the Gods is Oslira the River Goddess and the ten sons and workers who helped Lodril in taming the river.  That shows that the river had been tamed and was being used for agriculture.  All this and more places the Gods Wall as being constructed within the Late Golden Age.  

Perhaps, but the presence of what is obviously Kyger Litor, or as least a Mistress Race troll, undermines this as in the Golden Age the trolls should have been happily at peace in Wonderhome. Just as they were ignorant of the Sun, the Sun should have been ignorant of them. This suggests to me that the Gods Wall is in some way 'anachronistic' in that it doesn't just represent a 'status quo' but 'future' deities as well.

[M Helsdon]

14 hours ago, Joerg said:

Trollpak, too. Almost the next paragraph.

I was in a bit of a rush - the 'article' represents six months 'work' - in that I was constructing it in my free time, which is still limited. The version that was sourced has not yet been updated with new information or insights.

 

14 hours ago, Joerg said:

CoP: Cults of Prax? That source definitely said EWF, not Orlanthland.

Reference to: In the Second Age, the cult fought dwarves everywhere, and spearheaded armies invading the mountain regions (reliving the enmity between Yelm and Orlanth). At the end of the Second Age, when all the lowlands united against the Empire of the Wyrms Friends, Yelmalio again led the fight.

Yes, I know the reference to the EWF is now wrong, in part, but the spearheading armies were fighting the proto-EWF.

14 hours ago, Joerg said:

The influx of Dara Happans probably altered the demography of the Sun Dome lands. I doubt that all Sun Dome Temples followed Verenmars eagerly. But History is written by the heirs of the victors.

The cult is mercenary - if his gold was good...

[M Helsdon]

I can see that I have a bit of rework to do. Will hopefully publish an updated version over the weekend (the entire article hasn't appeared here).

[Joerg]

6 hours ago, M Helsdon said:

 

17 hours ago, metcalph said:

Actually this (and a further quote) is from History of the Heortling Peoples p108.  And before calling Monrogh a dubious source, it's kind of important to show that he actually is dubious.

That would be him claiming to have refounded the Sun Dome Temples, when he only refounded one.

Monrogh doesn't claim to have refounded existing temples, but to have awakened them - presumably with a new magical insight. Possibly some mystical revelation that hasn't been explored in detail, yet (although Belvani might offer it).

 

6 hours ago, M Helsdon said:

20 hours ago, Joerg said:

CoP: Cults of Prax? That source definitely said EWF, not Orlanthland.

Reference to: In the Second Age, the cult fought dwarves everywhere, and spearheaded armies invading the mountain regions (reliving the enmity between Yelm and Orlanth). At the end of the Second Age, when all the lowlands united against the Empire of the Wyrms Friends, Yelmalio again led the fight.

Yes, I know the reference to the EWF is now wrong, in part, but the spearheading armies were fighting the proto-EWF.

Yes - fighting the rebelling dragonfriends as the mercenaries or allies of the Traditionalist leadership of Orlanthland. You make it sound like the Yelmalians came to fight the Orlanthi with all of Saird (which consists mostly of Orlanthi, if not necessarily Heortlings).

 

6 hours ago, M Helsdon said:

21 hours ago, Joerg said:

The influx of Dara Happans probably altered the demography of the Sun Dome lands. I doubt that all Sun Dome Temples followed Verenmars eagerly. But History is written by the heirs of the victors.

The cult is mercenary - if his gold was good...

Yes. And I imagine that there were plenty of occasions where one Templar regiment would fight another one. I think that you have been depicting the cult as too monolithical and too political.

 

 

[M Helsdon]

27 minutes ago, Joerg said:

Monrogh doesn't claim to have refounded existing temples, but to have awakened them - presumably with a new magical insight. Possibly some mystical revelation that hasn't been explored in detail, yet (although Belvani might offer it).

Sadly, Making Gods in King of Sartar does not support your position. Monrogh claimed to have found Yelmalio but the temples in Saird, Prax and elsewhere don't seem to have forgotten Yelmalio.

Similarly Jonstown Compendium #7517 relates only to the cult in Sartar, not elsewhere, even though it claims the cult was exported to Tarsh.

I've yet to see any evidence of Monrogh awakening any temple except Vanntar or any especial magical insight.

27 minutes ago, Joerg said:

Yes - fighting the rebelling dragonfriends as the mercenaries or allies of the Traditionalist leadership of Orlanthland. You make it sound like the Yelmalians came to fight the Orlanthi with all of Saird (which consists mostly of Orlanthi, if not necessarily Heortlings).

