Glorantha: Cult of Lanbril 
Cult of Lanbril
originally published in Pavis: Threshold to Danger

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.
Table of Contents
  Mythos and History 
  Other Notes 
Mythos and History
Lanbril was a son of Grandfather Mortal. In Godtime, humans came late among the 
other gods. While he claimed to be equal to the other gods, they rejected him as 
inferior because his father was killed by Death, the first sword.
Lanbril was enraged, and the rage warped his soul. If the other gods held him to 
be inferior, let them so believe. He would excel, and the excellence would be 
his own, something to be cherished because of its very privacy. Lanbril studied 
the ways of deceit, and perfected the techniques of seeming not to be doing what 
he was indeed doing. When other gods worked with magic and power, he rejected 
these in favour of physical skill and covert manipulation. He cultivated 
Disorder, and worked to, attain the illusion that all was right until repair was 
impossible and he had made his escape. Through his mastery, he stole Rune spells 
belonging to the other gods, but despised some powerful spells as of no use to 
him. (It is speculated that the higher magics were too powerful for one who was 
practically a mortal human.) Lanbril did invent a magic of his own, to confound 
the pursuit of his victims, and to confuse those suspecting his presence.
After a while, Lanbril's mad influence permeated the world. Some devout cultists 
go so far as to state that this influence inspired Eurmal to help Orlanth in 
stealing Death from Humakt. This story is rejected by most theologists. During 
the Darkness, Lanbril taught mortals to survive by skill and cunning, and by 
watching out for themselves first. In historical times, thieves and other 
self-seeking scum plague all communities, following Lanbril's path.
Lanbril's gift is to help the guilty to avoid punishment, including death. Death 
is the final escape punishment will not follow a Lanbril cultist past the grave, 
and Lanbril will ensure that the soul gets back into circulation, someday. 
Lanbril encompasses the Runes of Mastery, as king of thieves and the exaltation 
of skill; of Disorder, practising his trade regardless of consequences for 
others; and of Illusion, masking facts which could lead to detection of crimes.
Other Notes
Thieve's Argot
This secret language is taught to all Lanbril worshipers. A distinctive 
language, Argot contains common sounds from many different tongues; mutually 
intelligible dialects, similar in parts to the dominant regional tongue, exist 
in different cities. A character speaking Argot usually will sound like a 
particularly unintelligible member of the lower classes. Argot has a limited 
vocabulary and range or expression. Argot is unknown to most Gloranthans, 
including many peace keepers.
Argot is taught at the cult temples for free. Each Holy Day that a character 
worships Lanbril at a regular temple service (once per season), he may learn 05% 
knowledge of Argot. Argot higher than this must be paid for by learning from a 
fellow cultist at the normal prices for learning a new language. It is not 
improvable by experience.
Argot is used in most cult services, and for communication between cult members. 
It is used both as a universal language and to preserve secrecy. It is also used 
to write the occasional training texts and temple records.
Alchemical Skills and Products
Lanbril alchemists know some alchemical potions and substances (the exact ones 
varying by ring). These substances are often prepared as dusts and packed in 
parchment spills for hurling or in small tubes from which the dust is blown. 
Sometimes the compounds are liquids giving off potent vapours or acting through 
skin contact. A standard cloud of dust or vapour will fill 3 cubic meters before 
dissipating. The range will be no more than 3m. Some of the substances known are 
Thunder Lung Dust, Dust of Death, Visibility Dust, Scent-Stop Dust, Stink Dust, 
Sleep Powder/Sleep Venom, Smoke Bombs, and Flares.
Non-Lanbril Thieves
Not all thieves are Lanbril cult members. Many gods of Sartar and Prax have 
thieving abilities. Orlanth thieves follow the tradition of their god the 
Adventurer and often try especially daring malfeasances. Eurmal the trickster 
made the first theft, and many of his followers are also thieves. Eurmal thieves 
try to turn their crimes into exercises in the grotesque, and concentrate as 
much upon embarrassing their victim as on gaining wealth.
Many thieves worship no gods at all on levels higher than lay member, depending 
on their own skill to prevent capture. But the Lanbril cult ignores fictional 
conflict, allowing the criminal to practice his trade with great objectivity. 
Also, the cult of Lanbril protects its thieves from cursory community detection.
Other lands in the world claim similar gods to Lanbril under strange and exotic 
names. There are many thief gods, but perhaps all are disguises of Lanbril, King 
of Thieves!


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