Prosopaedia

Who's Who Among Gloranthan Gods and Goddesses

originally published in Gods of Glorantha

This document is Copyright © 1998 Issaries, Inc. It may be freely linked to, and one copy may be printed for personal use, but any other reproduction by photographic, electronic, or other methods of retrieval, is prohibited.

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Table of Contents

Daga Daka Fal Daliath Dame Darkness Danfive Xaron
Daruda Dayzatar Deezola Dehore Dendara
the Devil Donandar Dormal Drospoly

Daga [DAH-gah]

Orlanth and Yelm pantheons -- god of drought and famine

Daga is a specter, a wan and frightening thing without substance to strike or force to scatter. He is imprisoned within a carefully sealed jar kept at Orlanth's bedside. When people sin and forget the gods, the jar is opened or broken and Daga swims out to blight the earth and bring people back to a remembrance of their gods.

He is pictured as a skeleton, a death-specter, or as a dying child ravished by malnutrition.

Daka Fal [DAH-ka FAHL]

Orlanth and Praxian pantheons -- judge of the dead

The Courts of Silence squat at the outskirts of Hell. Within this mighty, grim hall is a great dais upon which sit three entities. In the center is Daka Fal, robed in the holy garments of a judge. To either side are assistants, whose names and functions are uncertain.

Every person must someday confront Daka Fal, who knows all men's crimes and righteous acts. Those that were honest and fair will have their gods to plead for them. The wicked will stand alone, condemned. Guided or hounded by spirits, each judged soul leaves the Courts of Silence by a doorway into their own heaven or hell.

Daka Fal is usually depicted as a shrouded figure sitting high atop a chair or stool. Sometimes he is portrayed as a human whose face is a mirror.

For more information on Daka Fal and Ancestor Worship, see the Cult of Daka Fal.

Daliath [DAHL-ee-ath]

Merman pantheon -- keeper of wisdom

Deep within the cosmic sea, past the wilderness of the hadal depths and near the bottom of Magasta's entire realm, lies the Well of Wisdom. Within that godly spring sparkles a magic nectar sought by even the greatest gods. Its divine properties defy description, but a small drop is considered a great treasure among the gods.

Daliath is the keeper of the well, and only he regularly imbibes of its potent wisdom. He creates and arranges the defensive obstacles which discourage questers, and doles out the precious fluid to those few who succeed.

As is common among mermen, he is not pictured.

Dame Darkness

Yelm pantheon -- Celestial Court goddess of elemental darkness

Dame Darkness was born as a defense against the Oozing Chaos of pre-creation. She is a personification of the abilities of darkness. The Order within Darkness is alien to mankind and the Pattern of Darkness is kept secret by the dark trolls.

Danfive Xaron [DAN-five ZAR-un]

Lunar pantheon -- Bridge for the Seeker, one of the Seven Mothers

Danfive Xaron is a bloodthirsty outlaw who volunteered for the most dangerous task in the ritual of recreating the Goddess. His partial success earned him the position of Gatekeeper, Porter, and Night Watchman for the pantheon. He is the friend of the Ferryman of the Dead. His gloomy cult presents a last chance for society's most desperate dregs to rehabilitate themselves. Criminals of any sort can find refuge within his temples, but the cult sets harsh standards (e.g. looking at the opposite sex in the first year merits blinding and dismissal). Remaining in the cult pays off only after many years of hard effort.

Danfive Xaron is usually rendered as a scowling, middle-aged ruffian hunched into a position of submission, wearing chains and shackles.

For more information on Danfive Xaron, see the Cult of the Seven Mothers.

Daruda [dah-ROO-duh]

Eastern pantheon -- the Dragon Emperor

Daruda is a pre-Time ruler of Kralorela. He brought the dragon magic to the lands of the East and taught subsequent rulers the secret of turning their souls into the souls of dragons.