Simply going by History of Dragon Pass in the Second Age. I suspect you are reading things into my account which aren't there: it's an account of the history of the Sun Dome Temples, not Orlanthland. I did start writing a text box of the history of Saird, but it became almost as large as the parent article.

27 minutes ago, Joerg said:

Yes. And I imagine that there were plenty of occasions where one Templar regiment would fight another one.

Doubtless, and that's noted already. However, I doubt that regiments from the same temple would fight each other, and possibly regiments from different temples would 'neutralise' each other rather than fight. This might be detailed in the contract of service.

 

27 minutes ago, Joerg said:

I think that you have been depicting the cult as too monolithical and too political.

There are limits to what a short article can present.

However, the Sun Dome Temples aren't 'monolithical' - note for example the very different governance and society of Sun County in Prax and Vanntar. As for political - I suspect you are reading things in that aren't there. I'd say the temples are pragmatic: they fight for coin to support their temples and communities, but will also defend their temples and communities, swapping allegiance when it becomes expedient to do so.

Edited June 23, 2016 by M Helsdon

[soltakss]

On 6/22/2016 at 11:58 PM, Patrick said:

I love such Gloranthan discussions!

Let me start with horses (puts Meldek high hat on).
"So, what is a horse?"

A horse is a creature of Fire, that was ripped of its wings, and turned into a four-legged animal rambling the surface of the Earth.
It was then tamed, or domesticated, and so that riders would be able to move faster and further.

"That is the myth - the childish stories these heathens tell at night in their pitiful huts.
But you know more now, my young apprentice.
Let me repeat my question: what is a horse?"

Allright, so Gloranthan horses are somehow related to various Runes.
And, unsurprisingly, the Deities that are linked to horses are also somewhat tied to these Runes.
Who did we mention? Let me think...

 

 

Don't forget that not all horses descend from Hippoi. 

The Galanini were horse hsunchen who trace their ancestry to Galanin, Father of Horses. Hippoi might have been involved as his wife, but I have not seen that anywhere. I seem to recall that very few of them are hsunchen, having taken on so many outside traditions that they have lost their hsunchen abilities.

Some Grazers say they are descended from the splitting of the Pain Centaurs into man and horse, so at least some of their horses derive from magically-split centaurs.

And Joerg has already mentioned these - Serves me right for going on holiday.

Edited June 25, 2016 by soltakss

[M Helsdon]

42 minutes ago, soltakss said:

 

Don't forget that not all horses descend from Hippoi. 

Polite suggestion: it may be worth initiating a new thread on horses, as anyone not looking at this thread will only find it if they use the search function.

[boztakang]

On June 23, 2016 at 6:29 AM, M Helsdon said:

Perhaps, but the presence of what is obviously Kyger Litor, or as least a Mistress Race troll, undermines this as in the Golden Age the trolls should have been happily at peace in Wonderhome. Just as they were ignorant of the Sun, the Sun should have been ignorant of them. This suggests to me that the Gods Wall is in some way 'anachronistic' in that it doesn't just represent a 'status quo' but 'future' deities as well.

Certainly all the sensible trolls were basking in the dark glory of Kyger Litor safe in Wonderhome, but even in the Golden Age certain Uz would explore or raid the surface world. Vaneekara, Zong, Gore and Gash, and probably Boztakang all visited the surface many times before the great exodus. After all, without ANY shadows, how could the true brilliance of Yelm be properly appreciated?

I'm not sure that "KL" on the god's wall should be construed as anachronistic...

[M Helsdon]

5 hours ago, boztakang said:

I'm not sure that "KL" on the god's wall should be construed as anachronistic...

I'm not certain that it represents what 'modern' Dara Happans believe it to represent. it seems to be an ancient pre-Time Solar Empire artifact, but there's a massive disconnect between that era and history in Time. This is why all the text associated with the Wall is in-Time speculation, and often contradictory speculation.

If the Gods War miniature is valid, then Kyger Litor looks nothing like the Mistress Race troll depicted on the Gods Wall.

[David Scott]

15 hours ago, M Helsdon said:

If the Gods War miniature is valid, then Kyger Litor looks nothing like the Mistress Race troll depicted on the Gods Wall.

Kiger Litor is a very powerful darkness being, I'd suggest that's what's on the Gods wall is what can be perceived of her by "Sun Peoples". Her true form is only "visible" in the darkness.

[M Helsdon]

6 hours ago, David Scott said:

Kiger Litor is a very powerful darkness being, I'd suggest that's what's on the Gods wall is what can be perceived of her by "Sun Peoples". Her true form is only "visible" in the darkness.

True, but I remain unconvinced of what exactly the Gods Wall shows, or who made it, or why. All we have is later supposition.

