Yelmalio, the Brightness of Yelm
(As worshipped in Sun Dome County, Prax)
Creation and co-ordination by Ian Thomson, with invaluable contributions from Greg Stafford,
Peter Metcalfe, Michael O'Brien, Martin Laurie, John Hughes, Nick Brooke, Stephen Martin,
Jane Williams, Wesley Quadros, and Andrew Bean.
Inspired in part by original material by Greg Stafford, Steve Perrin, and Sandy Petersen.
Kuschile, Monro, and Togtuvei (originally by Xavier Spinat and Gregory Molle, translated with
the assistance of Gregory Privat and Herve Ancelin), adapted from Multisim's
Pavis: Hero Wars with the permission of Multisim and Issaries, Inc.
Yelmalio is the Brightness of Yelm, often known as the Son of Yelm. These are all titles, for his
real name is only known to initiates. He was a son of the Great Ruler, Yelm, and one of the gods
of the many suns of the Golden Age. One by one they all fell in the Gods War until only Yelmalio
was left, and then even he was defeated by Zorak Zoran, the Cruel God, who stole his fire.
But Yelmalio rose again, when his foes were gone. He kept his people safe thereafter. Initiates
learn how Yelmalio's actions, aided by his worshippers' prayers, retrieved his fire powers and
sent them into the sky to rekindle the Sun. The Cruel God was banished. Now worshippers continue
the magic to keep the sun on its path.
Mercenaries from the EWF (who originally came to Prax to assist the city of Pavis against the
nomads) founded Sun County in the late 800s. When the dragonewts and dragons destroyed the EWF
most Sun Dome temples fell into ruin, but Sun County in Prax survived this destruction. Over the
centuries, customs and worship here were eroded as the free farmers were enslaved and the
priesthood seized by Praxian nomads who used their shamanic practices to worship in the temple.
Periods of nomad domination threatened Yelmalio's rites during the centuries of isolation, but
last century the hero Monro sent disciples from Dragon Pass to contact this temple. These visitors
strengthened the traditional theist worshippers and threw out the nomad shamans, so that the old
cult was established in its full glory once again. Relations between the two temples have continued
intermittently.
| Entry Requirements: |
Be a male citizen of Sun County. |
| Physical Abilities: |
Ranged Combat (Archery), See Far. |
| Mental Abilities: |
Mythology of Yelmalio. |
| Affinities: |
Combat (Brace Spear, Brighten Morale, Locked Shields, March in Step, Spear of Accuracy)
Light (Dispel Clouds, See in Darkness, Shield of Brilliance, Smite Darkness,
Sunbright Corona)
Grain (Accelerate Grain Growth, Banish Pests, Destroy Blight, Resist Frost). |
| Secret: |
Survive Defeat (When critically wounded during righteous combat in which he has
successfully used the Light affinity, the worshipper can use this secret to change
his condition from Dying to merely Injured. The Secret must overcome the
standard resistance for healing injuries or any magical ability that rendered the warrior
Dying, whichever is higher. If successful, the worshipper appears to be dead to all
forms of physical or magical inquiry, but awakens from this false death when immediate
enemies are gone. Some heroes of Yelmalio have actually used this secret to bring themselves
back from true death.) |
| Worshippers: |
All men in Sun County. Separate political and religious hierarchies reinforce each other
and create a strong identity with their god. |
| Other Side: |
Yelmalio's Fort is at the edge of the Solar realm, warding it against invaders. From the
Fort followers may exit to the Storm or Darkness. After death his followers join his army in
the Fort, resting in bliss as they stand ready against Darkness in eternal battle to defend
the Light. |
| Other Connections: |
Several other Sun Dome Temples exist throughout southern Peloria, with traditional
connections with Monro's temple in Dragon Pass. Although they acknowledge the supremacy of
Vaantar, where Monro first woke the god again, each temple's hierarchy is entirely separate
from that of any other Sun Dome Temple. |
| Disadvantages: |
The cult has an abiding rivalry with all other solar cults. The Sun Domers revere Yelm
as the Fiery Father, but consider the sun god inferior to their own. In their turn, many
Yelm worshippers dismiss Yelmalio as an obscure sect, and the Praxian Sun Domers as ignorant
bumpkins from a remote backwater. The Yelmalio Cult is a minority everywhere except within
their own temple-centered regions. |
| Other Notes: |
Initiates must take a gift and one or more geases when they are initiated into the cult.
