TORKANI CULTS

Many of the Torkani cults are described in the Thunder Rebels and Storm Tribe supplements. Others will likely be described in the upcoming troll sourcebooks. Until those come out, however, I have provided unofficial religious keywords for some of the Torkani cults not included in Hero Wars. For further information on all of these cults see Thunder Rebels, Storm Tribe, Uz and the Torkani Gods page.

ERNALDA

ZALARA THE BEE MOTHER

This darkness goddess had to hide from the Uz, because they wanted to eat her. She made herself a home in the wilderness, and put her treasure within it, but when Orlanth discovered her, he wanted to eat her home, treasure and all. She attacked him with her stings, but her treasure looked so tempting that Orlanth ignored her. Fortunately, Ernalda heard the goddess' cries of despair and outrage and came past just as her husband began to tuck into his meal. Ernalda made peace, and promised Zalara a new home on the stead in return for a tithe of treasure. Later, Minlister learnt the secret of making mead from Zalara's bounty, and Orlanth had to admit that his wife had been right to save the goddess after all, for this was even better than the treasure he had been going to eat.

Zalara is a subcult of Ernalda the Earth Mother, and shares her skills, virtues and basic affinities and feats.

MAGIC

Bee Affinity: Bless Beehive, Bless Bees, Calm Bee Swarm, Heal Bee Sting, Increase Honey

Secret: Bless Bee Swarm (Allows the devotee to ignore multiple target penalties when blessing all the bees or hives belonging to a clan. It can also be used to augment any affinity used on bees.)

Note: Zalaran magic works at the level of the number of bees resident in a particular hive, rather than on each individual insect!

ARGAN ARGAR

The cult of Argan Argar is somewhat different among the Torkani than it is amongst the Uz, mainly reflecting its greater importance and the wider scope of its powers.

RUNES

Communication, Darkness

SKILLS

Mental Abilities: Mythology of Argan Argar, Command Trollkin, Literacy, Speak Darktongue, Uz Customs

Virtues: Outgoing, Self-Indulgent

CORE MAGIC

Exchange With Others Affinity: Command Messenger Spirit, Convince Buyer, Convince Seller, Interpret Other's Meaning, Safeguard Item

Son of Night Affinity: Affix Darkness, Create Shadow, Enchant Lead, Sense Lead, Walk Unseen in Shadows

Secret: Perspective of Darkness (Gives a bonus of 1/4 the target number when peacefully interacting with a darkness creature).

ARGISSARIES THE TRADER

Argissaries was a name Argan Argar sometimes used when trading with the people of the surface world, chosen to emphasise his ties with a power they already understood. This is the default subcult of Argan Argar, followed by most non-Torkani Heortling worshippers.

Abilities: Bargain, Evaluate Trade Goods

Virtues: Mercenary, Shrewd

Worshippers: Merchants who trade with the Uz

MAGIC

Trade Affinity: Detect Magic, Enticing Wares, Evaluate Purity of Metal, Lock, Stay Awake

EZKANKEKKO THE ONLY OLD ONE

Ezkankekko was the son of Argan Argar who ruled the Shadow Empire until his eventual defeat by the Pharoah. Both human and troll, and neither, his subcult embodies the god's rulership aspect.

Abilities: Commanding Presence, Negotiation

Virtues: Authoritative, Fair

Worshippers: Nobles and thanes

MAGIC

Ruler of Komor Affinity: Befriend Uz, Blow Away Wind, Hide Item Within Earth, Suppress Fire

Son of Night Feats: Cure Iron Burn, See in Dim Light

GANAMAR THE THRALLMASTER

Ganamar is one of Argan Argar's sons; it is he who keeps the trollkin in line and trades them between clans where necessary.

Abilities: Command Trollkin

MAGIC

Thrall Affinity: Assess Trollkin, Cow Trollkin, Enchant Manacles ritual, Heal Trollkin, Increase Trollkin's Stamina

Son of Night Feat: Protect From Sunlight

GULTRAZ THE SPEAKER

Gultraz is a darkness spirit who loved humans so much that she became their intermediary with the Uz. She and her cult try to smooth over conflicts between the two races and emphasise their common ground.