I'm reminded of one of the oldest mythology books I have, printed in 1843. The Roman and Greek myths are there, slightly distorted (after all the originals were available to any well schooled gentleman, who would naturally be able to read Greek and Latin), but Indian and Chinese, and other non-European mythologies are presented in an increasingly odd way with serious inaccuracies. Reading the book it is apparent that the author thought the Romans and Greeks were virtuous pagans, but pagans nonetheless, who failed to realise their myths and deities were a corruption of the one true faith... The rest are just foreign pagan devil worshippers.

 

[boztakang]

21 hours ago, M Helsdon said:

I'm not certain that it represents what 'modern' Dara Happans believe it to represent. it seems to be an ancient pre-Time Solar Empire artifact, but there's a massive disconnect between that era and history in Time. This is why all the text associated with the Wall is in-Time speculation, and often contradictory speculation.

In that sense, we agree totally. The whole "underworld" portion of the God's Wall is going to be quite speculative, and at the very best is going to depict a small and "shallow" view of the Underworld and it's denizens. I am reasonably confident that the figure on the God's Wall is based on "a_random_uzuz_006" but that doesn't necessarily make it not also a reasonable representation for Kyger Litor

21 hours ago, M Helsdon said:

If the Gods War miniature is valid, then Kyger Litor looks nothing like the Mistress Race troll depicted on the Gods Wall.

What Kyger Litor "looks like" will depend strongly on who is looking, and the context. Uz will always see her as an unbearably powerful and attractive uzuz with an uncanny resemblance to their own Mother. Which in no way makes her representation in God's War invalid. Obviously, given that she pre-dates the Man Rune, she cannot always have been even as humanoid as she is depicted in the game. In her earliest incarnation, she may have been little more than an amorphous sense of immeasurable, selfish Hunger.

[M Helsdon]

1 hour ago, boztakang said:

In that sense, we agree totally. The whole "underworld" portion of the God's Wall is going to be quite speculative, and at the very best is going to depict a small and "shallow" view of the Underworld and it's denizens. I am reasonably confident that the figure on the God's Wall is based on "a_random_uzuz_006" but that doesn't necessarily make it not also a reasonable representation for Kyger Litor

What Kyger Litor "looks like" will depend strongly on who is looking, and the context. Uz will always see her as an unbearably powerful and attractive uzuz with an uncanny resemblance to their own Mother. Which in no way makes her representation in God's War invalid. Obviously, given that she pre-dates the Man Rune, she cannot always have been even as humanoid as she is depicted in the game. In her earliest incarnation, she may have been little more than an amorphous sense of immeasurable, selfish Hunger.

And therein you've combined the problems of the Gods Wall - it's an in-Glorantha 'document' so its meaning and context depend upon what the viewer projects onto it, not what it was intended to mean by whoever or whatever constructed it.

Edited June 30, 2016 by M Helsdon

[M Helsdon]

Quite a delay in returning to this I'm sorry to say - caused by family medical emergencies.

Will post an 'updated' version shortly. I've made use of the comments here and material provided by Harald Smith. There will, of course, be errors, omissions and bias.

This is an appendix to something I've been playing with for the past six months in my spare time - RuneWars: Warfare in Glorantha - using all the (fairly) canonical material I can find and my own thoughts.

 

[M Helsdon]

Sun Dome Temples

Throughout the entire region of central Genertela, including the Lunar provinces, there are no more than fifteen major temples during the Hero Wars period. There are Little Sun cults popular throughout south Peloria and Dragon Pass. Most commonly associated with Yelmalio, the Sun Dome Temple god, the god’s myths are diverse and contradictory.

 

Sometimes the Little Sun God is a foe of Orlanth (as is common with Yelmalio), sometimes he is a friend of Orlanth (as is common with Elmal). Sometimes he is the husband of the Earth Goddess, sometimes not. A God Learner would say, perhaps accurately, perhaps not, that Yelmalio and Elmal are just variations of the same god.

 

In Imther, the Yelmalio cult of Kareiston’s  Temple preserves local variations in myth from the Yelmalio cults of Dragon Pass and the Mirin’s Cross network of temples. The name Khelmal is given to the god there. The locals call him the God of Kareiston’s Temple, and give him many epithets including ‘Little Sun’, ‘Son of the Sun’, ‘God of the Sky Dome’ and the ‘Cold Sun’.

 

In New Lolon his worshippers claim it is the site of his Seat of Judgment, where the Light Protector Heliacal lived with his wife, the Green Woman.

 

Yelmalio is not alone in this diversity. Orlanth has very diverse aspects (so much so that Thunderous, Adventurous, and Rex are effectively separate cults).

