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

Ikadz Immanent Mastery, Path of Individualism Inora Invisible God
Iphara Irrippi Ontor Issaries

Ikadz [EE-kadz]

Chaos pantheon -- god of torture

This entity receives the souls of misdoers and cleanses them before they can join the other dead. A few folk worship Ikadz directly, and they claim to receive magical power from their worship. Such cults are occasionally tolerated by the ruling bureaucracy of the region, but is rarely encouraged by any except the most corrupt. Ikadz deity is a deadly foe of Humakt's.

He is pictured as either a set of pincers or as a round troll carved from lava with six X's incised in a triangle on his back.

Immanent Mastery, Path of

Eastern pantheon -- mystery cult of dragon power

The members of this secret organization can transform themselves into dragons. Initiates claim that their dragon powers prove the cult's power and verify its truth. God Learners relied upon this cult when they ruled in Kralorela.

The floor and walls of Path of Immanent Mastery cult buildings are inlaid with ivory and ebony, in patterns depicting writhing dragons.

Individualism

Dwarf pantheon -- the heresy of self-worth

Individualism was founded during the Second Age by a dwarf later called Chark the Liberator, in response to the lethal results of Openhandism (another dwarf heresy) which culminated in the Gbaji Wars and dwarf civil war. These wars so disturbed Chark that he sought solace in religion and embarked upon a heroquest. He returned from his heroquesting with the secret of his heresy.

Individualists believe that all dwarfs have, or can have, a soul made in the image of Mostal. The implications of this philosophy shocked dwarf society when a number of formerly tame dwarfs decided to seek their own destiny and creativity. Individualist dwarfs commonly leave their ancestral strongholds to make their way on the surface world. By the very nature of the philosophy, no important dwarf citadels are ruled by individualists, though it is quite widespread.

Chark the Liberator is never portrayed by dwarfs. Historical accounts state that he was an unusually short dwarf, beardless, and that he was so pious that his bones turned to stone.

For more information on Individualism, see Mostal-Dwarfs: Mythos, Heresies, and Lore

Inora [ee-NOR-uh]

Orlanth, Praxian, and Troll pantheons -- goddess of mountaintop winter

Inora is the goddess of winter mountain tops. Her cool beauty descends to the lowlands, and in Prax sometimes brings water to the most arid regions. Her calm beauty shrouds an icy wrath which brings silent devastation.

Trolls use rock from mountain tops to carve a troll woman who is long and thin, like an icicle. Special statues are carved from natural stalagmites naturally formed like the goddess. Praxians show her as a tall white goddess crowned with a castle. Orlanthi show a pretty woman with the same crown, but emphasizing her billowing white cloak.

Invisible God

Malkioni pantheon -- the creator

see also
Creator

The invisible god is, always was, and forever shall be. He is the God beyond the Gods. He provides salvation and purpose in existence to his minions. He only gives and never takes.

The invisible god is aloof and perfect. Since these traits render it difficult for his followers to determine the correct method of worship, he twice sent prophets to remind everyone of him. Malkion was the first prophet in bygone ages; Hrestol was a more recent prophet. Despite their guidance many conflicting heresies and rival sects have grown within Malkionism.

He is never depicted.

Iphara [ee-FAR-ah]

Merman and Orlanth pantheons -- goddess of fog

When beset by enemy gods, Iphara wrapped her power about her for protection, like a thick grey cloak. Since that time she has always appeared as fog, and within her body are held fearful mist-monsters and the powers of illusion. Sailors especially curse her. Sometimes the unlucky hear her mumbling and chuckling over her gruesome tally of ships sunk with their crew.

She is usually not shown in images or illustration, though fishers use billowing clouds of vapor to represent her in rituals. The Waertagi also show a beautiful woman wearing robes of tattered mist.

Irrippi Ontor [i-RIP-ee ON-tor]

Lunar pantheon -- the Brown Man, one of the Seven Mothers

Irrippi Ontor was an outlawed priest of Lhankor Mhy, god of wisdom. He came from Yuthuppa and was a friend of Yanafal Tarnils. He is the personification of wisdom and learning for the Lunar Empire.

He is usually pictured as an elderly man, beardless but with bushy moustache, wearing the traditional robes of a Pelorian scholar.

For more information on Irrippi Ontor, see the Cult of the Seven Mothers.

Issaries [Is-sahr-eez]

Orlanth pantheon -- god of trade and communication, one of the Lightbringers

Issaries is Lord of Trade, Guardian of Roads, Messenger of the Gods, and the psychopomp of the Orlanthi. Initiates of his cult are merchants and heralds, protected by their god's reputation and power. The cult language, Trade Talk, was spread by the God Learners and is spoken as a second language in much of Glorantha. Issaries is often worshiped apart from the rest of the Orlanth pantheon.

Issaries is rendered as a youth dressed in the local clothing style, holding one hand forward with the other behind his back. Other appurtenances are usually also added to his images as signs of his dominion.

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


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