Orlanth is the god of storms and chief god of the Rams, being the father to their founding hero, Vingkot, with a human woman named Janerra Alone. Orlanth himself is the son of the mountain goddess Kero Fin and the old storm god, Umath, whose slaying at the hands of the Shargash, the Demon Sun, prompted Orlanth to kill Shargash's own father, Emperor Yelm, the head of the solar pantheon, as vengeance. This ushered in the Storm Age, wherein the the rest of the solar gods fought for Yelm's vacant throne in the War of Many Suns, leaving the storm gods to rise to primacy. As a result, worshipers of the sun gods despise Orlanth and call him "the Rebel" or "the Murder God".
Orlanth's wife is Ernalda, the primary earth goddess worshiped by the Rams. Vadrus, Yinkin, and Urox are his brothers, and Brastalos is his sister. He also counts Humakt and Ragnaglar as former brothers. Besides Vingkot, Orlanth is also the father of Voriof, Vinga, Odayla, and Finovan. Orlanth and his tribe dwell in his divine citadel, called Orlanthstead.
Orlanth is most known as the Storm God, but is sometimes called the god of freedom. However, as some may point out, this does not prevent his worshipers from keeping or trading in slaves.
Ride Like the Wind[]
Orlanth first appears in Ride Like the Wind.
The Orlanth Slasher and Orlanthi Battle Standard treasures aid in battle against Ram clans.
Lore[]
In Ride Like the Wind, your clan circle has the following to say about Orlanth:
- "Elmal and Orlanth never will be friends."
- "Elmal fought Orlanth three times. Each time his shield stayed steadfast against the Murder God's thunderbolts."
- "Earthquakes never happened until the Ram showed up, bringing with him his tempestuous wife Ernalda."
- "'Huff huff! I worship Orlanth, the god of Freedom! Who will buy my slaves?'"
- "I have heard that their god Orlanth is told what to do by his wife. Ridiculous!"
- "Orlanth brought disharmony to the Sky Court. Literally—he played some sort of flatulent horn."
- "When Orlanth murdered the sun, it is doubtful he had plans to take over the heavens. But he surely harbors them now."
- "When Orlanth murdered Yelm, he not only robbed the world of his light, but his warmth."
- "Yelm’s son Shargash slew Umath. Umath’s son Orlanth murdered Yelm."
Myths & Rituals[]
Orlanth appears in the following rituals:
Although your clan cannot participate in Ride Like the Wind, your Ram neighbors may perform a ritual called "The Wooing of Ernalda", in which Orlanth courts his future wife.
He is also briefly mentioned in the myths Zarlen's First Wander, Erissa Denies Her Suitor, and Elmal Guards the Sunpath, where he is referred to merely as "the Rebel".
Lights Going Out[]
Since Ride Like the Wind, your clan has become the royal clan of the Berenethtelli tribe of Rams, and have adopted Orlanth-worship. By the time of Lights Going Out, Orlanth is largely considered dead, unresponsive to his worshipers at least as far back as the reign of Brolarulf.
Rumors[]
Throughout a game of Lights Going Out, you may hear variations of the following rumors:
| “ | "I'm sure everyone heard the huge thunderstorm from across the river. Some say that it's a sign that Orlanth is still alive, but we've seen no signs of that." | ” |
— Six Ages 2: Lights Going Out | ||
If you have a shrine or temple of Orlanth's, you might also be told the following:
| “ | "Orlanth must not be dead, because the lingering magic in his <shrine has given us war magic for the coming year/temple has given us war magic for about two years>." | ” |
— Six Ages 2: Lights Going Out | ||
Worship[]
In Six Ages 2: Lights Going Out, you can have either a shrine or temple to Orlanth. The Magic Screen indicates that, were he still alive, you could have built him a great temple—but since Orlanth is dead, you can only decide whether to maintain or reduce the temple that existed at the start of Brolarulf's reign.
His blessings are inaccessible in play, but are listed as:
- Lightning: Deals out more wounds in battle
- Rain: Helps raise our crops
- Thunderstone: Improves the effectiveness of the skirmishers
- Woad: Reduces deaths and wounds among the farmers
(Incidentally, these are the same blessings Orlanth offered in King of Dragon Pass.)