 

Throughout its history, the cult of Yelmalio has sometimes almost been extinguished, but as the light that does not go out, though diminished, the cult of the Cold Sun always reignites. Despite severe reverses, and a variety of names, the cult has a strong continuity, and although distant temples may vary in their rites and theology, strong similarities in ritual and tradition are apparent.

 

The Sun Dome Temples have never been unified. Even in Saird, where there are close ties between the scattered Sun Domes, each temple is under its own religious and secular authorities. When two or more temples exist within the borders of a wider state, each owes fealty and service to the ruler, but not through a cult hierarchy.

 

The First Age

In the First Age, the God of the Sun Dome Temple was called Hastatus, God of the Spear (sometimes equated with Avivorus) or Antirius, the Dara Happan God of Order.

 

Golden domes are a defining feature of the Sun Dome temples. The temple-fortress to Manimat and Antirius at Haranshold originally built in the First Age also boasts several gold domes. The city of Kesium is now best known for its golden-domed temple to Antirius, built by the Bright Eagle Lords of Rinliddi in the Dawn Age of Peloria.

 

The first temple complex in the style of the later Sun Dome Temples was built by Kestingatha of Kesium, one of the Bright Eagle Lords. His temple of Antirius, a golden dome set atop a square base, was completed sometime between 145 and 155.

 

Mahzanelm, an Emperor of the Khordavu Dynasty, conquered Rinliddi and Vanch around 345-350. The Dara Happans sought to ensure that the barbarian lands could be kept under their control. The Emperor commissioned the construction of a grand structure that would be both temple and a military enclave for his troops. This temple was in the form of a dome within a walled compound entered via a stepped walkway.

 

One of the settlements the Emperor destroyed during his southern campaign was Lolon, inhabited since the Dawn. This was the home of the Tunoraling hunter-gatherers who worshipped Heliacal the Sun and his wife Negalla the Green Woman.

 

After the First Theyalan War (366-368), more of the Dara Happan-style Sun Dome Temples were built – one was even built atop the ruins of Urar Baar (a troll trading place at the confluence of the Oslir and the Black Eel rivers). These were similar to the earlier temple built by Kestingatha, being set on a square base, which was now consecrated to Hastatus, the spear god. In all, five Sun Dome Temples served as Dara Happan military anchors to keep the rebellious Theyalans under the control of the High Council.

 

It was at the Battle of Day and Night in 379 that the constructed god Nysalor revealed Daysenerus - an aspect of Antirius who brings Antirius’ Justice to the barbarians - to be the deity of the Sun Dome Temples. Daysenerus’ first deed when invoked was to crush the army of Kyger Litor and his first new temple was built upon the site of that victor. The name translates as First Herald God, apparently relating to the appearance of the planet Lightfore, prior to the Dawn.

 

During the years that followed, new Sun Dome Temples dedicated to Daysenerus were built throughout the lands occupied by the Bright Empire.

 

The Daysenerus cult was given good lands confiscated from rebellious Heortlings after the Theyalan Wars. The military might of these enclaves supported the rule of the Bright Empire. However, their association with Nysalor proved to be their downfall. When Arkat raised the Heortlings in their final successful rebellion, vengeful Orlanthi and their troll allies destroyed every Sun Dome Temple they encountered and eradicated the name Daysenerus from Peloria.

 

According to Monrogh of Sartar, Sereventh in Sylila was the only temple to Daysenerus to survive the destruction of the Bright Empire. Other sources claim it was used by Ordanestyu in his Cold Light Fires Uprising and to revive the culture of Dara Happa after the fall of the Bright Empire.

 

During the ensuing period of troll and Heortling domination of southern Peloria, the other Sun Dome Temples were relit by the prophet Severinalus the Rekindler. Severinalus named the god Tharkantus, the Empty Saving Hearth, prepared for the darkness to come. He settled many temples, for many places prepared once again for the time that the fires all went out. Tharkartus was later recognized to be the same entity as the Elvish Sun god, later known as Halamalao, and in many places the two races shared worship for centuries.

 

It was perhaps during this period that the god of the Sun Dome Temples was given the name Yelmalio (Little Sun God), from which the elvish name seems to derive. Whilst the cult had its origins in the Solar cultures to the north, its presence on the borderlands with the Storm cultures to the south resulted in an increasing intermingling of the two traditions. What began as a title gradually supplanted the northern name.

 

The Second Age

In 562 a Sun Dome Temple was founded in Holay. Trolls resisted the construction but met with disaster when a trollkin lieutenant betrayed the attack because the White Women among the Sun Domers had treated him kindly.

 

Circa 640 another was established at Domanand (modern Mirin’s Cross) in Saird within the boundaries of Orlanthland, and was later strengthened as a stronghold against the dragons and their followers.