Upon commencing devotion, devotees must accept a second gift and additional geases when they
achieve that status, and may ask for another during the Sacred Time ceremonies each year. |
Yelmalio's Gifts and Geases
Yelmalio assigns gifts and geases to his worshipers by a plan that only he understands;
consequently, his largess appears entirely random. Often a worshipper will gain the same gift as
another but have a different geas bound to it by the God. Narrators may choose, of course, to
assign the specific gift and geases that a player receives, or may allow the player at least to
choose the gift, if this better serves the story.
If a gift states that an ability should be gained that a hero already has, or should be raised
to a level that the hero already possesses, the ability rating increases by +5 permanently.
Gifts
| 1d20 |
Gift and Required Number of Geases |
| 1 |
Yelmalio's Benevolence (+5 on any skill chosen by the initiate*); accept 1 geas. |
| 2 |
Eyes of Heaven (+5 to See Far ability); accept 1 geas. |
| 3 |
Bow of Pure Light (any arrow fired glows with light - +5 to Ranged Combat when using
Archery); accept 2 geases. |
| 4 |
Spear of Gold (any spear picked up glows with light - +5 to Close Combat when using
Spear); accept 2 geases. |
| 5 |
Javelin of the Sun (any javelin picked up glows with light - +5 to Ranged Combat when
using Javelin); accept 2 geases. |
| 6 |
Shield of Brilliance (+2 to Combat affinity); accept 1 geas. |
| 7 |
Yelm's Light (+2 to Light affinity); accept 1 geas. |
| 8 |
Ernalda's Love (+2 to Grain affinity); accept 1 geas. |
| 9 |
Solitary Strength (gain Strong or Enduring - 50/50 - at 17); accept 1 geas. |
| 10 |
Arinsor's Clearmind (gain Resist Confusion feat in Light affinity); accept 1 geas. |
| 11 |
Oloros' Healing Light (gain Drive Out Disease Spirit feat in Light affinity); accept 1 geas. |
| 12 |
Beauty of the Light (gain Attractive ability at 17); accept 1 geas. |
| 13 |
Monro's Lantern (any gold touched instantly glows with light); accept 1 geas. |
| 14 |
Togtuvei's Feather (gain Find Sun Dome Temple feat in Light affinity); accept 1 geas. |
| 15 |
Avenger of Brilliance (gain +3 edge to Light affinity when fighting against darkness foes);
accept 1 geas. |
| 16 |
Bird of Heaven (gain a Speak with Birds feat in the Light affinity); accept 1 geas. |
| 17 |
Secret Fire (gain Resist Fire feat in Light affinity); accept 1 geas. |
| 18 |
Yelmalio's Healing Gift (regain 2 AP per round in physical combat only, as long as AP are
above 0) **; accept 1 geas. |
| 19 |
Kuschile's Horse Gift (gain an independent Speak with Horses feat with a beginning ability
rating of 17); accept 1 geas. |
| 20 |
Narokoris' Resist Corruption Gift (gain a Resist Nomad Magic feat in the Light affinity);
accept 1 geas. |
* A given ability can only be increased a single time. If rolled again, a different ability
must be selected.
** If rolled again, increase recovery by 2 AP.
Geases
| 1d20 |
Geas |
| 1 |
Never wear metal armor *. |
| 2 |
Remain Celibate every Fireday **. |
| 3 |
Never eat the meat of birds. |
| 4 |
Never eat the meat of horses. |
| 5 |
Never eat any meat but that of birds. |
| 6 |
Never eat meat. |
| 7 |
Never seek shelter from a storm. |
| 8 |
Speak only the truth. |
| 9 |
Never let a horse suffer needlessly. |
| 10 |
Never let an Aldryami suffer needlessly. |
| 11 |
Never use a weapon type of narrator's choice (other than spear, javelin, or bow). |
| 12 |
Never flee from or surrender to worshippers of Zorak Zoran.*** |
| 13 |
Never flee from or surrender to darkness creatures. |
| 14 |
Never speak to or help trolls in any way. |
| 15 |
Never speak to or help dwarves in any way. |
| 16 |
Never speak to or help Orlanth worshippers in any way. |
| 17 |
Never speak to or help non-Light worshippers in any way. |
| 18 |
Never love any but Earth cult worshippers. |
| 19 |
Never bathe. |
| 20 |
Roll twice more. |
* If rolled again increase to never wear "any armor."
