Lupo001 Posted October 9, 2018 Share Posted October 9, 2018 Hi guys, my last post got some very informative answers which I appreciated so I'm back for more. I've got a player in my game of Runequest Glorantha in the cult of Gorgorma, admittedly because I pointed out the similarities to the Storm Bull she wanted to play, but it fit better with a Solar Pantheon group (mainly Yelmalio cultists, but also Yelm and Yelorna). I've searched around and collected some meager information about Gorgorma's mythic role in Glorantha but was wondering if there is more anywhere? This player is also looking likely to be the first Rune Level in the party so I'm especially keen on godtime myths I might be able to work into heroquests, and ideas for allied spirits and trials to get one. My impression of the cult is that it's a particularly small one, probably maintained mostly by associated worship from Dendara cultists and temples. My player has particularly taken to the Defender aspect of Gorgorma, taking the Yelornan cultist 'under her wing' so to speak, to ensure she can maintain the purity required for eventually gaining a Unicorn, and passions related to that aspect of the goddess, but I'm interested in anything to do with her. The only mythic story I found so far is about Gorgorma and Dendara playing chess each evening in Yelm's palace, and something about Gorgorma being rejected as Yelm's bride 'because she had to be rejected' which I haven't quite got my head around yet. Thoughts, opinions much appreciated as well as further sources of Gorgorma lore to read. Thanks. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffjerwin Posted October 9, 2018 Share Posted October 9, 2018 Depending on where you set your game Babeester Gor is a similar yet not quite so monstrous figure. Both are defenders of the Earth and innocents, and avengers of the harmed Earth and innocents. In Gorgorma's case, that applies to any abused woman or girl; in Babeester's case, any child or woman. They are specifically gods of justice against patriarchal violence. Any Earth goddess has a connection to her, but Gorgorma does not abide men. (Even Vinga has an avenging aspect) Gorgorma is a goddess that demands much of her worshippers - they lose their capacity to bear children. This is because they gain biting teeth in sensitive places, at least while hero forming. She is a Lodrilli peasant deity, worshipped only by women, and her priestesses are the survivors of sexual violence; the Lodrilli celebrate male sexual prowess, and that probably leads to social problems. Gorgorma's existence helps keep men in line. Dendara is her sister and she comes by to spend time together, like sisters do. She is also the mother (paradoxically) of Yara Aranis, who was born from her through a hero quest of the Lunar Emperor in the Third Wane to avenge the murder of millions of Pelorian women (and potentially, the Moon) under the hooves of Sheng Seleris' horde. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joerg Posted October 9, 2018 Share Posted October 9, 2018 Gorgorma is the irredeemable rebel/corrective of the rulers' human mistakes (in between their divine Justice). Most cultists join through a trauma, possibly that of a female relative. A Gorgorma chaperone is probably a most secure way to maintain virginity. Quote Telling how it is excessive verbis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffjerwin Posted October 9, 2018 Share Posted October 9, 2018 Just now, Joerg said: Gorgorma is the irredeemable rebel/corrective of the rulers' human mistakes (in between their divine Justice). Most cultists join through a trauma, possibly that of a female relative. A Gorgorma chaperone is probably a most secure way to maintain virginity. Though it gets to be a sort of Rapunzel in the Tower situation pretty quick. Gorgorma kills all suitors, and even inadvertent suitors, if she's given the leeway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lupo001 Posted October 10, 2018 Author Share Posted October 10, 2018 The game is set in Sun County around the Mo Baustra temple, ranging so far from Pavis to Corflu but they will range further eventually. The Yelornan player is so far quite satisfied that all suitors receive an angry look from a very scarified Gorgorman and tend to leave at that. I have taken inspiration from Babeester Gor for ritual scarification and such things but I'm using the short write up from Gods of Glorantha for actual cult rules which are remarkably lenient. I struggle a little to see the value of the cult in the world, temporally, so I've been considering having them heavily supported by the local female worshipped earth cult, in this case Dendara, as an alternative to a husband protector cult for matters relating to women. I can only imagine the Yelmalions of Sun County would be somewhat unhappy about that relation, but is there some mythic relationship that I'm unaware of that might prevent Yelmalions from ejecting Gorgormans from their lands? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffjerwin Posted October 10, 2018 Share Posted October 10, 2018 1 minute ago, Lupo001 said: The game is set in Sun County around the Mo Baustra temple, ranging so far from Pavis to Corflu but they will range further eventually. The Yelornan player is so far quite satisfied that all suitors receive an angry look from a very scarified Gorgorman and tend to leave at that. I have taken inspiration from Babeester Gor for ritual scarification and such things but I'm using the short write up from Gods of Glorantha for actual cult rules which are remarkably lenient. I struggle a little to see the value of the cult in the world, temporally, so I've been considering having them heavily supported by the local female worshipped earth cult, in this case Dendara, as an alternative to a husband protector cult for matters relating to women. I can only imagine the Yelmalions of Sun County would be somewhat unhappy about that relation, but is there some mythic relationship that I'm unaware of that might prevent Yelmalions from ejecting Gorgormans from their lands? They belong to different pantheons. Yelmalio is a southern Pelorian cult, and Gorgorma is a Naverian-Dara Happan-Pentan cult, worshipped by women who have been assaulted by someone in their patriarchal society. The Earth cult around Mo Baustra is Ernaldan - Theyalan (and southern Pelorian) where the closest equivalent is Babeester Gor, but she's a lot more easy going. Babeester Gor is the 'avenger of the Earth': women, children, and the defender of sacred temples. She likes beer and distrusts men. Gorgorma is faced with an far more patriarchal and hierarchical situation than among Heortlings (even Pelorianized ones like the Mo Baustra - there's a Light Son who's a woman, after all!), and also protects peasants against an uncaring elite. The two goddesses are obviously related but Babeester Gor is more axe-murderess/biker and Gorgorma is more sinister crone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darius West Posted October 13, 2018 Share Posted October 13, 2018 I think I speak for all good Sun Worshippers when I say that all this talk about Gorgorma needs to be nipped in the bud. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joerg Posted October 13, 2018 Share Posted October 13, 2018 (edited) 52 minutes ago, Darius West said: I think I speak for all good Sun Worshippers when I say that all this talk about Gorgorma needs to be nipped in the bud. And I thought that nipping tedious buds was the very service the Gorgorma cult provides in Solar societies? Edited October 13, 2018 by Joerg Quote Telling how it is excessive verbis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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