 

It boasted unique enclosed domes with anti-dragon runes upon their surface, and despite its Solar nature provided a center of resistance for the Orlanthi Traditionalists against the Draconic Orlanthi to the south for a long time. The city of Lolon was also rebuilt.

 

Orlanthland was, as the name denotes, the land of the Orlanthi, extending south into Dragon Pass. Initially, the cult of Yelmalio fiercely aided the traditionalist Orlanthi and spearheaded armies invading the upland regions to fight the draconic heretics.

 

Saird became a battleground between Domanand and southern Orlanthland, which was transforming into the Empire of the Wyrms Friends. But by 750 the EWF conquered Saird; the gold domes of Domanand were shattered - their ruins are still apparent in the modern city. The Lament of Domeland, composed by several poets who survived the catastrophe, recalls the fall of the city.

 

The EWF revealed the Draconic Sun to the survivors. The Sun Dome Temples subsequently became a major military arm of the empire with their soldier-cultists used as mercenaries. Many new temples to Yelmalio were established on the frontiers of the EWF in Fronela, Ralios, and near Pent and in its core lands in Dragon Pass. Another was built at Hesterneo in Esrolia, later destroyed by Queen Orenda.

Dara Happa was occupied by the EWF in 850 after its Emperor was killed by elite members of the Golden Dragon Society.

 

In 877 the first Arrowsmith king of the city of Pavis in Prax requested aid from the Sun Dome Temple in Dragon Pass against the trolls and giants. The mercenaries were granted lands to the south of the city. A new Sun Dome Temple was built on the edge of the Wastelands.

 

Karvanyar slew the imperial Golden Dragon in 910, leading a rebellion that drove the EWF from Dara Happa within seven years.

 

The same year Alakoring Dragonbreaker flew into Aggar. He defeated Sun Dome armies and other EWF forces.

 

Between the years 910-925, after freeing itself from EWF control Dara Happan armies marched south. In the Three Armies Battle in 920 the armies of Alakoring Dragonbreaker and a Carmanian adventurer fought the EWF. Alakoring fought Drang the Diamond Storm Dragon and killed it.

 

Over the next fifteen years, Alakoring led the people of Saird, including the freed Sun Dome Temples, in rebellion. The soldier-cult purged itself of all draconic influence. Around this time, ruined Domanand was resettled, and named Miron’s Cross for a lieutenant of Alakoring who learned the secret of where to cross the Black Eel river and where he crucified a EWF leader subdued in battle. Mirin subsequently claimed the site for his own and after the cross was removed, built an impressive monument to commemorate the duel. Reliefs on each side, now almost worn away, depicted Mirin’s four great deeds.

 

Dara Happa retook all of its lands from the EWF and expanded southwards. A great army marched through Sylila to the Battle of Zelfield where the dragons were defeated. The EWF counterattacked, reaching as far north as Alkoth in 947 but was unable to regain control of the north.

 

In 960, on the abdication of Sarenesh, (an Emperor of Dara Happa of the Karvanyar Dynasty) to prevent war between his three sons, the priests enacted the Great Division of the World. The High Priest of Dayzatar awarded Dayzatar’s portion, Saird, to Verenmars. King Verenemars rallied all Saird against the dragons. He began great sacrifices to strengthen Jajagappa and raised the Jajalarings dog peoples against the EWF. Many Dara Happan colonists followed in the wake of Verenmars’ heroic wars against the EWF. Verenmars and his heirs ruled the Kingdom of Saird until 1120.

 

The Saird Sun Dome Temples initially fought against and then supported Verenmars and his kingdom As a result they survived the fall of the EWF in 1042 when the leaders of Empire of the Wyrms Friends were exterminated overnight.

 

In 1082, the hero Balazar introduced the cult of Yelmalio to the Votanki to the east. He met and wed a local hunting nymph and they had three sons.

 

The Sun Domes of Saird contributed much of the manpower of the Invincible Golden Horde. The destruction and devouring of those armies in the Dragonkill of 1120 severely wounded the Temples for generations, and extinguished Verenmars’ dynasty. After the Dragonkill, the weakened Sairdite culture was mostly absorbed by the neighboring Orlanthi.

 

Far to the southeast, the now isolated temple in Prax erected the Great Ballista to protect their rebuilt temple complex from draconic retribution.

 

Jannisor’s Rebellion (1271-1275) against the rising Lunar Empire included the Sun Dome Temples of Saird, allied with the Sable Tribes, and the many Orlanthi tribes surrounding Saird. Some of the Sun Dome Temples were also part of the Kynnelfing Alliance that resisted but ultimately was defeated by the Conquering Daughter in 1347. The queen of Filichet was acclaimed as Queen of Holay, as a Lunar tributary ruler.