Furthermore, having a place of worship to Orlanth can be helpful in the event Winded Orlanthi.
The Orlanth's Comb and Orlanth's Pyre-Ash treasures blesses Orlanth worshipers and aids their undertakings, respectively. The Wand of Vestenan, one of the Four Kingdoms treasures, also helps devotees of Orlanth (as well as those of Humakt and Urox).
On the Ring[]
Having a worshiper of Orlanth on the clan ring allows you to put more magic into Harmony at Sacred Time.
All members of Orlanth's cult are male. They tend to be powerful warriors or magicians. In noble selection screens and on the clan ring, his worshipers' portraits are marked with the Wind Rune.
Lore[]
Since joining your pantheon of gods, you clan ring has the following to say of Orlanth in Lights Going Out:
- "After Orlanth pushed back the King of Waterstead, he claimed the lands of Yelm."
- "An act that recapitulates our founding deed, the horse gift to Orlanth, may aid us in whatever lies beyond ultimate destruction."
- "As a king, Orlanth had to balance generosity with ferocity."
- "Before his death, Orlanth realized he should not have slain the Sun Emperor."
- "Before his demise, Orlanth granted thunderstones as war blessings."
- "Ernalda helped Orlanth make the first tribe. We are stronger together, and the tribe is stronger still with a king."
- "Even if Orlanth is dead, many wind spirits still live."
- "Everyone told Orlanth not to duel the Emperor, but if he hadn't, who would he have been?"
- "Has anyone found the bronze bones of Orlanth? No, because he has not died."
- "In the stories, Eurmal transgresses, and Orlanth asserts command."
- "We don't know exactly how Orlanth died, but since he was the most powerful air god, it's not surprising that the air is no longer good."
- "One story says that Orlanth became Voriof in order to impregnate Nevala, who birthed the first sheep."
- "Orlanth asked Elmal to set him aflame, so he could die and come back."
- "Orlanth decreed wergild. Lhankor Mhy, his lawspeaker, remembered what he had said."
- "Orlanth died seeking Yelm."
- "Orlanth is dead. If we destroy our temple to save theirs, we will never be able to rebuild it."
- "Orlanth looked upon Inilla from time to time but never sired children with her, as far as I know."
- "Orlanth routinely judged against his own kin."
- "Orlanth said to Elmal, 'Place me on your pyre, that I might fight in another form.'"
- "Orlanth's arrival in hell unleashed the talokans."
- "Orlanth saw that Ernalda was the best woman, and so took her from the haughty Emperor."
- "Orlanth sent Nontraya to the Underworld. But he didn't stay there."
- "Orlanth's magic helps us rule our tribe."
- "Orlanth wooed Ernalda, but really Ernalda was testing him. Then they said the first marriage vows together."
- "The king of our gods, Orlanth, rebelled against Yelm and slew him."
- "The world suffers without Orlanth's vital force."
- "To guard his citadel, Orlanth trusted Elmal over his unruly brother Urox."
- "Unlike his father, Yelm, our sun god, Elmal, joined Orlanth's kingdom."
- "We lent aid to Orlanth as he rescued the sky god Dayzatar from Tyram's grip."
- "When Beren married Renalda, Orlanth and Ernalda joined Elmal as our main deities."
- "When Orlanth slew the haughty Bright Emperor, many smaller suns stepped up to claim his throne."
- "When Orlanth saw Yelm's cows he said, 'I will not be king until I have this many.'"
- "With Orlanth dead, his kingdoms fight one another."
Myths & Rituals[]
In Lights Going Out, though you now worship Orlanth as one of your main gods, you still cannot perform any of his rituals, on account on him being dead. However, over the course of the game, it is possible to perform a special ritual to visit his wedding to Ernalda in the Gods War, see Orlanth and Ernalda.
Also, his rescue of Ernalda is mentioned in the myth Ages of Glorantha.
Orlanth's relation to the Chaos gods, including his brother Ragnaglar, is told in the myth Unholy Trio.
His slaying of Yelm is told in a number of myths, including the aforementioned Ages of Glorantha, as well as How Horses Came to Orlanthstead and Humakt Divides Life from Death.
Other Stories[]
Orlanth is prominent in other tales of Glorantha:
Images[]
