Mythology
The Creator, also known as Earthmaker created the world with the
help of the First Four Companions, Loon, Sea Eagle, Turtle and Otter. He (or she) then
lost interest in the world and turned his (or her) attentions elsewhere. This left the
world without leadership.
A god named Cold Wind slew the Sun plunging the world into Darkness.
People would have starved had not the Hearthmother gathered them to her, feeding them as
best she could. Even then they would have all starved had she not discovered the
Foundchild who taught the people how to hunt. He fathered a son on Hearthmother who was
named Votank. Votank had ten sons who he taught how to be men. These ten founded the clans
of the region now called Balazar.
History
Years ago the hero known as Balazar came to the region then known as
Votankiland. He introduced the worship of the god Yemalio and managed to unite the region
as one kingdom named after himself. He had three sons one of which he intended to make his
heir but he died in the Dragonkill War before he could name an heir so instead the kingdom
was divided into three parts.
The three kingdoms or tribes often squabbled during the years that
followed but where usually ignored by the outside world. This all changed in 1564 when
Tarshite irritation over raids from the citadel of Elkoi finally reached the boiling
point. A small Lunar force attacked the citadel and quickly conquered it. The ruling
family was wiped out and a puppet regime put into place.
Recently, 1616, the other two citadels, Trilus and Dykene have been
fighting over ownership of two magical boars that were discovered in 1615.
Land
Balazar is a rugged land bordered on the south and east by mountains
on the north by the Elf Sea and on the west by lesser mountains in Immther. The
Balazarings dwell for the most part on the flat plains and rolling hills of their land.
Dakori Ingarth lies to the east, the Lunar Empire to the west and south and Pent to the
far north.
People
The Balazarings share a common culture based on their ancestral
worship of Votank. They also hold worship of Foundchild and Hearthmother in common.
Balazar attempted to introduce worship of Yemalio as a unifying force but this experiment
failed for the most part.
The Balazarings live by hunting and collecting. The citadels rely
more heavily on harvested wild grains and also raise swine something Balazar taught them.
Families live in extended family units known as hearths. The size of
the hearths vary depending on the time of year, growing and shrinking depending on the
availability of food. Each hearth belongs to one of ten clans. These clans average roughly
400 members of which just under two thirds are adults. Each of these clans is usually
allied or aligned with one of another of the three citadels each of which heads one of the
three tribes founded by Balazar's children.
They are a semi-nomadic people who live in hide tents year round.
During the winter months the hearths gather at their sacred winter hearths for mutual
protection. These hearths all communally belong to one of the ten clans that Votank's sons
founded. The citadels belong to the tribe that lives there. Other than these areas no one
owns any land.
The only rankings are due to personal ability. There are no
hereditary rulers other than at the Lunar citadel of Elkoi. The other citadel kings have
to possess actual ability to retain their rule. Descent is important but most Balazarings
can trace their descent back to some important ancestor.
Both men and women are passionate and unpredictable. Gender roles
exist but there are no firm rules, and women can become hunters of citadel guards and men
can become gatherers.
Marriage is not as strong an institution as it is in other lands.
Marriages last as long as both partners desire it to. Children are considered to be
descended from both parents. Initiation rites for adulthood exist and are very important.
Religion
An overview of the original religion
write-up from Griffin Mountain is available of the Glorantha web-site. It has
been subjected to some modern revisions so Yemalio is now known as Tharkantus and Mralota
(which is apparently now the Orlanthi sow goddess) has been renamed Entra.
Balazarings believe that the spirits (especially their ancestors)
and the gods guide everything. Events are interpreted as being of divine origin. People
gain protection from the supernatural by respecting taboos and following the rules
established by their ancestors.
The major deities worshipped are:
Votank: Sacred Ancestor, rulegiver, men's god.
Hearthmother: The Gatherer, women's goddess.
Foundchild: The Huntsman, god of hunting
Yemalio: The Light in the Hills, god of warriors and rulers
The Wild Mother, Goddess of the Land, provider of plants and animals
Minor deities include:
Dog Brother: Friend and Helper to Foundchild
Rigtaina: The Huntress, Daughter of Foundchild and Mother of the Three Tribes
Balazar: The Founder, sub-cult of Yemalio
Mralota, the Sow Goddess is worshipped in the Citadels.
Law and War
Disputes are settled by custom. There is a common body of law and
custom that determines what is proper and improper. Societal displeasure is usually
sufficient to prevent misdeeds. In the case of more serious transgressions exile is
practiced. In very serious cases misdoers may be ostracized. This is for life and cuts the
ties between clan and misdoer.
Most adult males are hunters, not warriors. Each citadel king has a
guards made up of full time fighters who (usually) worship Yemalio. Favoured weapons are
spears and swords. Armour, especially metal armour is rare and prized by the warriors, if
not the hunters.
Battles tend to be small, and are always preceded by boasting,
threats, and challenges.
Trolls, dragonewts, elves and dwarves all live in the region and
each race is avoided as much as possible. The Balazarings have a history of setting their
non-human neighbors against each other to suit their own ends so the non-humans tend to
distrust them.
This page last modified May 09, 2000
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