 

Invasions by savage barbarians from Pent led by Sheng Seleris disrupted the Lunar Empire from 1375 to 1460. Much of the south was lost to the empire during this time as it struggled to survive. The Sun Dome temples endured this period, hiring out as mercenaries.

 

Holay became a battleground between Tarsh and Sylila, and was finally reduced to Lunar dependency in 1458. Saird was regained around 1480 though Lunar rule in the Provinces was not secure until 1545, when the Provincial Government was formed.

 

The Sun Dome Temples fought on all sides of these wars during Third and Fourth Wanes (1355-1462), but have been mostly allied with the Lunar Provincial Government since the Sixth Wane (1517 onwards).

 

The Third Age

The Sun Dome Temples of Saird have, over the centuries endured and enjoyed the patronage of overlords from the Broken Council, EWF, Sairdite, Tarsh and most recently the Lunar Empire. Throughout history Saird has been a significant battleground between Storm and Solar cultures fighting over Earth as in the myth of Orlanth and Yelm competing for the hand of Ernalda.

 

Outside of Saird, there are only four great temples. These temples are almost entirely autonomous and independent of their cousins in South Peloria.

 

Ever-New-Glory in Tarsh was founded after the Lunar conquest of Saird.

 

At some time after this, Elmal cultists from Alda-Chur, beset by Darkness and Chaos went north to find allies against the trolls. They returned with the Golden Spearman and took him with them to their next battle. A brilliant sunspear destroyed the trolls. The jubilant Alda-Churi gave the Golden Spearman a shrine in their temple to Elmal, the Orlanthi Sun God, and offered him regular sacrifices as one of the defenders of their people.

 

In the mid-1500s, Lunar missionaries proved to the priests that the Golden Spearman was the enemy of Orlanth, as part of a campaign to divide and weaken the southern tribes. The allegiance of some worshippers of Elmal was compromised and they rebelled against their traditional leaders, weakening resistance to Lunar encroachment.

 

In Sartar, the sage Monrogh Lantern revealed that the Golden Spearman was neither Yelm nor Elmal, but the Son of the Sun, Yelmalio. In 1579 Monrogh was given leave to re-consecrate the temple of Yelmalio at Vanntar, to end the strife. During the Resettlement Period of Dragon Pass and the early decades of the kingdom of Sartar, Vaantar had been an important temple of Elmal, belonging to no tribe and defended against the Kitori by determined members of the cult of Elmal.

 

With the fervor of new converts, the Vanntari insist Monrogh founded the cult of Yelmalio and that Vanntar was the first temple. The presence of more ancient temples in Saird and elsewhere contradict their claims.

 

--------------------------------------------------------- 

 

With many major temples, Saird is still the center of the cult. In addition to the Sun Dome Temples it boasts important sites associated with the god, such as the Hill of Gold and New Lolon in Vanch. The Hill is where Yelmalio was sorely wounded, lost his weapons, and bled his power upon the earth before he rose again in Cold Light. Lolon was the place of Yelmalio’s Seat of Judgment, and where the Light Protector lived with his wife the Green Woman.

 

The modern farmers and cities of Saird, are a mixture of lowland Pelorians and Orlanthi. There are some vestigial remnants of earlier cultures (especially the Red-Haired Goddess, a title of Redaylda), but mostly submerged beneath many centuries of later settlement. 

 

The extant temples of southern Peloria are the military anchor of the “Sairdite” Solar culture. They are all strategically located to defend the lowland farmers. Yelmalio is the main soldier cult of the river cities of Saird, coexisting with the military cults of Humakt, Hwarin Dalthippa, and Yanafal Tarnils.

 

Yelmalio has been the divine defender of Mirin’s Cross, ancient Domanand, since the Second Age.

Edited July 26, 2016 by M Helsdon

[M Helsdon]

And a related main text sub-chapter.

 

Sun Dome Temples

At the end of the Second Age, when all the lowlands united against the Empire of the Wyrms Friends, Yelmalio again led the fight.

 

The destruction of the Invincible Golden Horde in the Dragonkill in 1120 marked a massive decline in the cult. The Sun Dome Temples in Saird contributed much of the manpower of the Invincible Golden Horde, and the destruction and devouring of those armies critically wounded the Temples for generations. Though its Dragon Pass temples were destroyed, the cult lived on among elves, and in Prax and Peloria.

 

In the Third Age, the cult moved back into Dragon Pass at the request of the House of Sartar. There it restored some of the cosmic balance of the area and stabilized the kingdom for the ruling house. Both the Dragon Pass and Prax temples have proved relatively minor, though they have always been well-supported by their worshippers.