** If rolled again increase, to "every Fire Season;" if rolled a third time, increase to
"Complete Celibacy."
*** If rolled again increase from "worshippers of Zorak Zoran" to "trolls."
Hero Cults of Yelmalio
Arinsor the Leader
Arinsor Clearmind, the founder of Sun County, retains prominence amongst the heroes revered
in this land, although commoners are not permitted to worship him directly.
| Membership Requirements: |
Be one of the rulers of Sun County. |
| Physical Abilities: |
Imposing Presence. |
| Virtues: |
Honorable. |
| Light Feat: |
Radiate Authority. |
| Combat Feat: |
Defend Sun County. |
| Notable Heroquest: |
River Ritual (This major ceremonial quest must be fulfilled each year to rejuvenate
the alliance between Sun County and the Zola Fel, through the nymph Kinope.) |
| Worshippers: |
The rulers and nobles of Sun County. |
Erokos the Provider
A follower of Arinsor Clearmind, Erokos quested to both Yelmalio and Ernalda, and showed his
comrades how to work with the dry soils and climate of Prax. Without his wisdom Sun County could
never have flourished.
| Membership Requirements: |
Any male child of a Yelmalio farming family. |
| Physical Abilities: |
Dig Irrigation Ditches. |
| Virtues: |
Hard-working. |
| Grain Feats: |
Plow the Earth, Resist Desiccation. |
| Worshippers: |
Sun County farmers. |
Kuschile the Rider
Kuschile was a master of horses and brought the ability of mounted archery to Sun County. His
worship has only recently been re-established since horses are newly returned to the County.
Mounted warriors have not existed here for centuries, though once they were commonplace amongst
the Sun Dome forces, and the land has only a few horse archers as of yet.
| Membership Requirements: |
Acceptance into the Sun County horse regiment. |
| Physical Abilities: |
Ranged Combat (Mounted Archery). |
| Virtues: |
Curious, Optimistic. |
| Light Feat: |
Arrow of Light. |
| Combat Feat: |
Dodge while Riding. |
| Notable Heroquest: |
Befriend Hippogriff (Those who perform with exceptional competency may gain a permanent
hippogriff steed. Others retain a connection to all hippogriffs encountered on any plane,
and the trust of all horses descended from the original hippogriff.) |
| Worshippers: |
Sun County Horse Troopers. |
Monro the Intractable
Monro was the hero who organized the return of the ancient rites of Yelmalio into Prax last
century. This brought about the full restoration of the cult's traditions, after centuries of
their dilution and destruction under their nomad overlords. In return for this aid, the Sun
County Priests provided him with access to their surviving religious customs and records, and
he returned with this vital wisdom to his own land. Monro was so holy as to be considered by
many as the mortal son of Yelmalio.
| Membership Requirements: |
To be a member of the Priesthood of Yelmalio. |
| Mental Abilities: |
Laws of Monro, Recite Holy Scriptures. |
| Virtues: |
Pious, Unyielding. |
| Light Feats: |
Aura of Righteousness, Lantern Beam. |
| Worshippers: |
The especially pious, mostly within the Priesthood, choose to follow Monro,
the hero who returned the true light. |
Narokoris the Warrior
Narokoris was Count of Sun County for 40 years in the late 1400s. He is remembered for being
wise because he reinstated the importance of traditional spear and shield tactics, and because
he drove his people's enemies far from their borders.
| Membership Requirements: |
Recruitment into the Militia. |
| Mental Abilities: |
Knowledge of Nomad Tactics. |
| Combat Feats: |
Dodge Strike, Hold My Ground. |
| Worshippers: |
Sun Dome Militia. |
Palishon the Sage
Palishon ruled Sun County from 1224-1273, and established the first comprehensive archives.
