Samnal is a son of Elmal and one of the most important gods of the Wheels. His brothers are Reladivus and Verlaro. Osara—with who he has a contentious relationship—is his sister. He also has a half-brother in Zarlen and a half-sister in Inilla. His son, Rogoros, is the Wheel god of trade. Samnal is occasionally called the Spoked Sun, though he is not usually counted among the rival suns. In both Wheel and Rider traditions, Samnal is contrasted with his rival, the Rider god Hyalor. When Hyalor first showed his new steed, Gamari—the first horse—to Samnal, he tried to chain her, but failed. However, he succeeded in chaining her daughters and strapped them to his cart, becoming the first charioteer.
Ride Like the Wind[]
Samnal first appears in Ride Like the Wind. The Samnal Slasher is a treasure you can acquire in the game that bears Samnal's name. Unfortunately for his worshipers, however, it is a weapon against and not for Samnal, as it is a sword that once slew a Wheel hero. If used in battle, it increases your ferocity when raiding Wheels.
Your clan may hear the following rumor:
| “ | The gods still walk among people, even if it doesn't happen as often as it once did. The <Elmali>s were visited by Samnal the Charioteer, demanding a gift. We will surely be visited by one of our own gods. | ” |
Lore[]
Your clan circle may say the following about Samnal:
- "When Samnal denied Hyalor’s holy blood, Hyalor held his tongue, for the good of the city."
- "Do we really wish to spark a great controversy over Hyalor? He is like Samnal, who I worshiped as a Wheel—important, but not the main god."
- "Kingdoms come easier to Wheels than they do to Riders. Samnal the Chariot never discouraged them the way Hyalor did. "
- "Just as [the Wheels] disdain Hyalor, we would never worship Samnal, cruel god of chariots."
- "Samnal stole Gamari's children and yoked them to his cart."
Myths & Rituals[]
In Rider myths, Samnal is a bitter rival to his sister Osara, and is constantly shown up by Hyalor. In the last days of Nivorah he briefly cooperated with the latter, but this alliance ended when the city fell.
Samnal appears in the following myths and rituals:
- Osara and Verlaro
- Ekarna Four Trader and thus Ekarna's Four Trades
- Tablets of Hyalor and thus Hyalor Tablet Maker
- Hippogriff Reborn and thus Gamari Horse Mother
In addition, if Wheels aid in a Rider ritual, a quester can call on him to save them in Gods War: Falling Dragon.
It is not accessible to your clan, but apparently the Wheels know a ritual called Samnal River Master, wherein Samnal whips foolish Riders in thrall to a cruel river.
Lights Going Out[]
Samnal returns in Light's Going Out, and—though your advisors are a bit confused on the matter—appears to be one of the gods still alive.
The Samnal Slasher does not return in this game, but it is instead possible for you to find the Axle of Samnal treasure. It is not obvious to you what, if anything, it does, but it actually helps you in all tests involving Wheels. It was a part of the old Wheel Kingdom's royal regalia.
Lore[]
Your clan ring has the following to say about Samnal:
- "Samnal, the cruel chariot god, captured and chained First Horse."
- "When Hyalor First-Rider went to Samnal to show him his horse, Samnal reached for his chains."
- "I forget whether [the Wheels'] chariot god Samnal is dead or not."
- "The stupid wagon folk caused this, by praying to their dead god Samnal."
- "[The Wheels'] chariot god is but a prince. His father Elmal still rules."
- "Despite everything, he is still Elmal's son."
- "Kindness blunts the power of Samnal's scorn magic."
Myths & Rituals[]
Samnal has a minor role in the myth How Horses Came to Orlanthstead.
Though some of your councilors believe Samnal to be dead, it is possible for one of your explorers to come across him while traversing the Otherworld after traveling through a tear into the Gods War, see the event Other Side: Samnal Chariot Maker.
Other Stories[]
While Samnal does not appear by name in other tales of Glorantha, see also Saren on the Glorantha wiki.
Images[]