 

Throughout the entire region of central Genertela, including the Lunar provinces where the temples probably originated, there are no more than fifteen temples extant during the Hero Wars period.

 

The region in Southern Peloria called Saird is clearly the center of the cult, with ten Sun Dome Temples (three in Holay, two in Tarsh, two in Aggar, one in Sylila, one in Vanch, and one in Imther). The Daysenerus cult was given good lands confiscated from rebellious Heortlings after the Theyalan Wars, and Mirin’s Cross was the Second Age center of the cult. The Yelmalio cult supported Verenmars and his Kingdom of Saird.

Most Yelmalio cultists are farmer-soldiers who belong to one of the Sairdite cities of South Peloria. They are a very well-drilled militia and rarely fight outside of their own domain unless paid (which deals with the loss of agricultural labor for a season or two).

 

The Sun Dome Temples provide approximately 11,000 Templars to the Lunar Provincial Army. These strategically located temples are the military anchor of the ‘Sairdite’ Solar culture and defend the lowland farmers. Yelmalio is the main soldier cult of the river cities of Saird, coexisting with the cults of Humakt, Hwarin Dalthippa, or Yanafal Tarnils.

 

Historically, Jannisor’s Rebellion included the Sun Dome Temples of Saird, allied with the Sable Tribes, and the many Orlanthi tribes surrounding Saird. At least some of the Sun Dome Temples were part of the Kynnelfing Alliance that resisted but ultimately was defeated by the Conquering Daughter.

 

The Sun Dome Temples fought on all sides of the wars during Third and Fourth Wanes, but have been mostly allied with the Lunar Provincial Government since the Sixth Wane.

Outside of Saird, there are only four temples – one in Fronela, one in Delela (near Karia), one in Sartar, and one in Prax. These temples are almost entirely autonomous and independent of their cousins in South Peloria.

 

Mo Baustra

The Yelmalio cult was imported into Prax by the rulers of Pavis in the year 875 to help against barbarian raiders. The Templars brought their phalanxes, their cavalry and chariotry to support the beleaguered city.

 

Regiments rode and marched as part of the Invincible Golden Horde in 1100 to plunder and destroy the Dragonewt cities in Dragon Pass. They were entirely destroyed in the Dragonkill. This disaster was traumatic, and the cult purged itself of any vestiges of EWF-inspired Solar Draconicism to return to the unsullied, pure light of Yelmalio.

 

The Great Ballista was constructed to protect the Sun Dome Temple, but when draconic retribution never came it was later moved to the high bluffs above the river and renamed the Harpoon.

 

Eighty years later the city of Pavis fell and Sun Dome County, still reeling from the losses in Dragon Pass, struggled to survive surrounded by hostile Animal Nomads.

 

The theocratic enclave of Sun County spent most of the Third Age in isolation in what they call the Solitude of Testing. Their tradition of horse rearing was lost in the enduring face of nomad hostility and they relied solely upon their infantry. When required, the Templars have been forced on occasion to rely on allied nomad tribesmen of their religion for cavalry support.

 

The capability of Sun Dome Templar Squares to set pikes to withstand a heavy cavalry charge was one of the factors in their survival during the Testing.

 

The Sun Dome County has maintained its autonomy from the Lunar Empire at the price of military alliance. It can muster spearmen militia and a regiment of Templar pike.

 

Auxiliaries

In addition to the Sun Dome regiment and militia, Sun County often recruits cavalry auxiliaries from their fellow worshippers among the Praxian Tribes, and from the Yelorna-worshipping Unicorn Tribe.

 

Scouts and light troops are also recruited from the Basmoli Berserkers, the lion people.

 

Yelmalions in Prax

There are about 14,700 Yelmalio worshippers amongst the Praxian tribes. The population of Sun County is only 20,000, given that half are children, the remainder is half men, giving a maximum of 5000 Yelmalio initiates. The nomads significantly outnumber them.

 

Yelmalio amongst the nomads is very different from the organization of the Sun Dome temples. The nomads eschew the use of the pike and shield foot tactics, favoring instead their mounts, and the long spear and the bow or javelin. They have none of the fixed structures of the temple-bound Sun Domers, having only Light Khans, but no priests, so the Yemalio temples are their major worship temples.

 

Tribe	Number of Initiates
Agimori tribe	225
Bison tribe	400
Bolo Lizard tribe	158
High Llama tribe	163
Impala tribe	7800
Ostrich tribe	90
Pol-Joni tribe	42
Rhino tribe	90
Sable tribe	5625
Zebra tribe	34

 

Claws of the Leaping Sun

A Basmoli bachelor society in the area around Sun County, the society is named for a hero who first served the Yelmalions.