Sun County was now isolated, and dragons were thought to have smashed all other Sun Dome
Temples. Palishon felt that it was essential to preserve the religious and cultural lore,
and spent his adult life painstakingly documenting and illustrating Yelmalio's ways for
future generations. His followers struggled and died during the Solitude of Testing, trying
to preserve their charge. His worship has only recently been renewed.
| Membership Requirements: |
Apprenticeship to an existing Sun County Sage. |
| Mental Abilities: |
Administer Archive. |
| Virtues: |
Exacting, Studious. |
| Light Feats: |
Illuminate Obscure Fact, Illuminate Falsehood. |
| Worshippers: |
Sun County Scholars. (Few of these privileged individuals exist.) |
Togtuvei the Seeker
Togtuvei was a hero in the time of the Darkness. He led his people to safety across the
shattered world by traveling between the few outposts of Light and Life that remained.
| Mental Abilities: |
Wilderness Survival. |
| Virtues: |
Dedicated, Loyal to Followers. |
| Light Feats: |
Find the Way, Sense Sun Dome Temple. |
| Worshippers: |
Scouts and Explorers. Followers of Togtuvei wear a yellow feather attached
to their helmets. |
Worship of Ernalda in Sun County
Although Yelmalio is the main deity of Sun County, most women follow Ernalda. While she is not
revered as an equal, as she is in Storm Pantheon lands such as Sartar, she is known as a
complementary and essential partner to Yelmalio.
The standard worship path is available to women, who can move from Voria to Ernalda Healer, to
Ernalda Allmother, and finally to Asrelia or Ty Kora Tek. Women may not become leaders in Sun
County, and so Ernalda the Queen is not followed. Esrola too is unknown, although the reason for
this is the barren nature of the County. All of the main subcults of Allmother are well known in
Sun County, save Overdruva and Skovara, which are rare. Bevara, Enferalda, and Jera are the most
commonly worshipped of the standard Healer subcults.
Other Notable Deities of Sun County
Lokarnos is Yelmalio's trusted servant and the god of trade, and is totally accepted into Sun
County society. Regular folk still view traders as something other than normal, being unusual
in their familiarity with travel and dealing with foreigners. The traders view themselves as an
elite brotherhood, and value their comparative flexibility and unusually enterprising natures.
Since the Lunar conquest, certain exiled Dara Happan families have been resettled in the county.
The men worship Yelm, and the women revere Dendara. Some may claim certain prerogatives (i.e.
that hog farmer over there styles himself "Lord" Lionedas). It galls all of them that in Sun
County if they want a position of authority in the community, they have get there by merit like
everyone else, rather than simply waiting for hereditary privileges to fall in their laps. Most
are of the class of the Tenths (functionaries and retainers of the Nobility). Some adopt worship
of Yelmalio in addition to their traditional deity, and try to fit in as best they can. These
people are granted some special rights, such as being allowed to worship inside the Sun Dome
along with the Priests. A few others, with the luxury of being able to support themselves through
the remains of family wealth or the labor of relatives, even refuse to relinquish the useless and
alien bureaucratic professions they held in Dara Happa. The Sun Domers themselves think the Yelm
religion is effete, corrupt, and in the thrall of the female Moon worshippers who currently rule
Dara Happa.
The followers of Chalana Arroy in Sun County are independent healers, as in neighboring Pavis
County and other settlements around Prax. They co-exist here with the followers of Ernalda the
Healer, with the main differences being their pacifistic attitudes, occasional acceptance of males
amongst their worshippers, and their ability to pacify Stormbull berserks. They respect the ways
of Sun County and are appreciated for their services.
The strange worshippers of Uleria embrace notable eccentricities of behavior in all cultures, and
many of their customs and beliefs are considered so scandalous within Sun County that worship of
Uleria is banned. Nonetheless, Ulerian worship has a certain traditional appeal, and continues
in secret. The temple at Garhound, just over the northern border of Sun County, welcomes all
genuine worshippers without discrimination.
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