He is usually depicted as a human with the head, tail, and wings of a dragon, carrying the imperial regalia. His image is framed by a glowing circlet of gold and azure, held up by 27 tiny dragons, winged serpents, and bats. His hands are held forward, palm upright. From one palm rises a flame and from the other pours a stream of water.

Dayzatar [dah-ZAE-tahr (Y is silent)]

Yelm pantheon -- holy and aloof sky god

Dayzatar, the shining sky, was once situated much closer to the world and was more accessible to his worshipers. During the Gods War Dayzatar retreated from the world, setting himself far away in space and worship. His monks now rely on secrets of mysticism beyond normal understanding to maintain their belief, but their spells are costly and seem silly.

Dayzatar is usually portrayed as the starry vault, or as a tall enthroned bald man with a look of disdain on his face.

Deezola [dee-ZOE-luh]

Lunar pantheon -- the Binder Within, one of the Seven Mothers

Deezola was a ruler of lands on the Arcos river and a priestess of Arachne Solara. She is famous as a healer and is a favored patron of nobles and poets. She is also mistress of earth magic.

She is shown as a middle-aged woman, seated with various healing and homely artifacts upon her lap. An ornate comb, crenellated and with her special rune within a square, decorates her hair in an ancient fashion.

For more information on Queen Deezola, see the Cult of the Seven Mothers.

Dehore [dae-HOR]

Pamalt and Troll pantheons -- the King of Below, an Old God

All the thousands of spirits which inhabit the senseless darkness answer the beck and call of this formless and shapeless deity. Cloaked ever in shadow and muttering in darkness, Dehore, commander of the shades, sends his minions to those who serve him.

His form is traditionally hidden in pictures, though one of his subject spell spirits or shades may stand in for him in ceremonies.

Dendara [den-DAHR-uh]

Eastern and Yelm pantheons -- the good goddess, wife of Yelm

The faithful and beautiful wife of Emperor Yelm is the paragon of uxorial virtue. With magnificent pride and skill she commands her heaven-full of servants, and her sergeants carry out every task to prepare for the Emperor's needs, yet Dendara still beams happily in the radiant presence of her husband. As long as she remains content, the world of her worshipers is complete.

Dendara is usually represented as a lovely though matronly woman, her head bowed in respect to her husband, with tiny figures of children gathered about her skirts.

the Devil

see Kajabor, Wakboth

Donandar [duh-NAN-dahr]

Orlanth and Yelm pantheons -- god of minstrels and players

This god wanders the world incognito as an ordinary wayfaring songster, bringing warmth and cheer to the folk he meets. Everyone is careful to welcome and be hospitable to all entertainers in hopes that they may someday host Donandar himself, bringing good luck forever after to their house.

This minstrel is usually pictured as a locally popular musical instrument or as a human holding same.

For more information on Donandar, see the Cult of Donandar.

Dormal [DOR-mahl]

Malkioni, Merman, and Orlanth pantheons -- god of boats and sailors

Dormal, a humble craftsman from the city of Nochet, received inspiration from the god Magasta and instruction from Hunlarni the Wise. Galaaz the Shaper was shipwright, using old plans tiled upon his warehouse floor. Dormal said his prayers, raised his sail, and set out across the open sea on the first over-water voyage in over 400 years. Dormal's rites and ceremonies are used by all captains now, although other ship designs have been resurrected or rediscovered.

Dormal's shipboard image is usually carved of wood with arms extended outward to hold a large shell which is daily emptied and replenished from the water under the ship's keel.

For more information on Dormal, see the Cult of Dormal.

Drospoly [dros-POE-lee]

Merman pantheon -- the Cold Death

The torn remains of anything that dies in the open sea sink downward, to the lair of Drospoly. He lives amidst corpses and deformed monsters in the abyssal depths where sunlight never reaches and where the water is always freezing-cold. Drospoly's existence is a secret horror known only to the merfolk, who fear him greatly.

Mermen make no images of him, lest evil befall the maker.


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