 

The first Basmoli to serve as auxiliaries rapidly spread the word amongst their kin, and Basmoli seeking mercenary service can expect welcome in the lands of the Sun worshippers. Wandering males, ejected from their home pride, have a deep yearning to ‘belong’, and transfer this desire to the bachelor societies and mercenary bands.

 

The Basmoli are renowned for their strength and their ferocity in combat.

 

Basmoli are lean and fleet of foot, adept at serving as scouts, trackers and light infantry, equipped with bow, spear and light shield. Most Basmoli have long auburn or red hair, and are vain about their appearance, decorating their hair with brightly colored ribbons and bells.

 

The Templars have a very superior attitude to their auxiliaries, though many of their victories have been won with the aid of Basmoli scouting and reconnaissance.

 

Vanntar

Vanntar, the Sun Dome County, in southern Sartar is an ancient sacred site to the cults of Sky and Light. It was depopulated by the Dragonkill and abandoned until 1579, when King Tarkalor recognized the Yelmalio cult as the legal possessor of Vanntar and the land surrounding it. Since 1585 this Sun County has sought its own way, independent of the Princes of Sartar. It can muster massed archers, spearmen and two regiments of Templar pike, though half the army always remains to guard the county.

 

The Sun Dome Temple of Vanntar is served by half-thrall helots called the Ergeshi, named for the Dara Happan god of slaves. They serve as field-workers and as baggage-carriers. The Vanntar hoplites are able to stay in the field almost indefinitely because the helots will work their land holdings.

 

In 1627 Argrath installed his companion Rurik as the new Count of Vanntar. Thereafter, the regiments of Vanntar served in the ranks of the Sartar Free Army.

 

Alda-Chur

In 1611, Harvar Ironfist, a Light Captain of Yelmalio of the Vantaros tribe established himself as the ruler Alda-Chur and the Far Place. He ruthlessly quelled the Righteous Wind Revolt and punished whoever had not helped him or resisted the rebels. The Lunar Provincial Governor named him Duke of the Far Place.

 

Harvard Ironist was killed in the Dragonrise in 1625.

 

Whilst he ruled, he was a Lunar Ally, but the Far Place provided no regiments to the Lunar Empire.

 

The large temple of Yelmalio Golden Spear is impressive, but there is no tradition of Templar regiments here. The Yelmalio cult is the largest disciplined military force in the Far Place, directly under the command of the Alda-Churi temple’s Light Captain.

 

 

Edited July 26, 2016 by M Helsdon

[M Helsdon]

Yelmalion Regiments

The Yelmalion military is under the command of the Light Captain, one of the administrative assistants of the High Priest of a temple.

 

Yelmalion Organization
Light Captain
Light Captain Lieutenant
Regiment	Militia
Regiment Captain	Guardian
Captain
File-Leader
Half-file Leader

 

Templar phalangites carry a fifteen foot pike and fight in close formation, resting their round shields on a neck strap, permitting them to grip the long spear with both hands when in battle.

 

The basic unit is the sixteen man ‘file’ consisting of fourteen soldiers, a file-leader and a half-file leader.

 

In combat they shift to battle file, or close order, in Squares of eight half-files (64 men) with locked shields to present a forest of pikes to their foes. In column for road or frontier travel, this unit of 64 marches in a two-abreast double-file formation. For battlefield march or maneuver it moves in open order, four lines 16 men deep, with wide spacing between the lines to permit skirmishers and missile troops to move through the ranks prior to contact with the enemy. Each man wears a corselet of lacquered leather or bronze and a crested full helmet. A Square is commanded by a Captain.

 

Eight Squares comprise a company, with additional skirmishers and bearers, and two companies a regiment.

 

A Yelmalion regiment is commanded by a senior captain, usually the Light Captain or his deputy. All Light Sons may pick three Templars as their bodyguard, and in the regiment the commander’s retinue act as his dedicated bodyguard and standard bearer. The militia is commanded by the Guardian, also a Light Son, who has Templar bodyguards and standard bearer.

 

The Sun Dome militia uses similar formations, but are more typically are arrayed in a line two ranks deep.

 

Yelornan Regiments

The cult of Yelorna in the Third Age is relatively small, with the largest number comprising the Unicorn tribes of Prax and Ralios.

 

The cult in Pavis retains some of the ancient organization.

 

No Yelornan regiments have existed since the Second Age, but the unicorn riders often serve as auxiliaries for the Sun Dome Temples of Mo Baustra (Sun Dome County) and the Karia March.

 

Yelornan Organization
Star Priestess
Regiment	Wanderers
Star Lady	Star Lady
Troop-Leader
Section-Leader