Abilities: Arbitrate, Remember Precedents

Virtues: Persistent

Worshippers: Nobles, heralds and other non-merchants who deal with Uz

MAGIC

Emulate Uz Affinity: Act Like Uz, Eat Like Uz, Inspire Uz, Intimidate Enlo, Placate Uz, See in Dim Light

Exchange with Others Feats: Appear Strong, Reach Compromise

KELISARA THE SHADOW

Argan Argar's daughter spreads her cloak to protect the virtuous from the cruel burning light of the sun.

MAGIC

Shadow Affinity: Banish Light Daimone, Cool, Extinguish Flame, Fight Light Worshipper, Muffle Sound, Resist Light Magic

Son of Night Feats: Summon Darkness Daimone ritual

KENTAVOR THE SPEARTHANE

Argan Argar stole the secret of making and wielding spears when he defeated Lodril. Ezkankekko's son Kentavor was the greatest spearsman among his followers, and now heads his warrior subcult.

Abilities: Close Combat (spear)

Virtues: Staunch

Worshippers: Fyrdmen

MAGIC

Spear Affinity: Fight Cavalry, Guard Wealth, Raise Morale, Spear Help, Strike Swiftly, Throw Spear

Son of Night Feat: Enchant Lead

TORKAN THE KING

Torkan is the founder of the Torkani tribe, and the basis of authority for the tribe's rulers.

Entry Requirements: Be acclaimed a chieftain or Queen of the Torkani

MAGIC

Authority Affinity: Cow Dissenters, Invoke Wyter, Make Clan Ring, Protect Tula, Summon Clan

Exchange With Others Feats: Gather Family, Hear the Truth

XENEMBORTH THE THIEF

Xenemborth was the name Argan Argar took when he had to steal back things which had been unjustly taken by his enemies.

Abilities: Move Quietly, See in the Dark

Virtues: Cunning

MAGIC

Retrieval Affinity: Follow Trail, Identify Thief, Locate Stolen Object, Pass Without Trace, Sensitive Hearing, Silent in Darkness, Spot Clue

DARK STORM SUBCULTS

The following subcults have the same skills, virtues, affinities and secrets as their Orlanthi counterparts, but replace the two Aspect affinities with those for Exchange With Others and Son of Night

ANDRIN THE LAWSPEAKER

Exchange With Others Feats: Open Moot, Weigh Arguments

DROGARSI THE SKALD

Exchange With Others Feats: Sense Audience's Mood, Flatter Patron

DUREV THE HOUSEHOLDER

Son of Night Feats: Ease Fear of Darkness, Hide Child in Shadow

JARANI THE LAWSTAFF

Exchange With Others Feats: Open Moot, Binding Agreement

NISKIS THE LOVER

Son of Night Feat: Sensuous Smell

STARKVAL THE WEAPONTHANE

Son of Night Feats: Defend From Light Magic, Fight Telmori, Inspire Fyrd

XIOLA UMBAR

Xiola Umbar provides the same magic among the Torkani as he does among the Uz, but the selection of skills is slightly different, reflecting her worshippers' human nature.

SKILLS

Mythology (Xiola Umbar), Brew Healing Potion, Find Herbs, Midwifery, Splint and Bandage, Treat Disease, Treat Poison

TRICKSTER GLUTTONOUS

RUNES

Disorder, Illusion, Motion

SKILLS

Mythology (Eurmal), Mythology (Lightbringers), Greedy

MAGIC

Gluttony Affinity: Eat Any Substance, Swallow Large Object

OTHER SIDE

Eurmal lives in Orlanth's Hall in the centre of the Storm Realm of the Gods World. From there initiates may enter the Golden Age, Storm Age or Darkness Age.

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This page was last updated 10th November 2002 by Jamie 'Trotsky' Revell. Comments welcome.